Hi everyone,

It was my plan to release this song in august, but it was ready now. So I thought, why wait?
The title suggest some heavy stuff, but it is not. It is light Bluesy song with a nice chorus (I think).
I pictured myself driving a car on the highway, thinking about everything related to my (former) relation. And how to get rid of it, now that it's starting to look a bit like stalking. I hope you believe me, but all of this is fiction. No one ever stalked me...

I bet some part of you will swing (probably your feet)when listening to this song. If not, listen again(?)
Maybe this sounds a little too frivolous, but I had some setbacks producing it. Now I am very relieved I succed in finishing it. I do hope you like it.

Hans Berkhout (Birchwood)

The song: https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130/stop-stalking

The style and instruments:
Style:_CARRYON.STY
BiaB
RealTracks: 2260:Bas, Elektric, Funky Groove 60s Gel 100
RealTracks: 2157:Piano, Elektric Vintage, Funky Groove 60s John Gel 100
RealTracks: 2677:Guitar, Acoustic, Blues Gel 85
Loop: Dubstep\Dubstep - saviour_140_drum_loop_1_e_minor ev8.wav
RealTracks: 1706:Guitar, Elektric, Soloist Country Brent Gel 85
RealDrums:DrivingPop8ths^02-a:Kick, b:HiHat, QuarterKick

Me
Keyboard1: Native Instr. Guitar, bowed strings
Keyboard 2: Native Instr. Guitar, muted strings

The lyrics:
Stop Stalking
(c) HWBerkhout, july 15 2020

Verse
I drove the highway A44
I had no course driving for
(Harmony: Kind of lonely, this fridaynight)
Still hear the words you once said;
"Love was not what we had"

Still on that highway, 80 miles an hour
Desperately in need of a hot shower
(Harmony: Kind of lonely, this fridaynight)
I started sweating. almost lost control
You want me back. That was your call

Chorus
Oh please woman, don't bother me no more
It ain't you I'm longing for
Stop your stalking, get out of my head
You're only driving me mad
I can't remember  when we've been friends
Way back you decided "Here it ends"
Why are you calling me? That is wrong
You had to know we can't get along
So tell me, what's going on?

Verse
It was your decision to make me feel bad
It still hurts, the things you said
(Harmony: Kind of lonely, every night)
All these words burn in my head:
"Love was not what we had", argh!

=solo=

Chorus
Oh please woman, don't bother me no more
It ain't you I'm longing for
Stop your stalking, get out of my head
You're only driving me mad

Verse
I loved you with all my heart
but that was wrong, I wasn't smart
(Harmony: Kind of lonely, every night)
All the messages I ever sent to you
You never took notice, I was so blue

Chorus
Oh please woman, don't bother me no more
It ain't you I'm longing for
Stop your stalking, get out of my head
You're only driving me mad
     -2x-

So tell me, why you don't understand?

Hi everyone,

I am really very surprised this song isn’t getting any attention in this forum.
I never experienced this before here. Did I do something wrong or is the song that bad? Let me know, please.

Hans

Hi Hans,

The forum is a strange place these days, lots of people posting songs but not bothering to listen to anyone else's songs.

First of all, nice groove and great bluesy feel, especially during the intro and verses. Very different feel during the chorus, almost country I guess.

Cool solo! And nice arrangement too.

Vocal wise, very good, I especially liked what you did during the "Kind of lonely, this friday night" line.

Good one, listened a couple of times.

Hans,

(Like Dave said, there are a lot of posters who feel that their stuff is all that matters...a sad situation.)

This is really good. Well written. Your use of near-rhymes is really impressive. And a good BAND. Really had my foot tapping.

The vocal is well done. But is is a little "too crispy". You could roll off a lot of the high EQ - to give it some "warmth" and let it sit in the mix just a little more (the overall mix of instruments is good).

I like it. Kept my attention well. Still tapping my toe...

(I like the picture, too!)

fj

Hans,
Interesting tapestry of music and singing. Some unusual twists for a blues song.
Your skills are definitely getting better in composition vocals and production.
Vocals sit well, no complains However, you take hits well, so here is my suggestion of an amateur. It seems you like "certain" fx chain. Maybe try to do a complete opposite of your comfort zone, just for fun of it. We are in some way have common traits, like experimenting with different genres, so this would not hurt the overall perception.

Here is an idea for you for this tune. The solo from 2:17... Last ultra pack included some very cool female Oohs and ahhs vocals. Since it is a "relationship" tune, these might very well work for the solo.

P.S. I think because many places had opened since our little health situation, people, for good or bad are taking advantage to go places they missed past few months. So I believe that in part contributed to forum participation.

Thank you for sharing. Cool tune!

Misha.

Oh, great sounds, Hans. I love the story idea and your delivery is perfect. An interesting mix, and I like how everything lays comfortably --except I feet the guitar is a bit too loud. You're right. This song got me up dancin'.

Hi Dave, thanks for responding listening and commenting the song.
Sending this second post was the first thing I did this morning when I woke up. Afterwards I thought 'why'? There must be more important things in life than feeling bad about the lack of attention for a song. But I admit, it was hurting me a bit. Then your reactions came; you, Floyd, Misha and Marty! And that saved this dejected day ;-)
And I agree; something is changing on this normally so kind and attentive forum. I hope it can be adjusted in being that kind of forum again.

About the song; I wrote different lyrics at first. Nothing about stalking, but being lonely after a breach and how to pick up my life again (the 'ordinary'stuff). So in the song I had to be very angry about the woman who did this to me. At first I called the song 'You Woman', because you can sing that quite aggresive. But then I thought it to sound too unfriendly to women. I changed the line in the chorus into 'Please woman', and 'Stop your talking' into 'stop your stalking'. But the harmony in that line you mentioned stayed, although now I couldn't do much with that line anymore (finding me someone else or so).




Floyd, I had you in mind doing that tapping! Thanks for doing that and commenting the song. I won't repeat what I wrote to Dave about 'me and the forum', but I hope the bad 'habit' can be changed again. I appreciate your attention. I haven't heard that crispyness
but will adjust the eq on the vocals as long as it keeps you tapping!



Hi Misha, we'd walked a long way in taming the sound of our songs! But I'm very happy you telling me I'm improving. As do you!
But still I am far away from a 'comfort zone'. I learn every day, experimenting with the sounds and all that. Your suggestion with the ooh's and aah's I actually used on this song (not in the part you mentioned), but I removed it again, because it didn't gave me the kind of mood i was searching for. So I did all the singing myself. But at this very moment I'm working on a song where these vocals play a major role! So your wish...
And about the fx. I am working again with the fabFilter fx-es. In this song I used it on two vocals and as a master De-esser. But please continue with these kind of suggestions. I listen and try things out all the time. Only at the drums I think I have some kind of comfort zone...



Hi Marty, I didn't saw that comming; you dancing on this song. Tapping was the most I could wish from you all, but dancing...!
thanks for that compliment! But I have a question: what guitar you think was a bit too loud. I used four guitars. Two from BiaB (the acoustic fingerpick and the electric solo guitar and two I did on my keyboard. I quess you mean the electric sologuitar?
While I adjust that one, please continue dancing on the song ;-)

Stay save in these turbulent times,
Hans

Hans,

Enjoyable song, nice arrangement and an interesting bluesy, country, band.

A good song well performed.

Peter

Hi Hans Love this song. I have been absent from the forum these days. Up here in Northern Canada For about two months we experience summer. So it’s outside out of the studio and into the sun. I have been lurking from time to time and have seen lots of song being posted but very little commenting. I know for the new people to the forum it’s a kind of watch an learn thing. But for the people who have been around for awhile it is hard to understand why they just don’t drop a comment on song and offer some words of encouragement. That’s all it takes and maybe they will try to make another song. I can’t tell you how much I have learned. I am an old school rocker that has acquired a taste for Jazz.

That was fun.
The rhythms that begin the choruses seem too fussy and busy...the verse one is much more supportive.
I know you need variation in the structure but a simpler one would work better for me.
Your vocal is strong and the backing parts are good - they do seem to pile up though so panning the supporting parts a little further from the main would be handy.
Cool stuff.

Very strong and yet sad lyrics, well performed. Sweaty arrangement works well, especially that funky bass - nice driving feel and I can almost smell the burning rubber. The loop in the chorus is bit distracting, maybe the loudest hits could be lowered?

Janne

Hi Peter, thanks for your comment/compliments. It was meant the way you said; just an enjoyable song, with a nice rhythm. sometimes you don't have to make something complex. Makes your feet tap!



Hi Scott, That's a good thing to do, holidays in Northern canada. To me that sounds cold, very cold. Even though you call it (kind of)summer! About the changing things in this forum, I was thinking if there could be two kinds of forum: one just for posting songs and have fun with that and the other kind where one also post songs but the main purpose is giving/getting advises or tips on doing things better or telling you like how it's done and ask how it is done. Things like that. Even an old schoolrocker like yourself will feel at 'home' at this kind of school. Well, don't shoot me for this. It is the kick-off for finding a satisfactory method. Who knows maybe a discussion on this topic will give us good answers...?
And thanks for your judgement on the song!



Hi Ray, Yes fun it was! I even had to calculate how fast 80 miles per hour was since we deal with kilometers here. And it had to be a fairly normal speed for someone in the condition I was singing about.
And that 'condition' is reflected in how the chorus was build. It isn't so complicated, but yes it is different. I listened a few times to it with your comment in my head (and on my montor). I panned those vocals, the whole song was fairly wide, but I will look if I can change it further. You see, I listen although you just wrote this because I complained I had no listeners anymore. And also because I had some suggestion on your song as well, am I right? ;-)

Thanks again for your reactions!
Hans

Hi Janne, I just finished my answering the other posters and after pushing the submit-button I saw you posted as well.
Thanks for your compliments. About that loop. At first it was in, then I took it out, again in along with two other rhytmic instruments on my keyboard and so on. so, I had my doubts too, but after all this I got so used to that loop, I kept it.
But I heard other 'complains' on the song, so I try to fix them together, all-in-one!

Have a nice day,
Hans

"Oh please woman, don't bother me no more
It ain't you I'm longing for
Stop your stalking, get out of my head
You're only driving me mad"

And it's also hard to get this song outa your head.

Excellent through and through. Simply a great groove.

I think floyd mentioned liking the effective near rhymes...
they open up possibilities that often escapes me.

Well done and really enjoyable!

J&B

Hans, first I want to thank you for bumping this excellent song. Yep, my foot was a tapping from the git-go. Super vocal and lyrics mixed to perfection.

This is an excellent song.

Right now life is getting in my way of making music big time. I try to listen at least twice a week but I'll tell you this forum is like rabbits, every day a page or two of new songs! Unfortunately I can't keep up and consequently I miss a lot of good songs. I'm really glad you bumped this masterpiece!

Hi Hans,

Another good song from you. At first I thought it was on the busy side but it never got messy. Rather, it made the tune interesting for me. I usually am not successful when I try that. Congratulations!

As others have said, this starts off with a funky groove, and builds from there.

I enjoyed the vocals - especially the doubling/harmonies. Love your expressiveness.

Really cool guitar parts.

I like this one a lot.

That's a cool song. It has a grittiness to it that is appealing.

Yeah... it takes a while for enough people to listen to get a comment. I experience about a 1 comment for 10 listens. Your mileage may vary.

Yessir!

Hi J&B, that's a nice compliment, saying the song is hard getting out of your head (and what followed after that!
I'm shining like a... pair of just brushed shoes!
About the 'near rhymes'; I think it has to do with wanting lines to rhyme, but not finding the proper words. Also I have less words to choose from as in my own language, because of the lack of knowledge. It makes me more creative in that regard, I guess (?)
But did your feet tapped?



Hi Mario, together with the post of Janice and Bud I'm now shining like... whatever, but it made my day! Thanks! and I am happy I got your feet moving ;-)
I agree with you it is difficult to listen to all new songs. There are so many. And, speaking for myself, I like to listen thoroughly to give serious commments. But it takes a lot of time. so I also select what to listen to and what not. The only thing was, I posted it two or three days ago and got nothing on it. I was not used to that 'treatment'. It is bad if these things influence you too much, but it did. I am working on it now...




Hello TuneMonger, thanks for you kind words. As you may have read some posters have made remarks on that 'busy side'. So not everyone agreed with you on this. And I had some doubts too. I removed the loop 3 times and placed it back again. I discovered I liked the accent it gave on the percussion in the chorusses, so in the end it stayed in. I used Neutron 3 Visual mixer to help me position all the instruments and vocals. But is was a 'time consuming' proces.



Hi Dave, thanks for your compliments. The shiny things I mentioned in my answer to the other posters turn out to be my face. I discovered that after reading your post. My wife told me...



Hello Guitarhacker, Thanks for the kind words and yes, I know I was too spoiled to expect some comments on my song. But I think this Forum spoiled me. You gave me so much friendly comments and/or tips and tricks on all my songs. Allright, not as much as Floyd or J&B, but still many and useful, funny, friendly. That inspires me too, you know. But you are right about the varying of the mileage.

Thanks all of you and -again- stay save,
Hans

Hi Marty,

That's wonderfull!
BTW; the adjustments will take some time. I'm working on something else, probably not your taste and certainly not a feet tapper. But still interesting!

bye,
Hans

Hi Hans,

Sorry that I am late to the party. I am trying to listen to as many songs as possible but because of some personal issues I am way behind... which always leaves a dilemma... should I go 2 months back in time and listen to songs... or should I only listen to the newly posted tracks? I have decided for a mix between the two options... I listen to some older tracks and some newer songs. I - unfortunately - do not have time to listen to all tracks... and I know I will miss some good stuff for this reason.

I liked your expressive song... it had many good elements! If I was you I would take the good advice that Floyd Jane wrote to you... it could make the vocals better.

Thanks a lot for sharing,
Will

Never mind Will, I understand. All those dilemmas don't make our life easy. But I am glad you listened to this song. And thanks for your comment on it.
I already said I will adjust aspects of it when I get the time to do it. You're right, the eq could sort of remove that nasty high end from my vocals. It will take a while, because I'm now rebuilding my studio and also mixing a new song I want to place on the forum somewhere around next week.

Enjoy your day,
Hans

Not usually my scene, but I enjoyed this one Hans, everything about it oozes quality. Well done

Hello to you too.
Was there something you want to tell me?

Hans

Hi Furry,

Thanks for your comment, but don't feel obliged to listen to my songs jut because I listened to yours. But of course I feel happy that you did ;-)

Hans

Och that's no problem Hans, I try and listen to as many as I can, but sadly just don't have the time. Even recording 3 videos a day for facebook takes time