|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815
Expert
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,815 |
You can bash Taylor all you want -- but where does that leave you? Nowhere. Most of the songs I write in the country vein are more traditional in nature -- therefore, they are not marketable or pitchable. That's the way it goes.
I've heard guitar/vocals of Taylor live with no auto-tune. She's no Alison Krause, but she still sounds pretty decent. "Female Vocalist of the Year" -- does that go to the best pure singer or the top country female draw? I've tried to listen to country radio lately and there are still a lot of good mainstream songs being written. I just can't handle the commercials and the yapping.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,789
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,789 |
I don't think anyone here is "bashing" Taylor Swift.
Heck, that last person who did that is in re-hab and performing community service.
So truely nothing personal. For me it was the first time I had ever heard her sing. She performed twice at the CMA and, to my ears, her voice and performance were less than award winning. BTW, did you hear the voice on that gal from Sugerland!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 301
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 301 |
Hmm... It's getting warm in here,
Problem is, the music industry in general, not just country is just one big money spinning monster !
It makes me happy that my involvement is on a minuscule level and I only have to please the holidaymakers in the local hotels and be in control of my own gigs and CD sales!
Don't think I'll ever need to worry about getting a CMA award ;o)
Dave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Quote:
First off, the YouTube video has obviously warped audio. How Scott didn't catch that is beyond me.
Quote:
"It's not country", "It's crap", "She has no talent" -- the crying and whining of the irrelevant.
Sorry guys, Nashville really doesn't care about your opinion -- your not buying records these days.
Kevin
Kevin, anyone with money is relevant and anyone not selling to a person with money is a fool. This is part of the reason why radio stations are going under and the music industry isn't selling music much today. And their excuses are hysterical. They blame file trading, MP3s, internet/XM/Sirius radio, video games, swine flu...you name it. No mention of their own bad business plan and all of the boring artists that they promote. The real whining and crying that I hear is from the lawyers and executives in the RIAA.
Dan
I didn't watch the YouTube video - it was playing on another tab while I typed. On a second listen/view, the rest of the audio is just plain fine - George is singing out of tune in many places - particularly when he's putting any power behind the voice.
Hey, I really LIKE George Strait. I think he's the real deal. Alan Jackson is pretty off as well in that video.
If it was 'warped audio' then the guitars and fiddles and lap steel would sound out of tune. Not the case. The guys are way way off.
I also like Alan Jackson - Way Down Yonder on the Chattahoochee has a particular sentimental meaning for me and my wife. I never thought he was particularly a 'good' singer. In fact, I can't think of many country musicians I enjoy recent or in the past who I would call 'good' singers.
Some of my favorites have particularly 'annoying' voices. Emmylou Harris comes to mind right of the bat. As for 'good' singing technique, she's terrible. As for authenticity and a way for writing - magnificient.
-Scott
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251 |
Mario, Yes I do indeed use the Pg products to back me up when I play and sing. But i've never used pitch correction. I don't know if it's powerful enough to fix my singing! LOL. I just don't want to see talent supplanted by electronics and make stars out of people who aren't talented. And I'm not saying Taylor Swift isn't talented. She is. It's kind of nice to see the "warts and blemishes" when someone performs. Heck, take Willie Nelson for example. I enjoy listening to him even when he's off key because of the "character" of his voice. Bob 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,690
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,690 |
Taylor swift is not the vocalist Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood or even Reba is, but what she is, is a bright articulate young lady who writes here own music, music that as she has said is a dairy of her young life. Lyrics that touch other young people, and do not include trash and smut, like so much of popular music today. She withstood the Kanye West incident like a woman far older and wiser. While her music is not old school traditional country, so is so much of what is recorded in Nashville today. There are many sub-genres of country just as there are pop music. martina is not traditional country, neither is Carrie Underwood. Keith Urban is less traditional than say George Strait, or for that matter Brad Paisley. Not all pop is the same think of Elvis vs the Beatles, vs Niel Diamond, vs U2, vs Elton John, vs Culture Club, etc.
To dismiss Taylor Swift as "crap" is to say that only your version of country is relevent. I remember a few years back i was listening to country music, and some of the artist i loved back then were George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Rodregas, Johnny Cash, to name a few, in that small listing there are very diverse types of country music. I say give miss Swift here due, people love her and her fresh take on things. Hey at least young people are listening to something other than crap about sex drugs and violence.
Isn't the whole point of the music industry to SELL records and make money, well she sells records. If it were not for commercially successful artist the industry would die out completely and the world would be stuck with us for entertainment. Heaven forbid, have you heard how pitchy we can be at times!!!!!!
Last edited by Robh; 11/16/09 01:47 PM.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280 |
Quote:
Quote:
It ain't country no more. It's crap
Ditto
Yep. I don't like country a lot, but when I do listen to it, I want it to be COUNTRY!
Like the man said, "ain't that a kick in the head!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,251 |
Good post robh,
I hated to see this turn into thread trashing a beautiful, talented young woman.
She's earned what she's gotten. I saw an interview with her a year or two ago and she talked about being a young girl with her mother driving her around Nashville and she was dropping off demos of her songs to studios and saying "call me". She was only 12 or 13 at the time. It's paid off for her.
She didn't come up through playing at bars and I'm sure that's contributed to the "innocence" in her songs.
Kids today could do a lot worse in finding a role model. Find what you want to do and go for it! It worked for her.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,122
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,122 |
Hmmmmmmm
I can't, play, can't sing, can't write, can barely figure out how to operate BIAB.
Looks like someday..........
I"M GONNA BE A STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
An' all ya gotta do is -- Act Naturally!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 280 |
and learn to FAKE being honest!
Like the man said, "ain't that a kick in the head!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 996
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 996 |
It's not country. It's teen.
It's Avril Lavigne with the very occasional banjo or violin thrown in.
I have a fair amount of listening experience in this area (remember I have a 12 year old daughter)
TS writes neat punchy songs and sings them with verve.
There are plenty of worse things in the world - in fact I quite like her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Quote:
. . . radio stations are going under and the music industry isn't selling music much today. And their excuses are hysterical. They blame file trading, MP3s, internet/XM/Sirius radio, video games, swine flu...you name it. No mention of their own bad business plan and all of the boring artists that they promote. The real whining and crying that I hear is from the lawyers and executives in the RIAA.
Dan
I've been saying for years that the publishing industry--which includes print and film--is dead; it just doesn't know it yet. Those who figure out that it's about moving bits, not moving molecules, MAY survive. But they (mostly Western companies) just keep shooting themselves in the foot in marvelously creative ways.
It's all about distribution. Ever wonder why the price of product went up every time the medium changed--from LP to cassette to CD--while the costs of manufacturing and distribution went down? I'm all for capitalism, but simple greed is getting in their way. (Frank Zappa would have put out a lot more music if he hadn't spent so much time in court proving how record companies were screwing their artists, and eventually themselves. He had a large hand in the creation of the indies.) Now it costs as much to download a CD's worth of material as it would to own the disk, when there is NO inherent cost beyond paying the producer, the ISP, and the artist, and you get NO physical product. Madness.
One of the big three record companies saw sales and revenue (two different things, indirectly related) go UP significantly when they cut CD prices by a third. Amazon Kindle and iPods are where it's going. Blockbuster is closing 900 stores and moving to an Internet model. When the publishing industry as a whole enlightens itself as to the wisdom of delivering more and/or charging less, they'll have a chance.
But I'm sure it's much more fun complaining and punishing the consumers who are actually paying the freight.
/RANT
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
Some really fun and interesting posts in this thread! Talk about pitchy? Some people can't spell or even write cohesively! Where is the command of the English language? If it sells, work it! Me? I moved to Vienna 8 years ago to follow my dream in music but it just hasn't happened. Yeah, I've had fun and I don't even have a band - last year I had a Hell's Angel as a mic stand! I was mad when Garth Brooks made it a decade or so ago because he saw the same hole in the market that I had seen for years but had been powerless to grab. So... I am a Man of Constant Sorrow
I've seen trouble all my days
I bid farewell to England
The place where I was born and raised
For eight long years I've roamed and rambled
No pleasure here in Wien I've found
For in Austria I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now
...
Maybe the Austrians think I'm just a foreigner
My face they'll never see no more
But there is one promise that is given
They'll never make it to England's shoreStop grumbling, guys. TS is selling and that is Music BUSINESS
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
How does she do this and not get electrocuted? A mic getting wet? I see some ideas that she has taken from James Blunt... Now, he ain't exactly Country but he is English folk rock pop, which isn't so different. She's also taken ideas from Garth Brooks. These two are MY biggest influences today, so she sure knows what she is doing.
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
How does she do this and not get electrocuted? A mic getting wet?
Wireless mic, battery powered radio transmitter, she is electrically isolated from the mains, Sam.
As for the mic surviving the water, likely eventually it won't at the mic element end, unless the road techs open it up and dry it out after every wet performance. Or maybe she doesn't care, just gets another mic.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
Well, Mac - OK. But how come the mic doesn't give up under the shower?
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,900 |
Having seen a dozen music videos of the girl now, I have the impression that TS is excellent! What's more, I came up with 10 song title ideas for further development. Ain't that Country?
If that ain't Country, would somebody please tell me what is? Thanks
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Sam, I believe Garth Brooks has been out of fashion in the USA for about 10 years, if I'm not mistaken. I think it was about 10 years ago he tried his alter-ego chris something or other experiment. Kind of like a New Coke experiment for him. I can explain that further if New Coke wasn't in Europe. I could be wrong, but at least on country pop-radio where I was from, Garth Brooks hasn't been on playlists for many many years. Haven't listened to much country since moving to Colorado. Some excellent college stations out here that play a VERY wide variety of music - have a listen online: http://www2.ppcc.edu/NewsEvents/KEPC/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98 |
I'm primarily a song writer. I only play musical instruments because I need to in order to write any decent songs.
I don't listen to any contemporary music on the radio at all. I always avoid the awards shows, as they appear to be mostly popularity or political contests anyway.
I do listen to a lot of podcasts and amateur musicians and singers, or performers who will never get any kind of major music award. I find that people who love the music for it's own sake, and not as a means to fame and riches, are the very best. You won't see them on any awards program, but the music is from the heart and soul, and not from a Nashville or LA music factory.
I listened to an interview of a Nashville 'factory' songwriter, who described contemporary country music as 'light suburban pop'. He soon got weary of the vapid and shallow themes and music, and moved away to do some less profitable but personally enriching work. Ricky Skaggs comes to mind also. There are others.
So let the fame and wealth drive commercial music. I will stick with the obscure but brilliant and moving efforts of the struggling and creative artists who do it for the music, and not for the dollar.
Fire, the wheel, and the I IV V -- foundations of civilization.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,736
Posts795,470
Members39,942
| |
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