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Journeyman
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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 ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 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
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Journeyman
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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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Expert
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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 are here on our website.
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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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Video: New User Interface (GUI)
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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