https://soundcloud.com/andyshearer-1/stretched-to-the-limit-featuring-rhiannah-warm-vocal


Rhiannah is a singer from Bangor in Northern Ireland, and she contacted me over 5 years ago in response to my request for collaboration on this exact song that I had just written.
The lyrics are quite personal and mark a difficult period in my life, which made it difficult for me to sing the song myself, so I was happy to give someone else the opportunity to do it.
I was lucky enough to get three singers to provide me with a vocal track, and each provided their own highly personalised interpretation, but it was Rhiannah's that stood out for me. The raw emotion in her voice perfectly mirrored the emotions that I was trying to express in the lyrics.
So Rhiannah provided the vocal and I provided piano, acoustic guitar, bass, strings, mixing and production. The result can be heard at: https://youtu.be/SVOm18d-2Nw

Because of the fact that the 2015 recording has recently been getting a fair amount of airplay on various internet radio stations, it occurred to me to have a go at re-recording the song with a slightly different flavour, and so I began experimenting with BIAB and was pleasantly surprised when I tried it with the PORTAGE.STY. I think that the country ballad style suits Rhiannah's voice very well.
So, apart from the strings that were used in the previous recording, and a different vocal take, here is the new version which includes the following REALTRACKS:

518: Bass,Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 085
2691: Guitar, Electric, Soloist CountryBalladBrentSimple Ev 085
RealDrums=NashvilleEven8^2=a:Sidestick, HiHat, b:Snare, HiHat
362: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 085
365: Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085


LYRICS:

-------------------------------------------------------------
How can I tell you just how I feel
I've hit rock bottom and that's a deal
Caught in a circle, I'm spiralling down
I'm on a street corner of an unfamiliar town
--------------------------------------------------------------
And I'm stretched to the limit
And I'm pushed to the brink
Little by little
Just watch me sink
And I'm stretched to the limit
I'm breaking this link
Cos' I ain't got an answer and no time to think
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I'm here in the shadows. Out on a limb
Sleep deprived and balanced on a rim (oh yeah)
Hold out your hand. Please pull me in
I need your sweet love to save my skin
---------------------------------------------------------
Cos I'm stretched to the limit
I'm pushed to the brink
Little by little
You just stand by and watch me sink
And I'm stretched to the limit
Think it's time I broke our link
You ain't got an answer
We just don't wanna think
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm drowning in self pity and I'm choking on self doubt
Please throw me a line. Try and fish me out
I'm like a small bird. A bird's got a broken wing
Your love can heal me. Make me sing again
----------------------------------------------------------
Cos I'm stretched to the limit
And I'm pushed to the brink
Little by little
I can see you standing there
Standing there and watching me sink
Yes I'm stretched to the limit
Now I'm gonna break our link
Cos we ain't got an answer
And the time has run out to think
No more time to think
----------------------------------------------------------

Good song and good vocals, strong emotions, liked the whole thing

Really nice stuff Andy!! Vocal has a lot of passion....just what the song needs! And, Brent's guitar is a great fit.....so soulful! Really well put together!! Take care. Greg

Yeah, the new version wins hands down.
Cool.

Hello Andyman,

Rhiannah has very nice vocals, so I can understand you choose her for this very emotional song.
A nice melody with a good band!
I like the mood of it.

Hans

Wow - loved this! Rhiannah did serious justice to it. She's got a great set of pipes. I found her performance really impassioned - thanks for sharing

Powerful lyrics.
The new version is excellent.
I see why you picked her as the vocalist.
Well done.

That is a powerful and soulful vocal. Oozes feeling.
A great delivery of your sad but strong lyric.

And the BiaB band worked well for us.

Very nice.

J&B

I love this excellent piece of work. Dramatic and distinctive voice and wonderful sound
WSS

Andy,
Sad and beautiful tune. I believe Rhiannah done the justice with the powerful lyrics of yours.
Excellent mix & production! Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Very nice song; absolutely great vocals.

strong message ..................How can I tell you just how I feel
I've hit rock bottom and that's a deal
Caught in a circle, I'm spiralling down
I'm on a street corner of an unfamiliar town
--------------------------------------------------------------excellent writing and productions was as it should be !!, vocals fit like a glove !! thanks .

Thanks for all the positive comments. I wasn't sure id I'd done enough with the Realtracks as they're pretty much as they come without much editing, and they're all from the same style (PORTAGE.STY).
I suppose that it's the lyrics, vocals and production that are the main feature of this type of song though, and I do think that Rhiannah's voice would still sound impressive even if she was singing her shopping list. lol.