Hi, all:

Here’s a collaboration with Christian Devienne. Christian did the music and I penned the lyrics and did the vocal. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this when Christian first sent it to me, but I'm glad I stuck with it and gave it a go . . . a little bit of a different sound from our previous collabs but hopefully one that works.

Extra kudos to Christian on the production front. The song was originally written in Dm, but I knew pretty early on I couldn’t sing this song in that key. So, I sent Christian a work tape (just me singing alone on my guitar) in Bm, which I felt pretty good about. But Christian rightly suggested that we go down further and do it in Am, and did the extra work to transpose the tune. I think a good call, but let us know what you think.

As always, appreciate the feedback and suggestions.

My best regards to you all,

Deej

Here’s the song:

JUMP BALL

Here are the lyrics:

Momma’s in the kitchen
Daddy’s tending to his shine
And, girl, my heart is itching
Still wondering if you’ll be mine

All the things you say
Make me think you want me too
I asked you home to stay
Now you’re acting so aloof
Momma thinks you love me
But it could go either way
Daddy says it’s what they call
A jump ball

Grandma’s on the front porch
Sipping on a glass of tea
She say’s I’m carrying a hot torch
And, honey, it’s so plain to see

Love will come in time
Or love won’t come at all
It’s a hill you gotta climb
And either way you gonna fall
But, son, she says you never know
Love can be sublime
If it’s meant to be at all
It’s a jump ball

Come into my arms girl
Let me feel you close to me
Be my lucky charm girl
And let love be our destiny

Love me inside out
Baby, make my dreams come true
Let there be no doubt
That you love me through and through
But baby please don’t tell me
That you’re not sure if you do
That our love’s really after all
Just a jump ball

Here’s the band:

RD HipHop
RD RnBModernEv16^3
Loop Funk Rock Rides
RT 515 Electric Bass
RT 3247 Solo Electric Guitar
RT 3492 Electric Guitar
RT 3251 Baritone Guitar
RT 4170 Electric Guitar
RT 2355 Baritone Sax
RT 1058 Alto Sax
RT 3774 Electric Guitar
RT 3775 Electric Guitar

Fun and funky! Love the production and the spacing of the instruments throughout. The key sounds right for your vocals. Nice!

Deej,

This is excellent. Love your vocal. The production is also perfect - your vocal is so balanced in the mix.

Great song and collaboration!

Bob

Deej...nice collab with Christian...Really like the hook and the lyric fits it so well...it's a little different genre for you but done well...Christian fashioned a cool funky track that marries nicely with the lyrical rhythm and pace...great vocal (as usual)... well done!

Catchy and funky, and the key change seems to be perfect for your voice.
I like it!

Hi Deej.
I had to look up "jump ball".
This is a different style for you.
It all fits together well but I noticed a few spots here and there where the alto sax was lacking punch.
It could be my ears so don't worry too much about it.

Vic

Deej,

Cool music. Different, interesting, original.
Good vocals.
Good write.
Good mix.

Enjoyed a couple of listens.

fj

There's a lot of interesting thing going here, which is very cool.

Your vocal sounds great.

As others said: funky.

I like it!

Hi DJ and Christian.

This is brilliant!!! I love the funky groove and the infectious 'feeling great' rhythmical accompaniment pattern. In addition, the arrangement is awesome! It's inventive and it sits perfectly with the vocals.
DJ, you sound really fantastic. I love that ABABXBCC rhyme scheme in the 8-line sections. It creates an excellent lyric flow, and I really love the finish of the perfect-rhyme couplet at the end of each of these sections. To be honest, I don't think there is a better way of making a lyric-flow equivalent of a period (we call them 'full stops' here in Australia) than a rhyming couplet. I also really liked the use of spondee meter with "jump ball". Most of the other lyrics have syllables that alternate between weak and strong but the ultimate lyric phrase, and the song's hook, consists of two stressed syllables side by side. That's top shelf kind of writing!

Hmmm... I'd describe this as "fantastic on vitamin tablets". It's that good.

All the best,
--Noel

WOW!! This is so cool, Christian and Deej. Yeah, that bass drives it and I love your vocal. You got some of your inner Elvis coming through, and it's cool. This is a terrific collab. Great feel and production.

Get down, Deej! You and Christian do this genre very well.

Your vocal sounds great and exudes attitude. The band is cooking (love the sax) and the lyric is fun.

Waaaaay cool!

J&B

DC Ron, Bob, Dan, BD, Vic, Floyd, David, Noel, Marty, and J&B:

Thanks all for the listens and the comments. A few specific comments on the feedback:

Vic: I’m sure Christian will give the sax another look. As for the “Jump Ball” reference, I actually had to explain it to Christian as well. And I was a little worried as to whether it worked, but seems like most folk understood it and it worked well in context.

Noel: The rhyme scheme was something else I toyed with. My instinct was to keep it ABABXBCC . . . but I couldn’t shake the “But could go either way” line, so I went ABABXACC . . . the exception being in that last chorus. Glad you appreciated it and that it worked.

J&B: Who woulda thunk I could "get down"? Not me, LOL.

My best to you all,

Deej

Drej and Christian,

Excellent job on a funky, bluesy tune! That bass line really makes this one interesting! Deej your vocals are always super! Great job by both of you!

Thanks, TB

Funky as all get-out. Fun song with a fun band.
The key suits you Deej.
Cheers,
Mike

Cool!!

Definitely funky!

Really nice.

My favorite part in terms of phrasing is the rhythm of the very opening lines.

Now that's some deep pocket!!

This collab works well. The funky backing marries to the outstanding lyrics perfectly. I am from a big basketball family so I loved the hook. Deej, your vocal kills it every time! Your voice is so distinctive and just a pleasure to listen to. Well done, Tom

Deej56 = Mr. VERSATILE.

Great, funky piece by Christian Devienne, to which Deej56 applies world-class vocals, and shows once again that he could sing the proverbial phone book, if he had to.

Hats off to the both of you. They say that the end result is what matters in such productions, and this is top notch from the both of you - no idea HOW it was done, but it's certainly brilliantly done.

Torrey, Mike, David, Tom, and James:

Thanks much for the listens and feedback. Glad you liked the tune!

My best to you all. Stay safe and well!

Deej

Funny lyrics work well, the title is an interesting metaphor. The intro grabs attention immediately. Catchy funky rhythm, good solo guitar selection and those saxes sound really great! Enjoyable vocals, especially the low register and huhs.

Janne

You guys had me from the git-go.
Cool groove.
Great vocal.
Super mix.
This is as funky and funk can get.

IMHO you best to date.

I like it. Not only is the tune catchy, but so is the instrumentation and groove.
You got the right key, that's for sure.

Deej and Chris ...

Some real nice funk going on here! In my opinion, the vocal is placed just right. I would like to have heard just bit more low EQ on the bass. But, that's probably just me. I tend to like full bass lines. Regardless, this one has some real funk - I love it!

Yes, different from your usual collab with Chris, but a nice deviation. Nice work by both of you. Cool & funky.

Alan

Hi Deej and Chris,

Well, that surely is something different!
Lovely funky song, good band and -of course- excellent vocals!
So, I join all compliments on your song.

Still, there is something i want to ask you:
When that 'Jump ball' comes in, in my head I hear bg singers sing that along with you.
And towards the end 'Jump ball' ends with a lot of voices.
But you did nothing of the kind.
I'm sure you've thought about it. Why did you choose not to do that?

Hans

Janne, Mario, Ezekiel, Alan and Hans:

Thanks much for the listens and kind feedback. Much appreciated.

Hans: Why not have some BGVs sing along on "jump ball"? Well, because it just never occurred to me, LOL. But it's a really good idea and maybe worth revisiting (particularly if it was the vocals of Mom, Dad, and Granny chiming in along with the singer). Perhaps someday!

Thanks all,

Deej