Hi, all:

Hope everyone is doing well. Here’s a solo effort—first in four months as it stands. After exploring some different genres on my last few collaborations, I’m back on more familiar territory with a rock ballad. I was tempted to post this before going off on vacation recently, but wasn’t sure I was happy with the mix. Having revisited this upon my return and made a few tweaks I can confidently say that . . . I’m still not sure I’m happy with the mix, LOL! But as I’m tinkering on the edges, time to let it go.

Hope you all enjoy the listen regardless. My thanks in advance for the spin and feedback!

Deej

Here is the song:

MY TIME TO FALL

Here are the lyrics:

All the times in your life
through the strife
I was there for you—
I picked you up, got you tough
and helped you truck on through.
I should have known
everything that I’d do
would be forgotten when I hit bottom
and I needed you.

And now’s the time,
the tables turned no doubt,
I’m falling fast and calling out . . .

Don’t turn away, it’s my time to fall.
I want you to stay, it’s my time to fall.
And I need you to be something more for me
‘Cause while I wait . . .
while you stall . . . I fall.

All along you weren’t strong—
am I wrong to be surprised?
To count on you as that someone true
who’d stand by my side?
I should have known
that we are who we are.
In the end, I’m not a friend,
just a sucker for falling star.

But hope you know’s
a door to desperate things—
You’re walking out and I’m walking in . . .

Don’t turn away, it’s my time to fall.
I want you to stay, it’s my time to fall.
And I need you to be something more for me
‘Cause while I wait . . .
while you stall . . . I fall.

And now at last
the truth has been revealed;
but that don’t change the way it feels.

Don’t turn away, it’s my time to fall.
I want you to stay, it’s my time to fall.
Don’t walk away, it’s my time to fall.
And I need you to be something more for me
‘Cause while I wait . . .
while you crawl . . . I fall.

And here’s the band:

RealTracks 1827: Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks 1831: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopModernGrooveBrightA-B Ev16 075
RealTracks 1828: Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGroove Ev16 075
RealTracks 702: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Spirited Ev 065
RealTracks 1167: Guitar, Electric, Soloist RockBalladBrent Ev 065
RealTracks 1839: Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopModernGrooveA-B Ev16 075
RealDrums: PopModernGrooveSync16^1-a:Snare on 4, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride

Talk about being on familiar ground, Deej ... oh Lord, where to start?

After a full first listen, the first thing that struck me is this: you have such a sense for structure ... every song has a beginning, middle and end with you, so to speak. You know when to speak and when to be quiet in music writing :-)

This is a proper rock ballad, reminds me of Aerosmith or something (I'm no good at comparisons with all those rock bands, haha, so don't mind me if I step in it, haha). It really communicates - thanks to great writing and, in no small part, to your voice. I love it that you sing every single song you put your voice to with immense sincerity. If there's something you never are, it's "run of the mill". And this ballad needs a voice that gives a damn about it :-) - that's what you give it and more. And what it communicates is the lyrics - the "angst" in the voice is perfect for the sincere angst behind the attempt at a somewhat calm facade in the written lyrics. So, so well done!

What a way to return to "familiar ground" :-) Hope you enjoyed your vacation - always good in these rough times. I'm not a specialist in mixing (famous English understatement, that), but my ears, such as they are, found nothing wrong with it. Your voice carries without overpowering.

In short: what a really great job. I need to run now, but I really want to hear this again today, when I get the chance to. Your songs get even better on a second and third listening, I find ... once one gets used to the musical language and gets past that "first burst of sunlight", so to speak, and gets accustomed to it all and can use the light to see the detail ... :-) Thanks for sharing this with us!

Hi Deej.
Lovely song and performance.
The mix? For me the instruments could use a little eq sheen and a little more dynamics here and there but that could be just my ears.

Vic

Deej,

Good write.

Strong vocals (again) and nice. Well recorded and processed. And they sit in the mix perfectly.

Good instrumentation. Nice build. Good arrangement and a good mix - sounds well balanced to me.

Well done. All around.

fj

Well now!
That's fantastic.
Great lyrics, band sounds good, lead vocal is stellar.
The backing vocals poked out at me a little.
I'm not sure what it was, maybe their panning position or the reverb?
They almost sound like they where dropped in from a different song.
But.....as the song progressed the backing vocals began to sit better in my ears.
Oh well, why the hell am I trying to fix something that aint broken.

The mix?...It works but, if your looking for recommendations, I'm lost.
I think it could be polished a bit, but don't know exactly what I'd suggest.

Another winner in my book.

moto

Deej, This is another great vocal performance. Good write and nice production with the real tracks. Nice job,Tom

DJ,

Man this is killer, classic, hooky rock. Your hooks are crazy good man. Right up there with the best. I only have a few suggestions.

I would love to see your verses and choruses laid out with V and Ch, Pre Chorus Bridge etc for analysis while listening because they are so "textbook": I would love to see them laid out, if you know what I mean.

On this great chorus, I was thinking, hmmm...what would Jagger do? And I thought, the second rhyme might be something like "I can't live without you, can't you hear me call"?"

And then absolutely, the last line being, my time to fall, my time to fall, to just put it in the bleachers, and make it even more textbook (Title is last line of the chorus.)

Well that is it, man. A real showstopper. Get on with your bad self.

Epic rock ballad. Period.

Great vocals and love the BGV's ... how were they done?

Strong melody and arrangement indeed.

As always an excellent use of BiaB and wrapped in a fine mix.

Enjoyed it!

J&B

The vocals send chills down my spine. What a big production. Lovely ballad. The lyrics and music are superb. Simple a wonderful performance. Bravo!

musician17, Vic, Floyd, CaptainMoto, tommy, David, J&B, and jpt3:

Thanks all for the listen and kind words. I had this chorus and I line or two of verse around for quite a while and could never really bring it to completion until just recently. I’m glad it all seemed to work together. Really appreciate your stopping in to comment.

Vic and CaptainMoto: While I’m still unsure about the mix, I’m not sure what it is that’s not wholly working for me and, more to the point, how I would or could change it for the better. Vic, a good suggestion to consider, though not sure how I’d execute on that. And, Captain, I had the same thought on the backing vocals, particularly in the earlier versions of the song. They were among the final tweaks I made, but still not sure it’s as good as it could be.

David: Interesting thought about changing the second rhyme of the chorus. Quite honestly, it didn’t occur to me, as I was leaned more to the structure of repetition. Had I thought of it I might have been tempted, particularly because the early versions of the song repeated it three times (as it does in the final chorus). I might still think about doing this for the final chorus.

J&B: As I recall, I did four separate vocal tracks for the backing (one mid, one high, one low, and a mid-alternative harmony). The trick was then blending them together to hit the right feel for the song, one that I’m not sure I nailed entirely per my comment to CaptainMoto above.

Stay safe and healthy all.

Regards,

Deej

Deej

Superb vocal performance, and loved the backing vocals.

A classic overall sound, well produced and written.

Excellent.

Peter

One of your best, a great vehicle for your terrific singing. I got a strong Jim Steinman feel from this song. Fantastic work, congratulations!

You really did a great job here - the vocals steal the show for me, absolutely stunning performance that makes the lyrics hit you like a brick. Top notch production too, sounds like something I could hear on the radio. And nicely catchy without being overbearing.

You should be proud of this one - thanks for sharing

Wow, great write, Deej!! So well built with a wonderful melody presenting great lyrics. Love the dynamics, too. The band is perfect and perfectly produced by their leader. A brilliant creative effort, man.

Hello Deej,

Very nice melody with very catchy lyrics. I love the unison with the powerful choirs which bring more to your composition. Well done.

Kindly regards

Derochette
Alias JaniJackFlash

Once again your vocals are the highlight, very strong interpretation of the desperation in the lyrics. Nice backing vocals also. Classic rock ballad structure with top 40 quality chorus.

Janne

Love this song. This is my new favorite deej song. The standouts for me are the melody, vocal performance (can't get any better), and that ringing electric guitar.

Peter, TuneMonger, Deryk, Marty, Derochette, Janne, and Ezekiel:

So glad you all enjoyed the listen. Thanks for giving this a spin and for the kind feedback.

My best to you all,

Deej

Hi Deej ...

Another terrific listen from you! This might be your strongest vocals of the ones I've heard. Nice mix on everything. I like it as is.

As far as getting it "just right", I'll go back to the approach I use for my novels ... it's "finished" when you get tired of rewriting it. If we waited for perfection on the music/writing we create, there'd be very few songs to listen and only a handful of books to read. For me, this works as you posted it with your latest tweaks.

Best to you, Take care and be safe ...

Alan

Yeah, that is right up your alley/in your comfort zone/playing to your strengths.
AND you've done it wonderfully well.
Cracker tune.

Late to the party on this one it seems, but better late than never!

This is great! I love rock ballads almost as much as I love blues, and you do them better than most.

Vocal is fabulous! Mix sounds good to me too.

Well done!

What a cool song. Another incredible vocal. Loved the backtrack . So very well done. Thanks for sharing

Hi Deej
Really well constructed song and terrific vocal (as always). Mix sounds good to me.
Regards,
Leon

Al, rayc, Dave, Scott and Leon:

Thanks so much for stopping in—really appreciate the feedback and glad it worked for you all. Have a great holiday and come well into the New Year.

Wishing you all the very best!

Deej