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Hi everyone, After some 'heavy'songs I thought it is time for a summer song, on an island, a sax and a steelband and me with a Cuba Libre. what more do you want? Oh yes, a song! Here it is: The Ocean, https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130/the-oceanThe lyrics are just what they are. No hidden layers or something like that. The first version was from 2017, but this one has changed a bit. I hope you like it, but please tell me if and what can be done better. Hans The ocean (c) HwBerkhout, feb 2017/ may 2022 Verse 1 I came looking for my brother Always drinking in his favourite pub Must bring him home soon before he ends up in a tub Verse 2 But there was that lovely lady laughing friendly to me So I forgot my brother When she came sitting next to me Chorus 1 So we went to the ocean, yeah She came along with me! We took the car of my brother, yooh He did not disagree Sub chorus We took a ride to the ocean And we dived into the sea Verse 3 I told her, she would love it, If we first go for a swim Then dry-up in the sunshine For us that's where we begin Chorus 1 + 2: It felt like a party, yeah The waves weren't so rough We drank Cuba Libre, yooh Now I'm deeply in love Bridge Oh, what happened to me? I woke up with a shock, in that pub, in my bar chair... She stared at me with a grin And I? I started to stu-stu-stutter But then she said: "care for a swim"? Chorus 1 +2 + Sub chorus ============================================================== Style: INFUSED.STY, Key: G, Temp: 110 bpm RealTracks: 3122:Bas, Acoustic2157:Piano, Electric Vintage 2930:Guitar, Akoestisch, Rhythm Folk (2x) 3611:Steel Drum, Rhythm 716:Sax, Tenor RealDrums: Congas Keyboards/ me: Native Instruments
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Hello Hans
Fitting to the nice weather
Your good mood song
The song is really good and makes fun
So it should be
Many greetings
Andi ;-)
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I wish the weather here was a match for the vibe.
Nice and light - melody as well as arrangement.
The chorus vocal is a little over processed for the warm, happy, vibe of the song.
Nice one...
Cuba Libre - rum n coke.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hans,
Fun and happy island tune. Neat choice of instruments and pretty complex vocals that fit very well. I agree with Ray about a bit over processed vocals.... and that only because overall arrangement has more acoustic feel. Good mix and listens well.
Thank you for sharing.
Misha.
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Hans
Some nice easy listening island music.
What's not to like!
Peter
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Fun song! I enjoyed the sax, steel band, and - as you said - lyrics with no hidden meaning. 
-- 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.
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Fun song, Hans, I like the band and the arrangement.
Reminds me of the music you hear in places like Cuba and the Dominican, just that laid back, feel good groove.
Enjoyed!
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Hi Andi, Ray and Misha, Thanks for your nice comments and advise. And Misha, I missed you for a while. I was thinking of emailing you this morning but saw your reaction, so you are back! Hello Hans
Fitting to the nice weather
Your good mood song
The song is really good and makes fun
So it should be
Many greetings
Andi ;-)
Hi Andi, your response was quick! But also very nice. I decided to release this song, because the one before was a Dutch Nutshell and the other one a Ukraine war. That's enough bad news for a month, don't you agree? I wish the weather here was a match for the vibe.
Nice and light - melody as well as arrangement.
The chorus vocal is a little over processed for the warm, happy, vibe of the song.
Nice one...
Cuba Libre - rum n coke. Hi Ray, about the weather; my sister always wished rain because it was so hot al the time in your country. Well, now you see what happend! Even she was complaining to me this morning. But I think good weather is coming soon after this song. And I listened to you and Misha and did something in the mix. I think it must be better/brighter now. But because I used 6 tracks for the background, this could have caused some processing problems. and why 6 tracks? Because I liked them all and could not choose... Hans,
Fun and happy island tune. Neat choice of instruments and pretty complex vocals that fit very well. I agree with Ray about a bit over processed vocals.... and that only because overall arrangement has more acoustic feel. Good mix and listens well.
Thank you for sharing.
Misha. Hi Misha, as I said above, I missed you. Probably you don't like Dutch, or War songs  I listened to you and Ray about the vocal processing. I think I reduced the problem. Thanks for telling. And also for liking the song! Have a nice day, Hans
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A couple of things that stood out.
The electric piano sits subtly but ideally in the mix.
Perhaps the vocals are a little too far out in front.
Nevertheless, a fun song.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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When I clicked on the link to your song the first thing I heard was, "Hey, hand me the nail gun," and thought you did a Firesign Theatre type one. Thank goodness I was wrong. When the ad was over I was rewarded with a fun island getaway. Straight forward lyrics tell the story of a wonderful adventure, and is a strong endorsement of Cuba Libre. Excellent instrument choices and as always the perfect mix. You sing like someone who lived it, Hans.
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Hans
Some nice easy listening island music.
What's not to like!
Peter Hi Hans ... Peter already said what I was thinking. I agree with him completely. Cool song that's a pleasure to listen to. Alan
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Always fun to be on an island with ocean view and a cuba libre in one hand and a gorgeous woman in the other.
Rob de Klerk, Dutch singer-songwriter https://www.robdeklerk.nlBiab 2023, Cakewalk, N.I. Komplete 14, Win 10,64, Ozone 9 elements suite, Presonus studio 24c
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Hans,
Fun song. Clever turn at the bridge...
Well sung. Good summery BAND. Good mix.
Breezy.
Enjoyed.
fj
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First, a very high saturated mix! It really bursts out of our speakers, but in a good way.
We recognize that saxophone RT. We used it in one of our songs a couple of years ago.
Good harmonies.
Well done.
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Cool groove to the song Hans. Super vocal and lyric. Excellent mix. Loved the backtrack as well..
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Nice to get to the summer mood after one of the most beautiful spring days here. Light song with some romance, fun and humor. Enjoyed to hear those steel drums. I'm also working on a summer song, involving drinking, let's see if it get finished this year Janne
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We could almost feel the ocean breeze, Hans!
Jimmy Buffet goes to the Caribbean.
Janice was smiling and tapping her foot all the way through.
Fun lyric, good vocals, band, arrangement and mix!
The whole package.
Just what we needed,
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
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Excellent production, fun song... I loved it.
Bandcamp Win-11; BiaB-2026 Audiophile (latest version)
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Hi Peter, David and Dave, Thanks for your compliments and I'm glad you appreciate a simple song once in a while And Dave, because I've lived on one of the Caribbean islands, that atmospere stays in my head. Everytime I hear a steelband, I feel the tropics and want to go back... Thanks for listening! Hans
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Hi audiotrack, Marty and Al, Nice to read your compliments and thoughts on the song! As I said before; it was time for a song like this (for me). After this one the sad or heavy songs will come again! A couple of things that stood out.
The electric piano sits subtly but ideally in the mix.
Perhaps the vocals are a little too far out in front.
Nevertheless, a fun song. Hi AudioTrack, it was the steelband and the sax that had to steal the show, and of course the story. My brother has a very expensive car and that's why I introduced him... I did some adjustments in the song and I think the mix must be good by now. Otherwise, you have to tell me it again. When I clicked on the link to your song the first thing I heard was, "Hey, hand me the nail gun," and thought you did a Firesign Theatre type one. Thank goodness I was wrong. When the ad was over I was rewarded with a fun island getaway. Straight forward lyrics tell the story of a wonderful adventure, and is a strong endorsement of Cuba Libre. Excellent instrument choices and as always the perfect mix. You sing like someone who lived it, Hans. Hi Marty, I don't know what kind of version of SoundCloud you use, but I never experienced this. Yes, on YouTube. And mentioning a 'gun' is a bit sensitive these days, I read... And I may have told you before; I lived on an island in the tropics, but was to young for a cuba libre  But thanks a lot!
Hi Hans ...
Peter already said what I was thinking. I agree with him completely. Cool song that's a pleasure to listen to.
Alan
Hi Al, I'm glad he wasn't the only one. Thanks very much! I wish you all a nice day today, Hans
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