Hello forum Members. My latest offering is based around a medical episode I had/have recently, and this is why I've been a little absent on the forum lately, my apologies. Nothing too serious, I'm sure I've been a little self indulgent with this one, and should count my blessings. For someone who is on the whole healthy, when something catches you off guard and off your feet, it makes you consider your mortality. I'm all good, and I realise it's all in my head in, just got to work through it. I'm not sure if I even like this song, I've been working on it for quite a while, and they do wear thin after a while. The vocals are a bit fragile, but I guess that lends to the subject matter. I'd be interested if listeners are hearing enough variation in my songs, I don't want to get stuck in the same vein all the while.
Thank you for listening and your feedback, kind regards.
Lyrics: Laid down beneath an aging Jacaranda, Sky above weighed down where I lay. Hold on to daylight and not fade to grey. Earth spinning faster, focus started to wander. Unsteady, grasping for breathe, feeling uneasy, An angry racing heart, pounding my chest within. Time, body and mind diverge, aflood with adrenaline. No longer twenty-three, time to back off, take it easy.
Wake up call, coming through loud and clear, howling in my ear. Wake up call, the universe is telling me, you’re no longer twenty-three, I got my wake up call.
Left alone with my high anxiety, Muddling my senses with it’s false narrative. Sleep don’t come easy, lord give me sedative. Mind stuck in fight or flight just won’t let me be. Lay my head on the pillow, not feeling too sleepy, A loud troubled heart, thumping in my temple. Time, body and mind converge, aflood with cortisol. Tell myself I’m gonna be alright, dwelling on my vulnerability.
Wake up call, coming through loud and clear, howling in my ear. Wake up call, the universe is telling me, you’re no longer twenty-three, Wake up call, wake up call, wake up call. No longer twenty-three, I’m sixty-three that’s my vulnerability . I got my wake up call.
BIAB Info.
Style is _CEDAR.STY (Cedar Woodblock Acoustic Praise) RealTracks in style: 1255:Bass, Electric, PopShiningA-B Ev 120 RealTracks in style: 1277:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopUpliftA-B Ev16 120 RealTracks in style: ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120 RealDrums in style:PraiseWorshipShine-01-SCHt,SRCy [Multi]
Real Instruments: Seagull Coastline Electro-acoustic - rhythm Vox - yours truly BVs - me too.
Welcome back! Sorry for your recent medical episode, glad it wasn't too serious. Many of us have had that wake up call telling us we weren't 23 (or 53) any more. Sounds like you've put it in the right perspective, which is of course important.
Cool song! That Seagull sounds great early on, and sets up the rest of the tune nicely. Super harmonic progression and strong arrangement to keep momentum throughout this long-ish song form. Think your vocals are perfect for the tune. "Fragile" works perfectly.
Great example of making lemonade when all you have are lemons. Nice one!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Hi Lee! I wondered when you were going to post next - and this is a good re-entry. We’ll have to give it a strum next time we meet. That initial chord change I - III (e.g. C - Emajor) is the gift that keeps on giving and never grows tired - well deployed by you. I like that piano break in the middle - some very tasty notes in there. Listened three times already.
One question - is that you (with FX) or the missus in the intro?
Lee, Great intro. "No longer twenty-three, time to back off, take it easy" what great line that I can relate. Great vocals, guitar, and mix. As I have had a wake up call I can relate to the entire song. I loved everything about this song.
I'm no longer allowed to go caroling at the psych hospital. I guess Do You Hear What I Hear was a bad song choice!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Good autobiographical lyrics and story, beautifully and openly told. Real life (unfortunately too often) writes the best stories. Good to hear that your life is (more or less, I guess) back to normal, whatever normal is...
I’d like to take the credit for playing the Seagull early on, but in fact it’s the Realtrack for the intro and first verse. The Seagull comes in when the bass does and it’s overpowered by the bass as I tried to imply a sense of foreboding in the second verse. Then the chorus comes in and the Seagull is a bit more prominent. I think you’re right that the fragile vocals work well with the subject. I recorded them whilst I was still in that worried headspace and it adds to the feel.
Thank you for your listens and review. I’ve caught you out buddy, that initial chord change is C to Cmaj7. I just played C to E major, whilst that works, C to Cmaj7 has that little bit of extra melancholy to it. As per the message to DC Ron, I can’t claim credit for the piano either, that’s BIAB too. I did think about putting a solo in the break, but I gave it to the Piano because as you say, there were a few tasty notes in there.Yep, we’ll definitely give it a crack at the next meet. Alas, I again can’t take credit for the opening or give credit to the missus, it’s a sound bite off the net. It would be ironic though if it were her, as if anything it would be me waking her to stop her snoring!!
Yes, the intro and first verse came up well, and as I mentioned in a prior post, up until that point it’s all BIAB. I said in other reviews that singing, playing, writing and recording is great therapy, and I felt I needed to get this song “out of my system” as part of my recovery and mental healing.
Im glad you could relate to it, and that enjoyed the song. Hope all is good for you after your wake up call. Much love buddy.
Thank for the listen and kind words. I can’t agree more about real life writing the best stories, good or bad. Yeah, getting back to normal mentally can take a while after the physical event, but really mine was minor compared to what other people go through. But it does hammer home, to not take things for granted and live in the moment.
Many on this forum are no longer 23, and health problems often appear with age. So you need to take care of yourself by maintaining a healthy lifestyle: a balanced diet and regular physical activity. It sounds silly, but many people believe that age has no effect on them, but unfortunately, that's a denial of reality. When you accept this and correct certain harmful lifestyle habits, you often feel much better as you get older.
Jacarandas can be spectacular can't they? A lovely canopy to sit under. Cool song and mix. Some of the intro percussion could be softened with some reverb but that's just me. At my age, 68, every thing, from putting things in the dish washer to mowing, is a wake up call. Once the songs settles in your vocal is perfect in it's slightly fragile emotional state.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Yes agreed, Jacarandas are beautiful in flower. The street we moved into 12 or so years ago are lined with them. Come November/December here in Australia, they come into flower and drop their flowers. It prompted my daughter, having come from England five years prior, to comment upon seeing all flowers on the road, “look, purple snow!”
Thank you for the listen and review. Yep, we have to consider our next action at our age, we don’t know what’s going to hurt or drop off!
Very cool, Lee. The fragility you mention in the vocal effectively delivers the lyrics that can draw out gobs of empathy from even the youngest listener. It sounds like something John Lennon would've written and played in his white piano room if he lived long enough. I like Beth's comment on Harrison too. Yeah, when the song progresses with the harmony I hear the Wilbury's too.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 11, EZDrummer
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
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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
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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.
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