Not had nearly as much time here as I'd like recently, and this is my first song for over three months.
The 1990s was a strange decade for music, but that's about as close as I can get for this one.
This is a song about one of those situations where everyone except the person involved can see clearly.

It was all tracked-up in Powertracks and then moved to Realband for the Sax RT. There's extensive use
of my old hardware Syntovox vocoder on the vocals. It's a temperamental piece of kit and I'm always
surprised and relieved when it boots up and works. One of these days it won't and then I'm lost.

LIVING A LIE
Living a lie it's what you do
Living a lie it's changing you
Living a lie it's not the same
Make believe is not the way
So living a lie it's got to go
Living a lie you've got to know
Living a lie just take the blame
'Cos make believe is changing everything

It's time to shape up
It's time to wake up
And face the day
No time to make up
But time to break up
And walk away

As usual, I'm grateful to anyone who has the time to give it a listen.

Cheers, ROG.

ROG,

This is excellent.

One of the things I like about your songs is that you "make music" and not "just writing a song". There's a difference and we do not get enough of the "making music" around here...

A nice cohesive sound to this in all regards. Everything works together nicely. Great opening. Nice vocals. Nice playing throughout.

A good write. A lyin' song!

The sax solo is exceptional. Well put together - sounds like it was played for the track. One small nit - the final note should have drawn out and faded away...

A terrific listen. Very well done.

fj

Very nice melodic song, good lush arrangement and mix. Vocals and harmony sound excellent. There is Alan Parson feeling in chording and vocals so for me this is closer to early 80's.

Janne

This song reminded me of something but I couldn't quite place it. Also yes, the 1990s was a strange time for music. And you managed to capture that here in the best way possible!

Super song, ROG! You have a full production with everything exactly where and how it should be. The mix is spot on. I like the vocal buried a little bit in the mix with the fx applications you used. Great sax solo! Loved it - nothing but talent and more talent showing through on this. Kudos!

Alan

Yeah this is really great ROG.

You have captured the sound of that era perfectly.

I really enjoyed this.

ROG.. really enjoyed my listen!… I especially liked how you kept this song simple – avoiding endless verses, but used your “song economy” to repeat the main idea… I think it was very effective… The production was very professional, overall very high-quality… I really liked the vocal Doubling and the back up vocals.. Thanks for sharing!

I think floyd jane nailed it - this is the sort of thing I'd want to listen to multiple times, because it's good, catchy music, instead of just appreciating that it's technically a well-done song. (I'm thinking of my own stuff in contrast. )

Plus, you've got me watching videos on vocoders. (I actually coded a non-realtime vocoder last month).

Wow - I really enjoyed this! Definitely reminiscent of the early 90's - I really liked the use of those synths here, and the sax fit in perfectly too. It has a wonderfully quirky groove, and the harmonies on the chorus are smooth as butter.

You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing

It's been too long ROG! We need more ROG more often.

I had every thing cranked up and ready before we dropped the needle on this.

Wow!

This is one for which there is NO need to parse out for commenting...it is ALL over the top good.

We like what floyd said "you make music" -- we get that.

Ultimately it begs to be played again. For us that says it all.

Kudos!

J&B

ROG,

This is SUPER!
Probably the most professional track we've heard in a long time here on the forum.
Yeah definitely Alan Parsons vibe.

ROG,

This is first class!!! You ALWAYS deliver the goods. It never ceases to amaze me just how easy you make it seem when you put tracks of your own performing together and produce such an excellent 'band' sound. The shine of your talent never seems to fade.

All the best,
Noel

Hi Floyd,

Many thanks for the review. I take your point about that saxophone note - it would have been nice, but I had problems getting him to play it so it sounded right.
The RTs are are fabulous, but sometimes I miss just being able to say:
"Just give me a sustained note on a ...."
Cheers, ROG.

Hi Janne,
Thanks for the nice comments. I've been a fan of Alan Parsons for a long time and I'm flattered
by the comparison. I was aiming for the 90s, but you could be right!
Cheers, ROG.

Hi Ember,
Many thanks for looking in. I'm always pleased to get a review from "the staff" and glad you liked it.
Cheers, ROG.

ROG,

This is tremendous! I love the arrangement and mix - some very cool vocals as well.

Excellent!

Bob

Great vibe ROG!!! Love that fat synth sound, and vocals sound great! I think I like this better than almost anything I heard in the 90's!! Love that snare sound, and sax solo worked great. Cool stuff!! Take care. Greg

I've always been a sucker for hook that is both sung and played on an instrument. This has so many reminders of great influences for me. Great job all the way around.

This is really a commercially sounding tune and the era is spot on. I can hear your work ethic in this. Nicely done .Rob

Man! This is fabulous, Rog! Love the song and the performance. Great hook, very catchy!

Everything about this sounds totally pro, enjoyed!

Wow this is great! Everything about it is so spot on. I love harmony - those harmonies are pure silk.

Rog

Wonderful in all aspects and some really well deserved praise.

For what it's worth regarding floyd's comment I've been able to get the RT artists to play a long note or change a few things by using Melodyne - good for that long last note. Assume any pitch altering program would work.

Peter

Cool intro Roger. Super vocal and harmonies. Excellent guitar work. Back track was excellent as well....

Hi Alan,

Always pleased to get a review from you, my friend!
So glad you liked this one - you're very kind with your comments.

Hope you're keeping well,

ROG.

Hi David.
Many thanks for the review - always value your opinion.
The 90s is a decade which can be hard to categorise, so I'm pleased you thought it worked.
Cheers,

ROG.

Hi Tano,
Very pleased to see you review one of my efforts, many thanks.
A lot of my songs have minimal lyrics - it's nice that you found it effective, some might
just think I was being lazy!
Cheers, ROG.

Hi, ROG !:))


I think this is one
of your absolute best !
I liked everything on
this one, singing, playing
mixing and naturally the
tune itself !

Cheers
Dani

Hey ROG,

Back for another listen. Janice mentioned Jeff Lynne....yeah!

Great rocker!

Bud

Nice one !!
This was the eighties for me.

Good stuff.

Do you not mention what style from bb etc ?.

Hi David,
Many thanks for the review and the link to the vocoder video.
A lot of people think vocoders are just the "talking synth" sound, but when you get
deeper into them there's so much they can do. One of these days, my old Syntovox
will break down and be beyond repair, so at that time I'll be looking for a good
software vocoder. In other words, keep coding!
Cheers, ROG.

Hi Deryk,
Many thanks for the review.
The 80s and 90s were a great time for synths and I do enjoy going back there musically
from time to time. Thanks too for the kind comments about the harmonies - it makes the
time spent on them worthwhile.
Cheers, ROG.

Hi there J&B,
Unfortunately life has been so busy recently that I've not had nearly enough time
here on the forum. Hopefully you'll see more of me over the rest of the summer.
So pleased that you liked the track and many thanks for all the nice things
you said.
Cheers, ROG.

Hi Rob & Anne-Marie,
Always pleased to get your opinion on my songs.
I really love the stuff you post and because you're SO professional
yourselves, your comments are valued that much more.
Cheers, ROG.

Noel, my friend, that's very kind of you!
So pleased you liked it and many thanks for the review.
Cheers, ROG.

Hi Bob,
Many thanks for looking in on this one and for the kind review.
Cheers, ROG.

Hi Greg,
Many thanks! It means a lot to get praise from someone who's work I admire.
Just pleased you liked it.
Cheers,
ROG.

Hi,
Many thanks for the review and positive comments.
Much appreciated.
Cheers,
ROG.

Hi Rob,
Commercial is a great complement, many thanks for that and for the review.
Cheers,
ROG.

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the listen and nice comments.
Cheers, ROG.

I'm late to this party and everything I wanted to say has been said but I think RnAM summed it up very nicely.

Super song.

Hi Josie,
Many thanks for the review and especially the nice comments about the harmonies - it takes
a lot of tracking up, but feedback makes it worthwhile.
Cheers,
ROG

Hi Peter,
Thanks for looking in and the positive review.
Good idea about the sax note - I'll give it a try next time.
Cheers,
ROG

Hi Scott,
Many thanks for the review. I particularly appreciate the comments about the guitar from
someone who's guitar playing I admire.
Cheers,
ROG

Hi Dani,
Always pleased to get your comments and really pleased that you liked it.
Cheers,
ROG.

Hi there Beatmaster,
Yes, it could just as easily be 80s.
I tend not to use BiaB styles as such. I usually work in RealBand and just pick and mix RealTracks
to supplement what I play myself. It's like working in a studio, but having a room full of
top session players waiting next door.
Many thanks for looking in.
Cheers, ROG.

Hi Mario,
Many thanks for that. I always respect and value your opinion.
Cheers,
ROG.