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Hi, all: Spent a fair time this morning and afternoon listening to some great tunes. You are all killing it! Here’s something new . . . sort of. It’s a song I wrote years and years ago (I don’t quite remember how long ago). I’ve never tried recording it for two reasons: First, musically it had a descending riff that I knew I couldn’t replicate in BIAB—which meant laying down an acoustic track myself, but also reconciling that with the needed key changes (so that I could actually sing it as well as play it). So I made some compromises and got rid of the riff . . . and happily I’m not sure it’s missed. Second, I needed to find a key I could sing this thing in. But more so, I always thought it needed a smoother, more soulful vocal than I could muster. In fact, I always wondered if a female lead would work better (though “He Rules Me” might not fly in today’s woke world!). Anyway, I’ve hopefully done enough to give a feel for what the song could be . . . which is always my end goal. One last production note: The original song had an additional line of lyric after the second chorus and before the solo. The solo required a fair bit of comping (more than usual), and I unknowingly started it a few bars early . . . where that additional line was to be sung. I think it was a happy accident, as in retrospect the line didn’t add much, and the longer solo, at least for me, works well. But see what you think! All comments and feedback welcome. I’m sure there are nits in the production notwithstanding having listened to and tweaked this a gazillion times (still not sure the vocal is where it needs to be)! Best to you all, Deej Here’s the song:SHE RULES ME Here are the lyrics:When all sides of love turn gray You say it’s better left behind Go find a better place to be in But your outside looking in I can’t win, there’s no turning away And you say that’s cause enough for leaving But she rules me And I don’t know what I’ll do now I guess I’m bound by love somehow When all sides of nothing’s changed Estranged, but not so far away And I’m swayed by all this talk of treason The night falls like freezing rain And comes to chill my heart again All sides are all the same And all the talk and all the passion seem Like just a dream while unseen Lie the reach of all these chains I remain tempted by your freedom And here’s the band:RealTracks 518: Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes RealTracks 368: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming RealTracks 1599: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Pop16ths A-B RealTracks 1542: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopBelieve RealTracks 3438: Guitar, Electric, Soloist BritPsycPopBallad RealTracks 1543: Synth Pad, PopBelieve Ev16 065 RealDrums: PopRock8ths^04
Last edited by Deej56; 02/25/23 02:21 PM.
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Personal relationships are what they are. The power play between participants is a dynamic & politics that can't be readily understood by those outside it.
PLUS hyperbole and extremity are part of the art of expressing all relationships.
I co-wrote a non gender specific love song back in 85 or so for a musical. it worked well and, in fact, I don't think many who saw the show actually noticed.
That song was about the powerplay as much as the love play.
Your song essay the imbalance and resignation to it - I think that's fine - good even.
As a song...mate, your voice, that melody and arrangement... you could easily be singing the alphabet & it'd work. As it stands the narrative is cool & everything gels for a fab track.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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I love it man. Your vocals sing with emotion such that the listener feels how you are torn in half.
Just 1 personal preference nit, a longer fade on the outro would really sadden the story.
Great job all around.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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An anthem. Where do I start?
In the last verse, that change of orchestration there, to make it much more "acoustic" ... so inspired. Your inflection on the word "dream" ... so moving.
Second listen:
The LYRICS. The very first few (four, or so) lines. HOW do you ARTICULATE this kinda stuff?
"And I'm swayed by all this talk of treason". Superb.
The BIAB guitar solo fits the song like a glove.
"The night falls like freezing rain
And comes to chill my heart again"
WOW.
"All sides are all the same
And all the talk and all the passion seem
Like just a dream, while unseen
Lie the reach of all these chains"
My word.
You sing it out of the park, too.
Third listen:
An epic anthem with a truly sensitive "center". "Smoother, more sensitive vocal needed?" No. You nail the sensitive part, with the inflections, dynamics/nuances and sincerity in your voice - I don't think you have anything to worry about, there.
Lyrics: check. Music writing: check. Performance: check. Arrangement: check.
Brilliant. One of your best, for me.
P.S. did I mention the LYRICS? :-) Everything is great, here, but the lyrics just stand out for me, in this particular song. Hats off.
Last edited by musician17; 02/25/23 09:39 PM.
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Deej, when you sing and play guitar on a song that you wrote, there is nothing missing. Love the feel of this, and you nailed it into perfection. Dang, what a strong vocal, and such a good song. String emotion.
Last edited by BabuMusic; 02/26/23 05:29 AM.
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Deej, Whatever challenges you encountered, end result is awesome. Happy accident  Neat rock ballad, your vocals shine! Very strong composition and good mix. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing. Misha. P.S. I am not sure if anybody told you this before, it seems that overall track is somewhat compressed. Are you uploading lesser quality audio to soundcloud?
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Hey DJ, Magnificent song and production. You are killing it man!!!
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rayc, Bass Thumper, James, Marty, Misha and David:
Thanks all for the listens and great feedback--as always it's much appreciated. A few responses on the specific comments:
Bass Thumper: I hear you on the longer fade out. Actually, originally I wasn't going to fade out and programmed it otherwise . . . but it didn't work well and I thought the fade worked better for this song . . . and so I did so in my DAW. I could have made it longer . . . but of course I would have had to go back into BIAB and add a few bars . . . which I could have done easy enough, but I was a bit worried with the song already pushing 5 minutes of making it longer. So, here's where I ended up.
Misha: Good call on the compression. I always upload an MP3 rather than a WAV on Soundcloud given the limited data storage constraints . . . I'm already starting to run up against them. That accounts for some of it. But I went back in and I noticed I had the compression settings a bit high on the vocal and a few of the instruments. I've made some quick adjustments . . . and hopefully not to quick or too far an adjustment the other way. Thanks for calling that out.
Oh, and Marty, I may not have been clear above . . . I deleted the riff so I wouldn't have to play guitar on this track (which is better for all!). So, that's neither I nor Vic playing on this tune!
My best to you all--
Deej
Last edited by Deej56; 02/26/23 09:54 AM.
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Deej, A truly interesting write. Very well done. Strong emotional vocal. A nice track. Shows off the lyric. Killer choice of solo! Excellent in all ways. fj I always upload an MP3 rather than a WAV on Soundcloud given the limited data storage constraints . . . I'm already starting to run up against them. That accounts for some of it. Deej - If you upload a WAV file to SC, they will process it to a smaller format. They will process an mp3 the same way. The amount of "space" you get is based on TIME (length of song) not size - so they count the same... Always best to upload a WAV if you've got one...
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Floyd:
Thanks for the listen and comments. I did not know that about SoundCloud. For a while I was uploading WAV's but thought (or just assumed) because it was a much larger file that it was using up my allotted storage space faster. Easy enough to generate the WAV's and obviously prefer it . . . I'll look to change out the current file of the song.
Thanks again!
Deej
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Love the arrangement and the vocal. As rayc says, you could sing the alphabet and it would sound great. In this case, you've got a great write as well. The song all comes together - if there were any nits to find, I didn't hear them. Excellent! 
-- 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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Deej
Beautiful vocal, very emotive. Great arrangement.
One of the better guitar solos I've heard from a RT.
Excellent.
Peter
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Deej.
Your emotional vocal makes this.
Good one again.
Vic
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Man, I just love your voice! So distinctive. Pure perfection!
Possibly the best BIAB guitar solo I've ever heard too.
Great song, Deej, very much enjoyed.
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Deej,
You are such an exceptional singer...
The song and production is excellent, but your performance is absolutely KILLER!
This was an awesome listen.
Bob
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No idea what kind of vocals you had in mind for this song, because this one just fits PERFECT. I wouldn't change anything. Maybe the fade out at the end a little slower, but that's just a minor nit. Best song I've heard from you so far 
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Deej...love this...ballads are the best and I like everything about this...the exceptional parts are your emotional and expressive vocals (as usual) and that killer solo and the use of the piano...what it was before and whatever you added or subtracted from the arrangement is irrelevant because of what you produced...just consider them part of the creative process for this great tune...kudos man!
www.soundclick.com/firesongBiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10 You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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Hello Deej, I love hearing your stuff man, but this one is especially special. I'm sure glad you stuck with it and pushed through. I think you've got a terrific track here. I echo all the comments above. I really liked the lead guitar you picked out here. It almost gives it a "live vibe". Did you add effects like the echo, or did it come that way out of the box? All the decisions you made on this one were the right ones. Terrific song.
Brad
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Really emotional delivery and great story telling.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Frank
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a very emotive song.
nice character vocs.
great gtr solos...just an idea i heard the gtr solos doubled.
i really really like the choruses 'she rules me'.
superb song.
best
om
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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