Janice, will you stop waving your phone around in the air?
Beyond the always great write and vocals we gotta comment on the band. It sounds "real." Like some guys/gals who've been at it a long time...together.
The guitar leads sound like they were played specifically for the tune.
After that we'll defer to what the forum consummate rocker ROG said:
"Sounds good LOUD, sounds good on the speakers, sounds good in the 'phones, so must be good. I'm not even gonna ask for the solo to be louder - hey, just pleased to hear a solo like that in one of your productions.
Can we have so more of this stuff, please?"
Rock on mr jane!
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
Great write, well sung, excellent rocking mix. In my phones, everything is sitting in it's own space nicely - especially the "heavy" drums.
I particularly liked the "intoxicating Southern drawl" line. I was betting on you rhyming it with "...gonna fall". So much for my powers of prediction!
I enjoyed that song a lot!
Thanks, David. That "intoxicating Southern drawl" was all Kenny. He is so good at those kinds of uniquely perfect phrases...
Great Rock vocal! The melody is very catchy. As others say, your heavier side is good as much as your country side. The mix is excellent. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Sol soloist never sounded better to me, I always seem to audition him and then go with Brent on everything when using a soloist.
My version was just a straight ahead Dwight Yoakam country-rock jukebox barroom romp in an E major or G major (can't remember which).
This sounds minor-key dark and more complex, super catchy like something I wish I'd written.
Great vocal and super mix
you elevated this song!
Kenny - "wish you had written"? - you were a huge part of this!! A true co-write - a blending... Let's do it again sometime... ("My Old Man" was a good one, too!!). Sure hope you stick around a while - I really love hearing your music...
What a tune! It goes hard, and has so much energy behind it - the passion really shows here. This is the kind of tune I'd blast on a road trip. Amazing guitar work, really powerful vocals, and an amazing groove to boot.
So I googled "confident" and your song popped up! I'm trying MUCH harder to keep posts short. So...
The tensions created using your rhythm choices (changing), breaks, melodic and harmonic choices are all REALLY impressive to me. Even the tones you are singing with compliment the sound of this song so well. AND...then everything releases at the right points. So cool!
You two should do more together. It would seem wrong not to.
Last edited by HearToLearn; 08/13/1808:05 AM.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
What a nice back story Floyd. Glad you resurrected this one. Welcome back Kenny.
Thanks, Joanne.
Originally Posted By: Scott C
What a cool collaboration Floyd and Kenny. Awesome rocker. Super lyric, vocals and harmonies. Guitar was just smokin….Well done
thanks from both of us, Scott...
Originally Posted By: Al-David
nice you gave it a new breath of air! A little dark rock with some attitude. I don't normally listen to much of this but this was pretty danged cool. Loved it1 I like Floyd's harder side . a new look at our our friend! Nice!
We've said it before, apart from being a good country singer, you really are a very good rocker! Please go on making this kind of songs. The mix is excellent. This is a great rock song, which is very catchy too! Really good job from both of you!
Rob and Anne-Marie
Thanks, guys... appreciate it...
Originally Posted By: Joe -PG Music
Hi floyd, I enjoyed this! I really enjoyed the overall tone of this. Fantastic choice of instrumentation, and great work on the guitars they sound very crunchy! Great use of EFX. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Joe. Nice to have you drop in for a listen...
Impressive little rocker you have here—and here I thought of you as a country guy. Hints of ‘80s glam rock in this one, for me at least. Some terrific lines in this lyrically as well, along with your usual great touch on production. Well done!
As mentioned a couple of years ago, you and Kenny have done a really great job in writing this song. "Burned by blue-eyed cool" is still a standout line!
The current version, though, takes the previous version in a whole new direction.
What stood out to me most was how you've taken what was an AABA format and while you've kept the AABA presentation, you've modified the format so that it finishes with repeated B-sections. That really intrigued me. Normally to end an AABA song using the B section does not work effectively. But that was not the case here. Moreover, these days, the only way that a song usually ends with a B-section is if that B-section is a chorus. In this song of yours and Kenny's, though, the B-section did not sound like a chorus at all to me.
The more I thought about it, the more I came to see that your approach to format reminded me of a jazz technique I've come across a few times recently. There are a number of songs from the 40s/50s that use ABAB where B is definitely neither a chorus nor a bridge but just another musical section. One that springs to mind is Loesser's "If I Were A Bell" from 'Guys and Dolls'.
The first appearance of the B-section starts with Jean Simmons singing "From the moment we kissed tonight..." and ends with "If I were a banner I'd wave." In the following repetition of the A- and B-sections, the B-section ends the the sequence at that point with a slight variation of the original B-section.
In all honesty, I found it very refreshing to hear "The Rule". You and Kenny have given me a great deal to ponder!
Impressive work!
All the best, Noel
P.S. Also, as always, I was left thinking... "How does floyd manage to produce such a spectacular sound!"
Noel - Thanks - we appreciate that you found this satisfying this time around as well... I enjoyed hearing "If I Were A Bell". They just don't write 'em like that anymore...
Originally Posted By: rayc
It rocks, really rocks. You do this sort of thing oh so well.
Glad you enjoyed it, Ray...
Originally Posted By: jannesan
Really great rocker with catchy 'big drum' chorus - I like the minor chord approach. Nice lyrics. Vocals, arrangement and mix are excellent. The solo guitar fits like a glove.
Janne
Janne - thanks for dropping by for a listen.... and for the nice comments...
------------------------------------------ My music: https://soundcloud.com/ermar-gamar My stuff: Stratocaster '89, PRS SE Santana, Digitech RP90 Multi Effect, Vocalist Live 3, Digital Piano Korg SP, Studio One 3.5, Presonus Audiobox, BB 2018
Two of my favorite writers (on or off the forum)!!! I knew it would be great, and IT IS!! I can hear both of you in the song. Clever, interesting lyric with some great lines, including
pretty soon there'll be no safe distance should i walk away before i have to crawl
Just right! The melody is perfect at blending the excitement mixed with apprehension of the relationship. The production/vocals are tops, and the guitar solo is perfect for the song. Certainly one of the forum A-teams! Great, great stuff guys!! Take care. Greg
Greg - Thanks, we appreciate that! Most of the really cool phrases were Kenny's doing - he is SO good at that...
This is top shelf work. Glad you decided not to put it back up on the shelf. It needs to be heard. Good job and I enjoyed this one a lot.
Really appreciate that, Charlie...
Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
Janice, will you stop waving your phone around in the air?
Beyond the always great write and vocals we gotta comment on the band. It sounds "real." Like some guys/gals who've been at it a long time...together.
The guitar leads sound like they were played specifically for the tune.
After that we'll defer to what the forum consummate rocker ROG said:
"Sounds good LOUD, sounds good on the speakers, sounds good in the 'phones, so must be good. I'm not even gonna ask for the solo to be louder - hey, just pleased to hear a solo like that in one of your productions.
Can we have so more of this stuff, please?"
Rock on mr jane!
J&B
What better than the Janice Wave!!
Originally Posted By: MarioD
I'm late but I agree with everything that has been said.
Great rocker for sure.
I'm convinced that you could do any genre and make it sound great.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
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!
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.
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)
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!
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