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Stars Casting Light In The Rain

This song was a songwriting exercise. And another idea received in a dream... in that dream, I got to hear a very rare b-side by one of my favorite bands. When I woke up, I remembered just few bars of the chorus and the song title without the first word, [?] Casting Light In The Rain... for several years, the chords very ready, but I couldn't figure out what the song would be about because of that missing word. Then I decided that the word should be "Stars", because that is a word the songwriter of the band has used quite often in the lyrics. After that, the lyric writing was more straightforward, a story how we could all be stars and able to beat the "bad guys" by being kind and well-behaved, these are true super powers.

I couldn't find their song that would match the melody in the dream, although it resembled some of the songs on one of their albums... so I decided to write and arrange the song in the spirit of that album, but not doing a complete pastiche, rather something my own way, although it is clear that "my way" has been inspired by the group (someone has mentioned the band on this forum when commenting my song...).

Anyway, I hope the song works for you on its own, even without knowing about any references. I would classify the song in the sophisti-pop genre, but maybe you have other ideas. BIAB provided once again the perfect band for my vision, that ElectroFlutes is a classic!

(the band in question is Prefab Sprout, its songwriter Paddy McAloon and the album From Langley Park To Memphis).

RealDrums: Tabla8ths, DjembeKeitaEv16
Loop: Mark Tree - gradual in with shimmer.wav

RealTracks:
2615:Bass, Electric, FunkPumpingQuarters Ev 100
2448:Guitar, Electric, Background, PopDreamyBrent Ev 085
3754:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopAutoswellBrent Ev 110
3700:Guitar, Acoustic, Soloist SlackKeyBallad Ev 085
3390:Mandolin, Soloist BalladPopTremoloAndy Ev 065
1841:Synth Pad, PopModernGrooveHigh Ev16 075
2364:Synth, ElectroFlutes, Rhythm Pop Ev 085
3765:Vibes, Rhythm PopBallad Ev 085
3278:Vocal Mmms, Rhythm RockNRollGospel12-8 4-part Sw 065

Vocals: Synthesizer V Saros (lead), Sheena & Natalie & Weina & Asterian (backing)

Mixed in Cakewalk by BandLab (Neutron 4, Ozone 11, Neoverb)

Lyrics:

[Verse]
Life's a prayer in unsettled swirls
life's a nightmare
where all the bullies rule the world
they can twist kindness into sin
corruption is their normal way to win
gluttony in flashy towers
wrecking them takes super powers.

[Chorus]
Stars casting light in the rain
fighting for dawn in the night
heroes like Parker and Wayne
are not afraid of the heights.
Upside down kisses in cowl suits
charmingly beating the brutes.

[Verse]
Life's a dream to become a star
life's a class team
to learn how tactful heroes are
they can hide selves by being masked
helping strangers even if not asked
in the web of stellar armory
pulling threads for greater harmony.

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
Storms raise the dark to obscure the facts
but we are the stars to illuminate the virtuous acts.

[Chorus]

--------------------
Janne

Janne,

This is a very intersting composition. It comes across to me as Alternative Pop. Great message in the lyric. The synth vocals are strong - in a good way.

The backing tracks are very busy, yet they don't step on one another and support the vocal and other backing tracks perfectly.

Nicely done! And thanks for the background story. I always find them interesting.

Best to you,

Alan

Janne, very cool backstory, and a killer arrangement/mix on this tune. So many layers and they're all so clear AND supportive of the song. VERY skillfully done. LOVE your choice of song title, it's very evocative and cool. The superhero lyric is creative as well. I can picture this as a musical number on stage or the big screen. Would be fun to see it come to life like that. Great job!

Janne, super song
Great vocal and lyrics.
Outstanding mix considering the number of track you have in this song.
This is really a great song.

Nice one...a couple of quite loud sibilant spots but no big deal for most folk. The slightly intimate/confessional vocal style is an interesting contrast to the show tune melody and message.
Well done sir.

Janne,

Great song. Love the progression. You selected some excellent voices for the vocals. Awesome mix.

Enjoyed!

Bob

Very cool how the song really developed when you added the stars, Janne. Also love your idea of super powers.

Man, excellent lyrics. Once again I think, "I wish we were neighbors." I like how the song starts with the pitter patter of a light rain. But as the rain picks up, the stars shine through. That's a real catchy melody in the chorus and the verse builds nicely to it. So far I've listened 3 times. I might be back to tell you more of how good this song is.

Hi, Janne.

I hate to say it, but it sounds like you, not 80's Prefab Sprout.

With that out of the way, I really like this song!

Darned it, now you've got me listening to From Langley Park To Memphis. There goes my evening...

Brilliant lyrics, combined with an enticing melody and an equally intriguing chord sequence. This song has a fantastic element of unpredictability. Magnificent. So much to like.

Thanks Alan for your very kind feedback Glad you liked the message and the vocals!

Janne

Thanks DC for your pleasant and supportive comment Wasn't easy to mix, previously I would have had even more instruments, but when I'm getting older I feel that less is more but I had to leave two nice guitars on top of each other in the outro section, because I liked them both so much.

It seems that many of my recent songs have received "musical number" comments, just wondering what I should think of that

Janne

Thanks Mario, always big pleasure to read your positive words

Janne

Thanks Ray for your kind comment I could make sibilants quieter by isolating the aspiration parts from the vocals to own files, just hadn't done it because of the extra work when the vocal part is under work most of the time. The more intimate vocal style for the song was intentional, I wanted to the vocals be closer to the singer of the dream (of the band behind the inspiration).

Janne

Thanks Bob, I'm really glad to read your positive feedback

Janne

Great lyric and we especially love the bridge.
“Storms raise the dark to obscure the facts
but we are the stars to illuminate the virtuous acts.”

We liked the way the intensity builds as the characters change into their superhero personas.

The mandolin solo and dual guitars outro are very good.
Very effective choice of synth vocalists too.

That is a cool band with the variety of instruments.
The nice mix has great clarity and dynamics.

We think the sophisti-pop genre fits (as Janice Ithought of so many of Queen’s sophisti-rock productions).

Well done!

J&B

The backing tracks really catch my attention---so well put together and a captivating sound. Delicious harmonies in the chorus.

Thanks Marty for your positive comments, but I'm still waiting for more praise You really found the idea behind my train of thought if there was any I'm glad that you liked the build from the verse to the chorus, because, to tell you the truth, I added that mark tree just to hide the fact that it isn't so good....

Janne

Thanks David for your kind comment Glad you liked my song, but okay, I'm bit disappointed to hear that the song didn't sound like Prefabs I thought there was something similar to, for example, Knock On Wood... but I'm sure you enjoyed the real thing by listening to that album, it surely is never waste of time, if you ask me (although Jordan: the Comeback is my favorite).

Janne

Thanks AudioTrack very much for your very heartwarming feedback I think I should frame your words and put them on the wall to remind me every day that there is someone liking my song so much

Janne

Janne,

You write the most interesting lyrics.
Excellent use of BIAB. Tremendous backing tracks!
Good vocals.
Solid mix.

Well done.

fj