A few years ago while working on a song together floyd and I discovered we share a

birthday. (March 4th) In an unusual moment of clarity, I realized this week that it also

serves as a code to live by. (March Forth!). We have posted collabs the past few years

to celebrate. This year it is a little different. Bud Merritt had sent me some notes on a

song he was working on using the words pier and peer. He wanted an island feel and I

immediately thought to bring in floyd and turn it into a duet. I knew that both floyd and I

have spent many wasted hours with beers in hand at the famed sunset celebration at

the pier in Key West called Mallory Square, so we used that as the setting. With Bud’s

OK we decided to use this as our annual birthday post. Of course Janice was willing to

help out with harmonies. To make an already long story short, here it is.



https://soundcloud.com/tommyad/pier-pressure


https://tommyadamsmusic.com/music



Style is _ISLANDP.STY

RealTracks in style: ~~519:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 1564:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm IslandJohn Ev 110
RealTracks in style: 1175:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PopCalypso Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 1177:Guitar, High-Strung Acoustic, Rhythm PopCalypso Ev 100
RealTracks in song: 2670:Pedal Steel, Background HippieTrainEddy Ev 110
RealDrums: RealDrums in Style: PopCalypso^1-a:Snare, Closed HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 1797:Piano, Rhythm IslandJohn Ev 110
RealTracks in song: ~2201:Guitar, Nylon, Background CountryBrent Ev 120


Recorded in Logic Pro X
Plug Ins : Nectar 2, Neutron 2, Ozone 8, Tonal Balance, Waves LinMB, Waves, L3-LL Multi Limiter


PIER PRESSURE

I don't feel the need to intercede
Y'ALL can right the ship
i might get loud, but i don't follow the crowd
ain't in nobody's grip
I make my own decisions
when I cast my vote
You can leave me here
I’ll just drink my beer
don't feel i'm missing the boat

always going along to get along
how'd we all get there
That little voice inside of me asking
do you really care

Yeah I’ve been giving in to pier pressure
I join my friends for a drink at Mallory Square
as long as the beach is within reach
there's treasure
Let’s have another rum
before the setting sun
THAT'S pier pressure


my Facebook friends with their latest trends
tend to bring me down
I don’t wanna text what happens next
my every mis-step making the rounds
If they want to give their opinion
i’ll tell them where to go
I won't post what i eat
try not to tweet
and pull my hat down low

always going along to get along
how'd we all get there
That little voice inside of me asking
do you really care

Yeah I’ve been giving in to pier pressure
I join my friends for a drink at Mallory Square
as long as the beach is within reach
there's treasure
Let’s have another rum
before the setting sun
THAT'S pier pressure

drink 'em down
here comes another round
that's pier pressure

2018 B. Merritt/ T. Adams/ floyd jane

Happy Birthday, bro!

J&B - thanks!

Nice one, guys, and happy birthday!

Vocals are great, I think Tom is the first vocal, then Floyd the second? And I love the harmonies too of course.

Nice mix too!

BTW, no such thing as a wasted hour if you have a beer in your hand IMHO

Wow - what a tune! There isn't anything I didn't enjoy about this. It's wonderfully catchy, got a great groove, and both of your vocal performances are seriously on point. I'm getting a Highwayman sort of vibe here - which is definitely a good thing in my books. It showcases a clear understanding of songwriting, and is overall just a great tune.

Great work, and thanks for sharing

Tom,Floyd,J&B,
Everything about this is kicking-back fun! Nice to hear the "brothers" trading verses and Janice adding her warmth on the chorus.
I love the humour in the lyrics- especially this nugget:
"I won't post what i eat
try not to tweet
and pull my hat down low"
Jimmy Buffet`s got nothing on you guys - Happy Birthday!

Robert

This is such a cool way to celebrate a birthday together! You guys did a really great job on the vocal performances. Happy birthday guys (a few days early), and hope it treats you well!

Happy Birthday fellow March babies! Made me smile! Always up for some Jimmy Buffet influenced island beer and snark. You three (four counting Bud) always sound good together. I enjoyed it a lot.

Tom,floyd,Janice & Bud

Happy birthdays.

Well that was a treat. Great work from all involved. Super engaging, comfortable, catchy and fun.
Loved the mix of vocalists, lyrics, harmonies and and excellent backing track.
Top song.

Peter

Happy Birthday Tom and Floyd. Loved this tune. Super vocal and backtrack. Has the Jimmy Buffett feel.. Guitar was excellent.

@Dave - this Bud's for you!

@Deryk - Highwayman...cool...

@Robert - thanks!

@Ember - no one I'd rather share a birthday with! Thanks for dropping by..

Back at ya! Let's have many more! Dave, You are correct on three counts. That was me on the 1st verse, floyd on the 2nd, and beer is a good thing. Thanks, Tom

Cool collaboration. It has a lovely island vibe that would make Jimmy Buffet smile. Now I need some rum. Cheers and Happy Birthday.

I came for the Pun, I stayed for the song.

Some really cool TROP-ROCK.

This has a definite Jimmy Buffet sound, groove, vibe, to it.

It was so good I had to go back for another round. I have a few Corona's in the fridge.... kinda makes me wanna grab one.

I love the twist of the phrase...... pier pressure. Perfect.

All very together (prosody).

Very good lyrics and sentiments to live by.
I could imagine this as part of Jimmy B's repertoire.
Not that it needs any improving.
Great as it is.
Thumbs up.

Cheers.

Particularly if it is a handcrafted IPA from a small brewery

Janice said thanks for mentioning the harmony.

Bud

I love birthdays where you give gifts to us. Like Josie, it made me smile, too.

Hello, Tom, floyd, Janice & Bud,

A very nice collaboration!
Super vocals and harmonies!
It is very well mixed everywhere.
Very comfortable!
I have little knowledge about island style, but it is a very happy and good sound.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Happy birthday, Tom and floyd,

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Deryk, thanks so much for stopping by and giving it a listen. All four of us appreciate it. Tom Thanks Robert. Glad you liked it. If I remember correctly the first two lines you quoted were floyd's and the hat line was Bud. Those guys always make me laugh, Tom

Happy birthday Tommy and Floyd!
Nice song too!

Rob and Anne-Marie

Thanks Deryk. We had a blast working with Tom and floyd on this!

J&B

Happy Birthday gentleman !

Wonderful all around by everyone

you guys are the high shining beacon of light!

great musicians, super song

enjoyed,

Kenny

Janice, Bud, Tom and floyd,

'Outstanding' is a word that I regularly type when I respond to one of your posts on the forum. It seems that no matter how much I use it, though, this word never gets tired in my mind. Time after time, the compositions, performances and productions that are left in the wake of each of your individual creativities are outstanding. And with "Pier Pressure", yet again you've all comfortably jumped that often admired bar of achievement that separates the 'cream of the crop' from the 'rest of world'. I sit here at my computer in Australia and marvel at the consistency of your work.

The lyrics and the lyric flow are fantastic! I don't know how these words grew but the finished product travels along like greased lightning and with highly focused attention to lyric detail. I loved the way that the pun 'pier/peer pressure' developed.

In these lyrics, what stood out most to me was the way with which the inner rhymes worked in conjunction with the end-of-line rhymes and accented that laid-back, rock-meets-swing lilt that's often found in Caribbean/Island styled music. That...

• A A
  B
  C C
  B

...rhyme pattern found in the first four lines of each of the verses is the stuff of genius. This pattern also helps to drive the tongue-in-cheek humour that radiates from these words.

Something that I discovered a while back but have never tried is that if rhymes are plentiful and happen in quick succession, they can enhance any comedy that's present in the words. The master of this technique was Cole Porter. Have a look at and listen to his lyrics for "Your The Top" (Youtube link) and I think you'll see what I mean. While Porter also uses clever lists that anticlimax (i.e. Mickey Mouse, cellophane, etc.) to deliver laughs, rhyme-flow is the generator that paces and powers the lyric humour.



As I see it... with "Pier Pressure", just like Cole Porter, Merritt/Adams/Jane have shown us all how it's done! Outstanding!

Last, and most important... Tom and floyd, I wish you both a sincere and enthusiastic...



...may you enjoy many, many more as you both march forth into the years to come! (Thanks for the 'march forth' pun, Tom, I'd never have stumbled onto it myself.)

Best wishes to everyone,
Noel

Sometimes the stars align perfectly in the sky over the Pier called Mallory Square. The right day, the right beer and the right group of friends. Magic happens.

For those stars to be the BIAB Forum superstars, B&J, Tom and Floyd and on their BIRTHDAY to boot ---

Nothing else could come of such a happening except the perfect song to commemorate it.

Excellent job and enjoyable song to listen to this morning.

Happy Birthday to you guys and thanks for sharing it with us in song....

Ember, Thanks for listening and for the birthday wishes, Tom Well hey there March Mama, sure am glad you were able to check in on this one. It was fun for all of us, Tom Peter, We are glad you liked it. Your opinion is highly valued, Tom

Scott, Thanks for stopping by and giving it a spin. The guitar track was that Brent Mason nylon real track, one of our favorites, Tom

Great collab y'all! And Happy Birthday!

Love the title, hook, mix, vocals, everything.

Just a great song. Love it!

Hey Robert, you can throw some ideas at Tom or floyd and, man, they're off and running. I was thrilled to be along for the ride.

Bud

SD, Thanks for the birthday wishes and thanks for dropping by, Tom I can see by your signature line you enjoy a good pun. Thanks for listening, Tom Herb, We're glad you liked it, Tom

A late Happy Birthday to both of you. Mine is coming up real soon - March 22. I'll be 71 - yikes!!!

Love when the birthday guys give us a gift, and such a great one! never been to Key West but it's on my bucket list! great job on this - lots of fun and some great entertainment.

Alan

@Sundance - thanks...

@Peter - thanks for all of that from all of us...

@Scott - thanks for having a listen...

@Samuel - appreciate the listen...

@Mikke - HA!

@Herb - save one for us!

@Richard - thanks fro the thumbs...

Great song, puts me on the beach laying back in chair!!!!

Thanks y’all. Janice enjoyed singing on the project and I had a blast writing with these guys. I learned a lot.

Bud

Thanks a lot, Tom Thanks David. We had a lot of fun with this one, TomShigeki Adachi, Thank you for the nice comments and the birthday wishes, Tom Thanks, We appreciate it, Tom

@David -

@Shigeki Adachi - we all say "Thanks!"

@RnAM - glad y'all stopped by...

@Kenny - good to see you!

@Noel - We ALL LOVE! to be compared to Cole Porter!!!!

Thanks Peter. I got lucky with this one. Nearly tossed the idea. These guys turned it into a real song!

J&B



Thanks Scott...yep, it has Buffett written all over it!

J&B

Thanks Kenny, Glad to hear from you, Tom Noel, Your reviews are always so informative and educational. We all are thankful for your kind words and your willingness to share your knowledge, Tom Charlie, Thank you so much for your extremely generous comments. We are very appreciative, Tom

David, Thanks. Glad you liked it, Tom Alan, Thanks for dropping by and giving it a spin, Tom

cliftond, Thanks for listening and commenting, Tom

All, great song! Very clever and wonderful production / delivery.

Enjoyed!

Bob

We all thank you Bob, Tom

Thanks y'all. We are proud to be a small part of this!

J&B

@Charlie - thanks for all the nice comments!

@David - glad you stopped by...

@Alan - There's no other place like Key West! Gotta go!

@cliftond - thanks!

@Bob - good to see ya!

Great lyrics!!! Love the song and congratulations to all!


Now where can I find that bar? I'd like to put about 190 pounds of pressure on that pier!

Great track. I really enoyed ot.

What a gem!!! Too bad Buffett doesn't do many covers.....this is PERFECT for him! Love the clever use of Pier Pressure. Everything in this song could not be done any better!!!

my Facebook friends with their latest trends
tend to bring me down
I don’t wanna text what happens next
my every mis-step making the rounds
If they want to give their opinion
i’ll tell them where to go
I won't post what i eat
try not to tweet
and pull my hat down low


AMEN!!!!!! Love it guys!! Happy Birthdays and MARCH FORTH!!!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Lawrence. You would like Key West if you've never been. It's one of the great American drinking towns, Tom Thanks SD, Tom Thank You Greg. We all value your opinion, Tom

@Lawrence - glad you stopped by...

@SD - thanks...

@Greg - we appreciate that...




Tom - A big THANKS for all your work on this - for carrying the heavy load!...

Bud - A huge THANKS for letting us join you on this...

Janice - You are the BEST!

Thanks!



Thanks Shigeki!





It was fun...thanks

J&B



That's very thoughtful of you Kenny. Nice to hear from you!

J&B

Noel, as always I read your response with great interest. I'm glad you like the pier/peer notion because with only a couple of other general ideas that's about all I (Bud) contributed. But I will revel in your wonderful comments anyhow

Thank you so much!

J&B

Charlie, thanks for your kind remarks and continued support. We consider it a privilege and a pleasure to work with these guys.

J&B



Thanks Greg. It was cool working with Tom and floyd - more like just being along a for a fun ride!

J&B

Tom, Floyd, J&B, Mr Buffet would certainly be proud to call this one his! Great work by all! To me it sounds that you have captured the vibe you were going for in this one! Thanks, Torrey

Sounds great to me. Nice collab.

SD

Thanks y'all -- these collaborators make me look like a writer...hahahahha!

Glad you liked it.

J&B

Nice play of words & a good job on the collaboration & production... really a cool song!