Hello All

I haven't posted to the forum for a while but am giving 50/90 a go. I don't hold out too much hope that I will finish it but if I can get a few written then that will be good for my next album.

In order to not clog up the forum I will post the songs in this thread. Any comments are as always much appreciated.

Song number 1
Co-write with Arthur Rossi

Memories Reveries


Lyrics:
There was an old lamp when we were dating
We used to meet where the Danube flows
On an old bench I kept waiting
for you... long ago

The railing was also weathered and rusty
you leaned against it and then we kissed
Touches innocent and lovely
tell me what it is

memories...reveries
keep on catching up with me
on kisses in the dawn
on springs lost and gone

These might be the years
when some things are clear
and you'lll understand
not every question has an answer in the end


I still love you I want to tell you
Those that're with endure a bad time
That's when this life wants to sell you
tears and fears...sometimes..


All hidden wonders dwell on lifes quarry
black gets blacker whiter stays whiter
Is this my story its not my story
Do i read or write

Tracks:
Piano :895
Bass: 531
Strings: Midi strings using Dimension Pro

Hi Josie,

Beautiful song and again it sounds very much like Joan Baez!
Your talent really shines through here.

BTW... how's the progress on "Whatever you want"?

Rob and Anne-Marie

Josie, good to hear from you again!

I thought the mix was very clear, and the melody was a good match for the chords. Your Lyrics and harmonies were awesome too! All in all I'd say you are off to a good start on your 50/90!

Joanne
Nice simple backing compliments the singing very nicely.
A very pleasant piece.

A good start, Joanne.

Good luck with the 50... should be an interesting journey..

fj

Nice way to jump in!

We have a lot of admiration for you folks who take on projects like this. Couldn't imagine it.

J&B

Nice to hear from you Joanne!! Very pretty folk style song! I like the 6/8 feel. You did an excellent job with mix/vocals. Enjoyed it much! Don't be a stranger. Take care. Greg

You're off to a good start, Joanne! I enjoyed listening to "Memories Reveries".

All the best with the next 49! I can't even begin to imagine how to accomplish such a task. It's beyond me!

Regards,
Noel

Hi, Jo !

I agree with the others,
this is really a good song
and you perform it so supremely
with your unique style and voice !

Good luck with the contest !

Cheers
Dani

Beautiful song. Lovely vocal and lyric

Hi Rob and Anne-Marie. Thanks for listening. Love the Joan Baez reference! I must say that although everybody says you shouldn't align or compare yourself with another artist (but rather make your own sound) I am tending to make a parallel with Baez more and more these days. It makes it easy for people to know whether they will relate to your music before they hear it.
Re: Whatever you want…..I have to admit that I haven’t made a start on this project yet….hopefully soon!


Thanks Pat. Always good to get your feet wet. Once your feet are wet you almost always feel like jumping in!


Thanks Peter. The piano (895) was a great find for this piece.


Thanks Floyd. I am sure it will be very interesting.


Thanks Bud and Janice. A lot of fascinating things happen when taking on a project like this. With 50 90 you don’t HAVE to finish. Nobody cares if you do or if you don’t. If you only write one new song then that is okay, it is one more song that you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Another thing is the collaborative environment. There are loads of folks posting lyrics only. They are looking for others to set these to music. I find this incredible because I can scroll through the lyrics and find one to work on that I can relate to or that I think would suit my style.

There is an active forum that helps you generate ideas. They also host these things called “skirmishes” where someone posts a title or phrase or idea and then everyone tries to write and record a song in less than one hour! It is amazing what can come out of these sessions.

Band in a Box is THE most incredible song-writing tool. I cannot understand why everyone who takes on 50 90 does not use it. The next song “Former Lovers” started out as a waltz but it sounded too much like a hymn so it was quickly changed to swing pop hall string quartet while retaining the original chords and melody

I think the key to completing something like this successfully will be to get into a routine and to not spend too long on any one song. On “Former Lovers” I spent far too long on the production.


Thanks Greg. I do tend to be a little erratic!


Thanks Noel. I certainly hope I can finish!


Thank you Dani. I will need more than luck to finish this thing 


Thanks for listening Scott.

Song Number 2

Former Lovers

Co-write with Elizabeth Petty

This lovely lyric, full of images, was submitted by Elizabeth Petty. Originally I wrote the chords and melody using a country waltz style. This suited the song but it sound too much like a hymn. So I changed the style to "Pop Hall string quartet" and with a slight change in my delivery the song was transformed.

I am not sure that I am altogether happy with the chorus of this. It sounds more like a bridge than a chorus. I had to do some serious wangling on the production to make it "fit". Even now I am not sure that it fits.

However, I have spent far more time than I wanted and for the sake of 50 90, it is probably best to put it to bed and maybe return to it with a fresh mind at a later stage.

Our love is shaped by distance traveled
The ground we’ve covered time invested
Our life is framed by former lovers
They have designed us

Our love is made by glasses emptied
And thoughts are colored tokens counted
Our souls are cast by former lovers
For they can see us

C
former lovers shaped and made us
former lovers changed and built us
former lovers they came and left us
Strong enough to love again
V2
our love is changed by baggage carried
Storms we’ve suffered ropes unraveled
Our bodies moulded by former lovers...
They have defined us

Our life is built by mindset tempered
The truth discovered phrases swallowed
Our breath is changed by former lovers
For they have made us

Tracks:
Bass: 1394
Drums: Jazz Brushes
Super Midi piano track (and Dimension Pro) 2192
Guitar 1984:
Strings: 2452
Swing Tamborines 8ths

Hi Joanne,

my comments on the first song have disappeared, don't know how. I told you that it's a good start on your journey and that I liked it.
Former Lovers is nice, too. I understand your pondering about the chorus. It doesn't come naturally. The break in front of it makes me feel you don't know what to do next.
You should rethink it.
Enjoyable listen though.

Guenter

Thanks guenter. I am thinking I will drop the chorus altogether. Maybe add an instrumental verse.

I really like the lyrics to this.. please pass that on to your collaborator. Conceptually, the thought that we are who we are for those reasons never occurred to me before. The ability to make an audience think new thoughts is highly desirable in lyrics and in all types of story telling (such as video)

I like the way you flowed from verse to verse, not pausing at the end of a line as is so common. That adds interest to your presentation, and keeps it from becoming "sing-songy"

My gut feeling is that the lyrics are more than a little introspective and might have been served well with a song in a minor key or at least with a less bouncy and uplifting tempo. It left me with what I call the "happy-sad face" in which my whole face is lit up but my smile is turned down at the corners.

Having said all that, there *is* an upbeat feel to the lyrics in the knowledge that all things from the past work together for good in the manifestation of our current selves.. and I'm guessing that's more of what you were portraying in your music. If so, good job.

I really respect your whole-hearted passion for your music. I can't muster anything close to it.

Nice song, very melodic and well sung by you as usual
Sergio

Go to see you tackling 50/90!!! I commented on song #1 over there, I'll have to go listen and comment on #2. I've only done two songs (out of 9 so far) with BIAB (I Remember the Bird and I Don't Want To Waste It). I do mark them with the tag biab, but I don't think anyone else does that.

I was planning on doing exactly what you are doing (hunting down good lyrics and doing collaborations), but I haven't got to that yet. I hope you have a great time over there this summer.

Hi Kevin. EXACTLY! There are so many good lyricists on there that are eager for people who are good with the music, good at recording and have a good voice to put their lyrics to music (That describes you and a number of people on this forum ) Go for it!

PS I can tell I am going to have to compete for these lyrics from now on.

Really beautiful piece of a song Jo ! Enjoyed my listen a lot... U just have such a sweet voice...

Excellent production Joanne.

Pat, Sergio, Trygve and David. Thank you so much for listening and commenting.

Pat...You've got me thinking. Something weird is happening with me this 50 90. I had such a successful first FAWM that I think I was expecting too much from this one. Also I am trying to mix an album of covers that I recorded with my old band mate Karen Wilmot while she was here in June so probably have too much on my plate.

The weird thing is that I don't seem to be happy with any of the music I am writing. This is fine when you are working with your own lyrics but when you are working with other people's lyrics, I feel it is not really fair on them. Maybe it is a case of pride coming before a fall or maybe a case of change on its way.

However, on a happier note; The good thing about doing this 50 90 in the way I am doing it is that it really sharpens up my production skills. I always like to do an almost complete production on my songs. That is, I produce it to the best of my ability with full BIAB backing as well as harmonies. I do this because it gives me an idea of what the songs will/should sound like. It also doubles up as a demo (should any fantastic artist want to cover one of my songs).

I also find I am experimenting with loads of different styles that I wouldn't usually use when producing an album. Maybe that is a good thing and maybe it is bad. I don't know!

Anyway, I am rambling.

Here is a re-write of Former Lovers, lyrics provided by Elizabeth Petty, written in a minor key. Would love to know which one you prefer and why.

FORMER LOVERS VERSION 2

And here is the next one. It is called Hold on to my Sanity. The lyrics were provided by Amanda West.

HOLD ON TO MY SANITY

"Sanity" is a good cross between folk and hymn... seems a good choice for the lyric....

I give you 100/100 for this! And I love how you chose to end the song - Bravo.

Hi Joanne,

great vocals and harmonies.
Enjoyable listen.

Guenter

Floyd, Lawrence (nice to see you back!) and Guenter. Thanks for the listen and comments.

I can see I am not going to get anywhere near 50 songs but will keep going. If I reach 20 I will be ecstatic.

I went away this long weekend to the Groot Marico with good friends and family. It is a wonderful place in the bush with nothing much to do but sit on the veranda drink beer and talk rubbish. I was able to write two songs while I was there. Here is my song writing kit.

1. Cup of coffee (most important)
2. My son's kids guitar (saves space in the car)
3. Pen
4. Note book
5. CAPO and tuner
6. Thesaurus and rhyming dictionary (no internet connection in the Marico!)



Here is the first of the songs I wrote called "I see you". It was inspired by a short story I read by Bernhard Schkink in his wonderful book "Summer Lies". It is about a short seaside romance that two people have and how temporary but beautiful it is.

I SEE YOU

Lyrics:
Copyright Joanne Cooper and Rachael Scherf
From streets to rooms I saw you
Your shadow thrown before you
And here you are
bathed in sweetness

So here you are beside me
You're breath a whisper finds me
And here we are
No space between use

I see you
Free of trouble
I see you
Drunk on colours
I see you

So now this day is ending
Night falls unrelenting
And here I am
Alone already

Right now I see the answers
Love like I've found forever
And here I am
Inside this moment

I see you
Free of trouble
I see you
Drunk on colours

This day and night is growing fat
On chances lost and mild regret

I see you
Free of trouble
I see you
Drunk on colours
I See you
High on freedom
I see you
I see you

Realtracks:
RealTracks in style: ~2487:Bass, Acoustic, Bowed HeldSimple Sw 110
RealTracks in style: ~528:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Hank Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~1679:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Sw 120
RealDrums in style: NashvilleSwing8^2-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
*******************

BWT: All my 50 90 songs can be found here.

http://www.joannecooper.co.za/50-90

Joanne
Very nice song - especially liked the harmonies. Good tune well crafted.

Hi Joanne,

great vocals and harmonies.
Very catchy tune.
Enjoyable listen.

Guenter

Hi, I'm just getting to the first song, I love the melody and the harmony. The piano recorded beautifully. Look forward to listening to the second song, good luck with this endeavour.

Kenny

"I really like the lyrics to this.. please pass that on to your collaborator. Conceptually, the thought that we are who we are for those reasons never occurred to me before. The ability to make an audience think new thoughts is highly desirable in lyrics and in all types of story telling (such as video)"

Pat so well stated what we were thinking. Conceptually this never occurred to us either but it weaves a beautiful song. And also like Pat said "new thoughts" are indeed highly desirable.

Very nice.

J&B

Joanne,

Love your evolution over the past few years... You've got some really great songs - keep it going.

Bob