Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2
User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936
Pat, Sergio, Trygve and David. Thank you so much for listening and commenting.

Pat...You've got me thinking. Something weird is happening with me this 50 90. I had such a successful first FAWM that I think I was expecting too much from this one. Also I am trying to mix an album of covers that I recorded with my old band mate Karen Wilmot while she was here in June so probably have too much on my plate.

The weird thing is that I don't seem to be happy with any of the music I am writing. This is fine when you are working with your own lyrics but when you are working with other people's lyrics, I feel it is not really fair on them. Maybe it is a case of pride coming before a fall or maybe a case of change on its way.

However, on a happier note; The good thing about doing this 50 90 in the way I am doing it is that it really sharpens up my production skills. I always like to do an almost complete production on my songs. That is, I produce it to the best of my ability with full BIAB backing as well as harmonies. I do this because it gives me an idea of what the songs will/should sound like. It also doubles up as a demo (should any fantastic artist want to cover one of my songs).

I also find I am experimenting with loads of different styles that I wouldn't usually use when producing an album. Maybe that is a good thing and maybe it is bad. I don't know!

Anyway, I am rambling.

Here is a re-write of Former Lovers, lyrics provided by Elizabeth Petty, written in a minor key. Would love to know which one you prefer and why.

FORMER LOVERS VERSION 2

And here is the next one. It is called Hold on to my Sanity. The lyrics were provided by Amanda West.

HOLD ON TO MY SANITY


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,936
"Sanity" is a good cross between folk and hymn... seems a good choice for the lyric....

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,831
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,831
I give you 100/100 for this! And I love how you chose to end the song - Bravo.

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Hi Joanne,

great vocals and harmonies.
Enjoyable listen.

Guenter

User Showcase
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936
Floyd, Lawrence (nice to see you back!) and Guenter. Thanks for the listen and comments.

I can see I am not going to get anywhere near 50 songs but will keep going. If I reach 20 I will be ecstatic.

I went away this long weekend to the Groot Marico with good friends and family. It is a wonderful place in the bush with nothing much to do but sit on the veranda drink beer and talk rubbish. I was able to write two songs while I was there. Here is my song writing kit.

1. Cup of coffee (most important)
2. My son's kids guitar (saves space in the car)
3. Pen
4. Note book
5. CAPO and tuner
6. Thesaurus and rhyming dictionary (no internet connection in the Marico!)



Here is the first of the songs I wrote called "I see you". It was inspired by a short story I read by Bernhard Schkink in his wonderful book "Summer Lies". It is about a short seaside romance that two people have and how temporary but beautiful it is.

I SEE YOU

Lyrics:
Copyright Joanne Cooper and Rachael Scherf
From streets to rooms I saw you
Your shadow thrown before you
And here you are
bathed in sweetness

So here you are beside me
You're breath a whisper finds me
And here we are
No space between use

I see you
Free of trouble
I see you
Drunk on colours
I see you

So now this day is ending
Night falls unrelenting
And here I am
Alone already

Right now I see the answers
Love like I've found forever
And here I am
Inside this moment

I see you
Free of trouble
I see you
Drunk on colours

This day and night is growing fat
On chances lost and mild regret

I see you
Free of trouble
I see you
Drunk on colours
I See you
High on freedom
I see you
I see you

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: ~2487:Bass, Acoustic, Bowed HeldSimple Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~528:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Hank Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~1679:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Sw 120
RealDrums in style: NashvilleSwing8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
*******************

BWT: All my 50 90 songs can be found here.

http://www.joannecooper.co.za/50-90


LyricLab – Where words become music https://www.lyriclab.net/
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Joanne
Very nice song - especially liked the harmonies. Good tune well crafted.

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,888
Hi Joanne,

great vocals and harmonies.
Very catchy tune.
Enjoyable listen.

Guenter

User Showcase
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,360
Hi, I'm just getting to the first song, I love the melody and the harmony. The piano recorded beautifully. Look forward to listening to the second song, good luck with this endeavour.

Kenny

User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,168
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,168
"I really like the lyrics to this.. please pass that on to your collaborator. Conceptually, the thought that we are who we are for those reasons never occurred to me before. The ability to make an audience think new thoughts is highly desirable in lyrics and in all types of story telling (such as video)"

Pat so well stated what we were thinking. Conceptually this never occurred to us either but it weaves a beautiful song. And also like Pat said "new thoughts" are indeed highly desirable.

Very nice.

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: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,032
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,032
Joanne,

Love your evolution over the past few years... You've got some really great songs - keep it going.

Bob

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2

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
Holiday Weekend Hours

It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:

Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Regular hours
resume Tuesday, May 19th!

Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!

Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!

Don't wait - order today!

Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!

Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.

Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.

If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!

202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!

With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!

Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!

Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.

Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.

Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!

And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.

The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
  • iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!

All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!

It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.

What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!

Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!

The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.

The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

Note: 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.

The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.

Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,311
Posts803,200
Members40,093
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
65Jaguar, Jazzmando, sergiop, John Stubering, JohnDoe4u
40,092 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 114
rsdean 93
vicarn 87
DC Ron 83
dcuny 58
Today's Birthdays
valentimo
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5