|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877 |
The Way Things Are Times are tough and this is not upbeat song but it was an enjoyable production and collaboration. Regardless of that caveat we hope you find it of interest and comments are both welcomed and appreciated. Big thanks to PeterF all the guitar parts and, as always, to PG Music for their products, support and this forum community. Lyrics are on SoundCloud. Janice: lead vocal, harmony vocal, melody & arrangement Peter: guitar solos / fills / rhythm & arrangement Bud: lyric, arrangement, mix & mastering Drums: RD AmericanaRoots16th-04-SdStk,Tms Bass: RT 2877 Acoustic, AmericanaSlow16thsByron Ev16 060 Piano: MidiSuperTrack / Logic Pro Grand Steinway sound RT/RD tracks comped from multiple generations Track Effects: Logic Pro X EQ / Nectar 2 / Waves CLA Drums / Neutron 2 / Waves CLA Unplugged / Waves Bass Rider Mastering: Logic Pro X EQ > Ozone Dynamics > Ozone Maximizer > Ozone Tonal Balance > YouLean Loudness Meter
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,547
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,547 |
Wow. One of the best I've heard from you. It feels like a long time since I've heard Janice sing a full song, as opposed to harmonies etc. for other people, so this was a real treat.
Who wrote the lyrics??? It's not clear from the SoundCloud post, but whoever did it ... hats off.
Please keep writing and creating ... these times are perhaps also an opportunity for us creators to create and alleviate some of the pain so many of us are going through, through music, lyrics ... in one word, through art. So let's do it. THANK YOU for regaling us with this beautiful, beautiful song!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877 |
Wow. One of the best I've heard from you. It feels like a long time since I've heard Janice sing a full song, as opposed to harmonies etc. for other people, so this was a real treat.
Who wrote the lyrics??? It's not clear from the SoundCloud post, but whoever did it ... hats off.
Please keep writing and creating ... these times are perhaps also an opportunity for us creators to create and alleviate some of the pain so many of us are going through, through music, lyrics ... in one word, through art. So let's do it. THANK YOU for regaling us with this beautiful, beautiful song! Thanks James. I (Bud) wrote the lyric and I struggled to try and tell it from a child’s perspective using child like word choices. But Janice the eternal child  helped me. We much appreciate your generous comments! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,896
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,896 |
Really enjoyed this one!
Great writing, Bud, man I wish I had skills in that department! My favorite of many:
"a friend said her neighbor
was gonna go to hell
they went to a different church
was all she could tell"
Janice as always sounds great, love it when she brings in the harmonies.
Peter sounds a bit like Clapton to me on this one, very good indeed (cool ending!)
And a pro sounding mix to top it all off.
Excellent!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,474
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,474 |
Nice to hear an original from you and what a touching one it is! Hopeless story, powerful lyric writing. I was expecting something relieving in the end, but that's the way things usually are in real life, no happy endings. But luckily the excellent production makes me smile, Janice's voice and the guitars sing the ode of sadness very gently.
Janne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258 |
Oh Man, this is simply outstanding. Janice your voice is perfect for ballads, and it's time you did an album.
Peter, brilliant guitar work as always
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,045
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,045 |
As usual, excellent production, clear mix, and emotive singing. Mind you, I'm not a fan of this sort of song, because they're as subtle as getting continually smacked over the head with a 2x4 cluestick. Then again, who likes taking medicine? So I guess you can put that down as a measure of the song's success.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,596
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,596 |
Hi Janice and Bud,
What beautiful song! Such a nice melody and so wonderfully performed. Only you can sing it that way, Janice!
You all, including Peter, did a very good job on this song!
You almost forgot what sorrow you sang about. Maybe I have to criticize you on that...
and what coincidence I have posted a song myself about that worrisome times we live in. And I sang very angry, maybe even ugly. But that nasty world made me do that ;-)
But then you sang: 'all you have to do is pretend it’s just a play'. Well, there I became speechless. What a cynical, but also wonderful way of telling how to deal with it!
I don't think you need more compliments, otherwise you will walk beside your shoes (a Dutch proverb meaning: you become too vain).
Hans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877 |
Really enjoyed this one!
Great writing, Bud, man I wish I had skills in that department! My favorite of many:
"a friend said her neighbor
was gonna go to hell
they went to a different church
was all she could tell"
Janice as always sounds great, love it when she brings in the harmonies.
Peter sounds a bit like Clapton to me on this one, very good indeed (cool ending!)
And a pro sounding mix to top it all off.
Excellent! Dave, thanks for everything you said. Writing is a struggle for me but I try to eke out a few each year. Janice always has a zillion melodies in head so that helps Glad you liked the mix - my usual paucity of tracks. Yeah Peter does have that Clapton edge! Thanks again, 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,125
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,125 |
I wish I could write like Bud.
I wish I could sing like Janice.
I wish I could play guitar like Peter.
After hearing something so professional it almost makes me want to sell my instruments.
Everything is perfect, as usual from you all!
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647 |
Wow. One of the best I've heard from you. It feels like a long time since I've heard Janice sing a full song, as opposed to harmonies etc. for other people, so this was a real treat.
Who wrote the lyrics??? It's not clear from the SoundCloud post, but whoever did it ... hats off.
Please keep writing and creating ... these times are perhaps also an opportunity for us creators to create and alleviate some of the pain so many of us are going through, through music, lyrics ... in one word, through art. So let's do it. THANK YOU for regaling us with this beautiful, beautiful song! Bud wrote an excellent lyric for this one and the vocal is sublime. A real pleasure to be asked to play. Peter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,183
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,183 |
The narrative & perspective are terrific.
"that's just the way things are"
Says it all really.
The lies we tell children, (science, faith & education are full of them as stepping stones to further understanding), form the adult they become.
Cool song on all levels.
Thank you.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877 |
Nice to hear an original from you and what a touching one it is! Hopeless story, powerful lyric writing. I was expecting something relieving in the end, but that's the way things usually are in real life, no happy endings. But luckily the excellent production makes me smile, Janice's voice and the guitars sing the ode of sadness very gently.
Janne Janne, that was a very eloquent response to our song. We thank you for those thoughts and are very happy that you liked it. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,281
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,281 |
Janice and Bud, after all the comments here is hard for me to add anything to top it. Anything that you all do is simply great. Production, vocals ,lyrics, you name it. All perfect!
Mike B.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877 |
Oh Man, this is simply outstanding. Janice your voice is perfect for ballads, and it's time you did an album.
Peter, brilliant guitar work as always Thanks Graham! We appreciate your comments and, yes, Peter did a great job. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081 |
What a collaboration and with BIAB too! Great lyrics. Absolutely outstanding. Wonderful and full vocals. Beautiful Great guitar playing. I love that style. Someone said Eric Claptop. Yes . I'd throw in Mick Taylor too. Great production (mix, etc.) too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877 |
As usual, excellent production, clear mix, and emotive singing. Mind you, I'm not a fan of this sort of song, because they're as subtle as getting continually smacked over the head with a 2x4 cluestick. Then again, who likes taking medicine? So I guess you can put that down as a measure of the song's success. Subtlety has never been my strong suit But, hey, no intentions of continually smacking you. Glad you survived the listen! We get it and ultimately take the compliment. It’s fun having one’s thoughts provoked! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,877 |
Hi Janice and Bud,
What beautiful song! Such a nice melody and so wonderfully performed. Only you can sing it that way, Janice!
You all, including Peter, did a very good job on this song!
You almost forgot what sorrow you sang about. Maybe I have to criticize you on that...
and what coincidence I have posted a song myself about that worrisome times we live in. And I sang very angry, maybe even ugly. But that nasty world made me do that ;-)
But then you sang: 'all you have to do is pretend it’s just a play'. Well, there I became speechless. What a cynical, but also wonderful way of telling how to deal with it!
I don't think you need more compliments, otherwise you will walk beside your shoes (a Dutch proverb meaning: you become too vain).
Hans Thank you Hans. Your thoughtful comments are greatly appreciated. Even more so because you understand what we were attempting to say. We will stay in our shoes! 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,296
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,296 |
Ok, this song IS emotion! It's one of those songs that captures a feeling so well that you sort of lose sight that it's a song and feel like you've just witnessed something. It's a story told so unbelievably well.
To expand on that a little bit without going too far, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is one of those types of songs. I'm not saying this sounds like that, just the power of the writing and performance get you to that place.
You three have so expertly accomplished this through the use of a well-delivered melody and harmonies, fantastic guitar work, production, and extra attention to the details of the lyrics. Instead of using words like Mom or Dad you chose words like Mommy and Daddy. Those words I want really drive it home.
The feel has even taking on life in the cover photo. From what I've seen, a lot of your covers have a really cool blue Spectrum to them. The Earth Tones had me expecting something different, and it was delivered
I lend on the overall sobering subject matter. I commend you for bringing it into perspective for those of us who may have forgotten the fears of a child. it's especially poignant given the times were in.
I am sitting in sitting in a parking lot as I write this. And by right, I mean speak it into my phone. I'm quite certain there will be many typos and it's not overly easy for me to go back and put in correct. I'm getting better at not worrying about that and just getting the comment out. that's what's most important in a work as amazing as this is! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It is truly top-notch in every aspect!
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,184
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,184 |
Loved the intro. Love the tone of Peters guitar. Excellent vocal Janice. Professional level production. Well done
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 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 process 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, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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)
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Video: New User Interface (GUI)
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!
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,494
Posts792,656
Members39,901
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean