Hello to all,

Every so often I try to step out of my comfort zone and do something a little different. The result, in this case, is a Country Christian Rock song.

There is a phenomenon going on currently called “pay it forward.” The premise is, if you do something good for someone else, you pay it forward and good comes back to you. For example, it is not uncommon when traveling through the San Francisco Bay Bridge to be told by the toll agent that the car in front paid your bridge toll. I have seen people in the grocery store give their change to the person behind them, etc. The premise is lacking in some respect as there should be no Quid Pro Quo when helping someone. We should give freely when we can, without any expectation of receiving something in return, but… I digress.
I have received many blessings over my life that I don’t necessarily think I deserved. Conversely, there have been some consequences that I did deserve, yet some escaped receiving. I have questioned this often while at the same time understanding that a thing is just what it is. Good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people all the time, it's just the way things are.
Still, during my formative years, I was raised by Evangelical grandparents. While I have not remained in the church, I have maintained the faith, at least, tried. I can see and hear my grandmother praying regularly. People would come to visit, and she’d say, “Pray for us.” I recall thinking, “why is she asking people to pray for us, there’s nothing wrong.” She was praying it forward. She knew her children and grandchildren, no matter how well intentioned, given our human frailties would fall at some point by the wayside. She prayed it forward on our behalf. I for one am grateful.

So today I write the song Pray It Forward. I apologize up front as my jazz influence makes me slide into some of the notes, and I just can’t help it. I have changed my usual instrumentation, giving Miles Black, Neil Swainson and Terry Clarke a break. This time I use the RealBand Style: PJONBA, which I have modified quite a bit.
Also:
Acoustic Piano 1778- John Jarvis
701 Electric Bass – Tobin Frank
362 -Acoustic Guitar- Jason Roller
508- Electric Guitar Darin Favorite
Nashville Country Drums Brian Fullen
Synth Strings PopBeleive

PRAY IT FORWARD
Lord, let me say, a prayer today, to lend a helping hand
Let my words on High be heard, and I will do the best I can.
When into this world I came, you heard my mother’s plea
She prayed it forward in my name, and you remembered me.
Chorus:
So let me pray it forward, Lord and help someone else today.
Use me as you will for all the blessings I can’t repay.

Once my journey got too rough, worried, I couldn’t sleep.
But someone prayed it forward long enough, and you made the mountains climb less steep.
Chorus:
So let me pray it forward, Lord, and help someone else today.
Use me as you will for all the blessings I can’t repay.

Pray for children lost today, guide them Lord ‘till they find their way.
Help my neighbor, and lift up the poor, heal the sick, and Lord, please send the cures.
Help my brothers, help my sisters too, help all known Lord to you. Pray it Forward Lord to thee that we may live in peace and harmony.
Amen
(Pray it Forward to the Lord, Pray it Forward to the Lord.)

Play It Forward © Copyright Carolyne Swayze 2016 USA. All Rights Reserved.
BMI Registration 00541061493

https://soundcloud.com/carolyne-swayze/pray-it-forward

What a beautiful concept Carolyne!! Although I am not conventionally religious (don't ascribe to any particular religion or attend church), I am really bothered by the rejection of faith that is occurring in our society among "progressives". I think that the concept of God, and the concept of humility and belief in something greater is essential to a successful society. So, now that I'm blathering on, let me say I LOVE THIS!!!! Really nicely done. The one thing I would change is to put an "organic" (live) harmony behind your voice instead of a synthetic plugin in those few sections. Thanks for posting this wonderful idea!! Take care. Greg

Nice song Carolyne, but I side with Greg on the "synthetic plugin" thing, even I have been using it my self...;)

I suppose u have seen the Movie Pay it Forward? Wonderful movie...

Hi, Carolyne !:))

What a beautiful song,
liked it very much !:))

Cheers
Dani

Hello, Carolyne

What a beautiful song and vocal.
I am not a Christian, but I have loved church songs like “Amazing Grace”, American standard Christmas songs and standard jazz vocals from my childhood.
I like your jazz vocals but also I like this song.
And I agree with Greg, I also think that live harmony will be better with the music of this genre, maybe.
Anyway, I liked it very much.

Best Regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thanks everyone for listening and the comments. I agree regarding live singers for the harmony. We'll see what develops.
Love this Forum!
-Carolyne

Hi Carolyne,

beautiful song. Don't apologize, fortunately you
haven't forgotten your roots.
I'm looking forward to a real harmony version.

Guenter

Carolyne,

I like this song a lot and your vocal is beautiful. The only thing I'd change is to sing the harmonies yourself.

BTW, Gospel music has jazz, funk, blues, R&B, and pretty much every other vocal styling since history shows most of the great vocalists in so many different genres started in the church - so no need to ever apologize or even worry about that - have fun and sing what you feel however you want - you're the artist.

+1 to what Guenter said...

I like songs where you get to know the writer themselves . . . this is one of those songs.

The harmonies are a little distracting . . . maybe doubling your voice with a filter on the double would achieve the effect you are looking for?

Or, if you are using a pedal that harmonizes your voice, record one track with the effect and one without and bring the one with effect down in the mix a bit so that the harmony doesn't walk on your voice and your message

Just a couple of thoughts.

You might like this short post I wrote on prayer sometime ago:

https://evenifministries.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/thoughts-about-prayer/

Blessings Carolyne!

"The harmonies are a little distracting . . . maybe doubling your voice with a filter on the double would achieve the effect you are looking for? "


Thank you Even If. Would you expound a little on "filters on the harmony". I am in the process of writing and singing three harmony parts, but if the consensus is that the harmonies are distracting, then I'm not sure what I would be accomplishing. I'm not sure I understand what or how a "filter" works. Help please, and again thanks for the input.

-Carolyne

Really nice job!! Congratulations! Great hook.

Sure Carolyne . . .

I will post several ideas - up to you to choose which works best for you in your knowledge and budget . . .

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Here is one example short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phrSy-6Y2eQ

the following tutorial is a WAYYYY over the top over the top example of how to make a Darth Vader voice which you would NOT want to do but will give you an idea of how different filters can be used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dehk1ALxFY

Here is an example of an all in one plugin that does it http://www.waves.com/plugins/ultrapitch?gclid=CIip6qCq9ssCFRCOaQodj7gA3Q

Here is another: http://www.waves.com/plugins/doubler

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Here is a decent one: http://www.antarestech.com/products/detail.php?product=Harmony_Engine_Evo_4

*** Of course if you use the Cadillac Melodyne, you can make harmonies this way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noa7efPJVK0

Melodyne can be used as stand alone or as plugin in your DAW

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If you want to work out the harmonies individually for cheap or free, I consider the following tool indispensable: http://www.hooktheory.com/ - I subscribe to this service - but you can use it for free as well . . .

My singer is real good at figuring out his own harmonies, but when we have problems, this tool really helps . . . .

Hope this information doesn't bog you down . . . . sometimes when I try to help, I am TOO helpful . . .

I just tried to give you lots of options . . . harmonies are a vocal effect just like filters are a vocal effect . . . you will have to decide which is for you

I prefer well done harmonies over a vocal effect and a vocal filter over pitch shift harmonies (although that being said, melodyne is remarkable in what it can do)

at the end of the day, a good real harmony almost always trumps anything else . . .

Blessings!

Beautiful song. Well worth the time to work on the harmonies. There is a lot to like with this song. Both in the message and performance.

Hi Carolyne,

I enjoyed this. Such a great hook and treated very skilfully from a songwriting perspective. You have a beautiful voice and it's always a pleasure to listen to you.

Thank you for sharing this with us all.

Kind regards,
Noel

WOW!! That's some info. Thanks you so much, but I'm somewhat overwhelmed. I do have Melodyne, but haven't figured it out (been over a year, since I got it. Ha!)

I've decided to just do the harmonies the old fashion way and just sing it till I get it right. I've written several parts, but I may have to Pray It Forward before I'm able to sing 'em (Laughing) Kinda rangy. I'm not sure who I thought I was writing for. Maybe tomorrow.

Peace.
-Carolyne

Thanks Charlie.