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Soundcloud - Look what's become of me Youtube - Look what's become of me This is a song where the music came first - verse and chorus with melody, and some progress on lyrics around the theme of the title. First written just as music using BIAB (which had an explosive effect on my creativity) in those ol' MIDI days in 2005, it sat dormant for a long time, then in 2016, the bridge and lyrics were added, and my first arrangement and recording was made in 2018. That recording had spoken words in between and repeating each chorus line, and I always thought that was a bit ‘cheesy’. In February 2024, I used the skeleton of the 2018 recording, added more vocals, BV, bass and replaced a classical guitar intro motif with dual lead guitars. ****** Song Summary ************* Style is _CHILPOP.STY (Electronic Chillout Pop) Loop in Song: Chillout\Chillout - day dream_80_bass_g_minor.wav – replaced with my bassLoop in Song: Chillout\Chillout - day dream_80_percussion_g_minor ev16.wav Loop in Song: Chillout\Chillout - chilly night_80_drum_loop_a_minor ev16.wav RealTracks in style: 1004:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Rhythm ClassicRockStrumming Ev16 065 – replaced with my acousticRealTracks in style: 1542:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopBelieve Ev16 065 Added vocals, BV, lead guitar (quad tracked) and rhythm guitar – mixed in Reaper.LYRICSThe lyrics imply a theme of a person wondering who they have become. The verse lyrics are part ‘placeholder’ lyrics that have no meaning, and part describing the momentum and futility of life to fight against natural forces or things bigger than oneself. For the video, the lyrics theme of a person wondering who they have become was amended to show that of a person who doesn't realise they are dead - not original thinking here obviously! INTRO VERSE 1 Passenger trains, empty train stations Looking up at birds and thinking about their distant migrations They don't seem tired, despite the journey It must be in their training VERSE 2 Tropical rains, banana plantations Watch the river flow and studying its turbulent waters The whitewater's endless - it never tires It's energy keeps on surging CHORUS I... couldn't keep the light on, I couldn't keep the door closed All everyday objects are getting beyond me I... couldn't get my words out, I couldn't make eye contact I'm lost in the turmoil, can't hold my emotions Look what's become of me VERSE 3 Stormwater drains and roadway connections Switching on a light and watching how it lightens a room up The power is magical - where does it come from? The candle can’t keep burning CHORUS BRIDGE The temperatures gone - I keep on winning - the wind is up and it’s starting to snow The thoughts are flying - my head keeps on spinning - moon is up and it’s starting to glow CHORUS OUTRO
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Andrew, well, that was a longish songwriting cycle, but geez, it turned out great! Very Bowie-esque in the melodic/harmonic development and arrangement. Love the BGVs and your vocals are quite nice. The verse lyrics don't sound like placeholders at all, just a little mysterious and perhaps mystical, which isn't a bad thing. Nice playing, too! Super 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?)
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Andrew,
Great song and excellent production. I really like the melody and your vocal tone.
I agree with Ron - some really nice Bowie-esque tones in there.
Great stuff!
Bob
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WOW. Like an expansive mansion built over several decades by succeeding generations, this song was created room by room to this magnificent sound we now hear. Yeah, I hear Bowie-esque as Bob sugests. Excellent lyrics and vocals. A plesent production. The instruments you personally add are what really makes this over-the-top. Loved it, Andrew.
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Hi Andrew,
I like this for so many reasons. The chorus is super catchy, the flavor (as already mentioned) so Bowie-esque, and the style and band well chosen. Something about the mood too... or the sentiment rather...of the lyrics. Feelin' it.
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… Very Bowie-esque in the melodic/harmonic development and arrangement... …I agree with Ron - some really nice Bowie-esque tones in there… ... The chorus is super catchy, the flavor (as already mentioned) so Bowie-esque, and the style and band well chosen... ... Yeah, I hear Bowie-esque as Bob sugests... Thank you Ron, Bob, Beth and Marty! I’ve listened over, trying to find the David Bowie influences, but can’t. I listened to a lot of Bowie in my younger years, so no doubt his music has influenced me. I guess when you’ve been sitting in a pot of simmering soup, it’s hard to tell what is soup and what is you. Regarding the lyrics, I prefer your description Ron - mystique. Lyrics have always been my weak point - they nearly always come last or second last in the creative process. Another influence for me is Neil Finn, Crowded House, Split Enz, Finn Brothers (their album ‘Everyone is here’ is pure gold). Neil Finn’s lyrics are often oblique - they say a lot without saying anything direct - so I decided to ease up on myself and write words a bit more fluidly. It was through this struggle that I developed the view that ‘words are just the vehicle for the music’ - not entirely true nor true in some cases. Anyway, thank you so much that you liked this song! Andrew
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Andrew..enjoyed listening to this work. I esp liked the intro—very creative and catchy! And the musical structure overall I found very interesting—I was focused on that rather than the lyrics or vocal. Both the chorus and bridge have really interesting changes, and I liked how you restated that intro feel throughout. I’m glad you brought some older work forward—as we say, “there’s gold in them there hills!” Great work!
Windows 11, Intel Core i5-8600T 2.3Ghz, 16 gig ram, BIAB 2025 MegaPak, SampleTank 4, Keystation49 Kybd, Neewer NW-800 mic
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Andrew,
Love! that opening
Cool tracks, excellent use of BIAB
I enjoyed the lyrical journey
.fj
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—as we say, “there’s gold in them there hills!” Great work! Hi Tom - thanks for the Ron Sexsmith reference, if that’s what it was. If not, you should check out his song. Thanks for the comments and noting my chord changes - something I enjoy tinkering with. Andrew
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Cool tracks, excellent use of BIAB Thanks Floyd! Prior to finding BIAB in the early 2000s, I was a bedroom strummer with a handful of completed songs, not much talent, never sang publicly, but had lots of ideas swimming in my brain that had no way of being manifested. BIAB allowed me to translate my ideas into completed instrumentals (and then songs) with a band behind them. Then came Real Tracks, which inspired me to do my first rudimentary recordings in PowerTracks (with everything mixed to centre because that’s stereo, right? LOL), inspired me to learn some basic lead guitar and also a bit of bass. I am loving the journey. Andrew
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Andrew, great intro, ending, and everything in between. I really liked your vocal and especially your lyrics. I agree with the mystic comment. Outstanding backing band and arrangement.
IMHO this is your best to date.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Really interesting song musically and lyrically, but while this appears to be personal taste I'd like to have heard the vocals a bit more up front.
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.
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