SMOKE AND MIRRORS

i ain't saying you're a liar
but you ain't on the up and up
always preaching to your choir
only fillin' your own cup
seems there's nothing you can't taint
a fact is a fact until it ain't
   
   twisted logic
   twisted reason
   twisted words
   twisted lies
   fairy tales and fables
   your favorite alibis
   hiding you intentions
   only makes 'em clearer
   it's what you're made of
   smoke and mirrors

so you tell us one more time
how truly great you are
the perfect picture of sublime
hero, god, superstar
you've done it all, you've told us so
over and over making certain that we know
   
   twisted logic
   twisted reason
   twisted words
   twisted lies
   fairy tales and fables
   your favorite alibis
   hiding your intentions
   only makes 'em clearer
   it's what you're made of
   smoke and mirrors



The BAND:

RealTracks in song: 1418:Bass, Electric, SouthernRock Ev16 085
RealTracks in song: 380:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Syncopated Sugar Ev 102
RealTracks in song: 836:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AltCountryRootsy Ev 075 (A:muted)
RealTracks in song: 2690 Guitar, Electric, Soloist Slow16thsPopBrentSimple Ev16 075
RealTracks in song: 2203:Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopPromiseBrent Ev16 100
RealTracks in song: 623:Banjo, Background Backporch Ev 098
RealTracks in song: 3020 Vocal Aahs, Background Pop3-part Ev 085
RealDrums in Song: ModernPopBallad16ths^01-a:Quiet hat, Sync-kick, b:Open hat, Sync-kick

Harmonies: Janice Merritt (Thanks to you both!!)


Comments welcomed and encouraged.
Have at it.

floyd

Floyd,

A really excellent song... Love your vocal and the harmonies by Janice. Great arrangement and mix as well. Some high production values here!

Loved it.

Bob

Great production again. Vocal and harmonies are spot on ,another great write.well done to you all

I agree 100%.

This is another winner from Floyd and Janice!

Floyd

That was a song I would swear I've heard before, because its catchy and commercial and just so easy going and simple.


I'm singing the chorus as I type.

Cool song. Sounds great!!!

Floyd,

All the hallmarks of a Floyd rocker are there- sharp, honed lyrics, feeling and prescence in the vocals, a punchy chorus and nothing out of place in the production.
So darn good.
I should add I enjoyed thinking about who I pictured as the song`s villain... could be wrong, but if I`m right, someone call Stephen Colbert and get Floyd on the show!

Robert

Another great one from the master king.

Yeah, I love this!

Vocal and harmonies are spot on.

Great job on the write and I really like the chorus, very strong.

Production as always is top notch, man, those drums! Such a great sound.

Enjoyed the listen, floyd!

Hi Floyd,

A fabulous track and for me, it has to be my favourite so far.

A wonderful production with so much going on, yet all still coherent and everything
in it's own space. Excellent stereo both on the mains and the 'phones. Loved the whole
thing, but especially the sound of the bass and the kick drum, which REALLY kicked.

Great lyrics, melody, harmony and super performance from both you and Janice.

All this and a guitar solo too! I'd like to think you put that in just for me, but
I have to be realistic....

Not been here as much as I'd like recently, but happy to have caught this one.

Cheers, ROG.

What? What?! WHAT?!? Who wrote this? Did you hire a ghost writer? Floyd, you are a MASTER of story telling in a song. That's your lane. Stick to it. You are NOT allowed to venture over to the "non-specific listener fill in their own story" lyric and dominate that too! No! No! No! Go back to what you were great at before you were great at this please. I'm not sure how you got in here, but...security!

Seriously, I am beyond impressed. I love everything about this song.

The lyrics are fantastic...


the production is fantastic...
You had me at the drums and never lost me. Everything is clear and represented so well.


The performance is fantastic...
Anyone with ears and a heart can tell that!

The arrangement is fantastic...
Love the structure and how parts move in and out as they should. A sprinkle of guitar between vocal phrasing to keep in interest, the backing vocals at chorus two forward for heightening was OMG! I'll stop but...just...wow!

Melodically, THAT sir, was CATCHY!

I noticed people only bring Janice in when they have a song good enough to be awesome. Or is it when people bring Janice in, the song is now awesome? OH! That's what it is! (secret to a great song there.)

You may want to consider a name change. Drop the "e" in "Jane" and just add "ice."

**Edit**

Oh yeah, if this song is about me, then forget everything I said. Actually, I wouldn't be able to deny that it would still be my favorite song I've heard on the forum so far.

Thank you for making this song!

Floyd,

I swear to God I have heard this before. Maybe it was in a conversation or something, but I KNOW I have heard these words before.

Strangely enough, I think I know WHO it is about.

I called Carly and she swore it wasn't about Mick, so now I think I know for sure. But I ain't saying.



Great song man!!

Oh now I remember who it was about. Caaron, we need to talk man. I want you to be sitting down and take a deep breath first though.

Kidding!!!!!!

Appreciate that, Bob - and thanks for your continued support...





Thanks for having a listen, John...

Boy this song has such a cool feel to it. Lyrics were just excellent. You tell such a great story with you lyrics. Super vocal and harmonies were so well done. I just loved the guitar on it. Just growled on the low register and the highs have such a cool bite to them.

As a self-proclaimed songwriter/lyricist, I'm supposed to be able to come up with new, catchy ways to say something. But ya know what, Floyd? I agree with all that has been said. The only words that comes to mind I've not yet seen is ... WOW!

It's a great song, production and delivery in every sense of the word. Who says only Nashville can produce top-quality country music suitable for the massive audience of the genre? Some of those Nashville suits might want to have their guys take a listen to this - they might get a real good lesson on lyric writing, production technique,arrangement and delivery. That's all I have to say about this gem.

Alan

Hello, floyd

Excellent song!
Very catchy and melodically,.
Really love your vocal and the harmonies by Janice.
The chord progressions repeated one after the other with descent and ascend of the bass line many times are very powerful.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

floyd

Loved it!
Brilliant song writing - great concise lyric and a really catchy hook.
Janice & you always sound wonderful together and this is no exception.
Superb production & excellent all round.

Peter

Thanks, Mario.




beatmaster - what more could a songwriter/producer want to hear???... Thanks!

Thanks, Josie.




Appreciate all that, Robert. Let me know if you run into Stephen Colbert!!!

Holy Cow! First class all the way!

Fun listen, solidly done all around. Loved the banjo poking through near the end.

The only nit is "what you're made of"... Hey, I had to look for something!

It's a good reminder that it I looked hard enough, I could find everything I needed to build my track in BiaB.

Except for Janice, of course!

Floyd,

Boy, I really like this tune. The repetition of “twisted’ in the chorus really gives this tune a hook—magnetic. But the lyrics just work throughout the song and it’s what, for me, makes this song work in all the right ways. Killer guitar solo, BTW. Add to it the great production—you have a terrific song here. Bravo!

All the best,

Deej

Steve - thanks, again, for stopping in...always good to hear from you...

floyd,
Sent Leon a link and he said:

"Tell Floyd great job from me"

Peter (it's the best I can do....)

Thanks, Dave...really appreciate that...

thanks, ROG. I always look forward to hear what you might have to say about how things sound through the mains... and, yes! I do think about you every time I mix a solo... What Will ROG Think??

I really love the chorus. It's so punchy and really sticks with you. I can definitely relate to this song right now. Thank you for sharing this song with us all. Also just wanted to say that the lyrics of this song are really lovely and perfect.

Hi, Floyd and Janice !:))


You´ve just produced my
new Floydfav !
Ubelievable wonderful
and such a superb collab
too !

Congrats to both of you !

Cheers
Dani

I'm not sure "Thank you" suffices for such a wonderful review... you definitely made my day! (and I'm sure Janice would say "thanks", too.. she is a treasure...)

Tight as all get- out! Floyd and Janice, this is really, really nice work... in every aspect. Kudos!

Yes... it's a song about Carly Simon...

Scott - thanks for your continued support...appreciate it...

Hi Floyd and Janice,

This has a slightly more rock feel, than some of your previous recordings.
Very cool chord progression and craftsmanship as usual.

Rob and Anne-Marie

Alan - thanks for that nice review!

Hey y’all! Thanks for mentioning the harmony. When floyd invites me in I always know it’s going to be music fun!

Janice

A great write, performance and production. You really have the drums popping on this one. You and Janice are developing an almost signature sound and there's a tightness that can't be overlooked. Enjoyed this one a lot.

I really appreciate y'all mentioning the harmony!

Janice

Shigeki Adachi - Thanks for listening to another! And for the nice review...

Thanks, Peter...can't ask for better comments than that!...

Thanks for commenting on the harmony!

Janice

Paul - I certainly appreciate that. Thanks for stopping in for a listen...

TOP TOP TOP NOTCH!!! As a bunch of songwriters, all of us know how difficult it is to find rhymes which are not overused or lines that are fresh and really convey the message. Floyd does it all the time, and beautifully so here. This is so sharply written and so well produced. The repeated use of "twisted" makes the hook even hookier. Great melody, great write, great production, and great use of "the band"! Another home run Floyd!!! Take care. Greg

Thanks, David. I corrected my spelling error. I don't know about "looking hard" - but there is so much to choose from, you seldom need to look elsewhere - and looking is half the fun. (Oooh! Song title! Don't steal that one...).

It is surprising there isn't a Janice RT yet...




Deej - thanks for the nice review...




Peter - thanks for relaying the message! Nice to hear form Leon!

Ember - Thanks for having a listen to this one....




Thanks, Dani - we appreciate it..

Eric - thanks for stopping by for a listen...




Thanks to you both...

Floyd, this is as well written and performed as anything I have heard from you. The mix on this is as good as it gets! You have raised the bar once again!

Steve

Thanks y’all. I know it’s gonna be fun when floyd invites me to Sing!

Thanks for the nice review, Charlie. I love singing with Janice - we've been at it for at least 5 years now... one of the great advantages of this forum...

Fabulous job, Floyd. There's only one thing wrong with this song, and I do mean only one. I didn't write it. Waaaaaa!

A great song in every way, the vocals, lead and harmony are so clear and consistent, the music is just amazing, and the lyrics define the emotion so well. Great song Floyd and Janice!!!!

Hi floyd. This is excellent. That is quite a list of realtracks. Wonderful production all round.

Excellent songwriting & vocal performance.
The arrangement, production and mix, (that wonderful kick that kicks), mark you out as a classic.

Greg - thanks for that very nice comment. Could not ask for any more than that!!





Steve - I really appreciate all of that... Thanks!






Thanks, Gary...

Thanks, Cliff, for that very nice review...




Joanne - thanks for stopping in...




ray - thanks for having a listen....

Thanks for mentioning my part. I always look forward to singing with floyd!

Janice

floyd,

I might late to the party with this one but WOW! that has done nothing to diminish just how impressed I am with what I've just heard (a few times, in fact).

As you know, your writing has been inspirational to me in so, so many ways over the years. This chorus is a fantastic example of creating a list chorus. It's not a skill I have but I think with a little of my own modelling based on how you've done it here, I might, at last, be able to create one.

These lyrics flow so incredibly well, too. As I was reading them out loud, I marvelled at how you managed to join the words together so seamlessly while maintaining an easy conversational lyric flow.

I really enjoyed this a great deal. You and Janice sound really awesome singing together!

All the best,
Noel

I really love the feel and flow of this one Floyd! Especially partial to the texture change in the chorus!

What can i say that others haven't?

Polished to perfection.
Excellent writing!
Fantastic vocals.

Mixed just right.

And..............a timely message.

Well done!

moto

Great job on that one, Floyd. To tell the truth they're all top quality...


Kajun Jeaux

______________________________
My Reverbnation songs: https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/louisianasblackwaterstudio

Hi floyd jane,

Composition always so well done. All the ingredients for pleasing are present. I appreciated.

Kindly regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash