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Recently, I was re-reading Shiela Davis’s book, The Songwriters Idea Book, for the umpteenth time. This time around, though, her chapter on using a colour in the title of a song got me thinking. As a consequence, I started wondering about assigning a colour to “happiness,” and whether or not I could use this to write a suitable lyric that would lead me to a song. I had never tried this songwriting approach before and it sounded like a fun exercise. With a bit of help from Synthesizer V for the vocals, here is where Shiela Davis’s strategy took me... I hope you enjoy it. --Noel --------------- BIAB BandBase Style: _ELYSIAN.STY Bass: 784:Bass, Electric, PopCrossover Sw16 075 Guitar: 2520:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking BoomChickSlowJoe Sw16 085 (Simple) Guitar: 1581 Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Folkie16ths Sw16 085 Fiddle: 4635 Fiddle, Background AmericanaGroovinMelodic Sw16 075 Banjo: 1579 Banjo, Rhythm Folkie16ths Sw16 085 Drums: RealDrums NashCrossovrSw16^13 Drums: RealDrums ChajchasShakerSw16 Drums: RealDrums ElecClapSlow[single]^2 Production InfoBass effects: Renaissance Bass (Waves), GSatPlusnogpu (TBProAudio) Guitar effects: ReaEQ (Reaper) Banjo effects: GSatPlusnogpu (TBProAudio) Vocals: Synthesizer V (vocal softsnth with the “Liam” voice) Vocals effects: Nectar 4, ReaEQ (Reaper), ReaComp (Repear) Drums effects: (NashCrossovrSw16^13) JS Waveshaping Distortion (Reaper) Visual mixing tool: JS: Saike Spectral Analyzer (beta) Audio checking tool (production studio emulator): NX 7.1/Stereo (Waves) Overall mix: Ozone 11, ReaLimit (Reaper)
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Instant love, what a wonderful song. It makes me happy to listen to it. Over and over again... There is absolutely nothing not to like about it. Perfect  ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/images/icons/default/thumbs_up.gif)
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Noel,
Your work always has such a high sheen to it. This piece is perfection - top to bottom. Everything from the writing, to the arrangement, to your singer is a complete delight.
Loved it all!
Bob
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Nice one, Noel. Cool write, and the arrangement and band are superb. Smiled when the banjo and later the fiddle came in. Lots of nice touches throughout. I'd give you an A++ on your exercise!
DC Ron
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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I'll second the notion that happiness is green. For us one of the first signs of spring is when you start to see a glimmer of green on the trees as the leaves start to form again.
Nicely done, Noel, enjoyed!
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Noel it's weird you should bring colour into a song as I recently started to write one based on colours.
I agree, happiness is probably green and this is a happy song. Just what the world needs now.
Vic
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Hi Noel!
You got me in the first bar when I realised you were using the ‘boom-boom’ (beats 1 &, 3 &) of the bass. I’ve always loved songs at this tempo range that use that bass style - I think because I am an acoustic rhythm guitarist, it suits two quick down muted half-strums on the E and A strings to mimic the bass. Anyways, I digress …
A good rhythm feel to this song at a nice slow pedestrian pace (= calming) and the synth vocal almost glides over the top of this. The banjo was a pleasant surprise - I’ve used that RT myself - and I love its syncopated feel. The fiddle was also a surprise, and it gave the song a ‘back to basics’ feel - which I also think is what happiness is - the uncomplicated, tech-free, simplicity of ordinary things. I was also surprised by the chord movement returning to the root chord at the end of a verse 2, verse 3, instrumental, and verse 4 - but not verse 1 which ended on the V chord to tension/release to verse 2. However that might say more about my chord proclivities than yours.
Is happiness green? Certainly, the colour green reminds people of things that bring joy, and predominantly things of nature, and often used as a colour metaphor for growth. In fact, I think if you removed all plant life in the broadest sense (those using chlorophyll and photosynthesis) and animals or insects that camouflage amongst plants, we might have very little green colour on Earth, so in that sense, green should give everyone happiness because we have it.
Well done, Noel! I love it.
Andrew
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Noel, this is an outstanding masterpiece.
A fantastic love song.
Yes happiness is green, especially when walking through nature's wonderland.
The banjo and fiddle were pleasant surprises.
Super AI vocal but the lyrics took it over the top for me.
Loved it
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
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Great song, Noel, so inviting on so many levels. Kermit the Frog would approve, of course. Not to bring politics into it, but I am a proud Green Party member, so you got that angle, too. JK. Terrific work, you set a high musical standard!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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A very beautiful song, the voice is excellent.
Laurent
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Hi, Noel. Nice! I Iiked the lyric choices - callbacks to older styles: I recall when first I saw you On that warm Jamaican morn Oh and the day we vowed our lifetimes ‘Neath.... Sometimes cliches are the right choices. I've very much got your style, and I enjoyed the listen.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Noel,
Nice. Joyful. Good job of writing to your title.
Excellent use of BIAB.
Good mix.
Some really interesting rhymes!
A happy listen.
fj
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You are officially a genius What. A. Pure. Joy.
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Hi Noel,
A very lovely song!
I already liked the colour (Green), but since it's very cold here, I long to that colour more then ever. That would bring me happiness.
There were two surprises in your song; first the banjo and then the violin. They are both doing a very good job in this song. Like that!
Hans
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Cool, Noel. I once did a lot of research on what color means to humans throughout time and cultures. Wrote a book about it. You got it, man. Happiness is green for sure, especially when it denotes Mother Nature. What a cool song. Good write, and the perfect production. Excellent vocal and mix. I like all the percussion you added and the banjo and fiddle added the right tough.
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Instant love, what a wonderful song. It makes me happy to listen to it. Over and over again... There is absolutely nothing not to like about it. Perfect Hi BD. Thank you! You made my day and I really appreciate the smile you've just given me --Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Noel,
Your work always has such a high sheen to it. This piece is perfection - top to bottom. Everything from the writing, to the arrangement, to your singer is a complete delight.
Loved it all!
Bob Hi Bob. It's good to see you. Thank you for passing through the thread. I sincerely appreciate your comments a lot. --Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Nice one, Noel. Cool write, and the arrangement and band are superb. Smiled when the banjo and later the fiddle came in. Lots of nice touches throughout. I'd give you an A++ on your exercise! Hey Ron. Thanks for taking time to have a listen. I appreciate it. I also appreciate your comments a lot. I used to be a school teacher so the A+++ is speaking a language I know very well I think I got lucky with this one! Thanks again. --Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Very nice casual folk/bluegrass styled song. The melody is one of those that's as comfortable as sitting in the front room of a cottage. You're right, it's interesting to put a color into the title and make it a theme. It's an easy good feeling song to follow.
John
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More quality work from you, Noel. Delightful, pleasant, positive, uplifting and all encapsulated in a superb musical delivery. Great, really great, really really great .
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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