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Speak to Me

So this wiseacre comes up to me and sez, “Hey!”
I ignore him, naturally. He sez again, louder this time, “Hey, YOU!”
“Whaddyawant?” I sez.
“Hey, your song…” he sez.
“Yeah?” I interrupt, squinting leerily.
“Your song,” he sez, “could be better. I can make it better.”
“Sez WHO?” I sez.
“Well, that was me,” he sez, “I LITERALLY just said: I can make your song better”
“Right. Well...sure buddy, knock yourself out,” I sez. Ha! The nerve of some guyz.
Twenty-four hours later he sendz me his changes. Huh. I got nuthin’ to say about that bum.
EXCEPT…
THANK YOU, David. You’re supernaturally talented, and the sonic boom you strapped to this little tune is amazing.

And thanks to all who took the time to listen to the original version. This one is superficially similar, but...not really the same song at all...

Lyrics: R.W. Davis
Music, BiaB arrangement, vocals: Me
Rhythm and Lead Guitars, 12 String Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mixing and Mastering: David Snyder
AI: Still none. Can't have this much fun with AI

Style is _CLACK.STY (Clack Hard Rock Quintet)
RealTracks in style: 1418:Bass, Electric, SouthernRock Ev16 085
RealTracks in style: 677:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RockBritDriving Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 2644:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernPopHardMurray Ev16 075
RealTracks in style: 3394:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SingerSongwriterSync Ev16 070
RealDrums in style:RockBritDrivingEv16^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Listen now, I’ve got somethin’ that I have to say
I can say it now, or save it for a rainy day
It’s all jumbled up in my head
Not like the words you had said
I tried to write it down before, but then my fingers bled

Listen now, I know you’re in a hurry to go
I just need a minute or two to let you know
About these thoughts up in my head
Please don’t leave me here for dead
I gotta live my life in colors other than blood red

Speak to me
Cuz I’m havin’ trouble gettin’ this outta my mouth
Speak to me
Cuz I’m simply drownin’ in all of this self-doubt
You can hear me
Tryin’ to say somethin’ more
Random words like
Puzzle pieces on the floor
You can hear me
Singin’ a song half-sung
Just scattered thoughts
Trippin’ over my tongue

Listen now, I guess I’ve fallen in love with you
I can’t say it out loud, and I don’t know what to do
I can maybe write it down instead
Though it might just be misread
But like a fragile sweater, I’m just pullin’ at the thread

Speak to me
Cuz I’m havin’ trouble gettin’ this outta my mouth
Speak to me
Cuz I’m simply drownin’ in all of this self-doubt
You can hear me
Tryin’ to say somethin’ more
Random words like
Puzzle pieces on the floor
You can hear me
Singin’ a song half-sung
Just scattered thoughts
Trippin’ over my tongue

Speak to me
Speak to me
Speak to me
Speak to me
Speak to me
Speak to me...

Yep. I like the first version but..... This one is an interesting improvement with the jangly guitar. I got to say David did you a solid

Hi, Ron.

So. Much. Jangly.

Cool.

Different! And better I think, guitars sound great.

I initially thought the vocal was a little too upfront, but it's growing on me

Collabs are the best! Good stuff you two, enjoyed the remake.

Ron & David,

I love this version and collaboration. The mix on this works so well. Great stuff!

Bob

A different approach, but one that definitely works.
I like the downtempo verses, they give the song a nice, relaxed British feel.
The choruses are a bit too relaxed (and instrumentally a bit too crowded), here I like the original version better, it's clearer and stands out more.

But it's fun when someone else has a different take on a song, you can always learn a lot from that.
Enjoyed my listen for both versions!

In a moment of forum confusion we reviewed this version before the earlier post.
So we’ll get to V1 albeit a backwards journey.
Update: We listened. Regarding the chaos or mellow vibe. Hmmmm ... reckon it depends on the mood of the listener.
We enjoyed them both.
----------

Your vocals are very good!

This has a Wilco vibe to it in lyric and sound - a good thing in our book.

So many good lines, for example:
“I gotta live my life in colors other than blood red.”
AND “But like a fragile sweater, I’m just pullin’ at the thread.”

Since DS made such a small contribution we won’t mention it.
Well maybe Cool collab!

Sing more!

J&B

Thanks, Herb! Yep, David really crushed this one.

Interesting changes.
I though things were awry with the progression when it was running through before the vocal...hen the vocal came in and I realized that David's timing was & had been in synch with the vocal phrasing - like a glove.
Sounds British jangleland to me & the vocals being "within" the band works well, - cooool.

THANKS, David. Yeah, jangle is a very good thing indeed.

Hey Y'all,

Yeah this one was FUN. DC's story is ALMOST correct, but I have to clarify.

As soon as I heard this song, I got his number and called him and begged him to let me play the guitar on it. I said, "Man, this song is killer and I know exactly what to do. Please. Please. Please!!!!!!!"

He said ok. Then he said:

"But I can't really sing that good."

And I said:

"What????????? You sound like Tom Petty! For the love of God man, you have a rock and roll voice!! What the hell are you talking about!!!!! I just want you to sing it a little softer and close to the mic on verse 1 but other than that you are KILLING IT."

We then discussed the concept that he should sing a lot more often, and there was no need to get Solaria ever.

After that I put all the stems together and turned it up to 12.

That is the real story.

Ron & David, this is fantastic
Love that 12 string
Great vocal and lyrics
Super mix
I hope to hear more from your two!

Thanks, Dave! Absolutely agree with you on collaborations. David did stuff with the song I never would have thought of, and even if I HAD thought of it, I couldn't have executed it as well. Very satisfying.

Ron and David,

Well, simply put, this one speaks to me. And I like what it's saying.

There's something about a 12-string that, when used properly, can add a whole new dynamic to a song. That's what I'm hearing here. It's a great song with great production. And I agree with David - your vocals are pretty danged good! I like the slightly mysterious sound of this one - very interesting. Another great listen from a talented source!

Alan

I'm rarely one to be on the fence about anything, but I like both versions and think they both have merits. I appreciated the clarity of the very good vocal in the first version, though some apparently feel it isn't sitting in the mix as well as it could be. The second version is a very nice production and feels more British-y to me. The vocal sits nicely but I wish it were louder. It may all be due to my aging ears. Good job on both, release a single, see where it lands on the charts. If it flops, try the other one. ; )

Fun re-take / collaboration . Definitely richer and more nuanced. However, I think vocals got a bit buried. In any case, it's a cool and special tune. Thank you for sharing.
Misha.

Thanks, Bob! Was a lot of fun hearing the tune interpreted by someone else. The mix sounds WAY too good when cranked up LOUD. I may be doing damage.


THANKS, B.D.! Yeah, I'm so used to hearing MY version of these songs that it's a trip hearing someone else's spin on it. Especially when I think, "Huh, why didn't *I* do that??" and realize it's because I couldn't.

Well, ya know, I loved the 1st one and I'm still pretty partial to it, but this departure is also fun.

Not being able to sit long at a computer lately, it's such a cool treat to see Dave Bell with Misha, and now you with David Snyder. GREAT choice. BETTER, but you're right not the same song. Man, I love what you did. David has a ton of talent, and combine that with yours has got to be better. THis song can't get any better now.

Hi Ron, and David,

I liked that first version, but -like all others- this one too. It has it's own character, so almost became a new, lovely song!
It would also be nice if you both sing in another song. Maybe that's cool to, because of your vocal differences.
Enjoyed it a lot, Ron (and Dave),

Hans