|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
Hi Janice, Bud and Peter!
I like the lyrics in this song with observations of barn life. The percussion metering away gave the impression of the long and slow manual effort of running a farm, and this was also borne out by the vocals and other instrumentation, with the harmonica painting occasional respite from the labour.
I’m interested in how the 3 of you collaborate, given Peter is in Sydney? Do you send him a draft mix, then he sends his guitar stems back with commentary and suggestions? I’m assuming it might sometimes be more iterative than that?
Good work, as usual!
Andrew Glad you liked the vocal and lyric and we appreciate your observations on the percussion and harmonica. We spent a while trying to get the “right” harp fills. Got a msg to you about the collab process. Thanks for the positive and supportive review! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
Janice, Bud & Peter,
This is such a beautiful "from the heart" song...
I also have fond memories of old barns from when I was very young in rural Chepachet, RI. This song speaks directly to those memories.
I love the way Janice delivers this lyric. Full of passion and melancholy. She is one of the very best singers around. I also love Peter's guitar lines and subtle interplay with Janice's vocal. Truly spectacular.
Bud's mix is of the highest order. Crystal clear and pro all the way.
This is one to listen to over & over again.
Bob Thank you Bob. We are so pleased that you found it personally relatable. And you put a big smile on Janice’s face. 😀 Your comments mean a lot as you are indeed the master of narrative lyrics. Hugely appreciated by all three of us! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
J&B
I'm so used to hearing you folks release something upbeat (often with a swing beat) and was expecting the same here! I was pleasantly surprised to hear this beautiful, soft flowing song that has been wonderfully produced!
This is probably my favorite vocal performance from Janice out of the many, many songs I've listened to of yours! Such a beautiful delivery from start to last note!
Peter provided excellent support on guitar!
5 Stars!
Thanks, TB Torrey, wow, that is so kind of you and we appreciate it very much. It’s been quite a while indeed since we did an ev folky feel tune and it was a lot of fun. We certainly agree with you re Peter’s guitar. Thank you! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,457
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,457 |
So cool.
Janice's vocal, Peter's staccato at the beginning and the mix.
Just right.
Vic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,895
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 2,895 |
A wonderfully wistful song about old memories. I only know barns from my vacations in my youth, where you could lie in the hay and hang out with other people out of sight of your parents. Beautiful, exquisite vocals by Janice, some really cool fills by Peter that I could never play, and really well mixed and produced. Excellent in every respect ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/images/icons/default/thumbs_up.gif)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
This is a really good song on a topic of vital importance: What future for our agriculture and our farmers? I think everyone has some idea about this, but I'm not going to get into that debate. Thank you for this beautiful song and for asking us the right questions.
Laurent And thank you for listening and writing those very thoughtful comments. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
Great song delivered by a wonderful chanteuse. That harp almost had a Mickey Raphael quality. Nice guitar fills. Yep, factory farming is a bad thing on so many levels. My brother, who is 91 now, was a white house correspondent during Ike's time. Ike was obsessed with painting barns and covered bridges and gave my brother many barn watercolors, which now cover my brother's living room walls. Great job with this song, team! Thanks for the very nice/supportive review. Having you, a fine harp player, mention Raphael is very cool and appreciated. We would be embarrassed to tell you how many regens and how much cutting/splicing it took to get those very few fills. As history fans your comments on your brother and Ike was amazing. We knew he painted and for your brother to have so many is remarkable. Quite a treasure trove. Thanks again
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 537
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 537 |
I thougt I had already commented but I must not have pressed send.
Janice Bud & Peter
If nostalgia had a melody, it’d sound a lot like "The Barn" —a charming song with the soul of a storybook.
Janice’s vocals are nothing short of enchanting while Bud’s production polishes the track like a family heirloom.
The lyrics are a masterclass in wistful storytelling. Who knew a barn could be a love interest, a workplace, and a symbol of stubborn resilience—all while holding onto the ghosts of hay-filled laughter and forbidden romances? Peter’s guitar work is the perfect sidekick.
I kinda see this song as a metaphor for all things solid and reliable because a barn isn’t just wood and nails. It’s memory. It’s legacy. And thanks to Janice’s velvety vocals, Bud’s meticulous craft, and Peter’s guitar, this one’s not just standing—it’s singing. 🎪 ♫.♪.♩.♬
Well done, team. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go stare thoughtfully at my shed for ten minutes. 👀
regards
Izzy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,981
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,981 |
Morning Janice, Bud, and Peter,
Very different vibe happening on this one! Love the laid back groove. Janice and Peter sound great as per usual, and the mix is spot on.
We had a hobby farm for a while, alpacas and goats, but no heavy equipment, so a neighbor would come and cut and bale our hay in exchange for me helping him get his hay off the fields and into his barn, did that for a few years. Good, honest work! We still have our barn but now just have a few chickens, layers.
Enjoyed this one!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,673
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,673 |
Hi Janice and Bud and Peter,
Finally, I got to listen to your song!
And what have I missed in the meantime? This beautiful song, a wonderful voice, and a beautiful/unique solo.
First, the singing, although always beautiful, is perhaps even more beautiful now! Take that line: "A barn bell could be heard a mile off" and listen to how you sing it. Especially the last words; wow, beautiful craftsmanship (if you can say that)!
And what Peter did with his guitar strings was pure magic. At the beginning, in between, and so on. Or maybe Bud created that magical sound with his magical mixing skills?
No, seriously, I was immediately hooked the moment you started singing, Janice.
And I also learned something: "They're hand-hewn beams." I didn't know what that meant, so Google told me it's something like Janice's craftsmanship, but for wood.
Hans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
Janice, Bud & Peter, this is a masterpiece
Everything is as good as it gets in music
"On a porch an old man looks up from his weathered hands
He gazes at the barn now bordered by corporate land
For years the family has stubbornly refused to sell
Will it last? …. now only time will tell"
This is so true. Most all of the farms around have been bought by corporations. It is so sad.
Loved it Glad you liked it Mario. And, yes, it is sad indeed. A drive through our countryside will quickly show many barns in ruin. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
Excellent song all around, It reminded me of visiting my cousins whose father owned a farm. What I recall most about playing in the barn was the amazing number of rats which ran about as soon as we disturbed the hay! It also reminded me of something completely different: an old friend (now passed away) who I named Baron Baddie Von Barnes as at that time (1973) he lived in Barnes, London. His interest in any actual barn would have been the rats!  Glad you liked it and that it bright back those interesting memories. Lots of farmers tolerated rat snakes and feral cats as a way of keeping the rat population low! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,623
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,623 |
A song about a barn? Why not!
A lazy tempo reminiscent of relaxing after a hot day of work on the farm.
All sounds excellent. Exceptional vocal deliciously delivered. Primo lyrics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
What? No cajon, Janice? Ooo, man, I love the laid-back-I'm-busy-not-being-busy feel. Love those vocals and excellent choices of harmony. Yep, I'm a farm country boy too. Man, the lyrics are so well crafted and match the feel of this beauty. Dang, Peter, you make every song so much better. Thanks Marty! Cool to hear you're a farm country boy.  And we appreciate the lyric mention. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
J&B+P,
Nice write. Heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
Gorgeous vocals.
Nice production.
Peter's guitar is perfectly supportive.
Excellent mix.
Very cool album cover.
fj
Like you (and Ron), I spent childhood/teen summers working on Grampa's farm (and uncle's farms) in Iowa. Bailing hay, cutting silage, walking beans, milking cows (by hand and machine) and chasing piglets to be neutered. Always glad that I eventually got to go home to "city life" afterwards...but glad to have had the experience... Thanks for the nice and supportive comments ... and especially for mentioning the write. A positive mention of a write from mr jane is very much gratifying. Sounds like you covered the farm work pretty well. Seems like we remember Grampa's farm. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,463
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,463 |
Hi J&B.
What a wonderful musical journey. I love the story and I love the way that the two of you and Peter have presented it. The music was a perfect fit for a journey steeped in nostalgia and wrapped in a foreboding sense of loss. Janice not only sold the story, but she made it feel like she was singing to me personally. That's quite a skill and one that I admire greatly. Peter's guitar playing was equally excellent. He always manages to home-in on the sentiment in a musical creation and somehow manages to channel that through his guitar skills. In addition, Bud's arranging, mixing and producing bring out the very best in this song. It is so well put together in so many ways. I loved the choice of Realtracks. The Piano MST was superb and it really got my attention, and those mallet Realdrums were truly inspired.
Superb!
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
So cool.
Janice's vocal, Peter's staccato at the beginning and the mix.
Just right.
Vic Thank you very much Vic. Glad you liked 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
A wonderfully wistful song about old memories. I only know barns from my vacations in my youth, where you could lie in the hay and hang out with other people out of sight of your parents. Beautiful, exquisite vocals by Janice, some really cool fills by Peter that I could never play, and really well mixed and produced. Excellent in every respect Thank you and glad to hear you found it relatable. Your comments on the vocals, guitar and mix are what makes it all worth while. We greatly appreciate them! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,519
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,519 |
What a beautiful, nostalgic song. Lyrics paint a peaceful countryside scene of almost forgotten times, glad to hear a refreshing topic. The barns mainly remind me of love scenes in the hay in old Finnish movie. I haven't had much to do with barns, I only remember taking photos of a kestrel chick sitting by a barn couple of years ago.
Great arrangement and mix, the BIAB instruments are well chosen, the harmonica is a nice addition and well generated, and Peter's lovely guitar fills always find the right mood with his playing and sounds. The chord progression is very interesting.
Another excellent vocal performance, I really enjoyed the last "tell" by Janice, amazing.
Janne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,013 |
I thougt I had already commented but I must not have pressed send.
Janice Bud & Peter
If nostalgia had a melody, it’d sound a lot like "The Barn" —a charming song with the soul of a storybook.
Janice’s vocals are nothing short of enchanting while Bud’s production polishes the track like a family heirloom.
The lyrics are a masterclass in wistful storytelling. Who knew a barn could be a love interest, a workplace, and a symbol of stubborn resilience—all while holding onto the ghosts of hay-filled laughter and forbidden romances? Peter’s guitar work is the perfect sidekick.
I kinda see this song as a metaphor for all things solid and reliable because a barn isn’t just wood and nails. It’s memory. It’s legacy. And thanks to Janice’s velvety vocals, Bud’s meticulous craft, and Peter’s guitar, this one’s not just standing—it’s singing. 🎪 ♫.♪.♩.♬
Well done, team. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go stare thoughtfully at my shed for ten minutes. 👀
regards
Izzy. And J&B stared thoughtfully at each other after reading this eloquent and very positive review. Something we will share with family and friends. To write a lyric that initially felt overly personal and then read a reaction like this is so meaningful. Thank you for everything you wrote. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,904
Posts797,554
Members39,982
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean