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Link: A Dream Within A Dream Version 2: A Dream Within A Dream (A BIG "thank you" to Ray for his suggestions to improve the prosody of the lyrics.) A reply to one of Floyd's songs (see here https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=819525#Post819525) gave me the idea to write a song about the old Descartes quote “I think, therefore I am”. Do I _really_ exist or am I just part of a dream? Or a dream within a dream? Or an AI gone wild? Since this is a deeply philosophical question, I've decided NOT to write another radio-friendly pop song that will never be played on the radio. This song is, um, something else (and will never be played on the radio). For lack of a suitable genre (at least I couldn't find anything suitable), I'll call this "Symphonic Theatrical Punk" until I'm told otherwise. Poor man's Richard Wagner or something. It may not be to everyone's taste, but I had a lot of fun writing it and got (most of) the lyrics for free from a guy in the US of A, so how could I resist? Lessons learned:- I am definitely not Elton John. It is NOT easy for me to write music to existing lyrics.
I'm not wired that way
I admire him for that gift - Poe's prosody doesn't lend itself to songs. It was never meant to be abused in this way by an unworthy fellow from Germanistan.
Had a hard time making this sound musical. - It's a bit out of my comfort zone, but as they say "no risk no fun", and I learned a lot and that alone was worth the effort
- almost maxed out my DAW. A symphonic orchestra needs juicy hardware.
- for a long time I didn't know _at all_ if I could make this song work, or if the puzzle was just TOO big for me to solve.
Feedback (the good, the bad and the ugly) as always highly appreciated. As always, a BIG thank you to Marty for taking the time to listen to my WIP and give me feedback. Some technical information:Style: BOTTLE.STY The band:Bass: 2754 Drums: BluesRockEv + SkaSlow70sWes Piano: 1533 Guitars: 697, 648, 3623, 3738, 3931, 4387, 4388, 522 + myself Viola: 2336 Violin: 2512 Synths, church organ, symphonic orchestra and other shebang: yours truly Vocals: Goldmania Bella Mixed by B.D. Thomas You can find the lyrics in the next post.
Last edited by B.D.Thomas; 09/02/24 01:00 PM. Reason: Remix link added
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Title: A Dream Within A Dream
(Intro)
All we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream
A dream
A dream
A dream
(Verse)
Take my kiss upon the brow
And, in parting from you now
Thus much let me avow
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day
In a vision, or in none
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream
(Chorus)
A dream
A dream
A dream
Is all we see or seem
(Verse)
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand
How few yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep
While I weep in my sleep
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! Can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
(Chorus)
A dream
A dream
A dream
Is all we see or seem
(Verse)
In the silence, there's a scream
Echoes shatter through a dream
Lost in shadows, lost in time
A silent crime
I'll rise, or will I fall?
Fading echoes of a soul
Every whisper, every cry
Fades like an eerie, sinister lullaby
(Bridge)
O God! Can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream?
(Chorus)
A dream
A dream
A dream
Is all we see or seem
(Bridge)
O God! Can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream?
(Outro)
A dream
A dream
A dream
A dream
Is all we see or seem
Last edited by B.D.Thomas; 08/28/24 01:38 PM. Reason: Lyrics added
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Although I know this Descartes fellow from the Cartesian Coordinate System, he certainly was quite the French philosopher and dreamer indeed; great subject for a song. Very enjoyable listen, I could see ABBA doing this. Great mix, great job. Cogito, ergo sum 
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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Brain, well, pretty sure this is the first time Descartes and Poe have gotten together on a tune. Ha! For a song that's out of your comfort zone, it all sounds impressively fluid and coherent. Love everything about this. The vocals are especially expressive and perfect for this genre, whatever it's called. The arrangement and mix are spot on, too. Well done!
The "radio-friendly pop song that will never be played on the radio" line hit a little close to home, but I'll get over it. Eventually. Ha (again)!!
DC Ron
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Quite a cool composition....symphonic rock. Right from the opening, I knew I was in for a treat. I'd say you were very successful in creating a song from those "lyrics" and in creating one awesome production.
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This is a complex composition comprising many parts, yet because the seamless transition between those parts, it succeeds as a coherent whole.
As for Poe (poor man) I don't rate him highly as a philosopher. His thoughts and questions (in this poem), though neatly framed, don't go nearly deep enough.
Comfort zones are for the faint-hearted. It's only when we step out of them that we begin to discover our true potential.
Great job!
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1st thought was that I'd have edited the ah from the end of words during the intro spoken section.
2nd the synth reading of "...surf-tormented.." was very rushed/concertinaed/unnatural.
I don't hear any punk in this - some meaty guitar sections that are more like Quarterflash or the synth/orchestral Emo perhaps.
I like the music - pretty cool!
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Totally enjoyable...and right up my alley lyrically speaking. I loved that "one from the pitiless wave" shift. The mood had a very interesting contrast between dream-like calm and waking angst. Sorry I can't offer much in regards to the production of it...not my area...though Ghostgum wrote seamless and I thought that word fit well.
Last edited by BYOBand; 08/29/24 12:43 AM.
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You Think and Dream.
Therefore, you make Music.
Good music.
Well thought out music.
Excellent Arrangement & Production.
You'd give Elton a run for his money.
An impressive effort.
fj
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Everything I would have said has already been said so all I can add is that this is an absolute masterpiece.
I think this is in your comfort zone, you just didn't know it until now.
Loved it
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
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Although I know this Descartes fellow from the Cartesian Coordinate System, he certainly was quite the French philosopher and dreamer indeed; great subject for a song. Very enjoyable listen, I could see ABBA doing this. Great mix, great job. Cogito, ergo sum Thank you BT! I wasn't thinking of ABBA when I wrote that, but I'm sure they could pull it off. Better than me, anyway 
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Brain, well, pretty sure this is the first time Descartes and Poe have gotten together on a tune. Ha! For a song that's out of your comfort zone, it all sounds impressively fluid and coherent. Love everything about this. The vocals are especially expressive and perfect for this genre, whatever it's called. The arrangement and mix are spot on, too. Well done! Thanks Ron ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/images/icons/default/thumbs_up.gif) It was a bit more difficult than my normal songs, but when it clicked and everything fell in place, it was much more satisfying. The "radio-friendly pop song that will never be played on the radio" line hit a little close to home, but I'll get over it. Eventually. Ha (again)!! You and I should start a radio station. "Fail-FM" or so 
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B.D...that was cool!...great conception or dream or what ever inspired this...super track...from ethereal to rock to classical to chamber to rock...really great journey for us...a wonderful "dreamscape"...man that must have been a ton of work...this maybe your genre...whatever it is...read the reviews...we loved it!
www.soundclick.com/firesongBiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10 You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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Really interesting tune and arrangement (That means I liked it).
Must have taken you a while and a lot of thought.
Well done.
Vic
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Quite a cool composition....symphonic rock. Right from the opening, I knew I was in for a treat. I'd say you were very successful in creating a song from those "lyrics" and in creating one awesome production. Thank you for your nice comment, Scott! I think you're right, symphonic rock seems to be a genre that fits.
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This is a complex composition comprising many parts, yet because the seamless transition between those parts, it succeeds as a coherent whole.
As for Poe (poor man) I don't rate him highly as a philosopher. His thoughts and questions (in this poem), though neatly framed, don't go nearly deep enough.
Comfort zones are for the faint-hearted. It's only when we step out of them that we begin to discover our true potential.
Great job! Thanks, Brian, for listening and your kind feedback. I actually like Poe more for his fictional works than his poetry, but the latter are easier to set to music. I wouldn't call him a philosopher.
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1st thought was that I'd have edited the ah from the end of words during the intro spoken section.
2nd the synth reading of "...surf-tormented.." was very rushed/concertinaed/unnatural.
I don't hear any punk in this - some meaty guitar sections that are more like Quarterflash or the synth/orchestral Emo perhaps.
I like the music - pretty cool! Ray, that's the perfect feedback I need when I'm in doubt. If your first thought is to end the spoken part with “a dream ... dream ... dream ...”, it's worth a try, I'll see if it works better. Good idea! “surf-tormented shore” was a struggle because I found absolutely no reference to the prosody when this is sung. My favorite was “surf <beat> tormented shore”, but I didn't think it was right because the adjective is “surf-tormented”, so it should be sung together. If you (or anyone else) confirms that the pause between “surf” and “tormented” is fine, I'll be happy to change it. I think the version Marty heard was like that. Thanks a ton, that's really helpful
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Brain,
Love this song... It has such a beautiful grand feel. Awesome production and mix.
Really great stuff!
Bob
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Really good man! Beautiful!!
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Excellent!
Love the Dream within a Dream concept.
So many layers in this! Really well done!
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