These lyrics were written by the fantastic Elizabeth Petty for 50 90 and are pretty awesome as usual but the music is something completely different (for me anyway). Firstly, it is a spiritual song, which is a genre I don't usually attempt, and secondly it is my first co-write with my duo partner Lebz Muzo who provides the lead vocal and guitar on the track, with me on the harmonies.
The RealTracks were: RealTracks in style: 1397:Bass, Electric, Soul70sSync Ev16 100 RealTracks in style: 1404:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Soul70sWarmA-B Ev16 100 RealDrums in style: Soul70sPercEv16^1-a:CldHHSn, b:BsyBs
Lyrics: I am open and I am trying while I'm waiting for You yes I'm open and I am trying while I wait for You
I am present and I'm seeking and I'm praying to You yes I am present and I am seeking while I pray
I am open I am trying yes I'm waiting for You yes I'm open and I am trying while I wait for You
I am present and I'm seeking while I'm praying to You yes I am present and I'm seeking while I pray
I am open present hopeful grateful all because of You I'm trying seeking striving dancing just to be close to You
waiting praying standing singing I'll do anything waiting praying standing singing all for the love of You
I am hopeful I am striving I am standing by You yes I'm hopeful and I'm striving while I stand by You
I am grateful truely grateful and I'm dancing with You
said I'm grateful and I'm dancing while I sing
yes I'm grateful and I'm dancing I am singing with You and I'm grateful so I'm dancing while I sing
Honest feedback is always much appreciated. (After all how else will I learn? lol)
Sure did enjoy this! Great lyric and loved the arrangement. Everyone did a super job. The vocals were terrific - lead and harmony. The acoustic lead was real nice. Everyone take a bow!
Sure did enjoy this! Great lyric and loved the arrangement. Everyone did a super job. The vocals were terrific - lead and harmony. The acoustic lead was real nice. Everyone take a bow!
Alan
I agree. Great collaborative effort!! Really pretty, pleasant song. Everything works for me! Take care. Greg
Really nice work here Joanne The harmonies here are unreal, and the groove is a real toe tapper. It has such a joyous tone to it as well. I really like how upbeat and positive it sounds.
Joanne, I've liked everything that you have done thus far and this song rapidly went to the top of the list.
Your vocal is exceptional, I didn't know that you could sing so low. Your harmonies were fantastic as were the backing tracks. Your guitarist is one of the best; he knows exactly when and what to play. He is a true lead guitarist.
Everyone should really be proud of this song.
OK, a random thought; Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
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Yes, this tune is completely different from your usual style. Your duo partner Lebz Muzo who provides the lead vocal and guitar on the track is very nice. I like the chord progression. And your harmonies are fantastic as are the backing tracks. Your challenge to 50 90 is wonderful. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Joanne, your harmonies are stellar as expected. I felt the guitar and main vocal go a little astray at different point along the way. Having read how you create your harmonies made this an even more interesting listen. Your voice is the Prix L'Amour in this track.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
We enjoyed the stripped down backing tracks...perfect for the tune.
J&B
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Yes, this was a bit of a surprise - definitely different to what I've heard you do before.
This song has a feel to it as though it could have been written by Tracey Chapman. Just something about the openness of the guitar part, the arrangement and the way the melody worked in. Super.
well done to all who were involved - great writing and performances.
Beautiful collaboration! I think this works so well because the lyrics are simple and uncluttered and have a nice repetitive pattern that works so well for song composition. Skillful use of the real tracks provides the perfect style and background. And the guitar solo was light and fit right in. Love the work!
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Oh lord, I really enjoyed this one as I always do with your songs Joanne
Thank you Graham. Appreciated.
Originally Posted By: Al-David
Hi Joanne - and Everyone Else On The Song,
Sure did enjoy this! Great lyric and loved the arrangement. Everyone did a super job. The vocals were terrific - lead and harmony. The acoustic lead was real nice. Everyone take a bow!
Alan
Thanks so much Alan. High praise indeed. I will pass it on to Lebz.
Originally Posted By: Greg Johnson
I agree. Great collaborative effort!! Really pretty, pleasant song. Everything works for me! Take care. Greg
Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment, Greg
Originally Posted By: Deryk - PG Music
Really nice work here Joanne The harmonies here are unreal, and the groove is a real toe tapper. It has such a joyous tone to it as well. I really like how upbeat and positive it sounds.
Great job - thanks for sharing!
Thank you deryk. I used my normal "cheat" method for the harmonies laid out here...https://www.joannecooper.co.za/blog/blog/recording-and-processing-vocals-using-realband-melodyne-and-izotope-nectar plus I used a trick that Lebz taught me and that is to record the harmonies in "bits". So I will record the low harmony for the phrase from, say, bar 12 to bar 16; then I will go straight back to bar 12 and record the mid harmony for the same phrase and then I will go back to bar 12 and record the high harmony for the same phrase. I find it very quick and easy to record harmonies in this way because the phrasing that the lead singer used is already in your head.
A wonderful tune with wonderful lyrics and superb performances by the two of you - congrats on a superb collab !
I liked everything with it !!
Cheers Dani
Thank you Dani. Appreciated
Originally Posted By: Ember - PG Music
This song had a really wonderful flow to it, and I adored the use of RealTracks. Awesome stuff.
Thank you
Originally Posted By: MarioD
Joanne, I've liked everything that you have done thus far and this song rapidly went to the top of the list.
Your vocal is exceptional, I didn't know that you could sing so low. Your harmonies were fantastic as were the backing tracks. Your guitarist is one of the best; he knows exactly when and what to play. He is a true lead guitarist.
Everyone should really be proud of this song.
Hi Mario. I am so glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed producing it. The lead vocal was sung by Lebz. I just did the harmonies and yes, his guitar playing is really so unique. He plays a wonderful mixture of the harmony and melody at the same time.
Originally Posted By: animarorecords
Hello, Joanne
Yes, this tune is completely different from your usual style. Your duo partner Lebz Muzo who provides the lead vocal and guitar on the track is very nice. I like the chord progression. And your harmonies are fantastic as are the backing tracks. Your challenge to 50 90 is wonderful. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
I wasn't crazy about the guitar for some points in the song.
Thank you beatmaster, especially for your honesty. I really appreciate it.
Originally Posted By: rayc
Joanne, your harmonies are stellar as expected. I felt the guitar and main vocal go a little astray at different point along the way. Having read how you create your harmonies made this an even more interesting listen. Your voice is the Prix L'Amour in this track.
Thank you Ray. It seems that the jury is out about the live guitar recording on the track. I find that the more I work with Realtracks the less accepting I am of "live" guitar that may not be perfect. I do tend to run out of patience long before we get a perfect guitar track down. lol... I am also finding that as I work more and more with Melodyne my ears are becoming accustomed to hearing perfectly tuned vocals. PS. Have a look at my previous reply to Deryk were I talk about another little cheat I used on recording these harmonies.
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
Uplifting and most pleasant collab.
Nice tight harmonies too.
We enjoyed the stripped down backing tracks...perfect for the tune.
J&B
Thank you Bud and Janice. I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Joanne, I enjoyed the relaxed style- which is a good fit for Lebz Muzo`s vocal. Super harmonies. Good collaboration.
Robert
Thank you Robert.
Originally Posted By: ROG
Hi Joanne,
Yes, this was a bit of a surprise - definitely different to what I've heard you do before.
This song has a feel to it as though it could have been written by Tracey Chapman. Just something about the openness of the guitar part, the arrangement and the way the melody worked in. Super.
well done to all who were involved - great writing and performances.
ROG.
Hi ROG. Lebz will be absolultey delighted with the Tracy Chapman comment because she is his hero! I will pass your comment onto him.
Originally Posted By: Tano Music
Beautiful collaboration! I think this works so well because the lyrics are simple and uncluttered and have a nice repetitive pattern that works so well for song composition. Skillful use of the real tracks provides the perfect style and background. And the guitar solo was light and fit right in. Love the work!
Thank you Tano. I appreciate you taking the time to listen and comment.
I find that the more I work with Realtracks the less accepting I am of "live" guitar that may not be perfect. I do tend to run out of patience long before we get a perfect guitar track down. lol...
The surety of BIAB is seductive but it does also generate a generic patina that desperately needs something to break the surface. Some of the guitar ideas were excellent and a dose of slice, slide, copy & paste may have given you the goods. The steadiness of BIAB also make a "live" feel sound sloppy in comparison. There are ways around the problem but patience, rehearsal and time are a requisite for all. Doing the harmonies in blocks reminds me of Brian Wilson's methodology when recording his teen symphonies era work. Modern technology is perfect for "construction" and as long as it sounds like a performance all is well.
Last edited by rayc; 07/23/1801:18 AM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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The harmonies here are unreal, and the groove is a real toe tapper. It has such a joyous tone to it as well. I really like how upbeat and positive it sounds.
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