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Hi everyone, It's a busy time on the forum! Many wonderful songs towards the end of the year! And then I also come in with a song and a hopeful title: Make a difference https://on.soundcloud.com/yE5F7However, the lyrics are both sad and not that hopefull at all. Sorry, but it must be my sunny nature playing with me... I did an experiment with 3 different BiaB styles (Toss, Demure and Glass). I found it difficult to mix all the different instruments and 5 drum kits. Before I knew it I was making mistakes where to place the instruments and so on. But in the end, I think it all sounds good enough to let you listen to it for a final judgement. I hope that turns out well! Let me know. Hans You can take a look at the styles for the used instruments. As an extra I used the drumkits ModCountry 16^02, FunkDisco and Funk70sPop. The lyrics: Make a difference (c) HWBerkhout 2023 A young girl, big dreams in her head Her mother so proud and smiling Wrong people entered her life Now her mom can't stop crying A boy, with few expectations in life His father loved to see him smiling Bad friends changed it all Now his parents are crying Chorus I thought we were more civilized But I was wrong I hoped we were no predators But I believed in a lie Do we want to make a difference or let it be? A young family, children on their lap On a picture they were all smiling Deep silence after he used his gun Now no one there is crying Chorus I thought we were more social But I was wrong I hoped we were no predators But I believed in a lie Do we want to make a difference or let it be? =solo= People are oppressed everywhere around Even more dictators are now so proud of what they've done Our environment in despair gives a lot of stress So, we take a plane to the sun! Chorus I thought we were more human But I was wrong I hoped we were no predators But I believed in a lie I thought we were more social But look at me; I cry Do we want to make a difference, you and me? or let it be?
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Hans, nice tune! Great job putting the band together from the different styles, thought they worked perfectly. Really strong vocals, too. Y'know, this world isn't always a happy place, and I think it's ok to sing about the darker side. So big thumbs up from me!
Last edited by DC Ron; 11/30/23 05:58 PM.
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Hans,
Love the song. Great vocal and a really great mix.
You are in fine form!
Bob
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Oh, yeah, there is a ton of tracks in there for sure, but it sounds like you found them all the perfect place in the mix, Hans. Your sunny nature suits you, especially your vocals. Outstanding. Another well-crafted Hans song. Great presentaion, too.
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Hans, this sounds great.
This must have been a bear to mix however you did an excellent job on it.
Super vocal and lyrics.
"I thought we were more civilized
But I was wrong
I thought we were more social
But I was wrong
I thought we were more human
But I was wrong"
Those lines are so true!
Super song!
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Hi hans ...
Nice song, indeed! I like the treatment you gave the last word of each verse. It's nice to hear something we didn't expect. The chorus brings the the verses together very nicely. Your vocal is excellent! For a non-native speaker, your command of the English language is impressive!
I really enjoyed my listen!
Alan
BIAB 2024 Ultra Plus-all StylePaks*Win11*32GB DDR5*Rhyzen 9745x*AT 2035 Mic*Peavey Nashville 112 Amp*Ibanez ART120* Acoustic/Electric/Washburn D200S Acoustic*Stromberg Monterey Jazz Guitar Loops: https://aldavidmusic.wixsite.com/bestmusicloops
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This is a really good song, Hans. Your vocals are spot on and the arrangement is really solid!
Well done.
Rob
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Great message. Thanks for posting.
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I like the tone of this Hans.
The lead solo sounds great too.
A lot of work here.
Vic
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I think it's a pretty good song.
The style changes are a bit unusual, but you make them work quite well and it keeps my attention.
I like your lyrics and the way you deliver them.
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Hans...you did a stellar job mixing different styles and their components...I too really liked the solo...lyrically very dark and I suppose ending with a question was the only way to go...maybe a verse or chorus about how to make a difference would brighten the mood? unless the answer is we can't make a difference?
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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Hi Ron, Bob and Marty, Thanks a lot for your comments on the song. I really enjoyed reading them. Still have a smile on my face when writing my reply. Hans, nice tune! Great job putting the band together from the different styles, thought they worked perfectly. Really strong vocals, too. Y'know, this world isn't always a happy place, and I think it's ok to sing about the darker side. So big thumbs up from me! Yes, it was a little more work than I expected. A lot of instruments and also interruptions ("Hans, you have to cook"! That kind of thing...). Than I had to start counting all over again. The lyrics were easier, I already had the idea of what I wanted to sing more or less in my head. Hans,
Love the song. Great vocal and a really great mix.
You are in fine form!
Bob Thanks for the 'fine form' I'm in! I told it to my sons, but they had their doubts... Oh, yeah, there is a ton of tracks in there for sure, but it sounds like you found them all the perfect place in the mix, Hans. Your sunny nature suits you, especially your vocals. Outstanding. Another well-crafted Hans song. Great presentaion, too. My sunny nature is there when it comes to making music (and some other things), but when the lyrics come in, I often see clouds. perhaps a good intentness for 2024?
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Hans, I really like what you’ve done here. Clearly a lot of work has gone into this project. Your use of all the real tracks is excellent as well as your vocals. The lyrics are well written and the overall production is high quality. Good one, Tom
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Good write - not every song should be happy, especially when the topic isn't.
-- 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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Hello Hans,
At first listen, I felt like I was listening to an unreleased song by John Lennon.
It's very pop and has a nice melody.
The vocals are also great.
Vocal reverb is also very effective.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
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Hello Mario, Al, Rob (RnAM) and Gayle, Thanks a lot for your comments on my song! I was worried (a bit) it was too dark for this time of year. But I explained why I made and make those lyrics. Bad habit... Hans, this sounds great.
This must have been a bear to mix however you did an excellent job on it.
Super vocal and lyrics.
"I thought we were more civilized
But I was wrong
I thought we were more social
But I was wrong
I thought we were more human
But I was wrong"
Those lines are so true!
Super song! Hi Mario, thanks for all you wrote. Yes, it was some work to make it, but what I liked about it was that the tension could grew more with every chorus. The instruments did a very good job on achieving that. And so I could sing with more expression towards the end. That gave me a good feeling ;-) Hi hans ...
Nice song, indeed! I like the treatment you gave the last word of each verse. It's nice to hear something we didn't expect. The chorus brings the the verses together very nicely. Your vocal is excellent! For a non-native speaker, your command of the English language is impressive!
I really enjoyed my listen!
Alan Hello Al, yes that smiling/crying thing worked well in the verses. And I'm pleased with your comment on my use of the English language, as you said it. It's always a challenge... But my family like my English songs more than my Dutch songs. Don't know why, but that's why I sing mostly in your language. This is a really good song, Hans. Your vocals are spot on and the arrangement is really solid!
Well done.
Rob Hoi Rob, dank je wel voor dit compliment van een zeer goed zanger! (Hi Rob, thank you for this compliment from a very good singer!) Great message. Thanks for posting. Hello Gayle, short but sweet! Thank you.
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It's fine to showcase sad and less hopeful songs, I have quite a bunch of them ready (but I have to finish something more hopeful first...). The contrast between the title and the sad story is striking, but that's how it should be to be noticed, "I hoped we were no predators/But I believed in a lie"... I enjoyed the melody and the chorus is superb - the chord progression and your powerful voice give the lyrics big emotional lift.
Nice band once again, interesting changes from a style to another that work well.
I would add slightly more reverb on the solo guitar (in the middle, the intro is fine) to fit with the rest of the band.
You've written a strong song that doesn't pale in comparison to contemporary hits.
Janne
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Love the lyrics. I'm not an expert in this style of music, but you've done a tremendous job with it, I think. No need for "cheerfulness" all the time, of course ... this is excellent in its own right, and it's an honest write. Well done, I liked it a lot!
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Hans,
you're not wrong.
Fabulous song.
GOOD band.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Hi Hans, I love the band that you've assembled for this. It's got a great sound. You song is a terrific creation. The lyrics are very thought provoking. Everything sits just right in the mix. You've got my applause!  Thanks for sharing. --Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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