Since I'm good for about one song a year, whether it's needed or not, here goes. Feedback is welcome and appreciated - Scott
Near the Bayou Teche in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana there was a cafe known as the Joie de Vivre. One day a few years ago some friends and I wandered inside. I asked for the translation and eventually a song developed. And since our friends grew up in that area - one on his parents' farm nearby - they're all part of the story.
Upon a time in Lou'sian' Was a woman and a man She was fair and in her eyes he was everything
Love was born and it grew Wasn't long before they knew And when he offered her a ring he began to sing
Joie de Vivre, joie de vivre That is what you are to me You forever hold my heart Never will we part Till the stars no longer shine I am yours and you are mine We were always meant to be Joie de vivre
There beside the Bayou Teche Did the woman answer yes And they were married in a chapel in the spring
With the people crowded near He was fighting back the tears When the bells began to ring she began to sing
And so it was they settled down On some land not far from town And they were blessed with all the gifts that love can bring
Through the years they worked the farm Side by side arm in arm At every family gathering together they would sing
Vocals are Nectar 2 and me Ozone 8 for mastering
Style is M_SWWLZS.STY (Country Waltz Swing w/ MST Strin)
Scott, first of all you should really write more. This is a great write, performance and production. The harmony is also perfect. The story is cohesive and the minimalist backing is just the right treatment. An excellent offering! Loved it, Tom
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Scott, first of all you should really write more. This is a great write, performance and production. The harmony is also perfect. The story is cohesive and the minimalist backing is just the right treatment. An excellent offering! Loved it, Tom
I agree. You are to good of songwriter, singer, and producer to only do one song a year.
I think this song is absolutely fantastic.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Terrific song and performance. The ban is pretty cool and your vocal is strong, assured and with a minimum of sibilant/mouthnoise etc. I THINK the vocal may be a tiny bit loud or strident in some freqs. but I'm not in a position to assess that properly. I listen again when I don't have a brain ache.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Scott, Excellent vocals and production! Nothing sticking out. Listens very well. With such abilities, you should try more than a song-a-year deal. Thank you for sharing!
Scott, first of all you should really write more. This is a great write, performance and production. The harmony is also perfect. The story is cohesive and the minimalist backing is just the right treatment. An excellent offering! Loved it, Tom
Appreciate that, Tom.
I kept trying to work in an accordion to get that Cajun squeeze box vibe, but the even tempo RT just didn't fit. And I was hesitant about drums, but the kids of the friends I mentioned are planning to play this song at an anniversary celebration for their folks and a few other couples, if ever that's permitted, so that was my motivation for getting this recorded now. Anyway, I figured the steady beat wouldn't hurt if anyone decided to dance.
Thanks for that and for the previous listens and feedback. I ended up uploading the mp3 to SC also.
I would like to be here more often. I would like to retire one of these days and spend as much time in the studio as possible, but alas, stuff happens.
But hey, I have managed to get the new place set up and it's working out fairly well.
A lovely traditional sounding song!! Very nicely told story with the perfect delivery and musical backing!! Great to see you back around here Scott!! Don't be a stranger!! Take care. Greg
I had friend, now deceased, who lived in Houma, LA for many years. he then moved to France, his parents' home country. He spoke Cajun French more than English.
He was the drummer in a band I was in for about 15 years. He was a dear friend and I miss him so much. This took me back to those days. His name was Robert Loreau ... we always called him "Frenchy". He was like a brother to me. Thank you for the sweet, yet poignant, memory. It put a smile on my face and a tear in my eye.
A great song ... lyric, band, arrangement, and vocal. No way to go wrong with that! Would love to hear more original music from you.
Scott, first of all you should really write more. This is a great write, performance and production. The harmony is also perfect. The story is cohesive and the minimalist backing is just the right treatment. An excellent offering! Loved it, Tom
I agree. You are to good of songwriter, singer, and producer to only do one song a year.
Terrific song and performance. The ban is pretty cool and your vocal is strong, assured and with a minimum of sibilant/mouthnoise etc. I THINK the vocal may be a tiny bit loud or strident in some freqs. but I'm not in a position to assess that properly. I listen again when I don't have a brain ache.
I don't doubt it. Oh how I struggled to balance the mix. It's close, but like you noticed, there are still a few iffy spots. I had to go back several times and cut resonant freqs in the vocal. Then of course it was too harsh. My last move was a cut around 5k with a Pultec emulation.
My home studio is in a larger room now with some treatment and so I'm finally mixing on speakers - trying to learn the KRK Rokit 5's I've had for a few years.
I referenced David Ball's 'When the Thought of You Catches Up With Me,' Darius Rucker's 'Wagon Wheel' cover, Alan Jackson's 'Small Town Southern Man' and more:)
excellent vocal and backing tracks thanks for sharing Eric
AMD (TM) 5950 4.9 GHz 16Core Processor 64 bit 32 bits of ram windows 10 pro 64 bit os. sound card Antelope ZenQ guitars Ibanez 2202a 1968 les Paul Custom and Cavin ae 185 Guitar boss Gt-100,GT1000 pedal Yamaha HS8 studio monitors
A lovely traditional sounding song!! Very nicely told story with the perfect delivery and musical backing!! Great to see you back around here Scott!! Don't be a stranger!! Take care. Greg
The people are happy with the way it turned out, which makes me happy, but it ain't over until the song gets a few critical listens here in the Showcase.
Thanks for giving it a spin and for that lovely review, Greg. Take care yourself.
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.
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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!
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
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