PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase I WANT TO SHINE LIKE THE MOON

I WANT TO SHINE LIKE THE MOON

I would like to start by saying sorry for my absence from the forum lately. Early in the fall I noticed I was feeling bad fatigue almost every day and my doctor scheduled some tests. They revealed that I have cancer. My doctor assured me that that it is treatable without a lot of extreme measures. I said all that to say it just took the wind out of my sails and wiped out my creativity for a while. I really haven't felt much motivation but decided that I have to try to write and record some music! I thank God for giving me some inspiration to do this one. It has an oh so obvious nod to one of my favorite groups (America) in it. I will continue tweaking (mixing and effects) it for a while. I now have it in a place that I feel comfortable sharing it. Thanks for giving one of my tunes another chance/listen! I always appreciate it!

BIAB-Organ 686 used on intro and chorus sections
Drums - DOD and Toontrack EZ Drummer for cymbol cressendos
Me- Vocals
Acoustic guitar-Yamaha FGX5 Red Label-Rhythm tracks and lead solo part
Electric Guitar-Fender Telecaster
Bass-Harley Benton Ric copy
Piano, Organ (verse and bridge sections) and Synths played on a Yamaha keyboard

Third party- Opening intro strings Studio One stock loop

I Want To Shine Like The Moon
Words and music by
Torrey Bliss/Ron Helm
©2024 Glass Gate Music BMI

Just like the morning sun melts frost on my window pane
Shine on me Lord warm up this heart of mine again
I've got one foot in the grave
Soon I'll leave this old body behind
Still there's work left to do
Wanna get it done before I take flight
To be a beacon of hope in the night
Lord I've gotta shine your light

I want to shine, shine like the moon
And be a reflection of you
It's all I want to do
Just shine, shine like the moon

Oh that someone might see heaven's not so far away
And when the timing is right I'd have just the right words to say
About the Light of the world
In whom there is no darkness at all
That whomsoever believes
Believes in Him they will be saved

I want to shine, shine like the moon
And be a reflection of you
It's all I want to do
Just shine, shine like the moon

Lord, I've gotta learn to love You more
Than the things that I shouldn't do
And then when the night gets really dark
I'll shine the bright as I'm reflecting You
Throw away my basket and head up to the roof
Maybe even up on the hill
And no longer stay down here where I'm standing still
And see Your plan for my life be fulfilled

I want to shine, shine like the moon
And be a reflection of you
It's all I want to do
Just shine, shine like the moon

Hello Torrey
Great that you are back !!!
And then with such a great song
Really cool intro
Absolutely excellent background track.
Very well played
Great songwriting, great vocals and great sound
Surprise with the guitar solo: I was expecting a distorted guitar, but it sounds really good like this !!!
Excellent work Torrey
Wish you and your loved ones a great 2025.
Above all that you get well soon and continue to write such cool songs.
Andi ;-)

Torrey,

You sound great! Love the song and production. Awesome mix!

Very sorry to hear about your illness - I hope you continue to get better.

Bob

Torrey,

Wishing you the very best in the journey that lays ahead. FWIW, I'm an 11-year survivor of stage-3 colon cancer and still going strong. Good to hear the optimistic evaluation of your doctor. I never had a single minute of nausea over 8 months of chemo - just some fatigue and an aversion to anything cold. Hopefully your treatment, whatever route your doctor decides, is as smooth as mine was. Will put you in my prayers.

This is a terrific song - a real Christmas gift for the rest of us. Your performance shines brighter than the moon on a clear autumn night. Great arrangement and production. Your voice sounds a s good as ever - and that's pretty dang good!

Love the guitar tone. I had an original '54 Tele for many years. Many folks instantly think of a gritty shred when they think of Telecaster. I got many great, soft but full sounds out of mine. They're actually a very good pop and jazz instrument. And your sound here drifts cool and soft as an evening mist rolling in.

Excellent song and presentation.

Wishing you everything good.

Alan

Torrey, super song! Love the intro chugging to a halt and busting into the America-style opening vocals. Super vocals and vocal arrangement throughout. Nifty solo. Nice, lively mix with everything in place and neatly balanced. Pro level from end to end.

Music creation can be a restorative act. Wishing you a complete recovery and good health in the New Year.

Thanks, Andi, for taking time to listen and comment with such nice sentiments about the tune and my health! I appreciate it so much! TB

Torrey,

A Stunning piece. From every angle.
The musicianship is jaw-dropping.
The vocals are some of your best. The BGVs are Crazy Good.
That America sound is unbelievable.

The Production is gorgeous. The Arrangement is Pro.

Top of your game. That puts you WAY above everyone else.

Sorry to hear your news. Stay strong. Keep doing this Incredible Music.

fj

Hi, Torrey.

It's always good to hear another song from you! I hope things go smoothly on the road to recovery!

Those America influences are hard to miss... but then, the song veers back and sounds very much like you.

Nice!

I love the string faux intro...misleading in a wonderful way.
Very pro production, performances and writing.
I delayed listening for a couple of days - I do that when I know I'm going to hear something excellent & you're one of the folk who is a guaranteed home run.
Tres Cool.

Ha, very cool intro. I've heard this one since the day it was posted, so I can talk forever about how much I like it. That doctor's revelation only shocked your system, but it surely bounced back with all the gratitiude you have for life. You are shining like the son, man. Yeah, gotta say, Torrey, you are one of my all-time favorite "bands."

Thanks Bob! I appreciate you so much! TB

Torrey, this sounds like it was recorded in a professional studio.
Great groove
Super backing tracks
Outstanding guitar lead
IMHO this is your best to date

PS - I pray that you are completely victorious and beat the big C. I beat colon cancer 20 years ago myself.

Hi Torrey.

This is a powerhouse of a song.
Every aspect shines with outstanding musicianship.
You and Ron have excelled.
I want to especially compliment you on your performance and your production.
You had me mesmerised as I listened.

--Noel

P.S. I'm so sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis. Like some of the others above, I've also travelled this road. A few years ago, I had my prostate removed because of advanced cancer. When I had a biopsy done in 2017, my Gleeson score came out as 9 out of a maximum of 10. Then at the end of 2023, I again tested positive for a recurrence in the growth of prostate cancer cells. Eight weeks of radiation therapy brought that under control. These days, the future looks okay. Hang in there! You'll get through this I'm so thankful that I am living at this point in time where medicine and medical procedures are now so much more than they have ever been at any point in time.

Hey Torrey,

You've certainly outdone yourself on this one my friend.

It has all of the classic Torrey Bliss components that we've come to expect and yearn for and it's really great to see you back! I hope you make even more great tunes in the new year!

Like a lot of your songs this has a real '80s feel to it it seems like it could have been right at home on a Journey album or maybe Electric Light Orchestra or something like that.

Anyway this is really cool and I enjoyed it a lot!

Hi Torrey.
Great news from your doctor about the treatment.
Great production and upbeat style.

Vic

Sorry to hear about your health issue, I wish you all the best for recovery and I hope your creativity continues to shine like the sun, the moon and the stars.

Very nice tune with a great message, "To be a beacon of hope in the night" - that's what you are Inviting intro and those harmonies reflect the best of pop music. Charming melody, you certainly haven't lost your magic touch of songwriting. The arrangement and the mix are well done, you have managed to keep things simple without being croweded, yet everything feels lush. The guitar solo fits perfectly and your high quality vocals crown this pleasant artwork of pop rock.

Janne

Thanks so much Alan! Since you listened, I actually removed the Telecaster solo and replaced with an acoustic guitar solo! Still using the Fender for rhythm tracks though! Take care, TB

I love America (in so many ways)...I also like the group...this song is crazy good...your vocals shine like the Son in this one...it truly reflects the glory of it's inspiration...I am captivated by your harmony work on this one (some of the very best!)...and your guitar work here is just as captivating...Torrey, you are without a doubt the single most gifted artist around these parts...your versatility and talent are true "reflections" of Him.

Please know that you will be in my prayers...this is difficult for me to hear but the optimism of your Dr. and realizing whose hands you rest in are comforting to us (your friends here at the forum) and hopefully to your family and mostly to you! Again this is a super song lyrically and musically...great production brother...my best always...Dan

Torrey, this is really a great song. I think the America inspiration suits you very well. The voices are great and the mixing is excellent.
If it can reassure you, I had blood cancer, more than 10 years ago and now I am cured. I hope you will still make us many beautiful songs like this one.
Laurent

It's good to hear you again. Good song.

I know what you mean about how something like a medical issue can dry up the creative juices and just cause a full engine stop, reverse thrust, on everything. ( mixed metaphors but who cares)

I definitely got the "America" vibe from this. My biggest nit is that on my system here, it sounds really compressed which detracted from the open, airy feeling I was thinking that this should have had. Other than that.... good all the way around.