Hi All

I am busy taking part in 50 90. Last year during 50 90 I only managed a handful of songs and didn't like anything I wrote. This year I seem to be on a roll and have already done five awesome collabs.

I am really enjoying putting music to the lyrics posted by others and Band-in-a-Box is the most awesome tool for this. I will post a selected song or two. The rest are all on my SoundCloud page for anybody is interested.

Here is a collaboration with a lyric writer called Ron Roker who found me via my website and sent me some lyrics.

I DROWN ON SOUNDCLOUD



Tracks:
RealTracks in style: 1592:Bass, Electric, Pop16ths Ev 065
RealTracks in style: 1602:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16 Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 1596:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths Ev16 065
RealTracks in style: 1601:Mandolin, Rhythm Pop16Melodic Ev 065
RealDrums in style: NashvilleEven16^5-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride
RT1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RT1593:Fiddle, Background Pop16ths Ev 065

Lyrics:
Verse 1
Lying here upon my bed
Dreams of you are in my head
As I remember how we used to be
I still can see you sleeping there
A boy at peace without a care
Loving lips that kissed so tenderly
Bridge
I wake
And wait to hear you breathe
But dreams
Are only make believe
Chorus
So I drown
Drown in all my tears
Drown in all my sorrow
For all the lonely years
Yes I drown
I sink just like a stone
A fool who went and threw away
The greatest love he’d ever known
I drown

Verse 2
Photographs are memories
Now all that’s left of you and me
Are frozen moments caught - inside each frame
The holiday with all our friends
We never wanted it to end
Wish i had those moments once again
Bridge 2
I look
Then i put the book away
I know
The bitter price I’ll pay is

Chorus 2
I drown
Drown in all my tears
Drown in all my sorrow
For all those wasted years
Yes I drown
Sink just like a stone
A fool who let love get away
And lost the greatest love
He’d ever known
I drown
when i look around this lonely room
My world keeps coming down
And i drown
I drown
For all the things that might have been…
Youre not around
And I drown
Yes I drown
The fool who went and threw away
The greatest love he’d ever known
I drown-I drown

Nice one, you always do well on your songs.

Vocals are spot on, although I would like if the music was up and balanced more so it feels the instruments are all around you.

hi joanne well done really like this everything is spot on eric

Well done all around - vocal, arrangement, etc. The transitions from guitar to mandolin to cello are very effective.

Nice shift to the minor chord at 2:22 in the chorus.

Really nice.

Joanne,

Very good - sweet melody that sets of the lyrics` sadness.
I also like that shift in the chorus. Vocals are crystal clear.
Reminded me of the kind of ache Emmylou Harris puts into her ballads.

Robert

I like it. Stay on that roll.

Such clean and clear vocal and harmony!!!! beautiful song.

What a tune! Your vocals absolutely soar. Your performance is gigantic and attention grabbing, and the emotion behind it is stunning and sincere. There's some great lyrics here to that are very relatable. That aside, it's wonderfully catchy as well. That chorus is spot on.

Not a thing I'd change on this one - thanks so much for sharing

Your production skills have come a very long way. Very solid. A really nice arrangement - subtle instrument entrances that work well - everything at the right time and the right place. Very good mix.

I like the vocal processing, too.

A good listen. Well done.

fj

Great work on this Joanne Cooper! Wonderful lyrics and very easy on the ears. The Mandolin is very nice in the background. Great use of EFX and vocal harmonies too. Well done!

Joanne

A very nice composition. Very nice harmonies and an excellent choice of instruments.
Lovely mix as well.

Peter

As usual your vocal is top notch and your backing tracks and mix are second to none. This really sounds pro! But of course you are a pro.

This is one of your best.

Hi Joanne,

What a wonderful listen! Your vocals are always so terrific. I particularly love the tone of your voice on this one. Great lyric he sent you. I like the simplicity of the backing tracks and the smooth transitions. Everything is where it should be and it all sparkles.

Alan

Joanne,
Stunning melody & vocal performance as expected.
Tidy arrangement & the cello is subtly placed.
Cool.

Well done in all aspects! May the muse stay with you...

J&B .

Hi Beatmaster, Eric, David, Robert, Herb, Clifton, Deryk, Floyd, Joe, PeterF, Mario, Al, Ray and Janice and Bud.

Thank you all for taking the time to listen and comment on the song. I really appreciate it. I am indeed hoping to keep going for 50 90 and write at least a dozen new songs over the course of the 90 days.

For anybody who is interested I did a full blog post on exactly how I went about producing these vocals. It is on my website.

You've a cool website & blog ma'm.
I enjoyed reading through your vocal processing tutorial.
The results you achieve with your own vocals are stellar.

Yes, I too was very impressed at how well this put together...brings the lovely song across perfectly!! Vocal is wonderful as well!! Take care. Greg

I saw the blog - very cool! It got me thinking about some additional tips:

• Sing background vocals as background vocals. They support the main vocal, but they're not the lead. Plus, the more bland the vocal, the less artifacts you'll get if you pitch shift them.
• Avoid the temptation of simply pitch-shift the lead vocal to get the background vocals. Having voices not exactly in sync will give a fuller sound.
• Group the background vocals onto the same buss on your DAW, so effects are applied to all of them equally.
• Highpass the background so you don't get a buildup of mud. You're probably already cutting it at 100-200Hz, but the background vocals can often take a higher cut.
• On the top end, lowpass the background vocals so the lead shines through on the high end.
• Similar to the prior tip, EQ the background vocals in the opposite direction of the lead vocal. Got frequencies you boost the lead vocal to give it clarity? Cut the background vocals at those frequencies.

This song was really nice. Super vocal. Very cool backtrack. Love your chord changes and the supporting instruments were perfect.

Greg and Scott. I am glad you enjoyed it.
David and Ray. Glad you looked up and enjoyed the blog post. David those are great tips! Do you mind if I add them as a comment to my blog post?

They're yours to do as you see fit.

Full disclosure: I obviously didn't come up with any of these tips myself - I'm not that clever!