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#356770 07/09/16 08:11 PM
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A Game Of Chess

This song was one of the first collaborations with RnAM. The song was not lyrically complete at that time but they also helped with the lyrics. They also made the final mix. Their singing is excellent as it has been always been, big thanks to them! I was bit hesitant showcasing this song because it feels so depressing, I tried to use analogies between life and chess, but I think I should have added some positive elements too. Here it is anyway. Comments welcome as always smile.

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MIDI strings from the style Spring.sty

Mixed in Adobe Audition.

Vocals and the final mix: RnAM

Lyrics:

I can still remember you
loosened hair, eyes greyish blue
simplified equation, you and me
always thought that it was meant to be.

Temptation of my fate
I fell into its cute bait
a move that seemed so logical
ended in a bitter stalemate.
Life is like a prolonged game of chess
many little moves without success
why would I go for a sacrifice
if my frugal life won't be
worth its price?

Common interests, souls agree
convinced myself I'd found a key
always thought solution would be clean
just put in their right places king and queen.

[Chorus]

I am helpless by the wall
your new castle makes me small
beautiful position black and white
broken by the force of a foreign knight.

[Chorus]

---

Janne


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Awesome collaboration. Very cool lyric and vocal


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
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Janne
Moody atmospheric and sophisticated. Good song nice collaboration.

Last edited by PeterF; 07/10/16 11:57 PM.
Scott C #357046 07/11/16 11:11 PM
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Originally Posted By: Scottt709
Awesome collaboration. Very cool lyric and vocal


Thanks Scott for your kind comment smile

Janne


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PeterF #357047 07/11/16 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted By: PeterF
Janne
Moody atmospheric and sophisticated. Good song nice collaboration.


Thanks Peter for commenting, always nice to get some encouraging feedback!

Janne


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Very interesting Janne!! Always a good choice to have R and AM for vocals. This song feels like it should be in a musical. The music is very different and very sophisticated. Almost like a piece from an Andrew Lloyd Webber show. Really well done in every way! Enjoyed much! Take care. Greg

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Strong song!!! As others have said, the vocals are outstanding. Professional production. Great job guys.

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Hi Janne,

Originally Posted By: Greg Johnson
This song feels like it should be in a musical. The music is very different and very sophisticated. Almost like a piece from an Andrew Lloyd Webber show.

I agree with Greg. This really does sound like it could be in a stage show. The collaboration with Rob and Anne-Marie worked really well.

Enjoyed it!
Noel


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Noel96 #357244 07/13/16 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: Noel96
Hi Janne,

Originally Posted By: Greg Johnson
This song feels like it should be in a musical. The music is very different and very sophisticated. Almost like a piece from an Andrew Lloyd Webber show.

I agree with Greg. This really does sound like it could be in a stage show. The collaboration with Rob and Anne-Marie worked really well.

Enjoyed it!
Noel


Thanks Greg and Noel for your kind words! Interesting point about a musical, I would have never thought of that :-) Maybe the word 'chess' creates the association ;-)

Janne


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Originally Posted By: David Snyder
Strong song!!! As others have said, the vocals are outstanding. Professional production. Great job guys.


Thanks David for your strong comment smile I also agree about the vocals. RnAM turned my boring song into something more listenable.

Janne


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This was one of the first collaborations we did with Janne. Like always a sophisticated song, introspective lyrics with a very distinct mood.
For me this was a challenge to sing because it is slightly below my lower reach. Therefore it took quite a couple of takes ;-)
Again Janne provided a Vocaloid demo vocal track with it which I tried to emulate, more or less (including the vibrato in the vocal).
Anne-Marie's voice oohs add a lot to the song's atmosphere I think.

We're already looking forward to our next collaboration :-)

Rob


We are Rob Meulman and Anne-Marie Bovenkamp from The Netherlands.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gsdNLE7_Gy8qavoOplQow/videos
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Hi, guys !:))


I agree with those who
say that this would go
well in a musical or film !
There was really something
in it that could have been
a Bond - tune !

I think this is a masterpiece
and with such pros as Rob and
Anne-Marie on the vocals it
really shines !:))

Cheers
Dani

Noel96 #357546 07/16/16 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted By: Noel96
Hi Janne,

Originally Posted By: Greg Johnson
This song feels like it should be in a musical. The music is very different and very sophisticated. Almost like a piece from an Andrew Lloyd Webber show.

I agree with Greg. This really does sound like it could be in a stage show. The collaboration with Rob and Anne-Marie worked really well.

Enjoyed it!
Noel


These prior quotes match my thoughts from the beginning.

Nice song, great collaboration and production.


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RnAM #357683 07/18/16 03:30 AM
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Originally Posted By: RnAM
This was one of the first collaborations we did with Janne. Like always a sophisticated song, introspective lyrics with a very distinct mood. For me this was a challenge to sing because it is slightly below my lower reach. Therefore it took quite a couple of takes ;-) Again Janne provided a Vocaloid demo vocal track with it which I tried to emulate, more or less (including the vibrato in the vocal). Anne-Marie's voice oohs add a lot to the song's atmosphere I think.

We're already looking forward to our next collaboration :-)
Rob


Thanks Rob again for your kind words. And of course the magnificent end result smile I'm working on the lyrics of several songs, maybe one of them will be the next one smile

Janne


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dani48 #357684 07/18/16 03:34 AM
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Originally Posted By: dani48

I agree with those who
say that this would go
well in a musical or film !
There was really something
in it that could have been
a Bond - tune !

I think this is a masterpiece
and with such pros as Rob and
Anne-Marie on the vocals it
really shines !:))

Cheers
Dani


Thanks Dani for your always positive comment! Bond-tune, I wouldn't have ever thought of that smile. But maybe there is some similarity to Goldeneye in the melody.

Janne


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Originally Posted By: Charlie Fogle
[quote=Noel96]Hi Janne,
Nice song, great collaboration and production.


Thanks Charlie for your nice comment!

Janne


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Janne,
You sustained the metaphor very well throughout the lyric - for me the mood is sad in a reflective way, but not depressing. As others have said, a fine vocal that compliments your writing and the song`s feel.
Robert

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Originally Posted By: Robertkc
Janne,
You sustained the metaphor very well throughout the lyric - for me the mood is sad in a reflective way, but not depressing. As others have said, a fine vocal that compliments your writing and the song`s feel.
Robert


Thanks Robert for your comment, I'm glad you liked especially the lyrics, because that was the hardest part.

Janne


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Super song and the best compliments to both of you.
Bravo to Rob because it isn't easy to sing on your melodies Jannesan.

Bravo to you, for your beautiful music as always.

Sergio



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this is such an interesting song, so unlike most of what gets posted here. So different, in fact, that it's difficult to put it into a niche in order to frame it in a context.

I can't imagine this song on the radio or even in a movie... this kind of introspective theme with intricate melody would probably fit well in a broadway production.

The melody is very challenging, and I'm impressed that Rob did such a good job of nailing it... most people, I think, would have a problem with it.

The chord pattern and instrumentation are both highly innovative and well executed in my opinion. I can scarcely believe you heard this in your head before you recreated your idea in BIAB

Considering the fact that english is not your first language, the lyrics are a work of art in their own right... artfully crafted and full of appropriate metaphor

I especially enjoyed Anne-Maries background "ooohs", which added an additional layer of pro sound to the whole song. Very nice

Kudos to everybody involved in this very unique and challenging production... What a team of inventive and competent collaborators! Nobody can accuse you of writing cookie cutter songs! Everything that comes from this team is highly innovative and one or two cuts above what I expect to hear on the forum!


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