|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166
Expert
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166 |
Soundcloud: Refine me Youtube: Refine me I wrote and did my first recording of this song back in May 2023 - but I wasn't quite happy with it - I have difficulty singing any note longer than a minim without going on vocal tangents, so I decided recently to give my 'vocal vulnerabilities' a few tweaks. The lesson here is you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! Despite this, I enjoyed writing a song with long-held notes - which is abnormal for me. The idea for the song originated with the first line ... 'If I [mumble] [mumble] [mumble], refine me', so the rest of the verses became an exercise in finding words rhyming with 'remind' and overlaying these on melodic variations of the first line. Lastly, because the verses describe external intervention, it became natural to write a chorus recognising the person - an amalgam of a few. The guitar riff (if we call it that) gave some busyness to sit underneath the long notes in the chorus - something I realised a few years back - if one instrument/voice is busy, often another instrument/voice will be less so in order that each has their own space. The guitar riff (in part) reminds me of another song - see if anyone thinks the same as me. ****** BIAB Song Summary ************* Style is _MESSIN.STY (Messin Around Funky Blues) RealTracks in style: 2260:Bass, Electric, FunkyGroove60s Ev 100 RealTracks in style: 1998:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110 RealTracks in style: 3245:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm FunkyBluesSol ev16 090 RealDrums in style:BluesRockFunky16ths^2-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Busy Snare, Bouncy Kick Added my double-tracked acoustic guitar Mixed in Cakewalk ******************* LYRICSINTRO VERSE 1 If I go through hardships - refine me If I can’t remember - remind me When I get tangled up - unwind me It’s all it takes to make some noise, I cry for help, I have a choice VERSE 2 If I become broken - design me If I ask too much - decline me When I need something to do - assign me For goodness sakes, this case annoys, I feel compelled, I have a voice CHORUS It’s you… who keeps me going strong Helps me get along when the world is wrong It’s true… it’s just me and you Completes me and I know I belong to you And I hope I’m giving it back to you VERSE 3 If I go around the bend - align me If I’m getting out of control - confine me When I need protection - entwine me I get the shakes, I’m all at sea, my head goes under, come rescue me Sing CHORUS OUTRO It’s you… it’s you (repeat and fade)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 565
Journeyman
|
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 565 |
Nice drive in your song! It remind me of those great pop songs of the late 1960s. Hit potential in this song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 805
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 805 |
Lyrically brilliant and that riff is super catchy. I agree with Brno. This has hit potential. I can imagine it covered by Gomez.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,042
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,042 |
One of those songs that could easily become an ear-worm. I reckon I'll be humming that riff all day now.
ProTools; Ableton Live Lite; Reaper
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 MK4 interface
Novation Launchkey 61 Mk4 midi controller
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166 |
Thank you Beth, Arri and Brian! I’m not imagining a hit, but glad you liked it. I’m just happy it crossed the ‘ear worm’ threshold! 🎶😳 Now I’m off to listen to Gomez!
Andrew D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,196
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,196 |
Hi, Andrew.
Nice work!
The guitar bit is cool, and the harmonies give the chorus some punch.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,664
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,664 |
Cool riff. Catchy 60s pop, which I am a big fan of. The background harmony is smartly done. Brilliant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,687
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,687 |
Andrew, this is a pop song winner for sure
Great vocal and harmonies
Sounds straight out of the 1960s
I can hear The Association singing this one
Outstanding work
OK, a random thought;
Why does toilet paper need a commercial? Who's not buying it?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166 |
Thank you David, Scott and Mario!
Regarding the harmonies, I have a mindset that my vocals are not only to enhance and lift the chorus, but also have a camouflage effect to cover any warts. Mario - your reference to The Association is humbling - they were very good at vocal layering weren’t they? ‘Never my love’ is a favourite.
I was very happy with the guitar riff when it dawned on me while noodling away - it started with the phrase in the intro and I developed it from there.
Thanks very much!
Andrew D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,065
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,065 |
Love it, Andrew. The whole idea of the song makes me smile and think you must be a fantastic rapper. I was a bit facecious on YT, but Soundcloud has better sound* so let me get serious. First, I like the Beatlish feel and sound of this. Vocal and harmonies are perrrfeeeect and demonstrate beyond a doubt that you can hold them even longer. Man, my favorite part of the music is that responding acoustic guitar. It brilliantly adds so much to whole thing, and elevates the catchy chorus with a memorable and happy feeling.
*or maybe sound is better without eyes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166 |
Love it, Andrew. The whole idea of the song makes me smile and think you must be a fantastic rapper. I was a bit facecious on YT, but Soundcloud has better sound* so let me get serious. First, I like the Beatlish feel and sound of this. Vocal and harmonies are perrrfeeeect and demonstrate beyond a doubt that you can hold them even longer. Man, my favorite part of the music is that responding acoustic guitar. It brilliantly adds so much to whole thing, and elevates the catchy chorus with a memorable and happy feeling.
*or maybe sound is better without eyes Thanks Marty - for your comments and viewing both media. I’ll have to bite the bullet and take out a SC Pro subs at some point to avoid recycling my upload minutes. YT is a bit more universally accessible for potential listeners so I try and put an illustrative or supporting video to the music, but the visuals can sometimes detract from the music. I enjoy adding backing vocals as they had so much colour and depth, and you’ll note from my songs I am quite partial to ooos and ahhhs. For the guitar riff, the seed of the idea emerged early similar to that in the intro and I then developed it from there, and as mentioned before, the busyness of the riff is a good contrast to the long chorus notes. Thanks for listening! Andrew D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,971
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,971 |
Andrew,
Very nice! So musical and some really cool guitar parts. Vocals are great, as is the mix.
Much enjoyed!
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,241
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 2,241 |
Great love song - I got a 60s vibe from it. You did well with the rhymes, plus I enjoyed the harmony vocals in the choruses.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166 |
... So musical and some really cool guitar parts. Vocals are great, as is the mix. ... Thanks Bob - yeah pretty happy with the guitar riff. Thanks for your encouragement to me and so many others on the forum. Great love song - I got a 60s vibe from it. You did well with the rhymes, plus I enjoyed the harmony vocals in the choruses. Thanks Chay! I've had a few people comment on the 60s vibe, but it isn't something I set out to achieve specifically. What was it about it that made it sound 60s? Is it the guitar riff, the vocal harmonies, or the melody, or maybe even my accent? Andrew D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,369
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,369 |
Wow, that was outstanding! I loved everything about it! That rhyme scheme which I would call secondary rhyming (INE-me) is really a wonderful lyrical tool, and I like your choices of rhyming words…none of them were inane or forced, and they were perfectly matched to the thought of the phrase. Yeah, everything about this was really great!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166 |
Wow, that was outstanding! I loved everything about it! That rhyme scheme which I would call secondary rhyming (INE-me) is really a wonderful lyrical tool, and I like your choices of rhyming words…none of them were inane or forced, and they were perfectly matched to the thought of the phrase. Yeah, everything about this was really great! Thank you Tom! I am pretty happy with the rhymes as well. Andrew D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,690
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,690 |
Andrew, super write, and perfectly arranged. Love your vocals! You've got a real knack for these cool pop gems.
Yes, the main riff is very Joker-ish, but it takes some fun diversions, so...who cares?? Love your song!
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166
Expert
|
|
OP
Expert
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 1,166 |
… You've got a real knack for these cool pop gems.
Yes, the main riff is very Joker-ish, but it takes some fun diversions, so...who cares?? Love your song! Thanks Ron - well spotted re the riff. Halfway through writing the riff, I realised what/who I was channeling, but it has enough differences, as you say, so I decided to continue with it - thank goodness I did. Melody supported by harmonic/chord progressions is a fundamental interest to me and, while this song doesn’t show it, I tend to hold the view that lyrics are just a vehicle for the music - otherwise, choose poetry. Probably not 100% true but it reveals where my priorities lie. I really appreciate your observations because your own songs are the type that I love listening to. Andrew D
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,186
Posts801,717
Members40,062
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean