She Made Me Smile

Happy New Year! My resolutions for 2026 include two for Showcase posts:

1. Highlight an aspect of BiaB backing tracks, preferably for the 2026 version, and
2. Get feedback on some musical experimentation, preferably one of the human performances.

I suck at resolutions, but let's see how this goes.

Back to Power Pop... smile

The lyrics are an attempt by my lyricist to write something happy. He acknowledges that he didn't quite get there, but I made it happy sounding anyway. Such is art.

This song highlights a 2026 RealStyle. All the instruments you hear are from that RealStyle. There are six guitar RealTracks in this Style, and they trade off in each section to provide dynamic flow and a change of feel.

Am also varying from my usual with a different mix for the BGVs and some of the harmonies. For the most part, the stereo spread is wider and there are more ambient FX. Was going for a "sweeter" sound that I think I ALMOST got to, but am interested in your thoughts.

The vocal arrangement unfolds a new layer for each section as the song progresses. It's a cheap trick, but I guess I'm frugal. Well, I do like the way it sounds, too.

Also, my lead vocals kept cracking on the higher notes in the chorus, and I was going to re-record it, but then decided to embrace it. So that's a feature, not a bug. Again. And again...

THANKS again for any listens and input. I learn SO MUCH from your feedback...

Lyrics: R.W. Davis
Music, arrangement, vocals, mix, master: Me
AI: Not used

****** Song Summary *************
Title: She Made Me Smile
File:She Made Me Smile.SGU
Key=D , Tempo 131, Length (m:s)=3:05
Style is _STEELY.STY (Steely Layered Acoustic Rock)

RealTracks in style: ~683:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 698:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockDirty Ev 120 (A:muted)
RealTracks in style: 4700:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm AcRock8thsSteadySync ev 120
RealTracks in style: 4701:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm AcRock8thsSteadyLow ev 120
RealTracks in style: 4702:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm AcRock8thsHiArpPicking ev 120
RealTracks in style: 4830:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm AcRock8thsHiSteady ev 120
RealTracks in style: 4831:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm AcRock8thsHiStrum ev 120
RealDrums in style:FunkRock^01-a:Closed Hat , b:Open Hat

*******************

She Made Me Smile

Elements of laughter
Bouncing down the street
Outside the café
Where we would meet
Serendipity
Or my destiny
I just can’t afford to stop
Outside the ice cream shop
Under the midday heat

She made me smile
And I carried that with me all day
She made me so happy
In her own peculiar way
She kept me hoping
That each and every day
Would be the same
I can’t complain

Kick the can down the road
Telling jokes and rhymes
Mem’ries and feelings
Of less cheery times
When it was cloudy
And she would doubt me
We couldn’t stay together
But now it’s forever
And the light in her shines

She made me smile
And I carried that with me all day
She made me so happy
In her own peculiar way
She kept me hoping
That each and every day
Would be the same
I can’t complain

Every morning
I put on my clothes and rush outside
Can’t wait to see her
But I suppose I must confide
That my secret
My secret longing
Isn’t just prolonging
My crush

She made me smile
And I carried that with me all day
She made me so happy
In her own peculiar way
She kept me hoping
That each and every day
Would be the same
I can’t complain

Last edited by DC Ron; Yesterday at 05:03 PM.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)