Hi, all:

Here's something somewhat new. Actually, a first for me in that this is entirely a BIAB production with me not playing a single instrument. I'm trying to not feel guilty about that. Anyway, hope it's worth the listen, and, as always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.

Prayer to the World

We keep moving sideways
down all these highways
searching for someplace to be.
Through all our travels
we’ve been scarred by our battles—
maybe it’s time we made our peace.

We’ve gotta open our arms
to the light of the living
or let what’s dying die.
Don’t be alarmed by
by our doubts and our misgivings—
it’s so easy, love, to never try.

We’ve gotta set our sights
on the light shining over
all these mad things we do.
You say you’ve got your demons,
well, I’ve got demons too—

Say a prayer to the world
there’s a chance for forgiveness;
a prayer to the world,
there’s some light still within us;
a prayer to the world,
there’s still hope of love for me and you.

We drove through the tension,
while every sense of connection,
just scattered like leaves in the wind.
We found comfort in strangers
well aware of the danger
of losing ourselves in the end.

We’ve got to open our eyes
to the price of commitment
and make a choice to choose.
Don’t be surprised by the
strength of our resistance to it—
it’s harder, love, to win than lose.

We oughta to set our sights
on the light shining over
all these mad things we do.
You say you’ve got your reasons,
well, I’ve got reasons too—

Say a prayer to the world
there’s a chance for forgiveness,
a prayer to the world,
there’s some light still within us,
a prayer to the world,
there’s still hope of love for me and you.

Let’s walk on out
from this weight on our shoulders.
Let’s figure out
how a good love can bloom.

We’ve got to set our sights
on the light shining over
all these mad things we do.
You say you’ve got your demons,
well, I’ve got demons too—

Say a prayer to the world
there’s a chance for forgiveness,
a prayer to the world,
there’s some light still within us,
a prayer to the world,
there’s still hope of love for me and you.

(c)2018 DJ Lekich

BIAB Tracks:

Drums: NashvilleSwing 16’4—Hihat, Snare
Bass: Real 2915, Electric CountryPop Byron 12-key EV 085
Bass with Drum: Real 366, Electric, Country EV 065
Guitar: Real 625, Acoustic, Strumming Rascal Sw 075
Piano: Real 2825, Acoustic, Rhythm, Country Pop Mike 12-key EV 085
Pedal Steel: Real 2883, Background Country Eddy 12-key EV 085
Fiddle: Real 624, Soloist George Ev 085

DJ,

First, I feel there's no guilt required or expected for going all in with the BIAB tracks for all the background tracks. I've been a lead guitarist for over 50 years and I often use all
BIAB tracks, for a number of reasons. By all means, few, if any, on these forums will fault you for doing so. We just like to hear good music, like this, via BIAB tracks to whatever extent.

Great song! Your voice is passionate and carries the load quite nicely. You might, perhaps, consider taking a little high EQ off the vocal if you get a chance - just a touch.

The backing tracks worked real nicely. Good job with all that. Enjoyed your song a lot. Wishing you the very best.

Alan

Hello, Deej

Great song! Very nice and catchy melody!
Your vocal has a great passion.
I think your voice pulls listeners into emotional whirlpools.
As Alan says, I also think that you do not need to feel any guilty about not playing instruments.
I am also using only BIAB (sometimes with some vst instruments) to produce my songs.
Although I play the piano and the guitar a little bit, it is because my skills do not reach the level that can endure the recording very much.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

DJ,

Wow!

That was such a wonderful, wonderful journey in music. I love the chords you've chose, the lyrics are outstanding, and your singing resonates with power and passion and purpose.

As Alan and Shigeki Adachi have said, don't be hard on yourself regarding BIAB instrumentalists. It's been years since I last added anything live to my recordings (apart from vocals). The musicians that PG Music assemble are top notch and way more capable than I am these days.

Like Shigeki Adachi, when I want to add my own music performance I usually do that via MIDI and VST instruments. Even then I use either notation or piano roll editor.

All the best,
Noel

Oh my goodness. This is absolutely extraordinary, and I promise you I don't use words lightly. Everything about it ... the writing, the singing (you have that special something in your voice which communicates to other people - not many have that) and the lyrics!!! Thank you so much for sharing this - THIS is the way I'd like to write (and what I'd like to say through my writings) if I ever could write like this.

P.S. had tears in my eyes when listening.

Amazing progression, great singing, A lot of feelings. Great.

This is a really good song. Super vocal. Excellent backtrack. Cool thing about using BIAB and you can mix and match real tracks with your own instruments. If you play multiple instruments and you have a great voice so lots of tools to make some incredible music..

Deej,

An excellent write. Terrific vocal - draws the listener in throughout.

The piano/steel opening is nice - great way to start the song.

Nice arrangement. Good mix.

Nice.

fj

As we often say that lyric and performance will "melt the paint right off of your heart."

Soul and passion. That's our ticket to songs of about any genre.

Strong production here too.

Nice!!!

J&B

Never heard that quote but it nails it!! This is so well done.....so well written, and the vocal is amazingly passionate! Love the arrangement.....just what the song needed. This is a gem!! Take care. Greg

Same here! Your vocal is outstanding. The backing tracks are perfect for this song. But it was your lyrics that took it over the top for me.

I do not think there is anything here to feel guilty about! You did a fantastic job with this song and should be proud, not feeling guilty. Awesome job! Loved what you did with the arrangement. Thanks for sharing!

This is a great song!!! I love this style, and the truth in lyrics you have written!!

Cliff

The powerful lyrics really carry this song. And the nice BIAB band and your heartfelt vocals really support the message wonderfully.

Janne

DJ,

This is a wonderful song!
Your vocals sound very special.
Good lyrics.

Rob and Anne-Marie

Al-David, animarorecords, Noel, musician17, EMG, Scott C, Floyd, J&B, Greg, Mario, Ember, cliftond, jannesan; and RnAM:

Thank you all for stopping in and giving this a listen--and for your kind comments and support. I'm glad you all enjoyed the listen. All the best to each of you!

Al-David, anicarorecords, Noel, Ember:

I was mostly kidding about feeling guilty. I’m really pleased with how this came out; it’s a piano song, and I don’t play piano. So there’s no way I could have put it together without relying solely on BIAB. And, sadly, I’m not much of a guitar player either. But that said, it feels a little weird to put something out there, wrongly or rightly, that I didn’t play on. No worries, though—I’ll get over it! And BIAB is truly amazing in that regard.

Noel: I don’t quite get what you mean by use of MIDI and VST instruments, our notation and piano roll editor. I’m just a newbie, so that terminology is way beyond me at this point. But I’ll keep it in mind as I play around more. Thanks.

J&B: Usually the only time my singing melts the paint right off is near midnight after a bottle of wine (and perhaps a bit more)—trust me, it’s not pretty! Thanks for the very kind comments and support.

Really well done DJ - no need to feel guilty! Band-in-a-Box is just another tool at your disposal, and you did a fantastic job with this one. I love your vocals here. They sound so raw and emotional - I really enjoyed them. Really nice and poetic lyrics too. It really helped the entire thing flow wonderfully.

Thanks for sharing

Excellent song, and your vocals are what really sells it.

The backing instruments seem low in the mix - the first time I heard the fiddle, I thought it was a second slide guitar until I went back and had another listen.

In my defense, I was paying attention to your vocal.

At 3:30, I was wondering what you'd do to make it worth the "extra" 90 seconds of the song. The answer was obviously the bridge and the kick drum. Yep, that paid off all right.

Hrm... no one else seems to have any issue with the mix, so take that with a grain of salt.

Again, excellent work.

Deej,

This is really awesome. When I first heard it playing, I was like OMG, Mick Jagger has a new solo about out!

It totally held up that way all the way through. A very strong, write with a strong personality to back it up.

Great production, great mix, great lyrics, great vocals, great performance.

Loved everything about it.

Great write, lyrics excellent as is the vocals, Nice tracks you choose.

What I am going to say now is constructive criticism, I heard in your voice in numerous occasions, that you could / should have went for a higher key.

You defo could have handled it, I have done this in the past myself, although the comments in the above posts, should give you the confidence for your next song and with that in mind ?.


I heard Chris Norman the lead singer for Smokie.

Deryk: I really appreciate your taking the time to give this a listen. Thanks for the kind feedback on the vocals—that, and the piano, were intended to carry the song—and I’m hoping it worked. Glad you enjoyed it.

All the best,

Deej

David C.

For what it’s worth, while no one here has mentioned it, I think you’re right that the mix could be a bit stronger. As a newbie, the mixing for me continues to be a challenge. The backing was too low at the start, and ultimately based on some feedback, I tried to focus more on featuring the piano and vocal, while mixing in the fiddle as the song progressed. It’s better than it was—and I’m OK with it as it stands.

But you have a good ear, and I likely still don’t have it right. One day —when (and if I ever) I grow up to be a Master BIAB guy!—I’ll give this one another try.

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback.

Best regards,

Deej

David,

Well, the Mick Jagger call out is a first for me. But, sure, why not? I’m gonna drop this one the mail and see—maybe he’ll want to cover it?

Thanks for giving this one a spin!

All the best,

Deej

Bestmaster,

Please don’t every be shy about giving me constructive criticism—I need all that I can get! And I appreciate your confidence in my voice. Not sure I could have gone higher on this—maybe—but that high note in the bridge might have been a challenge a half step up. I find while I have range, I lose tone the higher I go, and depth the lower I go—so I try to keep it in my comfort range. But, you’re right, I can push myself a bit.

I don’t think I’m familiar with Chris Norman or Smokie—but I’ll check him out. Does he sound like Mick Jagger?

Kindest regards,

Deej