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#480239 07/02/18 02:04 AM
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Not had nearly as much time here as I'd like recently, and this is my first song for over three months.
The 1990s was a strange decade for music, but that's about as close as I can get for this one.
This is a song about one of those situations where everyone except the person involved can see clearly.

It was all tracked-up in Powertracks and then moved to Realband for the Sax RT. There's extensive use
of my old hardware Syntovox vocoder on the vocals. It's a temperamental piece of kit and I'm always
surprised and relieved when it boots up and works. One of these days it won't and then I'm lost.

LIVING A LIE
Living a lie it's what you do
Living a lie it's changing you
Living a lie it's not the same
Make believe is not the way
So living a lie it's got to go
Living a lie you've got to know
Living a lie just take the blame
'Cos make believe is changing everything

It's time to shape up
It's time to wake up
And face the day
No time to make up
But time to break up
And walk away

As usual, I'm grateful to anyone who has the time to give it a listen.

Cheers, ROG.

ROG #480245 07/02/18 03:54 AM
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ROG,

This is excellent.

One of the things I like about your songs is that you "make music" and not "just writing a song". There's a difference and we do not get enough of the "making music" around here...

A nice cohesive sound to this in all regards. Everything works together nicely. Great opening. Nice vocals. Nice playing throughout.

A good write. A lyin' song! smile

The sax solo is exceptional. Well put together - sounds like it was played for the track. One small nit - the final note should have drawn out and faded away...

A terrific listen. Very well done.

fj

ROG #480252 07/02/18 06:08 AM
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Very nice melodic song, good lush arrangement and mix. Vocals and harmony sound excellent. There is Alan Parson feeling in chording and vocals so for me this is closer to early 80's.

Janne


Hear My Music:

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ROG #480255 07/02/18 06:43 AM
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This song reminded me of something but I couldn't quite place it. Also yes, the 1990s was a strange time for music. grin And you managed to capture that here in the best way possible!


Cheers,
Ember
ROG #480285 07/02/18 09:11 AM
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Super song, ROG! You have a full production with everything exactly where and how it should be. The mix is spot on. I like the vocal buried a little bit in the mix with the fx applications you used. Great sax solo! Loved it - nothing but talent and more talent showing through on this. Kudos!

Alan


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ROG #480300 07/02/18 12:04 PM
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Yeah this is really great ROG.

You have captured the sound of that era perfectly.

I really enjoyed this.

ROG #480302 07/02/18 12:22 PM
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ROG.. really enjoyed my listen!… I especially liked how you kept this song simple – avoiding endless verses, but used your “song economy” to repeat the main idea… I think it was very effective… The production was very professional, overall very high-quality… I really liked the vocal Doubling and the back up vocals.. Thanks for sharing!


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ROG #480306 07/02/18 12:42 PM
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I think floyd jane nailed it - this is the sort of thing I'd want to listen to multiple times, because it's good, catchy music, instead of just appreciating that it's technically a well-done song. (I'm thinking of my own stuff in contrast. sick )

Plus, you've got me watching videos on vocoders. (I actually coded a non-realtime vocoder last month).


-- 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.
ROG #480360 07/03/18 04:20 AM
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Wow - I really enjoyed this! Definitely reminiscent of the early 90's - I really liked the use of those synths here, and the sax fit in perfectly too. It has a wonderfully quirky groove, and the harmonies on the chorus are smooth as butter.

You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing smile


Cheers,
Deryk
ROG #480369 07/03/18 05:58 AM
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It's been too long ROG! We need more ROG more often.

I had every thing cranked up and ready before we dropped the needle on this.

Wow!

This is one for which there is NO need to parse out for commenting...it is ALL over the top good.

We like what floyd said "you make music" -- we get that.

Ultimately it begs to be played again. For us that says it all.

Kudos!

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
ROG #480401 07/03/18 09:16 AM
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ROG,

This is SUPER!
Probably the most professional track we've heard in a long time here on the forum.
Yeah definitely Alan Parsons vibe.


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

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1gsdNLE7_Gy8qavoOplQow/videos
http://rnam.net/


ROG #480409 07/03/18 11:32 AM
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ROG,

This is first class!!! You ALWAYS deliver the goods. It never ceases to amaze me just how easy you make it seem when you put tracks of your own performing together and produce such an excellent 'band' sound. The shine of your talent never seems to fade.

All the best,
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026
floyd jane #480605 07/05/18 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted By: floyd jane
ROG,

This is excellent.

One of the things I like about your songs is that you "make music" and not "just writing a song". There's a difference and we do not get enough of the "making music" around here...

A nice cohesive sound to this in all regards. Everything works together nicely. Great opening. Nice vocals. Nice playing throughout.

A good write. A lyin' song! smile

The sax solo is exceptional. Well put together - sounds like it was played for the track. One small nit - the final note should have drawn out and faded away...

A terrific listen. Very well done.

fj

Hi Floyd,

Many thanks for the review. I take your point about that saxophone note - it would have been nice, but I had problems getting him to play it so it sounded right.
The RTs are are fabulous, but sometimes I miss just being able to say:
"Just give me a sustained note on a ...."
Cheers, ROG.

jannesan #480606 07/05/18 12:24 AM
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Originally Posted By: jannesan
Very nice melodic song, good lush arrangement and mix. Vocals and harmony sound excellent. There is Alan Parson feeling in chording and vocals so for me this is closer to early 80's.

Janne

Hi Janne,
Thanks for the nice comments. I've been a fan of Alan Parsons for a long time and I'm flattered
by the comparison. I was aiming for the 90s, but you could be right!
Cheers, ROG.

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Originally Posted By: Ember - PG Music
This song reminded me of something but I couldn't quite place it. Also yes, the 1990s was a strange time for music. grin And you managed to capture that here in the best way possible!

Hi Ember,
Many thanks for looking in. I'm always pleased to get a review from "the staff" and glad you liked it.
Cheers, ROG.

ROG #480611 07/05/18 01:52 AM
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ROG,

This is tremendous! I love the arrangement and mix - some very cool vocals as well.

Excellent!

Bob

ROG #480664 07/05/18 11:25 AM
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Great vibe ROG!!! Love that fat synth sound, and vocals sound great! I think I like this better than almost anything I heard in the 90's!! Love that snare sound, and sax solo worked great. Cool stuff!! Take care. Greg

ROG #480680 07/05/18 12:37 PM
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I've always been a sucker for hook that is both sung and played on an instrument. This has so many reminders of great influences for me. Great job all the way around.


Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
ROG #480701 07/05/18 02:52 PM
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This is really a commercially sounding tune and the era is spot on. I can hear your work ethic in this. Nicely done .Rob

ROG #480733 07/05/18 11:54 PM
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Man! This is fabulous, Rog! Love the song and the performance. Great hook, very catchy!

Everything about this sounds totally pro, enjoyed!

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