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#880095 02/17/26 12:38 AM
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Soundcloud: Bullet points
YouTube: Bullet points


DEVELOPMENT
Written in response to a lyric rhyming challenge, the song idea first emerged purely about a person that likes using bullet (dot) points - I am one of those people. Then a few days later, I thought 'What if that man met a woman who didn't think in bullet points, but in free-flowing speech and text?' as sung in the chorus. The idea for the second chorus then emerged with both the bullet point verses sitting alongside the free-flowing chorus, illustrating a couple that are different but respect and cherish those differences. Given the chord progressions for the A verses and the choruses are different, I was pleasantly surprised that the verse melody fitted nicely in the chorus.

I had the section for a solo sitting there for a couple of weeks, then wondered about two bass guitars ‘duelling’ in a solo. I had heard that before and thought it would be something different. I initially mapped out the bass parts using midi bass in Reaper, then tabbed it. When recording the bass parts, I recorded in separate bar lengths: some four bars, some two, and a single bar section – not because I couldn’t play it but because I’m impatient and couldn’t remember the whole thing as one – which is interesting practical aside to the theme of the lyrics. The bass parts weren’t distinct enough (didn’t have enough ‘attack’) so I ended up blending the midi bass with my recorded bass to improve it.

RECORDING SUMMARY
Style is _EARLY.STY (Early Morning Folk Rock Push)
RealTracks in style: ~683:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 3580:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PalmMuteRockPushFast Ev 130
RealTracks in song: 4519:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking IndieFolkAlt158 Ev 100 (Chorus only)
RealTracks in song: 4818:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SteadyPushMuted ev 110
RealDrums in style:PopRock8ths^04-a:Closed Hat, Sidestick , b:Closed Hat, Snare
Midi in song: Instrument 12 Vibes (used for the bullet point sounds)
Me:
Main vocal – doubled
BV ooos x 2
Harmony vocal – Chorus
Bass x 2
Bass VSTi SI-Bass (Cakewalk) x 2

LYRICS (Chord sheet attached)
VERSE 1
  • My mind works in bullet points
  • Also numbered, it anoints my thinking by making it more succinct
  • Lists are easier than flowing text
  • Merging one thought into the next sounds harder than each being distinct


VERSE 1B
  • Sometimes I use dashes instead
  • What comes from my head can just be recorded
  • One after the other on the sheet
  • Asterisks can seem high tech
  • But they’re just a prostitution of what should be best, despite them
  • Looking arty and neat


VERSE 2A
  • Sometimes boxes - small and square
  • When done, I tick it there, and not left like an orphan
  • A checked list that’s complete
  • Makes my mind replete with a tiny yet significant squirt of endorphin


VERSE 2B
  • A bullet point provides a zone
  • A point required to stand alone but
  • Make sense as a collection
  • Was I born this way, scrawling lists on the side of my bassinette?
  • I doubt it I had not mastered speech yet


CHORUS 1
Then one day I met a girl who showed her world and it was beauty and passion and
sadness and heartache but she wore it so well and with a resolute joy that I
forgot all my bullets I was under her spell ‘cos I needed to change and I wanted to love
and give her ev’ry thing she needed and wanted and more because she loved me and
cherished me and she made me come alive as I hope I did her when I was by her side

BASS SOLO

VERSE 3B
  • It gave a sense of sequence and order
  • Like everything’s under control like it oughta now
  • Words are going out on parole
  • She came along and challenged my ways, now my
  • Routines are changed for the rest of my days, I’d do
  • Anything to be by her side


CHORUS 2
Then one day I met a girl who showed her world and it was
  • (My mind works in bullet points)

beauty and passion and sadness and heartache but she
  • (Also numbered, it anoints my thinking)

wore it so well and with a resolute joy that I
  • (by making it more succinct)

forgot all my bullets I was under her spell ‘cos I
  • (Lists are easier than flowing text)

needed to change and I wanted to love and give her
  • (Merging one thought into the next)

ev’ry thing she needed and wanted and more because she
  • (Sounds harder than each being distinct)

Loved me and cherished me and she made me come alive as I
  • (Sometimes boxes, small and square)

hope I did her when I was by her side
  • (When done, I tick it there)


OUTRO
  • My mind works in bullet points

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Andrew,

A fun and clever song. Great vocal as always. I also really like the tracks selections here along with the excellent mix. And some very cool bass lines.

Nice job!

Bob

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Clever, amusing lyric.
Love the chorus.

Vic

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Andrew,

A clever write. Well developed.
And well sung.
Nice use of BIAB.
Cool bass solo/duet.
And cool blending of verse and chorus.
A lot of work went into this. Well done.

And fun from start to finish.

fj

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Very cool indeed, Andrew!

Especially liked the bullet point sound. Very creative! Nice arrangement, instrument choices and playing throughout. The bass duet is stunning, nice innovation. That last chorus is very cool, ALMOST coming off the rails but staying grounded. Super vocals, harmonies and BGVs. ANOTHER shiny pop gem...

I worked the last third of my career in a business where bullet points were essential, and every idea had to be expressed in a one page PowerPoint slide. It was mind numbing, but it did force a real focus on the SO WHAT...


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Originally Posted by rsdean
A fun and clever song. Great vocal as always. I also really like the tracks selections here along with the excellent mix. And some very cool bass lines.
Nice job!
Thanks Bob! I’m pleasantly surprised about the comments on my vocals - I thought myself that they were slightly unstable on this one - I had problems singing ‘succinct’ and ‘distinct’ - but maybe my instability rhymes? LOL

Originally Posted by vicarn
Clever, amusing lyric.
Love the chorus.
Thanks Vic! The lyric was an academic write for me, rather than a heartfelt write, if that makes sense. I have a certain quirkiness in my being, and that has to come out from time-to-time. The chorus is quite simple compared to most of my writing, being just two chords and not much melody movement - this was trying to accentuate the flowing nature of the young lady’s speech and thinking. Thanks for listening!

Originally Posted by floyd jane
A clever write. Well developed.
And well sung.
Nice use of BIAB.
Cool bass solo/duet.
And cool blending of verse and chorus.
A lot of work went into this. Well done.

And fun from start to finish.
Aw - thank you Floyd! I liked the ideas I had for this one, and the challenge of turning those into a musical form. Early on, I also knew how I was going to post this to the forum, using list point formatting for the verses and combined, flowing text for the chorus.
I am glad you liked the bass duet. I’d maybe like it a little clearer, but the dynamics range of the bass was tricky to control. At some stage, I will tinker with this to make it more uniform.
Thanks for listening!

Originally Posted by DC Ron
Very cool indeed, Andrew!

Especially liked the bullet point sound. Very creative! Nice arrangement, instrument choices and playing throughout. The bass duet is stunning, nice innovation. That last chorus is very cool, ALMOST coming off the rails but staying grounded. Super vocals, harmonies and BGVs. ANOTHER shiny pop gem...

I worked the last third of my career in a business where bullet points were essential, and every idea had to be expressed in a one page PowerPoint slide. It was mind numbing, but it did force a real focus on the SO WHAT...

Hi Ron!
Thanks for noting the bullet point sound via the vibes. I used several devices to emphasise the song theme. I was really happy how the last chorus turned out - the idea came after recording and during arrangement. I simply copied and pasted sections of the verses, then pushed both 15% left and right to give each their own space.

Work-wise, I was an accountant that branched out into general management, and policy writing and training were a big part of my role. It’s where I learned to be a clear, well-structured writer, and bullet points were a tool for that clarity - as were PowerPoint decks. Interesting the similarity in our roles. I don’t miss it though!

Andrew

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Andrew:
- I listened
- my thoughts
- verses
- outstanding vocal
----- fabulous lyrics
- first chorus
----- brilliant job on the vocal
- second chorus
-----blending a verse with the chorus was another brilliant move
- the backing band was fantastic throughout the song.
- great bass solo
- super mix
- loved it

Last edited by MarioD; 02/17/26 06:34 PM.

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Hi Andrew,

Very clever indeed. I particularly like how you’ve done the verse and chorus in the opposite modes of thinking. And then you’ve cleverly merged the two in Chorus 2. I imagine that either Chorus is very difficult to sing in a single take or live for that matter, it seems like you’d be constantly chasing for a breath. Nevertheless looking forward to giving it a crack at some stage. I think that’s probably the difference between you and me, you think logically point after point, whereas I’m a lazy single thought sort of thinker. The video is also very clever, very enjoyable. Good arrangement as always. I’m not sure about the duelling basses though, but that’s just me.

Great job.

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Hey, Andrew! This one is fun and quirky like a Rivers Cuomo song performed by Weezer, or like the "If I Had a Million Dollars" by Barenaked Ladies. Right now your "Sleigh Ride to the Galaxy" song is on. Oh jeez, this one is heck of fun ride. Love it! You really have a good way with melodies.
John

MarioD #880195 02/18/26 03:19 AM
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Originally Posted by MarioD
Andrew:
- I listened
- my thoughts
- verses
- outstanding vocal
----- fabulous lyrics
- first chorus
----- brilliant job on the vocal
- second chorus
-----blending a verse with the chorus was another brilliant move
- the backing band was fantastic throughout the song.
- great bass solo
- super mix
- loved it
Hi Mario!
You win the award for best formatted reply! Thanks for listening.
Andrew

K-Dub Ya #880196 02/18/26 03:30 AM
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Originally Posted by K-Dub Ya
Hi Andrew,

Very clever indeed. I particularly like how you’ve done the verse and chorus in the opposite modes of thinking. And then you’ve cleverly merged the two in Chorus 2. I imagine that either Chorus is very difficult to sing in a single take or live for that matter, it seems like you’d be constantly chasing for a breath. Nevertheless looking forward to giving it a crack at some stage. I think that’s probably the difference between you and me, you think logically point after point, whereas I’m a lazy single thought sort of thinker. The video is also very clever, very enjoyable. Good arrangement as always. I’m not sure about the duelling basses though, but that’s just me.

Great job.
Hi Lee aka K-Dub Ya!
Well spotted. I attempted to record the chorus vocal in one take, but had to punch-in a middle sentence on both main and harmony, albeit in different places. There was a bit of rehearsal to get my breathing right for it - almost. I thought you and I could do the duelling basses when we play it at our next jam? Nah. Regarding differences, that’s what makes the world go around. I know when I click into ‘list mode’, I can hear people say “Let’s just back up there a bit, young Andrew”. Well, they don’t say the ‘young Andrew’ bit anymore. A lot of effort in the video - I don’t want to do that again in a hurry.
Andrew

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Originally Posted by John Walradt
Hey, Andrew! This one is fun and quirky like a Rivers Cuomo song performed by Weezer, or like the "If I Had a Million Dollars" by Barenaked Ladies. Right now your "Sleigh Ride to the Galaxy" song is on. Oh jeez, this one is heck of fun ride. Love it! You really have a good way with melodies.
John
Hi John!
I am familiar with Barenaked Ladies ‘One week’ (it was massive in Australia) and ‘Big Bang Theory Theme’, but not ‘If I had $1,000,000’ (nice though). They are very clever vocalists with their quick lyrics. If you heard me speak, I am quite a slow speaker which I attribute to a lisp when younger due to a mishap when I bit through my tongue.

I think you credit me with ‘Sleigh ride to the galaxy’ but that song belongs to Jannesan - but it is a great song!

Andrew

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Hi Andrew,

Very clever idea for a song! And some very clever lyrics, for example how on earth did you come up with "a tiny yet significant squirt of endorphin" ?! Great stuff!

Vocal sounds good, I especially like the BGV "ooooos". Love the chorus!

Bass solo sounds good too.

Nice one, enjoyed.

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Very clever, Andrew! You put a lot of work and thought into this, and the payoff was worth it!


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Hi Andrew.

I agree with all those above me. This is a fun song and really cleverly written. It must have taken ages to put together. Loved the vocal. The whole presentation reminded me of Tim Minchin. The bridge was excellent, but I'm still scratching my head about how you managed to sing so many words with minimal breathing space. Good selection of tracks and an excellent mix. The bass solo was well done!

--Noel


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Andrew, you've just shown me the power of 'Breaking the Mold'. John Lennon influenced?
I don't know, just something about it!

Fact is, I'm gonna use that as the title of my new song, ... "Breaking The Mold!" Thank you Andrew, for the inspiration!!
I really enjoyed what I'll call your "Chaotic Soundscape! "!
That's it for now, I got a new song to write!

Last edited by Drew Barnes; 02/18/26 05:43 PM.

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My years working in the infamous Granville Street Entertainment District have provided me much songwriting inspiration.
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Pretty clever write with many great ideas and wonderful little details.
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Originally Posted by BlueAttitude
Very clever idea for a song! And some very clever lyrics, for example how on earth did you come up with "a tiny yet significant squirt of endorphin" ?! Great stuff!
Vocal sounds good, I especially like the BGV "ooooos". Love the chorus!
Bass solo sounds good too.
Nice one, enjoyed.
Hi Dave!
Thanks for the good feedback! A few years back, I became aware of endorphins, synapses, dopamine etc. and realised that one of the reasons why I liked using check boxes on my to-do lists was that I had a super-busy job and needed a range of techniques to keep on top of my workload. Their use gave me an opportunity to tick the box or cross it off the list, giving me a sense of accomplishment. I quickly came to realise this was a chemical reaction, so ‘a release of endorphins’ entered my vocabulary. When I wrote that line for this song, the relationship between a check box and endorphins was historically embedded. I needed a rhyme so ‘orphan’ was the unchecked box left hanging there.
Thanks for listening!
Andrew

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Originally Posted by TuneMonger
Very clever, Andrew! You put a lot of work and thought into this, and the payoff was worth it!
Thanks Rob!
A few weeks back, I posted in the Songwriting forum asking how people got ideas for lyrics. Historically, this has been the hardest part for me - music nearly always comes first for me. Within a few days of pondering, I had this idea about a man that uses bullet points and thinks that way (that’s me). I learned many years ago to use several devices to expand on an idea:
  • what is the opposite of the idea?
  • what is it with and without?
  • is there a time dimension to the idea - past, present or future?
  • do Kipling’s helpers help? Who, what, when, where, why, how.

So the idea of a love interest that didn’t use bullet points came to me, then later, the two merging together.

Lyric writing for me is lateral thinking, hard work, and sometimes some ‘join the dots’ writing out of laziness. This idea is probably more novel than cleverness.

For the record, my lovely wife is also a list maker! 😘
Thanks for listening and comments!
Andrew

Noel96 #880304 02/19/26 04:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Noel96
I agree with all those above me. This is a fun song and really cleverly written. It must have taken ages to put together. Loved the vocal. The whole presentation reminded me of Tim Minchin. The bridge was excellent, but I'm still scratching my head about how you managed to sing so many words with minimal breathing space. Good selection of tracks and an excellent mix. The bass solo was well done!

--Noel
Hi Noel!
The words took a while because K-Dub Ya (formerly Knee Wobbler) set a songwriting challenge to think more deeply about lyric writing and rhymes after he had watched a recent ‘How to write songs’ episode on what the experts know about lyric writing (here). Besides the idea of the song, I tried looking for different places to put the rhymes. I’m not sure I truly met the challenge, but pretty happy with the song outcome nonetheless.

I’m not a heavy Tim Minchin listener, but I do like ‘White wine in the sun’.

Regarding singing the chorus, I knew it was going to be daunting, so I rehearsed my breathing several times and took ‘micro-breaths’), but it still wasn’t enough, so I had to punch in a middle section for both my main vocal and my double, but in different places on each track so that there was adequate coverage.
Thanks for listening - I appreciate it.
Andrew

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Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.

Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!

And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.

The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!

This Free Bonus PAK includes:

  • The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
  • Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
  • Playable RealTracks Set 5
  • RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
  • SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
  • iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
  • RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
  • SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)

Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

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