PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Title: 青春に想う(Translation: Thinking of Youth) Rock Song with male vocal

Hello forum friends,

This is my first post of the year and my newest song.
This song is one of the songs we recorded during our music circle's winter recording session.
We've been in this circle for over 20 years, but there are some members with whom I've never collaborated before.
This time I collaborated with one of them.
He's a rock vocalist and songwriter.
This collaboration was the idea of his partner, who is also a member of the circle.
She wrote the lyrics herself, so she asked me to write a song that would be perfect for her partner, who would sing it.
Lyrics by Ami Kato, composition and arrangement by me, vocals by Kazuhiko Matsumoto.
This time too, I have prepared a live band version and a BIAB version.
The BIAB RealTracks Instrumental version was created for lyricist to write the lyrics and for vocalist to learn the melody.
Now I would like to introduce it to you.
Any comments encouraged.
Always welcome.

Best Regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Title: 青春に想う(Translation: Thinking of Youth)

Link of Live Band Version by Yamaha Teachers:
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/thinking-of-youth

Vocal: Kazuhiko Matsumoto, my music circle friend
Accompanied by Yamaha Teachers
Following additional VST instruments played with EastWest Symphonic Orchestra
Ist Violins, 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos

Link of RealTracks Version:
https://soundcloud.com/animarorecords/thinking-of-youth-instrumental

Style is _DIRE_FS.STY Fast Rock w/Dire Electric Guitar
RealTracks in style: 521:Bass, Electric, Pop Syncopated Ev 136
RealTracks in style: ~406:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 136
RealTracks in style: ~510:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Dire Ev 140
RealDrums in Style: NashvilleEven8^1-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
Ist Violins, 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos,Trumpet & Piano added

Summary of lyrics

That was the season when the blue sky shone brightly high
I was full of excitement and our love was the spice of our life
Those memories will never fade

When I talk about my dreams, I become stubborn and close my eyes
Friends who are close to my lonely heart, my eyes well up with tears of nostalgia

Now those are the distant days of youth
I want to enjoy and search for the beauty of this world
while supporting my twilight life

I was betrayed and also lied to, and I was afraid of something
I certainly had a burning desire to scream out

Even if you stumble because of your youth,
it will turn into strength with time

Listen carefully and listen
Believe honestly in the voice of your heart

Now those are the distant days of youth
I want to enjoy and search for the beauty of this world
while supporting my twilight life

Hi Shigeki,

I listened to both versions and slightly preferred the live version. The BIAB version was very good, but the singer in the live version gave the song more personality, in my opinion.

Your arrangements are always so good. There's no exception here.

This is a different style than you usually post here on the forum, but I like it a lot.

As always, I enjoyed your music very much.

Best wishes,

Alan

Always pleasant to listen to with beautiful orchestrations. Goldsmith's work.
Laurent

Hi Shigeki...great to hear your work, as always. I listened to both versions. I liked the BIAB version better--maybe because I'm so accustomed to hearing RT music than live music!
I'm guessing that the substituted parts were the guitars, drums, and bass--all the other tracks sounded identical. Great song. You ended with a nice maj7 modulation--not usually found in rock music--but a nice added flair. Excellent use of strings. I'm glad I listened!

Hi Shigeki and Kazuhiko
This is really a very good song
Super sung
Of course also outstanding string accompaniment
I prefer the live version
Great work by all
Andi ;-)

Shigeki, your arrangements are always top shelf
Outstanding vocal
Instrumentation and mix were great on both
I preferred the live version, you just can't beat the sound of great musicians playing together.

Ah, youth is in every thought, Shigeki. What a wonderful collab. Your strings add so much excitement and drive. Ami Kato wrote some fine words for her partner to sing. The music you composed around them is amazing. Of the thousands of songs I've written, maybe 2 were from lyrics first. Always so impressive to hear, and this is one of the best. Love the sentament in the song. Kazuhiko Matsumoto has such a perfect delivery. You 3 should write more. Please.

Sounds great! Excellent use of Real Tracks. Nice Melody, mix and production is spot on pro job!

Shigeki,

Great song! Both versions are excellent, but the live version has a great energy about it. Both are so well arranged and mixed.

Excellent!

Bob

Shigeki Adachi,

I prefer the live band version, mainly because of the vocals. The BIAB version is also pretty good.
I like that your song has a bit of an 80s vibe, puts you in a good mood and gets your feet moving.
Great work from everyone involved!

I don't have a favorite. Both have positives. The live version has more warmth, plus the vocalist. In the RT version, I enjoyed listening to the trumpet playing the melody, and the strings are more prominent. Beautiful song regardless of the version listened to.

Hi, Shigeki.

Pleasant listen - the melody is pleasant, but strays from the expected enough to keep things interesting.

Both versions sound excellent. Cool ending.

My only "complaint" is that I wish the strings had a bit more bite to them so they were a bit less MIDI sounding.

Very well done, as usual!

The trumpet melody was fun to listen to in the BiaB version.
Excellent all around band ... BiaB and additions.

The live version was our favorite for no other reason than being able to hear the singer.
Both the vocalist and the write are great!

We enjoyed it!

J&B

Yes! Pleasant pop song, truly universal feel. The BIAB version shows your skill in creating great chord progression and Western melodies, yet with Eastern softness and romanticism. Reminded me of "The Greatest Love Of All", all the best elements of good music are here.

Good vocalist with nice vibrato. Nice nostalgic lyrics. Both versions are pleasant, but I prefer live version, because of the singer's sentimental delivery in expressing the message of "search for the beauty of this world".

Janne

Shigeki, nicely arranged and mixed. Fun, upbeat melody that gives the lyric a nice lift. Both versions are nice and serve their intended purpose well. Nice start to 2025!

I listened to the instrumental first. Very much a 60s romance movie soundtrack, but ditto the live version. I enjoyed the production qualities in both.

Alan,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune and my arrangement.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Laurent,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
I am really glad you like this tune and my arrangement.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Tom,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune and my arrangement.
It's true that the ending song Maj7 doesn't sound like rock.
I guess that shows I'm not really a rocker.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Andi,

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen and comment.
And many thanks for listening to the both versions.
I am really glad you like this tune, vocalist and my arrangement.
I am always very encouraged by your kind words.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi