Hi,folks !:))

Well, I had to try a country even if
I don´t really have the right voice for it !
Actually this is my first ever written !:))

http://app.box.com/s/uuwj7sq2zu3j93v4zktf

STYLE: BRSOLC2.Sty Country Brent Guitar solo 2 (120 RS)
INSTRUMENTS:
Bass: 520 El Pop Halfnotes (165 EV)
Piano: 1515 Guitar El soloist Country Brent (120 EV)
Drums: Realdrums = Nashville Even 8/6 HiHat /HiHatO)
Guitar: 844 Guitar El Rhytm Country Rock popping EV 120
Strings: 847 Guitar El Rhytm Country Rock Riff EV 120
Soloist: 1682 AC Guitar 12 String Fingerpicking EV 165

Recorded and mixed with Mixcraft 6
Zoom h4n used as mic

Lyrics:

BACK TO THE COUNTRY (by Dani) © Dani Lindroos

Back to the country
That´s where this cityboy is headin´, on my way
no use to try and make me stay
that´s where I wanna go
climb the mountains, see the rivers far below
hope my folks are all okay

I left the country
when I was 12 or so, that´s quite a time ago
and still I´m yearnin´there, I know
you know, I´m gonna pray,
that it will not be far away for me to stray
you know I´ll always love it so

I think I´m gonna jump this freight train
it will take me closer still
and I sure hope it´s not in vain
I´ll meet my folks, wow ! what a thrill !

I miss the country
I miss those rural sounds, and all the lowing cows
I miss the gobbling of the grouse
I miss the cold and freezing breeze,
that blows incessantly all thru the trees
miss that old and stable house

Brent´s solo

I left the country
when I was 12 or so, that´s quite a time ago
and still I´m yearnin´there, I know
you know, I´m gonna pray,
that it will not be far away for me to stray
you know I always loved it so
you know I´ll always love it so

Cheers
Dani

Dani,

That was a throughly enjoyable listen.

BTW, you've got a great baritone - some pretty cool low notes...

Bob

Impressive Dani. One of my favorites so far.

Charlie

Definitely not conventional country but very cool! It has a lot of country influence but your unique style shines through. I always love hearing what you're doing. Nice work! Take care. Greg

Dani

Everything you do has the Dani hallmark which is EXCELLENT.
I enjoyed listening to that a few times.
Not conventional country but a damn good upbeat song.
Vocal as always excellent

Alyn

That was interesting. Not exactly what I was expecting to hear. Yep, it definitely has your signature sound and vocals. In places, it reminded me of the songs Glen Campbell used to record, as well as a number of other artists of that time.....lots of chords and changes in the music. Not exactly country, not exactly rock, but back then GC wasn't known as a country artist.

Observations on the song. It is what it is... however, when writing country....at least at first, experiment with straight up chords. The opening chord told me right from the start "this isn't a country song".

There's a saying that country is 3 chords and the truth. Try writing a country song using simply the basic chords.... for example C F G and Am. Of course choose whatever key you like. The basic 1,4,5 and occasionally the use of the minor 6th is all you need for a country song. Avoid the use of the flat fifths, and sharp 9ths and the other colorful chords for the most part. They're cool for a one time use in a creative way..... but don't write a country song with them as the main chords. As you write more country songs and get used to the genre, then, once you know your way around the genre, jump in and use some cool chords. It's not illegal to use cool chords in country music...so please don't misunderstand me..... but it helps to understand the genre a bit before using them.

Poor Brent..... in the solo, that was one hard chord progression to play a creative country solo against. Again....less is more when it comes to using different chords. Think 1,4,5 and you can't go wrong. If I was asked to play a solo against that progression I would say "No way".... fix it. There's not enough room to explore a melodic lead especially towards the middle to end where the changes come quickly and unpredictably. A solo should have some level of predictability to it. The guitarist needs it and the listener expects it.

Your voice fits well into a country song.... lots of singers had smooth, quiet voices.... "Whispering" Bill Anderson was one who had a big career singing that way, the great Merle Haggard was often smooth, Conway, the list goes on...... so your voice works well. You just need to get a grasp on what country music is..... either in the past or now, or anywhere in between. Listen to some of the old country folks and write something similar to that. 75% or so of the old country from the 60's through the early 80's was 3 chord songs.


All that said.... I like the song, the things it talks about, and the creativity it displays..... just some tweeking in the writing process and you'll be writing country music in fine fashion.

Nice tune Dani. Excellent lyrics and singing.. Well done..

Cool song Dani. "Helsinki Country"!


Regards,

Bob

Hi Dani,

as some already said this is not country and I'm glad it isn't. The leopard can't change its spots.
Very nice song. I like the changes. But as Herb already mentioned, Brent has got some problems.

Guenter

Hi Bob !:))

Thank you so much for your
most kind words really much
appreciated !!

Cheers
Dani

Hi, Charlie !:))


Much obliged by your
most kind words !!:))


Cheers
Dani

Hi, Greg !

You are all too kind with me
but naturally I do appreciate
those kind words very much !
I always like to listen to your sweet tunes
also !:))


Cheers
Dani

Hi, Alyn !:))

You know you are much too
kind with this ol´cityboy
but he sure like your kind
words very much ! Gracias !

Cheers
Dani

Well, dear friend !:))

You know, I do not
consider myself nor
a country singer nor
a composer of country tunes !
I probably could write
something using 1 4 and 5
etc. but I have to confess
that I am more in for Bacharach
type of chording !:))

In any case Herb, I do appreciate your
very kind words regarding this
embryonic tune !:))

Cheers
Dani

Well, friend Scott !:))

I feel most grateful for
your more than kind words !

Take Care

Cheers
Dani

Hi, Bob !:))

What I was describing
with this tune was indeed
a mixture of Finnish and
Norwegian Country !:))
You probably have to go to Norway
to climb those mountains for
to be able to see the rivers
far, far below, Finland is generally
much more flatter ! Now, Bob, I do
appreciate your kind words
truly much !

Cheers
Dani

Hi, Guenter !:))


LOL ! Yes, poor Brent, I have to
admit to that !!!:))
Okay, you know Guenter that I am
not really into this type of
music though I do like really good
country also !:)) Usually I´ll stick
to more challenging chords and
progressions !:)) As you know, I do
appreciate your very kind words
truly much !:))

Cheers
Dani

Hi Dani
A very interesting combination. Your wonderful voice with some country backing and unconventional chords. I enjoyed it very much!

Hi Dani,

This is a nice song, although we wonder if you could call it a country song. But does it matter?
We agree with Herb about the solo. It sounds a bit chaotic.
May be if you replace one or 2 of the guitars by other instruments (or leave one out?) it will work out better.
However, your voice fits in well.

Regards,
Rob and Anne-Marie

Hello Dani...

I'm here to give my honest opinion or suggestions to this forum. So here it goes....

Overall I liked the song but would suggest a lot less vibrato on the voice....and lose the auto harmony machine...it does not sound natural....you would be better off singing the harmony yourself. Or maybe get someone else to sing it.

I don't beat you up....but I do want to help....

Hi, Joanne !:)))

You are just too nice
with this old goofer !!!:))
But, as you surely know, I
do appreciate your most
kind words truly much !

Cheers
Dani

Hi, Rob and Anne-Marie !:))

I am truly thankful for
your most kind words !:))
Well, country or no country,
I must say I do not really know
but the style is called country rock ? (LOL) !
Being un jubilado I do not take
matters of form too seriously
anymore (lol) so I guess my
"countryversial" experiment is
over for the time being !:))

Cheers
Dani

Hi, Horst !:))


Much obliged by your helpful
attitude !:))
I do not have a harmony machine,
I always sing the harmony voices
myself, don´t even know what a
kind of machine that is ?(LOL) !
I am grateful for your advice, but
it might be good for you to know
that this is not my genré at all,
I normally prefer popjazz !:))

Cheers
Dani

We enjoyed the listen Dani.
BIAB is all about fun and the
opportunity to experiment.

We would love to see the
mountains of Norway. My genealogical
DNA testing shows that I have more
matches from Norway than any other country.

Bud

Well Dani, everything Herb said is true. But the good news for you is he could post the same comments for every song that is on the American radio top 20 country playlist today.

The better news is there is plenty of room for your Bacharach type of chording, arrangements and especially your wonderful baritone vocal and real harmonies in country music. There is also some history of it. Note that I'm not implying that Herb said otherwise. I'm just providing different examples.

If you decide to take another embryonic jab at country (and I hope you do) check out songs by Jim Reeves, Eddie Arnold or Rex Allen Jr. They all did some fairly sophisticated arranged songs though the chord progression was simple.

Here is Eddie Arnold singing a song that also was recorded by the likes of Elton John, Roy Clark, Andy Williams and Glen Campbell, to name a few.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adJWr9u-wow


Charlie

Great post, Charlie!...


I like your venture into Country, Dani!... "Helsinky Country" as Bob says...


I grew up listening to Country music. Glen Campbell was my first and foremost musical influence. Was he Country? You bet your bottom dollar! So... to have that comparison is one heck of a feather in your Country cap!

(Glen's career in a nutshell)

Academy of Country Music
1967: Single of the Year – Gentle on My Mind
1967: Album of the Year – Gentle on My Mind
1967: Top Male Vocalist
1968: Album of the Year – Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell
1968: Top Male Vocalist
1968: TV Personality of the Year
1971: TV Personality of the Year
1975: Single of the Year – "Rhinestone Cowboy"
1998: Pioneer Award

Country Music Association Awards
1968: Entertainer of the Year
1968: Male Vocalist of the Year

Grammy Awards
1967: Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "Gentle on My Mind"
1967: Best Country & Western Recording for "Gentle on My Mind"
1967: Best Vocal Performance, Male for "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
1967: Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male for "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
1968: Album of the Year – "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
2000: Grammy Hall of Fame Award – "Wichita Lineman"
2004: Grammy Hall of Fame Award – "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
2008: Grammy Hall of Fame Award – "Gentle on My Mind"
2012: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award


2005: Country Music Hall of Fame induction


Thank goodness Jimmy Webb was never instructed to stick with 1,4,5!!!

Here are the chords to Wichita Lineman:

Gm7/Bbmaj7/Am7/Gm7
Dm7/Am7/G/D
Am7/G
Gm/D/Asus4/Bb



And what incredible HARMONIES! No machine or software could do that.

You are an original!!!

floyd

Hi, Janice & Bud !:))

I am really glad for
your warm words !:))
If you Bud have Norwegian
matches in your DNA you should
go there without doubt !
Mind me saying it is the most
beautiful country on earth !!!:))
How you have been able to go on without
brown goat´s milk cheese (Gudbrandsdalsost)
and kransekake is a mystery to me ?? (LOL) !!
Americans use to say that the whole
country is a National Park and
indeed it is !!!:))

Cheers
Dani

Hi, Charlie !

You are just too kind with me
but know that I do appreciate
your most nice words truly much !:))

When it comes to country
I know that many country singers
do sing a much larger repertoire
than what ususally defines as
country. I have done many Jimmy
Webb and Jim Reeves songs as
covers but naturally I cannot
post them here !:))

Cheers
Dani

Now Floyd, ol´friend !

I do not really know how
best to answer your
most kind comments and
warming words ! A simple
thank you just does not seem
good enough :))!!

In any case it feels good
to read of your candid love
for this genré that includes
many absolutely wonderful songs !

Cheers
Dani

Dani,
First country tune? Dang! Nice job. Thanks for posting.
I noticed you used a Zoom H4N as a mic. That piece of equipment got me back to writing and recording again. I still use it at the piano when I make my first sketch of a song. Really versitile device.
SD

Hi, SD !:))

I am so thankful for
your most kind words,
shure warms an old
cityboy´s heart !:))

Cheers
Dani