We also have a video for this song, link at the bottom of this post.
Black Crack in the Wall (2020, Christiane Spruit)
Wheels are turning now it's all coming to ground What we needed, we don't need it anymore
Our children playing while the dust clouds falling down burned their dreams in the backyard of the mall
Days of laughter I still hear the echo down the hall from the good old days we had before the fall
Black crack in the wall It won't happen again they call They scale the city walls burning bridges and the flames are rising tall We've seen the black crack in the wall
All the answers they are blowing in the wind All the songs we heard and all the songs we sing Words are burning we all saw the writing on the wall HISTORY repeats itself, for us all
Wow - what a tune! Enormously powerful vocals, with superb harmonies that are instantly ear-grabbing. Definitely getting a bit of a Pat Benatar vibe on this one, which is definitely a good thing in my books.
A STRONG lyric delivered with a power packed emotive vocal and supported by a great lead guitar performance. The outro is is a great example of vocals and an instrumental solo working perfectly in tandem. The entire production is nailed...everything, the band, the vocal/guitar performances and the mix.
A song that should be heard by many not just for the message but for the musicality of it also.
And that acoustic intro...yeah.
The video's sparseness helps drive the message home.
Y'all NEVER fail to deliver!
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 are here on our website.
Dave & Chris, another gem. I guess it is more on the rock side of the blues. I hear a little more rage in Chris vocals, definitely makes this tune more powerful. Guitar work is excellent. I like raw acoustic feel mixed in. Overall, I can only look up to you two and learn
P.S. Since you mentioned "all comments"... I liked the opening with acoustic, it felt different and good, however it felt like all instruments come in little two soon. A part of me wants to hear more of that acoustic. If it was my choice, I would let vocal and keys join the guitar and then all other instruments come at 0:27 on drum roll. Just 2 cents of opinion
Excellent tune with fresh approach! Thank you for sharing.
What a terrific song ... in every possible way. The lyric is strong. As always, Chris' voice is strong on emotion and so nice to the ear. And your guitar work, Dave, is so sweet! The tracks and mix are done so nicely. This is strong! What a great listen!
Any performer, ANY PERFORMER -- instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, whatever -- who deliberately and purposefully creates a song that addresses the terrifying presence of racism ANYWHERE on this globe, as directly, as courageously, as fiercely, and with such unapologetic righteousness as you two did in your 'buck-stops-here' song, Black Crack in the Wall, deserves a humble, grateful and respectful bow from me! In fact, I'll 'do you one better': I got your back on this .
I'm gonna give you a moment to read what I wrote so you can feel the truth, the urgency of what I wrote above...
Okay, time's up !!! And now, the 'kudos'. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your obvious(?) concern about the rise of violent racism in this world. Thank you for not second-guessing your instincts. Thank you for joining the masses of people all over this globe who are trying to calm everybody down so we can clear our heads and start listening to our hearts. Thank you !!!
'blueattitude', you play your guitars as though someone was trying to take them away from you, but I am glad you defended yourself and held onto them . Practice pays off, right???
Ms. Spruitt, Ms. Spruitt, Ms. Spruitt...Listening to you exhorting the message behind the lyrics and the dialogue that appears in the video, caused me to think of you as a singing Joan of Arc. The emotional committment you poured into your voice was utterly striking and empowering (to me, at least). Thank you!
As of this moment, this very moment in time, I regard both of you as musical artists who clearly are not afraid to speak out on what concerns you according to the dictates of your conscience. I mean it. If I had medals on hand, I'd pin them on your breast -- uh, I mean, only on 'blueattitude's' breast, Ms. Spruitt .
God bless you, God keep you, God love you, God protect you, and thank you (yet, again) for applying your musical skills towards the solution of a seemingly insoluable social problem.
As forum members 'Bud & Janice' exclaimed, Black Crack in the Wall is "...a song that should be heard by many not just for the message, but for the musicality of it also". Hearin' ya' loud an' clear, 'Bud & Janice'!!!
With my utmost respect and deepest sincerity,
LOREN (a.k.a. 'bluage')
Last edited by bluage; 02/28/2005:41 PM.
"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
Is that a pick scrape to accompany "...history..."? If it's not then you might address the sound or the distortion of the voice. Terrific song, playing & singing. No nits other than the above. COOL.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Love the sound from your acoustic. This is an excellent song. As always Chris has an awesome vocal and very cool lyric. Loved your guitar work on this. Took the song to another level. Well done
Wow - what a tune! Enormously powerful vocals, with superb harmonies that are instantly ear-grabbing. Definitely getting a bit of a Pat Benatar vibe on this one, which is definitely a good thing in my books.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows 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)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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