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This is a new version of a song I originally posted in late 2012 when I first came to this forum.
Just my second song post at the time.
Listening to it recently I was struck with how "BIAB dated" it sounded to me.
...meaning my "old way of using BIAB".
Like many Country writers, when I first started using BIAB, the songs were heavy with fiddles and pedal steel. It was the first time I could ever get that! It's the main reason I bought BIAB in the first place! Fiddles! Pedal Steel!

So I decide to do a new production - more the way I do things now.
Still "Country", but heavy with Rock Guitars and Head-Banging Drums.
When I finished that, it still felt like "I've done a bunch of that lately".
Also, I had been doing the song at 125 bpm - which gave the lyric a tongue-in-cheek quality (intentionally).

I wanted something different.

So I slowed it down. To 85 bpm.
And did another whole NEW production
A new set of instruments to reflect a different idea of the lyric.

The new BAND:

RealTracks in style: 1825:Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveHeld Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 1595:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Pop8thsSteady Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~1638:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkBreezyMuted Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 2780:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Songwriter8thsBrent Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2541:Pedal Steel, Background Mod
RealDrums in Song: BossaBrushesPerc^1-a:Congas, No Kit , b:Congas, Shaker, Triangle, No Kit

Beat created in Studio One Professional.


FOREVER'S NOT AS LONG AS IT USED TO BE

there's a picture on the wall that still tears me apart
of you and me inside a lipstick heart
"everlasting love" - your favorite shade of red
"this means forever" - that's what you said
 
   forever's not as long as it used to be
   if it was you would still be here with me
   you promised me that - i took you at your word
   did it end a little early - i hadn't heard
   i thought that it was farther than anyone could see
   but it seems like forever's not as long
   as it was to be...

it's not something that you say at the drop of a hat
"i'll love you forever" can't be taken back
you swore it was true - even crossed your heart
so tell me where does the end of forever start

   repeat chorus

did enternity finally wind down
has the world simply stopped spinning around

   repeat chorus



Hope you enjoy this new version.
Comment's welcome.

floyd

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Never heard the original, but this one is great! That Bossa percussion track is the cats meow.

Perfect headphone listen! I love how you have everything sitting in the mix.

Is the original it still up? Would be interesting to compare the two.

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Hi Floyd,

Reading down your post, I got quite excited at the point -
"Country, but heavy with Rock Guitars and Head-Banging Drums"
so a little disappointed not to get that version, I went to have a listen.

OK, so the rock might have been nice, but I was no longer disappointed with this version.
The new tempo suits the lyric perfectly and now I find it hard to imagine it up at 125.
Lovely backing track and as Dave said - "That Bossa percussion track is the cats meow."

A clever lyric, which is your trademark, and your usual professional vocal delivery.

Very classy production throughout.

ROG.

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Floyd, I never heard the original but this one sure is great! It's sounds like you made some very tasteful instrumentation choices here and your vocal just sets so nicely in the mix. The real star of this production for me are those top level lyrics! Man you are a very good country lyricist! Your rolling into 2018 with great material! Thanks, Torrey

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Nice lyrics Floyd and convincing delivery.
Had another listen.

Cheers.

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Just lovely Floyd. Great job.

Very mellow. A nice change up.

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Originally Posted By: BlueAttitude
Never heard the original, but this one is great! That Bossa percussion track is the cats meow.

Perfect headphone listen! I love how you have everything sitting in the mix.

Is the original it still up? Would be interesting to compare the two.


Hey, Dave! - I always mix in headphone first. And then finish (a little extra polish) through monitors - so it sounds good both ways - and that usually covers everywhere else.

Here is a link to the original. At the bottom of the page is "The 2012 Version"


http://floydjane.com/Songs/Forever.htm



Originally Posted By: ROG
Hi Floyd,

Reading down your post, I got quite excited at the point -
"Country, but heavy with Rock Guitars and Head-Banging Drums"
so a little disappointed not to get that version, I went to have a listen.

OK, so the rock might have been nice, but I was no longer disappointed with this version.
The new tempo suits the lyric perfectly and now I find it hard to imagine it up at 125.
Lovely backing track and as Dave said - "That Bossa percussion track is the cats meow."

A clever lyric, which is your trademark, and your usual professional vocal delivery.

Very classy production throughout.

ROG.


Thanks for all of that, ROG.

For the "Rock Country" version check the link above that I posted for Dave and at the bottom of the page find "The other "new" version. THAT one should be played REALLY loud. It's all about the drums.... smile

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Hey, Floyd, thanks for that link.

Just checked out the Rock version and guess what - now I don't know which I like best! I mean, it wasn't ZZ Top, but the guitars were great and it DID sound good loud. Maybe, as you've accused me of before, I'm just a guitarist!

So, different as chalk and cheese, but both work SO well.

Cheers, ROG.

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Love this version of the song. Love the rhythm of the backtrack. It makes the song sound unique. Hard to place a label on it other than so Original and well done. Super vocal. I loved the way you place your instruments blended together so well.


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Floyd

The bossa feel and the Conga's sit absolutely perfectly with this.

You've creatively and masterfully re-engineered this song.

I really like the simplistic backing, it really seems like this was a great direction to take.

The pedal steel sits subtly and perfectly in the mix, retaining the song's country origins.

Excellent.


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Your new, "mellower", version is awesome. It seems to convey the message of your lyrics a little better than the others.

Of course I loved the 2017 Rock & Drums version too!




Steve

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I love the song - the original and this.

Good to hear you haven't completely abandoned those lovely strings and pedal guitar from BiaB - even if you did shift from fiddle to cello. smile

The percussion seems loud to me. That's not a complaint, but a realization that I'm one of those folk who you've been talking about who need to re-calibrate their ears.


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Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

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Just had a listen to the original version. Pretty good too! But I like this new one much better, it sounds fresh and original to these ears.

Also had a listen to the "other" new version, it is also very good! It's an Apples and Oranges thing, I'm not sure which is my favorite to be honest.

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Great song, the idea and lyrics are compelling. You should be able to sell this


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Floyd,

Listened to all 3 versions. I think your latest (slower) version gives the music and lyric much better prosody - perfect match. This just so easy to listen to. A lot of people are gifted with talent - but few use that talent as effectively and creatively as you do. Virtually every one of your songs is an education in music creation and performance.

Alan


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Originally Posted By: Torrey Bliss
Floyd, I never heard the original but this one sure is great! It's sounds like you made some very tasteful instrumentation choices here and your vocal just sets so nicely in the mix. The real star of this production for me are those top level lyrics! Man you are a very good country lyricist! Your rolling into 2018 with great material! Thanks, Torrey


Torrey - I really do appreciate that. Growing up as a songwriter, lyrics were what mattered most to me. Melody (and production) were always secondary... I had to learn to work that end later on. Might have been better to have thought about that at an earlier age. I think that is a big determining factor to the music we (as writer/artists) end up making...

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NO!!!!! Just NO!!! You can't be THIS good! Pick ONE thing and master it. Don't pick them ALL all master them! It's just not right!

So the forum starts a "many takes on the same lyric" idea, and you feel the need to just do your own version with JUST you? Really? lol

This is a prime example of how having a good lyric can both stand the test of time; but also work in many different feels.

I heard your original and thought "this sounds like a hit." It would have been that at that time; but also stills sound current. Great job!

Then I heard the "New Country" version, and thought..."oh wow. This could so work RIGHT NOW." No reference about it being from another time, just right now. Great job!

THEN I heard the slowed down version and thought "THIS is a great song." Man, talk about nailing it. SOOOOO good! The feel of this is incredible and completely gives you, I believe, the right emotion of the lyric. Just WOW!

Quote:
so tell me where does the end of forever start


Man....what a GREAT line! It's not just the actual lyric, but the build up to it AND where it is placed in the song. Powerful! That.Line.Hit.Me.

I haven't been in the actual situation of your song except for your song. What does that tell ya? That you can bring someone to somewhere they've never been with a craft. Incredible!


I think you need to go play golf for a while. wink Translation : Keep 'em comin'. I can't get enough!

Last edited by HearToLearn; 01/27/18 07:02 AM.

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Both are well produced, performed and styled,productions...But, More of a cowboy YYYEEEEEHAAA !!!! in the older one.


Last edited by beatmaster; 01/27/18 05:58 AM.

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https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases

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floyd

Enjoyed all 3 versions - enjoyable hearing the songs evolution.Great set of lyrics, liked the percussion track in the latest version, and the the slower pace does make the lyric sound more "sincere?".
Very nicely done.

Peter

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Floyd,
I like the reflective lyrics and they really shine in the new version (great title by the way).
The percussion works very well - somehow you`ve made bongos sound "modern" and bringing in those pedal steel/cello "sweeteners" near the end is so nicely done.
Well worth the remodel!

Robert

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