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Oh By The Way..

For this one I did something unusual. I came up with a piano riff, and then I used ACW in BIAB to tell me what I had just played. The chords turned out to be a cool progression. So I used that progression in section 1, inverted it in section 2, and turned it upside down for the chorus.

https://soundcloud.com/davidsnyderchannel/oh-by-the-way

After doing a pre-master with my own bag of tricks I did a final run through with the Lurssen Mastering Console. Have fun.

Oh By The Way
By David Snyder

V1

Oh by the way
This world’s a prison
So I climbed over the walls
And I drive hard against the rain
I can no longer
See what I’m missing
It’s just the forest and the trees
The fog has settled on the leaves
Settled on the leaves

V2

And there’s a rumbling
Beneath the surface
I don’t know what it is
or what it really means
But I am walking through these catacombs
And I can tell it isn't home
I can tell it isn’t home

V3

Oh by the way
I am an orphan in the universe these days
So I am searching
for a place to call my home
We are deserted, and disregarded
And there’s no one useful
on the phone
no one useful
on the phone
no one useful
on the phone

CH:

Hello my children
Come join the circus
I think you know that it’s the only show in town
If you can find it
Your higher purpose
Then could you lead us please to slightly higher ground
Oh could you lead us please to slightly higher ground
Yes could you lead us please to slightly higher ground

Inst.

V4

We fight for water
But I am thirsty for things
This world cannot satisfy
Run for the border
If you can find it
Maybe you’ll find an angel walking by your side
Run for the border
If you can find it
Maybe you’ll find an angel walking by your side

All words and music copyright 2017 by David Snyder, ASCAP/Day of Faith Records

David Snyder: Vocals, piano, synthesizers, orchestration, production, arrangement and mastering.


****** Song Summary *************

Title: Oh By The Way

Style is _DUBSRCK.STY (Alt Dubstep and Rock[70RS])

RealTracks in style: 2298:Bass, Synth, DanceRockBuzzBass Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1742:Synth, Rhythm ModernDancePopRaveStringsHeld Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1527:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopPowerBrightClean Ev 120
Loop in Style: HipHop\Old School - gangstar_beat_95b ev16 quiet.wav
RealDrums in style: TechnoElectro^GH-a:HatSnap, b:Snap

(Viola RT in intro with David Snyder on Piano)

*******************

Hi David.

Great track! Why am I left thinking Pink Floyd?

These are the sort of lyrics to which everyone manages to relate, but to which everyone applies a different meaning. Very deep.

Loved the whole feel of the track and was impressed with the chord sequence.

Excellent mix in the phones and on the mains.

Most enjoyable.

ROG.

David,

I've have been enjoying all of your edgy songs lately. They have a bite and presence that really looms large, in addition to the excellent vocals and production values.

Awesome!

Bob

David, I like the way you think outside the box (no pun intended). You constantly explore the limits and boundaries of the program and make things work in a nice way. I liked that chord progression in those verses. I was reminded of Led Zep in this. Thanks, Torrey.

Well David, this took us by surprise that.... emotional side of you
Nuf said, simply beautiful!

Rob and Anne-Marie

David

Sounds great - nicely put together and I particularly liked the chorus.
Great work and interesting arrangement.

Peter

Very creative and different, as always!
Intro is great. Neat progression and cool the method you used to generate it.

Lots of great lyrics, my favorite line is "Oh by the way
I am an orphan in the universe these days"

Nice one, David!

Thanks ROG,

That is a wonderful compliment and really made my day. So glad you enjoyed it!!!

Thanks Bob,

Just trying to keep up with ya man.

Glad you enjoyed it!!

Thank you Torrey. I have been really loving your new songs as well!

Hey Rob and Anne-Marie,

I know, I know, it is hard for me to show my emotional side, but sometimes I break through.



Thanks for the kind words!!

Super track David. I am with Rog on this one. Was thinking Pink Floyd as well. Very creative piece well done

Awesome song.

Awesome songwriting. One of your best, I think. There are wonderful lines throughout this...

"So I climbed over the walls
And I drive hard against the rain..."

"I am an orphan in the universe these days..."

"We are deserted, and disregarded
And there’s no one useful
on the phone..."

"could you lead us please to slightly higher ground..."

"We fight for water
But I am thirsty for things
This world cannot satisfy..."

...to mention a few.

Super band! Great use of the boys in the Box.. and your own additions...

Well put together. Good mix. An excellent listen - truly...

fj

David, very interesting the way you put this together. Some great lyrics worthy of many listens. I believe this is your best vocal. Really delivered the song. A super listen that I enjoyed a lot. Tom

Major Sound!

love what's going on here,

it is a really good vocal

I thought of Peter Gabriel, listening to this

very dream like lyrics

some dark and even sarcastic, some slightly hopeful

that's just what I got out of it, it's open to many interpretations

enjoyed it

Kenny

Ok, Kenny, so by mentioning Peter Gabriel, you just made my life!!!

Thank you so much!!!

Thank you Peter!!

Thanks Dave!!!

Thank you Scott! Pink Floyd will do!

Thank you buddy!!! That means the world to me!

I am really glad you enjoyed it. Awesome is good.



Thanks again Floyd.

Thanks Tom!!

Truly exceptional stuff!! So creative, so interesting. That groove is infectious and your lyrics are abstract but compelling (John Lennon kind of thing). I could have listened to this song go on for another 10 minutes. Really extraordinary work David!! Always look forward to your creative compositions! Take care. Greg

Hello, David

Very unique chord progression!
However, it's wonderful there is no place where the melody is failing.
I agree with Torrey. You constantly explore the limits and boundaries of the program and make things work in a nice way.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

"could you lead us please to slightly higher ground"

Really. Not the highest just a bit higher.

Helluva write, vocal and production. The amount of creativity in this is staggering. And it shows throughout every aspect of the production.

We like intelligent writes that are not overly intellectualized and allows the listener room to connect some personal dots.

Excellent.

J&B

Sorry to be so late getting to this but Di is very sick and it has consumed most of my time.

Wow! What a full, big sound! And your vocal is outstanding. This great in every way we can think of. So many "big" songs on the forum is this is one of the best. Outstanding in every way. We're on our second listen as I type this. We're very impressed, to say the least.

Alan & Di

I enjoyed this. The lyrics are intriguing. Early Pink Floyd meets Joy Division.

Wow, this is a really unique piece David! From the chord progression, to the lyrics, this is a wonderful song. Thanks so much for sharing!

____________________
Cheers,
Deryk

Thanks Greg! Next time I will make a 20 minute for you man.

Thanks so much for the kind words!!

Thanks Shigeki!

I am really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the very kind words.

Thanks Janice and Bud,

I am so glad you enjoyed it!

I am having so much fun doing this.

It does feel kinda illegal to be having this much fun.

Oh, my heart goes out to Di. I hope you feel better soon Di!

Thanks for the very kind words as well.

Wow Lambada, Joy Division!!! Yes! You are so right!

Long time since I thought of those guys, Should go dig up my tapes!



Thanks for the insights and kind words.

Thank you Deryk,

I am so glad you enjoyed it!!

David,

Once more it seems that you take a left turn when the street sign says to turn right!

There's no doubting it, creativity takes you along roads that few of us have ever discovered. As others above have said, there are some incredibly vibrant lines in these lyrics. "I am an orphan in the universe" was particularly rich with imagery for me.

The overarching sound of your mix is excellent! It sounds like Lurssen really packs some punch.

All the best,
Noel

Ok David, I don't comment very often on your songs, or really many songs at all. I've been treating the showcase more like a radio station that what it is probably meant for...interaction.

So, here we go. I enjoy your songs a lot. They always stretch my thinking and break me out of the totally commercial world I live in. You are very artistic in what you do. It's fun to hear someone express themselves so freely; and with so many varied ideas.

The best way I can express this feeling to you is...
I say something like "You think SO outside the box!"
You say "Dude...that's not a box"
Mind blown, matrix moment.

Thanks, as always, even if I haven't expressed it. Working on that!

Thanks Noel,

That really means a lot! I appreciate your "overarching sound" comment. That is what I was striving for!

Yeah, that Lurssen mastering program does work quite well. Very impressive piece of software. Thanks for the listen!

Thanks Hear to Learn!

Love the matrix comment/analogy!

That made my day. It was kind of the matrix piecing this together. It is the first song I have ever staged in overlapping parts.

Tricky but fun. So glad you like it!!

An interesting parallel to me in your musical craft is the maturity I see between you as a songwriter and a songwriter with Band in a Box.

You with Band in a Box is similar to the change of Lennon and McCartney and George Harrison when they transitioned from a touring band to a studio band with unlimited time in the studio. Their creativity was not fully released nor realized until they abandoned touring and went full time into the studio to play and experiment.

I'm unsure if your weak link to greatness might be nothing more than you haven't been harnessed by someone like George Martin as they were. Over time, we learned George Martin was much more instrumental and influential than what was once thought. I think Band in a Box is your Abbey Roads Studio.

This song is a great example of you experimenting and playing around, testing the bounds of what you can pull out of BIAB and doing this with more complexity and creativity than you realize. You can be quirky, funny and serious with your lyrics and creative in your musical arrangements. This song is a great example of you and your music. Band in a Box is more than a tool to you, it's your creative gateway.

Charlie

Charlie, this is just about the most most amazing thing I have ever read with regard to Band in a Box, my musical journey, and my use of Band in a Box.

PG Music, feel free to excerpt this anywhere you want.

Charlie, this is so insightful I don't even know where to begin but I will take a stab.

First I am a huge Beatles fan, and of McCartney in particular. Pre-Box in a Box (i.e. before Herb Hartley told me to get out my credit card and it would be the best move I ever made) I was always very frustrated in getting the sounds I wanted as an artist.

From my very first package (2014 basic pack with maybe 29 Real Real Tracks) I felt like a kid in an Indiana Jones movie stumbling into a treasure cave with the lost fortune of a Pharaoh. I was stunned and said to myself "Oh My God, there's no limit now. There really is no limit. Look at all those piles of gold. Holy cow."

It did not take long to get my credit card back out and order the ultra pak, and soon came the audiophile versions and every VST known to man.

So, yes, absolutely, I am totally obsessed with the worlds, galaxies, parallel universes, and distant planets Band in a Box has made available. There is no question that the tool (as a virtual studio) has become my songwriting partner and producer. On this song, I wrote a piano riff, asked the program what I was doing and it kinda suggested the chord progression. How much more George Martin or Abbey Road can you get?? Even my brother (who is a professional producer) said the same thing. He said: "It looks like you managed to cram Abbey Road into one room here dude."

So yeah, I am composing with a robot for a buddy, but loving every single second of it, and completely, madly obsessed.

I would also say, just hang on man. You ain't seen nothing yet. I'm just getting warmed up.



Thanks a billion for the comments Charlie. They really blew me away. Very insightful.

hi David nice work with biab great lyrics this is a very good peace it has a strong engaging effect on the listener good vocal ever thing fit perfect thanks for sharing eric

Thanks F.M.M., I really appreciate that!! Hope you had a great weekend and so glad you enjoyed the songs!

Definitely hearing more Pink Floyd than Beatles.

Nice - melodic with strong lyrics.

Very nice listening and great production.
You've been very able using those effect and putting them in the song.

Great result.

Sergio

Hi David,

Well, I left a comment over on the Soundcloud track but it appears I never came back here to follow up with a comment. Di's health is really bad and have been attending to that plus all the domestic chores. She had a pretty good day today.

Anyway, this is very creative and what a splendid production! Your vocal is great and this is just so danged good! What a treat! Best to you,

Alan

Thanks Al and Di! Stilling continuing to remember both of you in my thoughts and prayers. Hope Di starts to get better and feel better soon!!! Sending lots of love and positive vibes your way.

Hang in there!

Thank you Sergio!

Everybody keeps saying Pink Floyd! Well, I guess I will have to live with that!

Thanks Dave!!

Thank you so much Floyd!!! Your kindness is always appreciated.

Just trying to keep up with you my country brother, though I know it is an impossible task!!

Wow! Thank you so much, I really appreciate that! Glad you liked it!

Thank you man, that means a lot!

Your song is like a wonderful mash-up between modern music and classic rock ( the vocals in specific ). It goes really well together!

Keep up the awesome work!

Thank you so much Ember!!! I really appreciate that. You may be new to PG Music, because I have not seen your name before, and if so welcome to the forum!!!!!

Thanks again for your kind words, they really made my day!

David,
that was a very interesting song on multiple levels! Good job!

First of all, I thought that your approach of starting with a pattern then reverse engineering it into a chord pattern yielded results that sound quite original. I don't think it would be easy to achieve a similar sound just by typing in a bunch of chords then generating a style over the chords in BIAB.

Secondly, I think your use of loops also works to create a unique sound for your song. As a result, I don't think the average person would guess that this song was created with BIAB.

Thirdly, I think your lyrics for this song are very interesting for a variety of reasons. They remind me of Beatle-esque lyrics that could make sense in more than one way, depending on your interpretation.. but at face value the listener has to wonder if they make sense at all.

All in all I think you've come up with something very good here. It is highly listen-able, and it has a very good and unique sound.

One drawback of a chord progression in which the chords keep changing with a single descending note is that you have to take extra pains with your melody, or you're bound to create half-step dissonance between your melody and your chords. I think this song has that dissonance. Maybe it was your intent. However I think that a melody that was written to stay true to those interesting chords would have been even more powerful

Or not. At the end of the song, the writer has all of the creative control. You make the decisions, then the audience says whether or not it worked for them. My report is that the songs construction worked very well ... so well it's hard to put it into words. But, I didn't think the melody was refined enough to become the crowning glory of this excellent song.

Thank you Pat,

Nice to hear from you again. It's been a while.

Thanks for the insights. Nice to hear from you as always. Hope you are well.