Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Hi All

This is a song I have been fighting with since the year 2000! It is the one and only song I wrote before undertaking a song writing course in October 2012. My course teacher told me that, in its old format, it had no hope…too wordy..melody too boring..chorus too boring.. much too personal (it is in fact inspired by a personal experience)..no wide appeal…too repetitive…..etc, etc.!

But, all things go in circles and I got the inspiration to tackle it again a week or so ago and this is what I came up with. I chose a western swing theme (co-incidence that Don has also just published a western swing theme tune) and it seemed to fit the song quite nicely. The lyrics are on sound cloud

Please let me know what you think so that I can learn.

I appreciate anybody who takes the time to listen and comment.

Realtrack are:

RealTracks in style: ~~536:Bass, Acoustic, Pop Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~~372:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~1128:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm WesternSwingWarmA-B Sw 165
RealTracks in style: ~812:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Western Swing Sw 165
RealTracks in song: ~~1788:Banjo, Tenor, Rhythm DixielandMediumA-B Sw 110
RealTracks in song: 1874:Medley [8 bars] Fiddle, Mandolin, Piano, ResGuitar, PedalStSol WestrnSwPaulSw165, GuitarElSol WestSwBrentSw165,
RealDrums in style: NashvilleSwing8^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Need you like a hole in the head


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,646
P
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
P
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,646
Sounds like a fine piece from here, Love the way you ended the further down. Thanks for sharing!



My Tunes


My Tunes

Psalm 57:7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
Hi Jo
Enjoyed that. It could almost be the females point of view of Floyds "Sure Enough".
I liked some of the rhymes - "the wringer" and "get any bigger", "merry-go-round" and "futher (sic) down".
Well thought out choice for the BT - moved along nicely and carried the Story with it.
cheers
ian


Old Guys Rule.The older I get,the better I was!
BB2023 ULTRA, 1013, Win 7 and 10

ALL TRACKS - https://app.box.com/s/501rnzrbadng1elvi45hbf7y08kl5oxp
SOUNDCLOUD-tracks using BB-
http://soundcloud.com/sixchannel
Videos-
https://youtube.com/user/Sixchannel1
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
I love it, Jo! The Western Swing style is the proverbial icing on the cake and gives the song a sort of "signature".

This is not a negative observation but, I think the ending was a tad too abrupt. It left me suspended in mid air waiting to be let down gently. Maybe a fadeout ending would work a might better, I don't know.

I always love you comic treatment of your lyrics. You are a very clever lyricist.

I especially like the clarity in your voice. I could understand your every word. In a Rap & Mumble world, you are so refreshing, my little friend. More please!

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Nice song. Funny lyrics, lovely voice and a good choice
of backing tracks.
But I noticed sometimes the vocals lag a little
behind the beat.

Guenter

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,019
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,019
I liked the song, and the arrangement is a nice fit. Pairing downer lyrics with an upbeat setting is classic, and it works well here.

I agree with the other posters, on both the positives and negatives. The vocals are nice and understandable. The song has neat "close" rhymes going on.

But... there are some places where the vocals lag a bit behind the instruments. This is the kind of song where you probably want the vocal to slightly lead the beat. I don't know what DAW you use, but little bit of nudging can often take care of that.

One of the guitars on the chorus seems to clash with the harmony - for example, at 2:25.

I don't think the ending is so much abrupt as it doesn't give the song closure. It's an interesting effect, but it's such a large change it overshadows what's gone before.

Anyway, nice work.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
User Showcase
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,085
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,085
Hey Joanne,

I like it. Clever down home lyrics and nice tune. Good arrangement. Your mixes are getting better all the time. Enjoyed the harmony and I like the ending. A creative and fun ending fits well in a song like this.

An easy timing trick is to turn the drums up a bit louder than the other instruments when recording vocals.

User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,561
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,561
Joanne,

Another cool song. Really enjoyed this...

Bob

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,199
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,199
Hi Joanne,

I found the chorus to this song incredibly infectious (that's good thing!). You had me singing along after the first time through. Loved it!

All the best,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2025
User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
PGFantastic – thanks for giving it as listen and for commenting

Ian – thanks for the great comments. You are always so complimentary. Appreciate it

Don – I glad you enjoyed it. I am thinking about all the comments on the ending and may change it

Guenter and David. Thanks listening for the comments on the vocals lagging. I think I will try and rerecord the vocals first to see if that fixes the timing

Josie – thanks for the tip. I am going to try that

Bob and Noel – Thanks for the encouragement


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,667
R
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
R
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,667
Good old western South African swing. Nice job Joanne.


HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Hi Rob. Never heard of Western South Africa swing but maybe there is a market for it....


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,667
R
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
R
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,667
If there isn't there should be.


HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,714
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,714
Quote:

Hey Joanne,

I like it. Clever down home lyrics and nice tune. Good arrangement. Your mixes are getting better all the time. Enjoyed the harmony and I like the ending. A creative and fun ending fits well in a song like this.

An easy timing trick is to turn the drums up a bit louder than the other instruments when recording vocals.




+ ONE here!

Nice job Joanne

Later,

User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
It has taken me a bit of time to get back to responding. Thanks for listening Danny I really appreciate it


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,494
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,494

Dear Joanne !

I listened to all your tracks
and I must congratulate you as
IMO you are a very good songwriter,
player and singer !:)

If you are still aspiring on
any of those fields i wish
you the best of luck !

Cheers
Dani

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,836
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,836
Nice melody, instrument choice, lyrics, voice and mix! As far as the vocal timing goes like Sundance said an increase in a simple drum groove or even a click track can help nail it. But.....the downside is that it might lend to a "follow the bouncing ball" type of singing. Maybe try a "loosey goosey" feel that works around the timing -- slightly syncopated, bend a few notes, etc. Thanks for the post.


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.
User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,934
Dani - Thanks for listening to my songs. Still aspiring in most of those fields, I’m afraid.

Bud - thanks for listening. I am going to try and rerecord the vocals on this one. Listening to it now I can clearly hear my tendency to "hang behind" on the timing of the vocals. So hopefully there will be an improvement now that I am aware of it.
Regards


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
Hi Joanne! Great song, really enjoyed it. Thanks for uploading.


Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
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®!

Video: New User Interface (GUI)

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac 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 Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac 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.

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.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,347
Posts791,144
Members39,859
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
Max Gain, BEAN223, Brazilboyz, doccawudi, StratMan1965
39,858 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 323
MarioD 209
DrDan 201
DC Ron 152
Noel96 143
Rob Helms 118
Today's Birthdays
DarleneProctor, Lonestar Uk, MeisterMusic, Tim Anderson
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5