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#840121 01/23/25 04:44 AM
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During the height of the pandemic, my hospital-working daughter felt totally isolated because of her reluctance to submit to certain "requirements"..she told me she had no colleagues who would speak to her, and was constantly under threats and pressure to "go along". At one point, she told me she felt completely closed in and isolated, in self-protection mode. Thus, the idea of "Fortress".
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FORTRESS

Once my world was vast,
I strided in robes of gold;
And rabid for all I passed,
But knowing my heart was cold.

Now my world is small;
I fashioned it in my hand;
Rich despite the wall;
Living on plush, green land.

I dropped my crushing weight
And broke like a bird set free;
For the road I knew ran straight
To where my eyes could see.

Here at last;
Calling this FORTRESS home.

Calm behind my gate,
Shielded from worldly sins;
In the still I wait;
I'll be ready when life begins.

When the shadows rule the earth
And demons are running free;
I will have suffered my rebirth
And delivered me.

Here at last;
Calling this FORTRESS home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_FESTRIO.STY. Peruvian Festejo Rhythm Trio
RD: PERCFESTEJOPERU^01-a:Cajon, Quijada, Cowbell , b:CajonSync, Quijada Cowbell :Alex Acuna
RT2722: Bass, Electric, PeruFestejo68 Sw 120 , Oscar Stagnaro
Midi: Grand Piano, Pan Flutes, Violins


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Tano Music #840154 01/23/25 09:06 AM
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Interesting backing track, Tano.
It brings a fitting accompaniment to amplify the uncomfortable theme.
I don't think the word "stridden" is right. It should be "strode", according to the dictionary.
You could change it to "strutted" though, if you wanted to keep the same syllables.

Vic

Tano Music #840160 01/23/25 09:18 AM
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You are correct!! "Strided" isn't really a word, but I took literary license to make it fit.. thanks for paying such close attention!!


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Tano Music #840224 01/23/25 04:30 PM
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Hi Tom,

This is very creative songwriting.
I love it!
And I really love the backing.
You've done a great job.
Your singing is first class.
This was a terrific musical journey.

--Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026
Tano Music #840308 01/24/25 06:40 AM
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Oh, Tom, tell your daughter she is the best. Way to go, girl. Don't be swayed by the mob; be yourself. Excellent example. Your words describe those feelings relative to those brave hospital workers so well. The music you composed for this feeling of being alone in the crowded chaos is just perfect. It's looping here now for the 3rd time. Well done!


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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Tano Music #840313 01/24/25 07:07 AM
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Hey this is a really cool song!

The instrumentation is very hypnotizing, and I love the simplicity of the arrangement.

Really nice work!

Tano Music #840320 01/24/25 08:25 AM
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Interesting time signature .. excellent lyrics.


Elliott Kayne
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Health, Wealth, Family, Faith, Friends, and Fun







Tano Music #840360 01/24/25 02:25 PM
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Very unusual, but your song somehow draw me in and never let go.
Really cleverly done, and I like your minimalist approach.
Cool stuff [Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]

Tano Music #840386 01/24/25 04:51 PM
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Tom, a very interesting arrangement that was expertly done.
Loved the groove.
Great vocal and lyrics.
Great backing band and mix.
A super song.

PS - Tell your daughter that she is a hero in my book.


Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!

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Tano Music #840395 01/24/25 06:01 PM
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Thanks all..the way the story wound up—when the hospital figured out that my daughter was the resident expert in a particular area, they realized that they couldn’t lose her—they eventually just backed down..the good guys win again!


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Tano Music #840411 01/24/25 09:15 PM
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Hi, Tom.

Interesting arrangement - cool sound.

There are some points where the vocal seems to come really close to distortion, but you keep in check.

Cool listen.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

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Tano Music #840420 01/24/25 11:15 PM
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Tom,

Your creativity is remarkable.
The rhythms are quite innovative and the chord progressions are overflowing with originality.
The melodies are beautiful too.
Great!
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Tano Music #840436 01/25/25 03:09 AM
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Tano,

Talk about creative song writing! What's the time signature? Ther bass description suggests 6/8,but it sounds different to me. But heck, what do I know about time signatures? Whatever, it was a great choice and adds a certain amount of chaotic drama.

Nice arrangement and excellent delivery!

best to you,

Alan


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Tano Music #840476 01/25/25 09:17 AM
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Thanks all..I think this style is 4/4, but the strange rhythms had me perplexed for a long time, maybe 4 years—couldn’t get the feel for it for a long time.


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Tano Music #840535 01/25/25 11:43 PM
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A really interesting song and a brilliant write, but rather than reiterate what others have written, I'm in 100% total support of your daughter and Marty's comments. It's a subject which needs a book or books written, by which I mean what I called the 'pandemonic'. I did a vast amount of research on all areas of this topic, including the pressure so many medical professionals were under as "first do no harm" went right out of the window and jobs were at stake if the truth was spoken. I'll mention just one aspect out of innumerable: 3 UK funeral directors from different parts of the country, 2 of whom made videos on the subject and 1 of whom tried with others to sue the UK government, all stated that during the entire period there was no increase in deaths - they had no more funerals that the average - but no-one was any longer dying of strokes, hear attacks, pneumonia and other common causes as all were being listed as C19. I'll mention 1 other aspect: in the UK only 2 organisations conducted impact assessments of the lockdown, the Office of National Statistics who never published their findings under orders from Bojo, plus a team at the University of Bristol. They concluded that 400% more damage was done via the lockdown than had there been no lockdown. I still have a Word file of 18 pages of links on all aspects of the 'pandemonic', one of those links leading to hundreds of others! C19 was real but the 'Great Lie' held sway and alas many still believe the Great Lie as the MSM supported it.


Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Tano Music #840554 01/26/25 03:59 AM
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We could speak for hours on this topic, since this is a forum about compositions, I appreciate your comments and feedback!


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Tano Music #840558 01/26/25 04:51 AM
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Tom,

Excellent song. I love the unique instrumentation and arrangement. You have a real knack for creating original sounding compositions.

Thoroughly enjoyed!

Bob

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