Every once in a while, someone asks if BIAB can do "Modern Country".
(Generally, someone new, and usually in Off Topics or the BIAB for Windows forums.)
Usually, several people immediately jump on it and say...
"No! BIAB can only do "old man Country."

I always think... "Aw, c'mon... Give Me A Break.."
With some imagination (even just a little) Band-In-A-Box can do almost any style music you want to work in.



GIVE ME A BREAK

if i were to call
would you just hang up
would you give me the chance to tell my story
i've got a list
a hundred reasons
no song and dance, girl, sincerely i'm sorry
i know i made a big mistake
all i'm asking, girl, just give me a break
   
   give me a chance make it up to you
   i'd do anything that you ask me to
   say the word, i'll rope the moon and a star or two
   i'll beg, i'll plead, down on my knees
   tell me what you need, anything you please
   tell me, tell me what will it take
   for you to give me a break

if i dropped by
your house tonight
with a bottle of rose and a dozen roses
could i set things right
do you think you might
find it in your heart to forgive me girl hear my proposal
i just can't take this heartache
all i'm asking, girl, just give me a break


The BAND?

RealTracks in style: ~1433:Bass, Electric, JazzFunkGroovin Ev16 110
RealTracks in song: 2742:Bass, Synth, AltHipHopHeld Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: 380:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Syncopated Sugar Ev 102
RealTracks in song: 795:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernCountrySync Ev 100 (A:strum)
RealTracks in song: 1295:Banjo, Rhythm, ModernCountrySync Ev16 100
RealTracks in song: 2690:Guitar, Electric, Soloist Slow16thsPopBrentSimple Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 1169:Guitar, Electric, Soloist RockMediumBrent Ev 120 (for big chords)
Loop in Song: House-Techno-Trance\House - emotions_127_drum_loop_b_flat_minor ev8.wav
Loop in Song: Chillout\Chillout - sunset_103_drum_loop_f_minor ev16.wav
RealDrums in Song: DrivingPop8ths^01-a:HiHat, Snare, b:Open Hat, Snare
Guitar loop from Studio One

Background vocals by the janettes (Janice Merritt and me)

J&B - Thanks, guys... for everything, always...


Comments encouraged!

#givemeabreak

floyd

The PG forum Hit Machine just keeps delivering!!! Everything a pop song should be and more. Very catchy, very singable (on first listen). Tons of energy, and tons of fun. Beyond that, some real sincerity and emotion, musically and lyrically, in the plea "Give me a Break". And, what song cannot be made better with the Janettes? (Love the BGs). Great stuff AGAIN!! Take care. Greg

Ok, I just listened to this a few minutes ago, I was logged in on soundcloud and it showed up in my stream when you uploaded.

Very cool, I always dig the country music you do, sounds fresh to me.

Kudos to the janettes also!

Hi Floyd Jane, Great job on this! I really enjoyed the vocals and guitars. Very catchy tune. Well done!

Team Floyd and the Janettes has delivered again.

This is really excellent, a great driving beat, a perfect lead break, superb lyrics, and all encapsulated with an amazing melody and vocals.

Top job, again.

Great tune, Floyd. I'm liking that sprinkling of modern sounding drums and that backing synth -- fits really well with your established style but also makes a convincing case for modern country! It's always good when a song written to prove a point is also an awesome song. Thanks for sharing!

Once again the doubters are proved wrong.Floyd that is up there with the modern country sound ,hip hop beat,distoreted rock guitars and a little bit of banjo thrown in.thank you for your input.i for one will nevr stop listening or learning from this wonderful forum.excellent allround

Hi Floyd.

Oh yes, I DO like it when you get heavy. I discovered Brooks and Dunn a while back and this sounds a lot like some of their up-tempo stuff.

As soon as I heard those drums pumping I knew this was one for the Tannoys and up LOUD. Wonderful.

Great song, great backing, great vocals, including Janice of course, and a great mix.

Well, maybe bring the solo up a bit (ha ha).

ROG.

Hi Floyd.
Enjoyed that . Nice and lively. Cheers.

Hi Floyd,

for great songs Band in a Box can't miss, but also you and your creativity are necessary.

Another super song.

PS I prefer your traditional country style.

Sergio

Excellent tune Floyd. Very cool lyrics. Super harmonies with Janice. Guitar was the cherry on top of the sundae...

Hi, Floyd and The Jeanettes !:))


Love this, it is so very
good and I mean everything
on the track !
Superb collab too, simply
pro all over !

Cheers
Dani

Floyd,

Seconds to this- very, very catchy radio-ready. Love the sprinkle of banjo and the harmonies.

Robert

Thanks, Greg. You always have a way of getting to the core of what these are all about...

Hey Floyd,

This is good stuff. I like it a lot! Love the drum pattern/beat/loop thingy... Whatever you did there is working. The banjo is very cool as well as the guitar solo RT. Great vocals and mix! Congrats. Another fine Job!

Greg

Floyd

Clever arrangement - strong chorus you and Janice sound great on harmony.
Nice use of "modern" and traditional sounds. Like when you sing with just the drums.
Lovely arrangement at the end.
Great work.

Peter

Floyd,

This immediately reminded us of the album Garth Brooks in the Life of Chris Gaines.
There's one track in particular, Right Now.
We are big fans of Garth Brooks and that also makes us a fan of this song .
The Janettes are also in good shape (as always )
Rob and Anne-Marie

Super write and performance

(and the bar goes higher and higher)

you're really doing great material


Kenny

Hi Floyd,

We have to agree with all the previous accolades. I'm not sure we can add to them. Nonetheless, pour thoughts:

Very commercial and perfect arrangement. And we think you touched a nerve with all who have been in this position - the realization and agony of knowing you really screwed up! You've creatively depicted the bumps in the road to forgiveness ... sometime mountains rather than bumps.

It's a great listen but gives the listener a little something to think about. For those who have been there, you show the empathy. For those who haven't, you've forewarned of the perils of stepping on it with the the love of your life.

The Janettes are sounding as good as ever. Superb harmony! And your choice of tracks were perfect for the message ... we particularly enjoyed the banjo. COntrary to some ways of thinking, the banjo isn't just for Bluegrass and "hillbillies".

Excellent ... we're still smiling!

Alan & Di

PS: And who says we can't get modern with our country? Another rumor squashed!

Hello, floyd

Very catchy and very pop!
As Greg said, the PG forum Hit Machine just keeps delivering!!! Everything a pop song should be and more.
Your main vocal and background vocals by the janettes are so good.
Bass drum is very cool in the mix.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

floyd, This is an example of how these dance loops can fit right into a country pop song. That guitar loop is really cool how it melts into the banjo loop. While listening I'm cheering on the song on like I'm watching the NCAA tournament. I yelling out C'MON BREAK IT DOWN! Then BOOM , there it is! All smiles. Janette's deliver again. Your song truck is a well oiled machine that backs up to your house and keeps on delivering. Your high standards and above all your attention to detail never disappoint. Always amazed, Tom

Mighty good country pop. Most, but not all the necessary elements for today's Bro-country. Got have a video and rap verse to be taken seriously... Echo's are a must...

A two chair turn around on the Voice blind audition round.

Adam would say he doesn't know anything about country but if he did, this is what it would sound like to him and Blake was a fool not to turn so he turned his chair to make Blake look foolish.

Aleshia would turn because she thinks this is perfect for Blake and she can't believe Blake didn't turn.

Gwen would say she didn't turn because she loves Blake and did not want to embarrass him.

Blake, didn't turn cause his button was broke....

Steve Goodman would tweet you another verse.......

It's hard to cover all the bases of a modern country song. You have made a serious dent and by any measure given us another great write, arrangement, production and performance. This is a very enjoyable listen and will sound great coming out, loudly, out of my speakers.

Enjoyed this.

Charlie

Outstanding you guys.

Wow.

What a great song and what a remarkable blend of real tracks and live playing (I guess there was some.)

Truly you have proved your point. Brilliant.

Fine work Floyd. Very catchy tune background vocals really set off the song. Torrey

Thanks, Dave, for your continued support...




Appreciate you stopping by, Joe...

Floyd,

This is just awesome! As you know, I am a real fan of your music. You have a knack for the pushing the envelope without sacrificing your stellar standards of quality, both lyrically and musically. Great song here, and good job of "showing off" Band in a Box!

Steve

fj,


Love this one. Right in the pocket. Enjoyed it.


Regards,


Bob

Trev - very nice of you to say...thanks...




Will - thanks for weighing in on this one. BIAB should be the first thing in every musician's, songwriter's, singer's tool box... none should be without it...

John - thanks for giving this one a listen - and for noting its "modern" side... it is, indeed, a wonderful forum...




Thanks, ROG. I knew you would want that solo up! We'll have you writing country in no time at all...

Bud was talking about the "beats" and the bottom end of this tune and I asked him what on earth that was all about. He then pointed out that I had learned the harmony listening on a mono bluetooth earpiece and had otherwise only heard it on our small monitors. So he streamed it as he had listened to our regular stereo system with subwoofers. I told him I felt like I was sitting at a traffic light with my car shaking

This was a lot of fun and now that I've learned something it is different in a good way. Thank you floyd for bringing in a country girl to this!


Janice

Outstanding. The chorus is superb. And the harmonies add a wonderful color.


Simply a wonderful write and recording.

Thanks for dropping by, Richard... (time for a new one from you!)




Thanks for listening, Sergio... I'll keep flipping around...



Thanks, Scott... yeah, I really like that particular solo RT... and, of course!, Janice does a great job...

Thanks, Dani!



Appreciate that, Robert..

Just listened to Gary sing "Take A Chance", and now right on its heals, this great song that asks to "Give me a chance".

Very catchy chorus. My foot's tappin'.

Thanks, Floyd.

Hey, this is one of your better songs in a while.

I liked the way you built this with the techno loop up to the chorus that really delivers the goods.

nice production chops with the break down on the first part of the chorus at 2:20... nice power comeback. The banjo needed to stop on the last hold.... JMHO.

Certainly has the Brooks and Dunn feel to it.

Plenty here to like.

Floyd,

Another radio ready hit! Loved it.

Bob

Thanks, Greg. Always appreciate you stopping by...




Peter - thanks for such a nice review...

Thanks, y'all. I have never heard the Chris Gaines/Garth stuff. Found a little on YouTube - but, surprisingly, not much. What I did find reminded me of Glenn Frey's solo stuff (which I've always liked)...




Thanks, Kenny....so are you!

Alan - what a nice review... appreciate it... hope you are both doing well..




Shigeki Adachi - thank you again for your continued support of my music... it is appreciated...

If this doesn't get optioned by a Nashville label, they are asleep at the wheel. I can definitely visualize it live, crowd clapping and singing the chorus.

Another good one, Floyd.

Thanks, Tom. Good ears on the loop to banjo thing. The janettes are becoming more a part of things these days (Janice is awesome, of course). Always appreciate your comments...

Charlie - I really enjoyed your delightful review. I've never seen The Voice - only commercials for it - but I understand the concept.

Wasn't really after the Bro Country thing here - that "fad" seems to have finally (thankfully) passed us by. I have the sense that it has been "old news" for about a year now... this was more a flavoring of the other side of "current Country"... Little Big Town, Brett Young, Brett Eldredge, maybe a bit of Rascal Flatts.... RaeLynn caught my attention recently... The "sound" is beginning to "spread out" some with experimentation with little things that make up that sound. Sprinklings instead of trying to cram all of them into every song.

The Goodman reference is near-and-dear... I wore out his records...

Oh... I've got another of these - where I DID use an "echo part"...

Thanks for an entertaining review..

Hearing this song makes me wonder if BIAB can do "traditional country?" Ha! I bet you didn't see THAT coming

I REALLY like this song! It does so many things so well. It may not be as deep as some songs on here, but it's so relatable. I think sometimes that is underrated by lovers of classic country.

Orchestration and arranging...dead on! It's knowing what sounds to use and when to use them...or not use them. Even the breakdown was spot on for me.

The background vocals lift the chorus and helps it meet the energy level it needs. Sung REALLY well I might ad...no surprise given the singers Nice job!

If you look up "hook" in the dictionary, do you know what you will find? Well, first a definition for a fishing hook. HOWEVER, after that, I'm pretty sure it's the chorus from this song! Seriously, I would tell you it's catchy, but I bet it stuck in your head TOO!

So, I guess PGMusic can update their FAQ page to answer the question "Can BIAB achieve a modern country sound?" A simple link to this song is all the proof they would need.

Just. Really. Well. Done. I can't even tell you how much I was smiling when I heard this song. Bravo my friend!

Now, given my background and seeing the name of the song, I do want to "break me off a piece of that kit kat bar." That being said, after hearing the song, I forgot about the jingle! That says A LOT!

I'll stop now in fear that people will figure out this is FJ's alter account heaping praise onto himself

Seriously though, I am sooooo impressed! Thanks for doing this!

Appreciate it, David...




Thanks, Torrey...




Thanks for that, Steve... Always like having you drop by for a listen...

Mr. Burke - I'm always pleased to get a thumbs up form you!!




Yo, Girl... whachusay? I am SO pleased that you agreed to be my "background chicks"!!! It adds magic...

Thank you, Lawrence. Coming from you, I consider that high praise...





John - it is really nice of you to drop by for a listen. Thanks...

Thanks for the listen, Herb. The banjo does stop on the final held cord. With a volume envelope to specifically cut it there to zero.

What your ears hear as a "banjo" are decay tails of a groove delay on an electric guitar track... a relatively common technique in current productions of the "modern Country sound".






Appreciate that, Bob...

That is a very nice thing to say, Andy... Thanks for dropping in..

hi fioyd awesome work love banjo nice touch great job on vocals thanks eric

Caaron - I was hoping that this would strike a chord with you... So pleased that it did... (but, now I can't get the Kit Kat song outta my head!!)

Eric - thanks for stopping by...

Hi floyd and Janice,

From top to bottom and inside out, this is absolutely stunning!

I first listened to this a while back and I was blown away by the amazing sound. I've listened a few times since then and every time I'm just as impressed as I was the first time I heard it. The journey is 100% quality!

floyd: Your writing and singing are first class (as always). In this song, though, it was your attention to arrangement and orchestration that captivated me. Once again you show us all how powerful Band In A Box is in the hands of a highly experienced user who has a flair for musical invention. Without a doubt, in this arena you are Thomas Edison and overflowing with seemingly endless imagination, ingenuity and creativity.

Janice: Your vocal work sits so perfectly against floyd's singing that it's mind-boggling to think that the two of you did this in separate states without ever meeting.

I seriously envy the talent on display here!

All the best to you both,
Noel