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Dark Version of Zona Norte Xmas Eve:
https://soundclick.com/song/15153219

Happy version of Zona Norte Xmas Eve:
https://soundclick.com/song/15153220

I wrote this song and it was so dark that I had to go back and write a happier version.

RealTracks in song: 1901:Bass, Baby, Bolero Ev 090
RealTracks in style: 1902:Guitar, Acoustic, Background Bolero Ev 090
RealTracks in style: 1903:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Bolero Ev 090
RealTracks in song: 1905:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm BoleroMelodic Ev 090
RealDrums [in Song:BossaBrushes: a: Sidestick Brushes b: Sidestick, Ride
Vocal: Suno

Zona Norte is the red light district in Tijuana. Paraditas are the sex workers who stand on the sidewalk, legally seeking business. For the record, I've never been there. Just saw it on PBS.

Dark Lyrics:

She left me, left me sitting, in a restaurant,
What a way to keep a bad boy cool
Told me there were better men than me around
Left me sitting there like a big-time fool
I know that I'm a bad one but the truth is
I was good to her you best believe
Now I'm back to paying for my lovin'
Down on Zona Norte, xmas eve

Just another gringo
Wallet full of cash
Sometimes I think it's all I believe
Save your heart and slave yourself to passion
Down on Zona Norte, xmas eve

Happy Lyrics:

People say I'm loco, gringo lost his mind
There's a paradita I adore
Yes, I got to know her, in the usual way
Who'd believe it grew to something more

I've done all the details, going there to live
She don't know what I've got up my sleeve
Gonna go and get her, take her off the street,
Out on Zona Norte, Christmas Eve

Sure that she'll be crying, I'll hold her in the night
Tell her bout our house and then we'll leave,
Always we'll remember, where we got our start
Out on Zona Norte, Christmas Eve

Last edited by TuneMonger; 12/01/25 04:09 AM.

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Bob,

A very cool song. Love the melody and arrangement. The lyrics are excellent on both versions. I may lean slightly toward your darker version - though that's just a personal choice.

Awesome production & fine songwriting.

Bob

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I have a soft spot for the Happy version. A beautiful song for a theme as old as time.
Laurent

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Rob, cool tunes! Like your gentle bossa arrangement and smooth melody. Cool guitar break, too. The "happy" vocals are strikingly different (and better) to my ears, as they have a much more natural (ie, human) touch. The first vocals are technically without a flaw perhaps, but they have little of the nuance I can hear in the 2nd vocal. Guess it's kinda like kids: They can come from the same gene pool but turn out SO different...

Nice ones!


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Originally Posted by rsdean
Bob, A very cool song. Love the melody and arrangement. The lyrics are excellent on both versions. I may lean slightly toward your darker version - though that's just a personal choice. Awesome production & fine songwriting.
Bob

Thanks, Bob, glad you chose the dark version because I got a feeling everyone's gonna choose the happy version. I like em both.


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Originally Posted by laurent4114
I have a soft spot for the Happy version. A beautiful song for a theme as old as time.
Laurent

Thanks, Laurent. Yes, old as time...well said.


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Originally Posted by DC Ron
Rob, cool tunes! Like your gentle bossa arrangement and smooth melody. Cool guitar break, too. The "happy" vocals are strikingly different (and better) to my ears, as they have a much more natural (ie, human) touch. The first vocals are technically without a flaw perhaps, but they have little of the nuance I can hear in the 2nd vocal. Guess it's kinda like kids: They can come from the same gene pool but turn out SO different...Nice ones!

Thanks, Ron. Yes, I got a feeling the happy version's gonna get most of the votes.


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Definitely prefer the happy version, but both make excellent use of BiaB tracks - love that guitar solo - plus the mixes are perfect. Much enjoyed.


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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Rob,
Yes, I vote for the happy lyrics as well. I find it interesting that a more positive outlook seemed to make the music happier as well - at least it did for me. I wonder if that’s a mental trick?
Andrew

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Hi Bob,

It's a tossup for me, lyrically I like both versions very much. Love the acoustic solo, and the suno vocalist did a fine job, especially on the happy version.

Good song!

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Dark is good. Never been afraid of the dark, and this one is really fine, Bob. I really like the the piano, and the whole band you chose is perfect for the locale. I was afraid the happy one one gonna have more bounce, but I love what you did there. THe piano and band still remnd us where we are. These are some of my favorite Christmas songs, Bob. Right up there with Joe Pass and the Blues Christmas CDs.


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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Originally Posted by BabuMusic
These are some of my favorite Christmas songs, Bob. Right up there with Joe Pass and the Blues Christmas CDs.

Is that the Six String Santa album? That was the only thing I found on youtube. Listening to it now.


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Originally Posted by TuneMonger
Is that the Six String Santa album? That was the only thing I found on youtube. Listening to it now.

Yep!


Enjoy whatever happens!
marty

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Originally Posted by WaoBand
Definitely prefer the happy version, but both make excellent use of BiaB tracks - love that guitar solo - plus the mixes are perfect. Much enjoyed.

Thanks, Chay!


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Originally Posted by BlueAttitude
Hi Bob, It's a tossup for me, lyrically I like both versions very much. Love the acoustic solo, and the suno vocalist did a fine job, especially on the happy version. Good song!

Thanks, Dave!


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Originally Posted by BabuMusic
Dark is good. Never been afraid of the dark,...

Well, I've been wondering. Maybe I shouldn't have posted these. Maybe I crossed a line. I like to be edgy, but I might have erred here. Oh, well - Merry Xmas, everyone!

Last edited by TuneMonger; 12/03/25 06:46 PM.

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Toss-up here, too. Taking the subjective view out of it, both are solid and work nicely with the minor-key motif.
Maybe you need to write a third option as a tie-breaker!!
Great work.


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Rob,

LOVE this!
NO. LOVE These! Both.

Cool BAND tracks. Excellent arrangement/production. Nice choices.
Excellent mix.

Listening to the first (dark) lyric, I thought..."This is some FINE writing!!"

Listening to the second (happy), I thought WOW! This is even BETTER.
There is more packed into those 12 lines than most folks could manage in 12 pages.
Amazing SongWriting.
IMPRESSED.

fj

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Bob, both versions are extremely good. Great piano and guitar. The vocal in both was fantastic. It was a very difficult decision to make but I'll take the dark version.
Regardless loved both.


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Originally Posted by Tano Music
Toss-up here, too. Taking the subjective view out of it, both are solid and work nicely with the minor-key motif. Maybe you need to write a third option as a tie-breaker!! Great work.

Thanks, Tom. I'm probably going to stay north of the border, inspiration wise, LOL.


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