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Soldiers Came- a story about the Laos/Vietnam war, and my wifes' escape. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUeli-CtgRMThis song could really use a actual video, instead of the google-image montage. If anyone is qualified (and interested) speak up. The vocals are performed by Jennifer from StudioPros.com. All other tracks are from BIAB. Also used Reaper, Vegas and Sibelius in the production. ****** Song Summary ************* Title: Soldiers Came File:Soldiers Came4.MGU Key=C , Tempo 105, Length (m:s)=4:20 Style is _POPAMER.STY (PopAmerican Even 8ths [120RS]) Style MIDI Instruments are : RealTracks in style: ~~387:Bass, Electric, Metal Ev 085 RealTracks in style: 629:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanDirty Ev 120 RealTracks in style: 632:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAmericanMuted Ev 120 RealTracks in style: ~~362:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085 RealDrums in Style: PopAmericanEv^3-SdStkB,SnrBB Other styles used in this song are: _HROCKLA.Sty and _PBALADM.Sty Lyrics: Soldiers Came Intro Looking real fine,/ ripe on the vine,/ I ain't lyin'!/ the world was mine,/ v1 It was going just fine, most of the time/ Some boys were just beginning to notice me,/ but that had to wait,/ my mom passed away,/ and war was breaking out in my country./ Villages were suddenly empty,/ my neighbors and friends were just gone,/ and then my world was shattered,/ my fam'ly got scattered,/ I ran with just the clothes I had on,/ chorus Soldiers came, with AK- 47' s/ Matching uniforms and guns,/ Doing anything they please,/ Only thing we could do was run!/ v2 My poor tummy ached,/ no time for a break,/ and bombs kept shaking the ground,/ On and on, through fields and trees,/ Praying we wouldn't be found,/ Some older folks couldn't continue,/ some children they had to sedate,/ Some of them never woke up, oh Lord,/ we buried them all on the way,/ chorus v3 We fin'ly arrived, the bank of the river,/ to Thailand, kissing the ground,/ and we thanked the Lord for our lives that night,/ we crossed the Mekong safe and sound,/ Many long months in the camp,/ I thought my poor mind would crack,/ and always rumours were going around,/ saying we might be sent back,/ chorus v4 A young teenaged girl,/ all alone with no home,/ Like, whatever, why should I care?/ and then more buses arrived IN THE CAMP ONE DAY!!/ IS THAT MY SISTERS GETTING OFF OF THAT BUS DOWN THERE???/ outro and yeah the life that we had is over forever,/ but the Thai's have been really great,/ And we got a surprise just the other day,/ they said were going to the U S A {True story- in like, 1975}
If ever a man had it all, it would have to be me, and ooh I love you
Climax Blues Band
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Hi, kerkenat.
I hope you don't mind some critical feedback on your song. You've got a very compelling story here, and you've done some interesting things with the production.
And you've done a fantastic job distilling the story down to the essentials. But it feels like you've missed an opportunity to get to the emotional core of the story in the chorus.
Although the soldiers are important (in that they're the catalyst of action), I suggest that they aren't really the emotional heart of the song.
As a listener, I don't care about the soldiers so much as I care about your wife and her story. It seems to me that it's a about leaving things behind: her mother, her childhood, her village, those who died while fleeing. These are laid out in the verses, and turned around at the end where she reunites with her sister, and finally leaves the camp for a new home.
So here's my suggestion: why not make that the chorus of the song? That is, having to leave things behind, and how that made her feel? And then (in the final chorus) leaving the camp behind could add a final, new meaning.
It's also a bit dissonant hearing such a "happy" tune with such a heavy story. There are other songs that work like that, but it can be quite a trick to pull off properly.
Just my two cents...
-- 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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Hi David,
Good advice. I appreciate it.
My goal in the song, if you watched the 'google-image' montage, was to point out the powerful 'stomp-you-into-the-dirt' effect of the meddling, manipulation and power-grabbing of the surrounding superpowers upon the tiny little Kingdom of Laos.
Starting with Marx and Lenin, and then Stalin, Kruschev, Mao Tse Tung, and finally Brezhnev and LeDuan, (and the USA, who was there for awhile and then lost stomach, due to many good reasons, and pulled out of the war.)
The only thing they (the Hmong) could do was run, because they had been siding with the USA against the Soviet armed and backed North Vietnamese Army et al.
I guess it was more of a cynical historical thing that I was trying to express.
But what you said is very interesting.
You said "As a listener, I don't care about the soldiers ...", which made me realize that maybe the song could be more generally appealing if I did as you suggest and relegate the soldiers/weapons to a bridge or something, and redo the chorus to wistfully reflect on 'things lost'.
Thanks for that advice. I absolutely don't mind such critical feedback. And I'm going to revise the song.
One thing, I don't understand how it's in any way 'happy' (except in the beginning and possibly in the end)? Could you expound on that please?
But I think I'll keep this one also.
Last edited by kerkenat; 10/31/11 01:44 AM.
If ever a man had it all, it would have to be me, and ooh I love you
Climax Blues Band
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Sorry I should have been more clear - by "happy", I was referring to the upbeat feel of the music, not the lyrics themselves. Writing political/historical lyrics can be difficult, because you can't assume that the listener knows or cares about the politics. So the trick is to supply the information but make it appear a natural part of the story. I think Al Stewart does a good job of this - songs like Roads to Moscow, Coldest Winter in Memory and Palace of Versailles are good examples. But it's difficult to cram all that information into a song and not sound heavy-handed. I think On The Border is more typical, where specific details are sacrificed for more general observations. Cheers!
-- 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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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.
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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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