|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340
Journeyman
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340 |
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: 274
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 274 |
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: 553
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 553 |
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: 951
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 951 |
One of those songs that could easily become an ear-worm. I reckon I'll be humming that riff all day now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340 |
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: 7,624
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,624 |
Hi, Andrew.
Nice work!
The guitar bit is cool, and the harmonies give the chorus some punch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,344
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,344 |
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: 23,277
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,277 |
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
I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor.
It was the best game of Hungry Hippos I've ever seen!
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: 340
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340 |
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: 4,454
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 4,454 |
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: 340
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340 |
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: 8,120
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 8,120 |
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: 1,563
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,563 |
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: 340
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340 |
... 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: 2,052
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,052 |
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: 340
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340 |
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: 2,708
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,708 |
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
StudioCat DAW dual screen
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340
Journeyman
|
|
OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 340 |
… 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
Join the conversation on our forum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,397
Posts778,668
Members39,648
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean