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This is a remake of a song I posted to the forum quite awhile back. I changed the style to _B140_BG Bossa with Nylon Guitar & Piano. I also added some mirimba which I find really fun...it evokes many a vacation. And finally, I evened out the vocals and took out some of the bits that didn't sound right to me. Anyhoo, here's the new version; the old was deleted for space saving. Opium Tears Opium Tears Reflected in mirrors And dreams lie her fears Relying on someone Who doesn’t have time Inspired, affected While he draws the line Swimming in oceans Sweeping away A day in the life A life in one day She’s rehearsed her outburst with nothing to defend She’s screaming and he’s held her or so she’d pretend But truth be known she’s frightened And the tears are stuck inside So she’s waiting out the force of the doubt So she can push the feelings aside Further she falls She opens her eyes She crawls Into disguise Falling away and Losing all touch Sunshine and madness It doesn’t take much If only he’d say that Those three little words He’d send her off In the sky like a bird She’s rehearsed her outburst with nothing to defend She’s screaming and he’s held her or so she’d pretend But truth be known she’s frightened And the tears are stuck inside So she’s waiting out the force of the pull So she can push the feelings aside In his embrace It's his smile she feels within her own face The Empress card is drawn It tells no lies Just like the Lovers She will learn to fly Way past the pyramid And out to the sun Her heart on fire With everything one
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Beth,
This has an excellent 60s nightclub sound. Love it! Great vocals, arrangement and mix. The marimba fits perfectly here.
Awesome ending. So well done.
Bob
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Ooo, I love the soaring vocal through that wonderfully gliding melody you crafted, Beth. Good band accomapniement, too. The vocal really sounds especially good, comfortable with emotion and so eloquent. You're right about the marimba --excellent choice. Love the feel, too.
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Beth, very intricate and skillfully executed song design. Love the rhythm and instrument choices, and the lyrics bounce off of them effortlessly. GREAT vocals, love all the subtle touches throughout. The harmonic tension in the "She can push the feelings aside" line is especially nice. I don't recall the first version, but LOVE this one.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Beth, your vocal was outstanding
Fantastic backing band - loved that marimba and groove
Super mix
IMHO this is your best to date
Loved it
OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Hi Beth
Wow! "Opium Tears" is absolutely captivating! From the moment the nylon guitar and piano gently intertwine, creating that dreamy Bossa Nova foundation, I was completely drawn in. The addition of the marimba is good! It truely does evoke the feeling of a blissful vacation.
The vocals are beautifully evened out . Your delivery has a haunting quality that perfectly complements the poignant lyrics. The story you tell is so evocative and relatable, painting vivid pictures of longing, fear, and the complexities of relationships. I especially loved the lines that felt like a deep dive into the character's internal struggles. The use of imagery, like "Swimming in oceans, sweeping away a day in the life, a life in one day," is just stunning.
The emotional journey of the song is so well-crafted. The way you build up to the repetition of the "She's rehearsed her outburst" verse, emphasizing the internal conflict, is incredibly powerful. And the ending, with the Empress card and the promise of learning to fly, leaves me (the listener) with a glimmer of hope and resilience.
This is a truly special song. The combination of the charming musical arrangement and the heartfelt, honest lyrics makes "Opium Tears" a real gem. You should be proud of this piece – it's a display of your talent and artistry! Thanks for sharing it with us. I listened to it multiple times and was moved all the way through. Keep creating!
yours
Izzy
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Thank you, Marty. Very kind.
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Thanks, Ron. I appreciate your comments.
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Thanks, Mario. 
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Izzy, you're very sweet. You're also very good with words. If I need a description for this song on some or other platform, I hope I can quote you.
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Excellent lyrical story. It's a recurring theme that's come up just recently from other online females contacts, plus also in a video I saw. IE: the evolution from "relying on someone who doesn't have time" (etc, etc,) to learning to fly £her heart on fire / with everything one." Love the marimba additions, too.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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I like this new backing band! Your vocal is strong and nuanced. Very enjoyable. And that marimba is a good addition (and fun!).
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I don't recall the original. However, this is a really good mix. Also a very good choice of instruments.
Nice work.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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We like this version also.
Your vocals shine with this sparse band.
We have been long time fans of open/airy mixes with subtle dynamics.
And this is a fine example of that. g
Oh, we agree that the marimbas fit nicely.
Enjoyed it!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Hi, Beth.
Your vocal is great, and the arrangement supports it well.
The lyrics are also cool - a good write, and it's got your unique use of language.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Perfect Bossa for a late night drink in the bar down the street.
Excellent vocals, I think your voice really suits this genre very well.
Enjoyed my listen.
A lot!
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Good move: your songs grooves as a bossa nova. Very enjoyable vocals (I wish I had a singer like that in my studio!) and that marimba fits well too. A hit!
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Quite a line of you to thank! Thanks for listening, thanks for commenting, thank you for your encouragement and inspiration: Chay, Janice & Bud, David, Brno, Scott, BD and Guitar Hacker
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Really enjoyed this, Beth. The lyrics were terrific and their delivery, of course, was peerless. Love when the marimba came in. Great work!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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