Hi everyone,

It took me more than a while to return to the forum with a new song AND with Scott Collingwood on the lead guitar. Our third song till now!

I have faced a lot of problems with both my computers (a Windows and an Apple) and couldn't do a thing. I nearly got depressed. Well... in a way I was. and I'm very sorry I couldn't react to all your posts on 'Just a song', but I told you why.
This song I made with Scott was nearly finished when these problems started. I needed to fix one second of the lead guitar...

But enough of those problems. The song is ready and that is all that matters. It is called: Going West
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130/going-west-render?si=0eaa84ec31d347c3864562ad5600dca0&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

It deals with how we work 'together', as you can see on the cover of this song on SoundCloud. And the state of our earth. A bit ironic, but with humour too. In a way a Christmas song; best wishes for 2022
And Scott did his utmost to gave the song that lovely touch only he can do.

We hope you enjoy it,
Hans and Scott

The lyrics:
Going West
(c)HWBerkhout, 30 nov 2021

It took some time, but we achieved it:
All wildlife perished, you see?
Oceans turned into plastic seas
and the woods are history

I wished it was a bad dream
Gone when I wake up
That ice caps aren't melting, (or just a little bit)
And the air is pure again

Chorus1.1
"We must go South", World leaders shouted
But we just dropped out
"Why not West", some asked
Oh, not again another route

=solo=

The pandemic made it worse
Wrenched societies all around
And vaccines causing dissension
Reason was knocked down

Chorus1.2

=solo=

-Bridge-
So here we are. On our scorched earth
Where nothing grows no more
We're superior on disagreeing
Our selfishness grew like never before

Chorus2
"To the West" people shouted
"No, to the North" others replied
"Let's go South" I heard yelling
"Why not West" some cried

"No, to the East, that would be something"
Where ever that might be
We're going West, a majority roared
"and throw all politicians in the sea"

This happens
if we want to save
this World...
(with disagreements during this last chorus)
==================================================================================
Technical aspects:
Bestand:Going West_031221E100v1.SGU
Key=E, Tempo 100 bpm
Style: LO-FI.STY (Lo-Fi Hip Hop Beat w Acst Guitar)

RealTracks in song: ~~903:Bas, Electric, Smooth Cool Sw16 100
RealTracks in song: ~2503:Piano, Acoustic, hold 85
RealTracks in stijl: 3402:Guitar, Acoustich, Rhythm, Sw 140
RealTracks in song: 3750:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopFunkySoulLowSingleNoteChorus Ev 095
Loop in Song: HipHop\Old School - bouncy_hop_90_a drums sw16.wav
RealTracks in song: 1945:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Groovin Folk Gel 85
RealDrums:SmoothCoolBrushes: a: Snare, HiHatb: Snare, Ride

Ha!

I especially liked the ending.

Sorry to hear about your computer problems - I hope everything is working now.

Hans & Scott

Nice tune - pretty guitar throughout with Scott's trademark sound.

Nice vocal - excellent use of the extra vocal parts towards the end and a good set of lyrics.

Worth the wait.

Peter

Hello Hans ...

Very happy you are back. And yeah, those dang computers can be a real pain in the a$$! Fortunately, I can usually repair my own.

Love the song! Good message with a lot of fun at the end. Scott's guitar work is always spot on. Good work by both of you.

Take care ...

Alan

Hans, & Scott,

Nice.

Good "message song". Good BAND. You got some great JT-ish licks out of the GroovinFolk guitar - cool.

Scott guitar work fits perfectly.

The change-up @ 2:30 is well done.

A good, emotional vocal. It is a bit high-EQ-ish. If you roll off the high (completely) you'd get a bit more "warmth" and it would tuck into the mix a little more (not that it pops out at all).

Good stuff.

fj

WOW, Hans & Scott, what a wonderful production. Scott, your playing is always so fitting and perfect. I like the acoustic, too, but it seems to surprise me each time it comes in. Hans, you're such a treat to the ears, and your lyrics are always so meaningful. The changes and the dynamics (not to mention those cool background yellers) really propel this melody into a pleasurable listen.

Hello David,

Thanks for your reply!
Yes, I liked adding that too.
My wife thought it had something from Montey Python. I think you know who they were.

And about the technic stuff; the main things are working, but it's still not alright. Never faced these strange things before. And I thought I was clever enough to solve these things. That was not the case...



Have a nice day,
Hans

Thanks Al, Floyd and Marty for the comments on the guitar work. Hans put together a very cool backtrack and vocal which made finding a guitar melody much easier.

Well, well, Hans, you surely brought that terrifying message over. And you did it very well and very strongly.
You chose a perfect band to transport your good vocals and I think those spoken parts at the end were just awesome - what an ending.

And Scott - well, that was simply a very fine piece of guitar playing.

Thanks, guys, for this fine collab.

All the best,

Stefan

Excellent song , crisp and up front.

Good collab, "We're superior on disagreeing," I liked that line, and the last line, too, of course. Nice guitar work, great job overall.

Hans & Scott,
A joy to listen to but sad that you must sing about such a depressing subject.

Loved the vocal ping pong.

Well done.


I feel your pain with computers.
Over the past few years I've had two crash on me.
I decided to build my onw, it was easier than I imagined.

Good luck with your computers, they can be our best assistant until they turn on us.

moto

Hi Al, I know how to deal with computers, normally, but this situation was a bit extreme.
I will skip the details, but when the first one was working again, suddenly the Apple als chrashed and gave no more sound.
And that was the computer with my DAW, so the mixing proces.
I had to buy me a new one. But it took a hell of a time to install the software. Still now I have maybe 60% installed.

So, but thanks for your comment on the song. It was nice to work with Scott, although Canadians are a bit strange (I bet he will say the same about Dutchies).
It was fun doing that end. At first, it wasn't my intention, but because of all those computer problems something crept in me and than I did this. And I liked it, so did Scott.




Kind regards,
Hans

Hello Peter,

Thanks for your nice compliments and about the ending of the song. I wrote to Al (above) how I came to this. I am not planning to do this in every song. So don't be dissapointed then...



Nice weekend,
Hans

Hi Floyd,

Although Scott anwered some of the posts I want to thank you in person for your comment on the song.
I think that eq thing is, maybe, caused by the acoustic guitar. Scott and I were discussing your post on that point.
He had that suggestion, because he thaught the vocals were good as they were.
Whatever, you notice we take you very serious and need this kind of comment to improve (if possible).



Have a nice weekend,
Hans

Nice one gents,
Yes, the vocals are "crisp"..the spoken side parts aren't though.
Scott's lovely playing competes with your vocal when they are both centred...two strong melodies in the same space.
Interesting band, good dynamics too.
Good song.

Hans & Scott,
Excellent musical collaboration! You tackled serious subject, yet presented in a gentle way. Neat acoustic + synth backing. Scott's guitar blended very well. Strong vocals. Very good mix, especially considering all kinds of elements involved. Cool talk over disagreements at the end Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Hey Hans,

So glad you got your technical problems worked out.
What a great message song! One of the best I've heard on here.
Also love your voice.

Much enjoyed.

Josie

Very interesting song!! Pretty heavy, but nothing wrong with that.....thought provoking lyrics!! Like Scott's influence on the sound too!!! Nice job guys!! Merry Xmas!! Take care. Greg

Hi Hans and Scott,

I'm a bit late getting here, haven't had much time for PGMusic lately.

Good song, Hans!

Very creative, love the vocal bit at the end with the other voices And Scott adds the perfect guitar parts as per usual.

Enjoyed!

Hello Marty, Stefan, Cliftond, TuneMonger and Captain Moto,

I am a bit late with my reaction to your so nice posts on the song. I read them all with much pleasure.
I was curious how the ending piece would fall. but that turned out to be good. It was mentioned several times (in a good sense).
Scott and I had some puzzling times with the solo and the timing, but I think our different DAW's caused that. I had to adjust only one second and then my systems stopped working. One second!
And it was good you weren't there when that happened...



Marty, thanks for this very nice reaction you gave. That acoustic surprised Scott too. He had expected I would remove it in favor of his beautiful solo. But I was the stubborn fellow that liked them both. And the backgroud yellers as you call them, I had great fun doing that, although, I had to do it 4 times again...



Stefan, I was wondering, why "well, well". No, I was joking. Thanks for this nice compliment to Scott and me. And... mentioning those backgroud yellers as well.



Cliftond, thanks for this nice comment. I was wondering if your use of the word 'crisp' had the same meaning as what Floyd was refering to. But I think it did not.



TuneMonger, you pointed at that line I liked too. At first I had another line there, but I almost got depressed watching on tv how everyone was arguing and disagreeing on everything, from vaccinations to whatever. So I came to this line. Thanks for your comment and on that about the backgroud yellers.



Hi Moto, Thanks for your nice comments. In a way I think I'm good in singing about sad issues.
My wife says she is not surprised when someone had died at the end of my lyrics (in my song only), because it happens often in them. That's what she said. I'm glad you had a more positive way of telling me how hard it is to sing about these events.
And about the backgroud yellers as well!

I wish I could build my own computers, although I might never write or sing songs then. I use them since the '80's and I know a lot of them, but never enough...

I wish you all a very happy Christmas And New year. With lots of nice songs!!
Hans

Another song surfaces from the lost Lennon catalog. Nice.

That is a great and timely lyric.

Scott supports the song including your fine vocal very well.
The RT guitar worked nicely with Scott.

Well done y'all!

J&B

Hi Hans,

The guitars are real ear candy - particularly on my headphones.

All sounds good however I agree with Floyd - I would love to hear more of your natural voice.

Best Regards
Nigel

Hello Hans and Scott
great song
Super cool stereo effects
Absolutely great work
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

Hi Nigel, saw your reaction and decided to react as quickly as possible;



Thanks for that nice reaction, only what you said about 'my natural voice' made me wonder what you meant. The voice you heard is my natural voice, except for some reverb and delay. Floyd mentioned my voice was too crisp, that means to sharp in the higher regions. Scott and I are looking for what could have been the cause. He thinks it is interferance with the acoustic solo guitar, because in the vocal stem there was no problem. And I don't know what else could have caused it. But Floyd didn't mention my voice was unnatural, as it isn't. Is this also what you meant or is there something else that made you think my voice was not natural? You know I am anxious to learn.

Thanks in advance,
Hans

What a lovely song Hans! The two of you make a great collaboration team! Your vocal style reminds me a lot of Al Stewart. Clever use of effects and those little guitar fills of Scott's sound nice! Thanks, Torrey

Hi there, David, Ray, Misha and Josie,

Thanks everyone for yor responds at this song. I liked them all very much. No bad posts this time...
But to my horror I saw that I had forgotten you, David. While you were the first who reacted at the song.
Sorry for that. And it was you who I had in mind talking about that end of the song. You are in good company now. A lot more reactions dealt with that same 'sweet spot', so to say.
And the computers... well as long as I can make music it goes well





And Ray, I was quite pleased you did mention the 'crisp' vocals, but only on the bad side of the (creation of the) song. Although... "two strong melodies in the same space" is a bit a qualification in that way. There was a little 'fight' between the acoustic lead and Scott's playing. Besides that, I asked him to play between my vocals. I like that, but only if the vocals win (in volume).



Misha, thanks for your nice post. I had expected some words about my crispy vocals, but no. You didn't, but I bet you heard it. I didn't. I think it's that tinitus...



Hi Josie, thanks for all these compliments. And yes, the message was 'born' when I heard for the umpteenth time that people all disagree so much on whatever issue. It circled in my head and there it was. I enjoyed creating that fuzz at the end. Gave me thoughts about scetches from Monty Python. I think you know what I mean.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and of course a happy, musical, 2022!
Hans

I really like your vocal and Scott's guitar. The backing tracks and mix were spot on.

a majority roared
"and throw all politicians in the sea" What a great line that I completely agree.

Excellent work.

Thanks everyone for comments on the guitar track. Very much appreciated..

Hi Greg and Dave,

Thanks for your comment on the song. It was nice playing with Scott, and we'll do it some more in 2022.
By the way, I don't see the lyrics as provocative, but just as it is (with some ironic humour), but for now it is at least a matter of taste ;-)
And Dave, I'm late in answering your posts. I hope being busy has to do with new songs and no pc issues.

Have a verry happy Newyear!
Hans

Hi Janice, Bud, Andi, Torrey and Mario,

I'm sorry my reply is so late. Still solving problems in my studio. A lot of downloads, not everything is working properly, AND trying to make songs in between and listen to your songs as well!
You see; busy, busy, busy.



Bud, there is another one of those Lennon chronicles coming soon. Stay alert!
Thanks for your nice comment and the support of Janice in this.



Hi Andi, that is a nice and tight answer. Scott and I toasted your qualification.
Thanks!



Torrey, you told me before I sound like Al S., but Janice and Bud think it is John Lennon. Maybe you have to discuss this together and come to a decicion before I get confused about who I really am...
Thanks for your very nice comment on the song!



Ahh, Mario, you are/were also a politician, like I was! These newbies in politics are bad. Not like we were, don't you think?
Thanks!


I wish you all a very good, musicall and healthy 2022,
Hans

Hi Birchwood.
I like the idea of the song and the shouting out in the background but it took me a while to figure out what they were saying.
There was so much going on instrument wise, especially the lead guitar and the percussion rhythm playing all the way through the vocal. Maybe you could take those down a little in places.
Much of it could be my old ears though.

Vic