One more for Christmas

The challenge was a co-write with a friend, Walter Davidson (yep, he's 100 % Belgian). No Bridge, 4-bar chorus. I put the lyrics in, and used the new features of BIAB 2015 (Avery's strings) to keep the song going.

Had to set 140 Bpm to produce the two chords in the 4th time of the bar.

RealTracks in song: 2489:Bass,Ac,Bowed HeldSimp Ev110
RealTracks in song: 2509:Cello,PopSwing Sw 110 (1Trk)
RealTracks in song: 2507:StringQuartet,PopEvChambr120

The rest is produced at 70 Bpm

RealTracks in stijl: ~~700:Bas,El,PopHalfNtPush Gel85
RealTracks in stijl: ~~368:GitaarAk,Rtm Slag Gel65
RealTracks in song: 1167:Gtr,El,Sol,RockBalladGel65
RealTracks in song: 1000:Gtr,El,Rtm,HdRkLAFzzHeld120
RealDrums in Stijl: NashvilleEven8^8-a:HiHatO, b:Ride

Live acoustic guitar (DADGAD tuning)

Reaper and EZ MIx did the rest!

Merry Christmas, my fellow composers!
Any comments are very welcome!

Fred

https://soundcloud.com/fred-marien/the-one


Winter days, early nights
Christmas tree, Christmas lights
A fairytale, a rednose deer
It's the time of the year

Chorus: And you, the one for me
I'd rather have you near

People shopping in the square
Happy children everywhere
Hear the sleigh bells... Santa's here
It's the time of the year

Chorus: And you, the one for me
I'd rather have you near

Now let us gather the family
Presents under the Christmas tree
Singing choirs are all we hear
It's the time of the year
Chorus: And you, the one for me
I'd rather have you near

Winter days, early nights
Christmas tree, Christmas lights
A fairytale, a rednose deer
It's the time of the year

Chorus: And you, the one for me
I'd rather have you near
You the one for me
You'll always be... my dear

Wouldnt it be nice to have 8 chords per bar.

NICE song, the echo on the voice is perfect.
Also the wind down starting about 3 mins is a wonderful technique.

Enjoyed

Alyn

My new favorite of yours for sure. That will last until your next release which will become my favorite. This is first class, top notch in every respect. Well-written mixed and performed. I like the delay, especially with the acoustic intro. Personally, I would have dropped for the period 0.56 through I believe 1:42 where the guitars come in strong. That would build anticipation I think as my ear was expecting it and it being there I became desensitized during that period of the song. The anticipation would have been more interesting. Just a personal observation and it certainly still works as you have it.

Great song. No real nits at all. Good tune and catchy melody. Ready for your next (Anticipation - <grin> )

Charlie

This is a really effective production
that strongly supports both the vocal
delivery and the lyric. We much enjoyed
it. BTW, did you add additional effects
to the guitar track (1167)? It sounds
very cool.

J&B

Fred,

Terrific! Start to finish...

A good write. Excellent arrangement and mix. Nice vocal.

The live acoustic sounds great! The strings, too!

Very enjoyable listen. A very original holiday song.

floyd

Beautifully done!! Acoustic guitar works perfectly. When the heavier electric came in, it surprised me but in good way-worked great. Love the way the song ratcheted down again later. The only thing I would change is to turn the vocal a bit louder during the electric part. You have a great voice and it should always be out front. Great stuff all the way around!! Take care, and Merry Xmas. Greg

P.S. I was very flattered to see you reposted Sausalito. When I hear my songs play on other people's soundcloud, it is very flattering. Thanks!!

Hi Charlie,
THanks very much for listening and commenting.
Is it the same with you that, the time that you're producing the song, a kind of gentle madness kicks in? The song is an absolute favorite of all times... untill the next song comes along
for the period 0.56 through 1:42, do I understand that you would let the second verse play like the first? I'm not shure I understand...

Alyn,
Thanks for listening and opening the commentaries
8 Chords per bar comes in handy, sometimes...

Hi J&B,
Thank you both for commenting and listening
The lead guitar track is original, in the mix though I often put in the lead vocal presets for a lead instrument.
Greatings,
Fred

Hi Floyd,
Finally my own Christmas song
Thanks for listening and commenting!
Happy holidays!

Greg,
You are absolutely right. The vocals drowned in the orchestra. (never should post a song late at night or in this case, early in the morning
I raised the vocals in that part and reposted.
Your comment made the song better, thanks!
Fred
PS Sausalito is one of my favourites!

Hi Fred,

a good write. Great arrangement and mix.
Nice vocals.
Very enjoyable listen.
Have a merry Christmas.

Guenter

Beautiful song. Loved the lyrics. Vocal and playing well done

Hello, Fred.

I quite enjoyed this number.

Bravo!

Thanks for the music,
Dan

Love it Fred! Wonderful arrangement. Beautifully done and sung.

Josie

Fred, Loved it! Thanks for a great way to start Christmas morning. Great arrangement and vocals. Very well done. Tom

Such a pretty song. Really like the way the acoustic guitar strings ring. Not sure how you obtained the effect but it works well and matches the song. I like the way your vocal blends in the mix.

Hi Fred,

Very good song, the acoustic guitar is great, good vocals.
We expected some backing vocals in the 2nd part of the song though, but that is because we love harmonies

Een goed uiteinde gewenst!

Rob en Anne-Marie

Great number, happy to see you have delighted in this time of the year.


DA...

Thank you Guenter for listening and commenting
Happy holidays
Fred

Scott C, Dan and Josie,
Thank you for listening and your kind comments.
Seasons wishes
Fred

Tom,
Thanks for listening and commenting, hope to hear a lot from you in the year to come!
Greetings
Fred

Hello Jim,
Thanks for your mind comments and your listening. The acoustic guitar are played twice in DADGAD tuning, capo d'astro on the 5th fret. This nearly open tuning let the strings ring and give a compact sound.

Hope to hear much more from you in 2015

Fred

Hi R en AM

Thanks for your kind comments !
After those magnificent medieval harmonies of you, Anne Marie, I will try (at my level) to respond with some harmonies too. So I'll stuff the next song full with'em!
Love every song you publish!
Have plenty of fun in 2015 !
Fred

Hi DA,
Thanks for listening and commenting
Seasons greets,

Fred

Fred this is your best to date!

Super vocals and that line per line echo was exceptional, loved it. Your lyrics were outstanding, as was the mix.

Great job on this!

Mario,
Thank you so much for these lovely comments. You are part of a great audience that will surely make me work even harder on the next song.
See and hear you in 2015!!!
Fred

Hi Fred,

I listened to this a little while ago and thought I'd left a comment! This morning when I checked, though, it seems I didn't ...

This is a beautiful song and it's put together incredibly well. I enjoyed the listen greatly!

All the best for 2015,
Noel

Hi Noel,
Thanks for listening (twice :-) )
It's such fun playing and listening to everyone here on the forum.
Have a great 2015 making and hearing music !
Fred

Fred,
Excellent song. Thanks for sharing at Christmas time.
SD

SD
Thanks for listening and commenting.
F

Wow! I had a brief look at the lyrics before listening (because SoundCloud was acting up yesterday), and I thought "Meh... Normal cliches".

I was so wrong - the song blew me away. You've got a great pop voice, and the instrumentation and clever use of the echo got and retained my attention.

My only nit would be the strings - once they came in the song lost some of the drive. I think if you'd moved them to the back after the were introduced, and left the guitars in the front it would be more effective. But that's just my personal opinion.

Thanks for posting this!

-- David

Sorry to be late to the Christmas party, but I just listened to this for the first time. I'm very impressed! I don't want to sound like Scrooge, but "new" Christmas songs rarely work for me. The classics are just burned in my brain I guess. Why say all that again? (Good thing I don't feel that way about love songs!) But this is a very different sounding Christmas song that I truly enjoyed listening to.

As many have said, everything works here, very professional and smooth, and a very nice listen indeed.

Thanks,
Bruce

Hi Fred - I really enjoyed that. Thank you! I missed Xmas but am not too late to enjoy this tune. It reminded me of someone but I cant quite put my finger on it.

Well done Fred and Walter!

Really enjoyed this, very uplifting song. I wouldn't mind playing this at our church
Also, gorgeous guitar sound for the solo bit around 1:42 - what did you use?
Great vocals too. I shall definitely give this another listen or two

Hi David,
Thanks for listening and commenting. I still feel humbled in the presence of these wonderful composers and musicians on this forum. I have struggled with the idea whether or not to let the string quartet take over the end of the song. As they say... A song is never finished, but at a certain point you have to let it go
I believe I can improve on being more subtle (though the next song won't be subtle at all )
See/hear you soon!
Fredf

Hi Josie,
Glad you enjoyed it !
Let me know if you find the link to "someone "
Greetings
F

Hello Rec,
Thanks for listening and commenting. If you like to play it, just do it
The guitar solo was the original 1167:Gtr,El,Sol, RockBalladGel65. I do often mix my solos as they were lead vocals, so I used the vocal presets of EZ mix.
Hope this answers your question.
G
F

Edit : Will pass the compliments to Walter

Hi Bruce,
Thanks for listening and commenting. You don't have to be scrooge-ish to like the classics. I love 'em to.