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Soundcloud - High Youtube - High This song is about opposite viewpoints and a suggestion that we avoid demonising one another. It’s easy to go ‘underground’ – either to clam up, or down a rabbit hole. With a world appearing so polarised, it is important that we re-engage in the 'messy middle' and be prepared to reach compromise rather than pursue a zero-sum game. MUSICALLY ...The melody to the first two lines of the verse came first while in the bathroom – one of my most creative places in the home. I had a sense of wanting to sing low with a bit of drone/resonance to my voice (maybe it was the drone of my electric shaver?), so I sang closer to the mic than usual to get some proximity effect but angled to one side to avoid plosives. This is the first song where I used the pencil and rubber band trick – not sure if it did anything, but even if it has a placebo effect … well who would know? The verses sound to me like a hum while traversing the Prairie – if you get my drift. MIXINGThis was one of my most challenging songs to mix because of what I have referred to as the ‘raging snare drum’ in this post. MANY THANKS to the ‘Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production’ forum posters who all offered very practical and logical insights. Not only do I have a solution with no clipping, it was an education from these posters. However, I have so much mixing fatigue from this song I am now not sure of what I am hearing, so I hope it has come out okay. ****** Song Summary *************Style is _TINROOF.STY (Tin Roof Tin Whistle Folk Pulse) RealTracks in style: 3588:Bass, Electric, NashvilleRadioPopPushA Ev 110 RealTracks in style: 2935:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm FolkPulse8thsFintan Ev 110 RealTracks in style: 3710:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm 90sJamRockFunky Ev16 110 RealTracks in song: 3639:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm DublinPopSlowHiChop Ev16 105 – simply LOVE this and the next U2 style tracks RealTracks in song: 3643:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm DublinPopSlowMuteChop Ev16 105 RealTracks in song: 2203:Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopPromiseBrent Ev16 100 - it's got a bit of reverb on it RealDrums in Song: SouthernPopEv16^01-HtSnr,OpHtS – oh drum track - how I still haven’t forgiven you! I played nothing! Pitch correction on the word 'kids' and 'through to the dust'. Mixed in Reaper, and road-tested on headphones, iPad Airpods, studio monitors and my car stereo set ‘flat’. ******************* LYRICSINTRO VERSE 1 Moving up and down, I feel despised so I go underground Will it fly … or maybe drown? Hard to know what’s right, is it day or is it night? Will it burn? … I think it might. CHORUS 1 We’re going high when we should be low, saying we do when some of us don’t Please be kind if either of us are wrong You’re saying ‘above’ when I say ‘below’, it’s a struggle for this ship to float We both need each other to remain strong VERSE 2 Moving to and fro, I think I do but it doesn’t show We plant the seed … but it doesn’t grow Home is not my place, it sure once was but I have no space I walk alone … ‘til I find some grace CHORUS 2 We’re going fast when we should be slow, saying ‘hold on’ when we’ve gotta go Bear in mind we all need to get along There’s too much but you say not enough, it ain’t easy when agreeing is tough We need to sort it out before all is gone BRIDGE What are the kids gonna do … without us Keep on smiling ‘til we are through to the dust SOLO OVER VERSE CHORUS 3 We’re going high when we should be low, saying we do when some of us don’t Please be kind if either of us are wrong You’re saying ‘above’ when I say ‘below’, it’s a struggle for this ship to float We both need each other to remain strong OUTRO
Last edited by Andrew Dee; 07/31/25 11:11 PM.
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Love it! This is definitely my kind of music (child of the 80's that I was). The layered rhythms feel great. You consistently have a Bowie-esque flair both in your vocals and in that break. The lead guitar floats very nicely over everything. The lyrics are great. It brings to mind the Beatles Hello Goodbye but you took it to a much deeper place. I've added it to my absolute forum faves playlist.
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First of all, Andrew, I really enjoy your words in the beginning of this post. Well said. Then the song... well sung. Rubberband and pencil trick. Yeah, I didn't hear much difference when I tried it. But your vocal souunds sibilance free to me. Placebos are my favorite meds. Perfect instrumentation, although I miss your playing. Excellent lyrics to back up your intentions. Good write.
Hey, this is why we list the RTs. I' m writint one where I need a Taj Mahal strumming acountic, and I'll try these. THanks for listing.
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잘들었습니다.
포크락적인 느낌도 나고, BYOBand가 말한데로 데이비드 보위의 느낌도 나는게 좋았습니다
I enjoyed it.
It had a folk-rock feel, and as BYOBand mentioned, it also had a David Bowie vibe.
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Andrew, really nicely done. That BiaB backing track builds a cool wave, and you surf it expertly. You vocals turned out great, as did the misbehaving drummer. Am also hearing a bit o' Bowie here, but I'll veer more obscure and go with Ian Hunter. Anyway, super song and very well produced.
FWIW, I kept mis-hearing "ship to float" as...well, never mind. It was immature of me, and more than a little naughty, even if a little funny.
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Nice song with an old-fashioned but appealing vibe, good vocals, and a pretty appealing mix—except for the drums.
You processed the life out of them.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, it happens to all of us from time to time.
If you should ever feel like working on this song again, I would try to balance the drums without ANY processing until they sound (not look) right to your ears or at least as good as possible.
Most RealDrums already work well without any processing.
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Love it! This is definitely my kind of music (child of the 80's that I was). The layered rhythms feel great. You consistently have a Bowie-esque flair both in your vocals and in that break. The lead guitar floats very nicely over everything. The lyrics are great. It brings to mind the Beatles Hello Goodbye but you took it to a much deeper place. I've added it to my absolute forum faves playlist. Thank you Beth! The use of opposites in the lyrics (high/low, fast/slow) really helped me illustrate the theme and without them I would have only had half a verse. I’ve had several comments now about Bowie likeness but I can’t hear it myself. I guess a fox can’t smell its own den, or in this case, someone else’s (Bowie’s) den. Thanks for adding me to your list! Andrew
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잘들었습니다.
포크락적인 느낌도 나고, BYOBand가 말한데로 데이비드 보위의 느낌도 나는게 좋았습니다
I enjoyed it.
It had a folk-rock feel, and as BYOBand mentioned, it also had a David Bowie vibe. Thank you Asom2me! I like the folk-rock genre you put this into. It suits it well and is a genre I like. Andrew
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Am also hearing a bit o' Bowie here, but I'll veer more obscure and go with Ian Hunter. Anyway, super song and very well produced. Ian Hunter! Now there’s a blast from the past! I am very familiar with All The Young Dudes (penned by Bowie) and Once Bitten Twice Shy. FWIW, I kept mis-hearing "ship to float" as...well, never mind. It was immature of me, and more than a little naughty, even if a little funny. You’re not alone there. While finalising I thought “Should I change it?” “Should I comment on it when I post the lyrics?” I toyed with ‘boat to float’ but in the end just wanted to get this one off my desk. Glad it added a momentary “What?” for you. Andrew
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Nice song with an old-fashioned but appealing vibe, good vocals, and a pretty appealing mix—except for the drums.
You processed the life out of them.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, it happens to all of us from time to time.
If you should ever feel like working on this song again, I would try to balance the drums without ANY processing until they sound (not look) right to your ears or at least as good as possible.
Most RealDrums already work well without any processing. I agree BD. I normally would spend 10 times less on drums than I did for this one. As this RealDrum was not native to the RealStyle - nor were the ‘Dublin’ rhythm guitars, I’ve concluded that other parts of the kit were not able to shine through the mix due to the acoustic and rhythm guitars all competing for a space in the mix that I wanted to give them. So, due to the difference in dynamics between the snare and the rest of the kit, I clobbered the snare. As I am a Neanderthal when it comes to mixing, I have only mastered the use of fire and flint, but one day when I can master pyrotechnics, I’ll give it another go. Andrew
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Excellent track. I loved how you used all the BIAB components, and I thought you did a really good job in delivering the overall message. In fact, I thought, in the very first chords, I heard an up-and-down sound movement. My only suggestion is. I thought the ending was abrupt.
Otherwise completely enjoyed it
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Excellent track. I loved how you used all the BIAB components, and I thought you did a really good job in delivering the overall message. In fact, I thought, in the very first chords, I heard an up-and-down sound movement. My only suggestion is. I thought the ending was abrupt.
Otherwise completely enjoyed it Thanks Tom - that up and down movement was accidental - or subconscious. I think you’re right about the ending - it maybe needed another bar or two. It’s somewhat softened by the fade out on the rhythm guitars. Thanks again for your discerning ear! Andrew
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I like that. It reminded me of several different songs in the various parts.
I actually like a dominant snare. Nothing to complain about there for sure.
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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Hi, Andrew. Nice arrangement, tune, and vocals. The bridge and instrumental worked well. I enjoyed the song. 
-- 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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I have now added a Youtube video for this song - see the link in the original post above.
Andrew
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I love the chord structure and melody in this demo. The style reminds me of something else, but I can put my finger on it, but I think it's a song with brilliant potential. ... I just read Beth's comment and yes it does have a Bowie-esque vine to it.
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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Andrew, I really like the backing tracks instrumentation and groove. Your vocal over it was icing on the cake. Great lyrics and the perfect mix makes this a total winner.
Loved it.
My boss calls me "the computer".
Nothing to do with intelligence. I go to sleep if left unattended for 15 minutes.
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