Hello forum friends. I have been very delinquent lately. The only thing I love more than music (my family) has kept me very busy. I have been cook, chauffeur, tutor, coach, and about everything else you can think of with my kids' increasingly crazy busy lives. This is a song which was conceived in Hanalei Bay in the North shore of Kauai about 18 months ago. It is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. I was wading in chest deep blue waters, looking at the skyline of emerald green and waterfalls, and this melody popped into my head. The title just seemed to fit, and I wrote an extended metaphor. You'd think I'd have learned to not write myself into a corner with LIFE for a rhyme but I did my best to work my way out with as little rhymitis as possible. I just finished a marathon on the forum trying to catch up with most of what I've missed (tons of great stuff there) before I posted this. I'd love to hear what you think. Will post lyrics soon. Take care all. Greg


https://soundcloud.com/gjohnson-2/sea-of-life

Greg,

It's so good to hear you again. This song has such a beautiful and peaceful vibe - captures the mood perfectly.

Great vocal and production - loved the tracks selection.

Bob

Very serene tune with great back story. Quality write. Rob

Beautiful song Greg! I loved everything about it. I think it's one of your best - lyrics, arrangement and vocals. I was totally immersed. And those harmonies are so downright dazzling Brian Wilson comes to mind.
What a great soft rock sound!

Greg, we just listened through a couple of times and it would be hard to add to what Josie said.

This is easily one of the top rock ballads that has been posted on the forum.

It's lush and full sounding yet, somewhat counterintuitively, it still maintains an airy feel.

The vocals are outstanding and along with the "band" so well support the well written lyric.

Kudos and we much enjoyed the spins!

J&B

It's always fun when the kids keep you busy! I was always a pretty low maintenance kid and walked myself everywhere. But that's beside the point -- the point here is your music! And it's lovely. It has such a lovely, soothing feeling to it. Almost like a lullaby? It really relaxes you. Thanks for sharing.

Greg,

This is one of the most beautiful things I have heard in a while.

Just flat-out gorgeous.

I really admire your productions and arrangements so much.

This is breathtaking.

Could you supply the tracks etc?

Echo all of the above. Just beautiful. There’s a lot of music I hear in this forum where I’m listening and thinking “gosh I wish I could do that.” This song is that in spades.

Hi Greg,

Simply beautiful.

The backing track stands as great in it's own right, but with your fabulously smooth
vocal added it takes it to a new high.

Like Josie, I was thinking Brian Wilson - not just the harmonies, but also the production.

There has to be a movie somewhere that needs this song.

Cheers, ROG.

Man, those vocals! And the harmonies .... excellent!

Track sounds great too, nice arrangement and mix.

Really good, Greg, enjoyed the listen!

Greg,

Stunning. In all regards.

A gorgeous write.

A wonderful, cohesive production. Smooth. One of your best! Excellent mix.

Beautiful vocal!

Top shelf all the way.

fj

What an awesome song Greg. Vocal was so beautiful. Backtrack was so relaxing. Loved it

Magical!!!

You have captured exactly what you set out to do. I can see the waves, smell the salt air and feel the sand beneath my feet.

The percussion and your use of delay on the vocals is inspired!

Music does not get any better than this for sure!


(edit) ps. I was sitting at my desk weary and fatigued and then I heard this. Thank you for lift.

Wow! Greg, This is among if not your best work. The delay on the vocals and the reverb on the lead guitar fills is exceptionally well done. The arrangement with the synth parts is inspired and the production is gorgeous. Your vocals are some of the best ever posted here. There is nothing here that could be better. Pro quality write and performance, Tom

Wow, I knew this was going to be great from the first note.

Your songwriting skills continue to epitomize excellent song writing.

Another fantastic contribution.

This is a beautiful tune, Greg The lyrics themselves have an ethereal vibe to them, definitely. That aside though I can't get over how dreamy and cloud-like the music here is. The music almost wraps around you like a blanket of comfort. It is so cozy and tranquil.

You seriously outdid yourself. Great, great work - and of course, thanks for sharing

beautiful song, so well developed, perfect timing and feel. put me on the seashore.

Greg,
Hypnotic and serene. Some of the loveliest harmony vocals I`ve heard here or anywhere.The whole production is top level.
Hanalei Bay is gorgeous - thank you for taking me back there!

Robert

Hello, Greg

Really, really comfortable vocals and harmonies!
The feeling being shaken by the waves is expressed so well.
The melody and the chord progression are very nice.
The way to attach echoes to the vocals is wonderful.
Strings sounded slightly in the background are also fashionable.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hi Greg, I enjoyed this! Very easy to listen to and great effects with the vocals too. The guitar noodling around 2:26 is a great bridge section. Well done!

Greg

Lovely - stunning vocal - magical backing vocals, really gorgeous song.
Excellent work.

Peter

Thanks so much Bob! Love your latest! Take care. Greg

Thanks Rob! I appreciate the listen and the kind words. Your new one is great! Take care. Greg

THanks so much Sundance! Good to see you around these parts more often!! Take care. Greg

This Is coming through really nice and well sung and recorded.

Love the haunting backing vocals.

Now cmon how do you do those backing vocals like the bee gees did in a lot of the ballads.

Top.

Greg, I think this is one of if not your best song yet! Everything about this one is top notch. What a beautiful vocal you have here. The lyrics are outstanding also as are the backing tracks.

This is a keeper.

Greg,

Welcome back to forum. This song was wircertainly worth waiting for. Gorgeous.

SD

Outstanding Greg! This song is such a pleasure to listen to! You have done a marvelous job on this and your vocal work could not be any better! You always produce great work and I appreciate it! Thanks, Torrey

Hi Greg,

Most delightful and has a lyrical nautical vibe.
Magnificent vocal.

Cheers.

Thanks so much J and B! High praise from you is very much valued. You guys continue to do great stuff!! Take care. Greg

Thanks so much Ember!! I love hearing from the PG music people. Thanks for listening and commenting. Take care. Greg

Thanks David. I really appreciate your very kind words! You have been putting out a huge volume of top shelf material!! The RTs are 2448 (Brent Mason Dreamy-I thought about listing him as a collaborator since that track really captured the vibe for the song), 1814 (Celtic Air-finger picking), and 405 (Acoustic strumming). I just put a little groove together with EasyDrummer Latin percussion set and let it run throughout (a la Don Henley in end of the Innocence), and the Fretless bass is from Sampletank 3. Thanks again! Take care. Greg

Thanks so much kybordr!! A great compliment indeed! I guess we're nearly neighbors. Great to see you around the forum. Take care. Greg

Thanks so much ROG for those extremely kind words! I'd love to get a song in a movie... my dream. Always love to hear your stuff... such high level production! Take care. Greg

This is really beautiful song, catching perfectly the atmosphere of deep blue waters. All instruments blend superbly together to give feelings of waves, without using sound effects Vocals, including the backing voices sound like a wind on the seashore, fantastic! And lyrics are very uplifting. I can really sink into this relaxing landscape.

Janne

Thanks so much Dave! Always enjoy your outstanding blues!! Take care. Greg

Thanks so much for those extremely kind words Floyd! You know that they mean so much to me. Love Praying for Rain!! Take care. Greg

Back for another listen to this beautiful song!!!, So well done, so radio ready.

Dang, I thought I'd already posted a rave review about this song.

I must have drifted off to some happy place while listening and dreamed that.

Soooooo nice.

Thanks Scott! Pleasure to work with you and Robert on Wonderland!! Take care. Greg

Such nice words Lawrence! The use of the word "magical" by you is great praise because you do so much musical magic yourself!! Take care. Greg

hi greg wow its all been said totally engaging +10 eric

Thanks so much Tom for those extremely kind words. Much appreciated!! Loved your new one with Bud...Fantastic!! Take care. Greg

Thanks so much Trevor! I appreciate your consistent support. Another new one from you one of these days? The last one I remember was great! Take care. Greg

Thanks Deryk! I love hearing from the staff there. A lot of the magic of the song was from Brent Mason. He is AMAZING!!! Take care. Greg

Thanks Clifton! I have enjoyed your songs lately...very, very good!! Take care. Greg

Greg,

As I said on Soundcloud, this is mesmerising.

I sat here, headphones on, closed eyes and just let the music carry me along like I was a sailboat carried across the ocean by a gentle summer breeze. Your song, your singing and your arrangement and production lulled me into a wonderful state of relaxation.

This song ticks all the boxes. I thoroughly enjoyed my listen.

All the best,
Noel

Hi, Greg !


Wonderful tune and performance !
You sound like the Beach Boys
in their experimenting years -
absolutely wonderful !

I really don´t have words
for this masterpiece !

Cheers
Dani

Very cool tune Greg. Very nicely done and produced.

Seeing as how there's what, 4 verses? and no choruses to speak of (or 4 chos and no vs), I'd suggest dropping out an instrument or 2 in the next to last verse to give interest. Like maybe the drums? Without the drums for a bit, It might even become more dreamy.

Loved the lyric too.

Peace,

Ian