Hi there,

this is Stefan from Frnkfurt, Germany. I’m 67 and now that I’m retired I spend quite some time writing (admittedly not very romantic) songs and wrap them in (hopefully funny) videos.

I started workling with BB/RB and Camtasia for the videos in December 2015 and though I’m not quite sure wether my stuff can compete with the great material I regularily find here I finally dare to present one of my songs/videos here, too.

HENS NIGHT '68

The link will take you to the respective page of my website where you will find the MP3 and the video; just click the UK flag to switch to English.

Here’s some info about the song:

a) BB style: _CTPN165.STY - didn't change much, if I remember it correctly

b) Horns arrangement: Used the RB Piano Rol (I’m actually a guitarist, not a keyboard player), then using the Big Fish Vintage Horns via Kontakt 5.

Would be very happy if you enjoyed my stuff at leadt a bit..

Kind regards,

Stefan

Stefan

That was absolutely Brilliant took me right back to my gig days, The woman nights etc,
Priceless well arranged and performed, Video was a killer you will need to let me know how you do the vids.

This was hilarious! Loved the concept, and you got everything possible out of the rhyming names scheme! Use of BIAB was top-notch, and let’s hear more from you!

Stefan,

Welcome to the Showcase! That was a great entrance!

Excellent abounds. A clever write. A terrific arrangement. Excellent mix.

And a very clever video. Looks like a lot of work went into that!

floyd

Really well done Stefan! The video is funny and really inventive too, and everything aside the tune is fun and catchy. Thanks for sharing

Listened while reading the lyrics first. Too funny. Whoever invented Hen's Night was either clueless or cruel. Then watched the video and, well...too much fun.

You said you would be very happy if I (we) enjoyed your stuff at least a bit. Get happy, Stefan. Get very, very happy.

Welcome to the forum. This is a fabulous piece of music. Really enjoyed it. Well done

Hi beatmaster,

thanks a lot for your kind feedback on Hens Night ’68 - you and the others really made my day !

You asked me to describe the way I produce my videos: Well, first of all the resources I use are CHEAP: A green screen, a cheap Panasonic camera and 4 very cheap photo lamps - the whole equipment was less than 400 bucks. As an editing program I use Camtasia which may not be as powerful as other apps, but it’s comparably easy to use and the UI is BIG which is extremely important for me because my remaining eyesight is more than poor.

Then my lovely wife recorded every „musician“ separately in front of the green screen, which was so much fun that we both suffered from a hurting belly for days.

Later every clip was taken to a separate Camtasia track where I removed the green background, added a colorful floor and a fake video screen in the back. Of course synchronizing all those clips with the audio track took quite some time, but as they say, ‘The way is the aim’.

But what really took days and days and days was searching for adjectives that rhyme with girls names (or vice versa) and then find suitable portraits for every girl. I almost worship Pixabay for providing all those public domain images, and the same goes for those people who upload their videos to Vimeo granting licenses that allow me to use them - I am really really thankful for that.

On my website there is one video in which I re-recorded a song I had written in the Seventies (oh boy....) and faked a ‘revival concert’ with the then band members. I could hardly believe it, but there were former ‘fans’ of that band who really thought they had missed that revival concert until they came to the making-of I added at the end of the vid and which shows pretty well how I put my vids together. Although I am explaining things in German the images will speak for themselves, I guess.

If yo’re interested:
You Need Some Rock Sometimes, Too

PS (Sept 23, 2018): Hi beatmaster, I just added English subtitles to that 'making-of'. Didn't have the time to translate as accurate as I would have done normally, so please excuse lexical and/or grammatical mistakes and typoes, of course.

Have a nice week and take care,

Stefan

Oh boy - thanks a lot !!!!! Yes, I will be happy to present some more songs here.

Hi Floyd,

thanks a lot for your kind feedback.

Yes, making those videos takes quite some time, but I'm retired and couldn't think of anything that would make me happier. Well, sort of...

Since my lovely wife Maha does all the mixing and EQing she's the one who deserves praise and she was more than delighted when she read your words.

Regards,

Stefan

Luckily you can't see how my cheeks are turning red... Thanks a lot.

I am very, very, very happy !!! Thank you, Tammgo !

Hi Scott, I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks a lot.

Well, I'm retired too and we make the occasional lyric video but nothing like the quality of yours. Clever, funny and well done all the way around.

And on the audio side everything is hittin' the note. The write, the vocals, the arrangement and the mix.

Heckuva way to enter the forum!

Welcome.

J&B

Man! That has to be the best video I have ever seen posted here, well done!

Fun song too, well written and performed, and nice job on the mix.
Post more please!

Hey this is cool.

I like the reference in the video to Subterranean Homesick Blues.

Funny!

Hi David,

you're the first to notice. Yes, this is a tiny tribute to one of my favorite Dylan songs.

Thanks for your kind comment.

Based on this effort I would definitely say that your stuff is as good as the best stuff posted here.


I thoroughly enjoyed this one. A great 50's toe tapping song, a genre that I really like) that was expertly played, sang and mixed! The video was great also.

Fun & nostalgic but also well written.
Good job.

Heck of an entrance.
Great video - excellent infectious song with fun clever lyrics.
Really nice work.

Peter

Stefan, that was one of the most creative things I've ever seen here on this forum! Everything about this was excellent, professional and entertaining!! The video work alone was as good as it gets and the music is equal to it's quality! Great job in all aspects of this production! Thanks, Torrey

WOW, THIS is sheer brilliance. Reminds me a lot of Jerry Lee Lewis. What a great song. Brought a much needed smile to my face. THANKS !!

Hi Mario,

wow, what can I say but thanks a lot for your kind words.

Cheers,

Stefan

Thanks a lot, rayc, I really appreciate your feedback.

And no: Nothing's funny with love, peace and understanding - quite the contrary: I think we need them more then ever. And it wouldn't do any harm if everybody added some honesty and solidarity, don't you think...

Take care,

Stefan

Thanks a lot, Peter !

Hi Janice and Bud,

now that I know about your great music your feedback count double to me - thank you so much !

Cheers,

Stefan

Thanks an awful lot, BlueAttitude, you, too, are making my day !!!!

I think I will post another song/video project by the end of the week.

Take care,

Stefan

Hi Torrey,

no need to say that especially your positive feedback made my ears turn red, so thanks an awful lot.

Yours,

Stefan

Hi furry,

what more could I wish than bringing smiles to people's faces... Especially when they need 'em ;-))) No seriously: Thanks a lot for your lovely words.

BTW: I love your motto in the sognature section - put a smile on my face as well !!!

I'm going to post another song/video project here in a couple of days - would be happy if that one would turn your smile into as broad grin

All the best and thanks again,

Stefan

The song is awesome, the Video is just amazing, WOW, what a great job on this song, yeah, Jerry Lee style, LOVE IT!!!! Cliff