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Dark Version of Zona Norte Xmas Eve: https://soundclick.com/song/15153219Happy version of Zona Norte Xmas Eve: https://soundclick.com/song/15153220I 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 05:09 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!
DC Ron
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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 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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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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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.
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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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Is that the Six String Santa album? That was the only thing I found on youtube. Listening to it now. Yep!
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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. Thanks, Chay!
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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! Thanks, Dave!
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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 07:46 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.
Forbidden fruit causes many jams!
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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. Thanks, Tom. I'm probably going to stay north of the border, inspiration wise, LOL.
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