Hi all.
The muse has left me so far this year so I decided to build a shed instead while I contemplated my navel.
Then John Vaughan sent me a song he'd had recorded by a lady on "Fiver".
It was really muddy and indistinct with just two acoustic guitars so he asked if I could re mix it and add some instruments. I liked the song so I just took the vocal and tried to make it clearer with EQ, then deleted the guitars.
The hardest part was trying to work out the chords and then I added cajon, bass, 2x electric and 1 acoustic guitars from BIAB.
Took me 3 days of cussing but finally it came out sounding ok. (I think)

Any thoughts?

https://soundcloud.com/vic-arnold/blue-and-yellow

I think this song tuned out great. The vocal was very captivating. Really keeps you engaged. Guitars were excellent as well. Really cool listen.

Vic,
Excellent tune. Liked it on many levels.
I think backing track, except for vocals and solo/lead guitar can come up a little. Maybe somebody with better ears can phrase it better. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

I think you really delivered a quite remarkable result.

Interesting combination of melody and vocal and it really works. A fresh difference.

This song demonstrates excellent musical creativity and construction.

Frankly, this is a keeper.

Very nicely done. I've worked a few tunes through the years where all I had was the vocal track(s) and had to reverse engineer the band from there. It's a challenge at times but once you get it worked out, it's worth it.

Nicely done.

The guitars are nicely done. Good tone selection, and tasty editing. I'd be curious to know what BB/RTs are being used. Personally, I would have brought in a nice drum kit about halfway through and made it big. But your choice to not do that worked well too.

I did have a bit of trouble understanding the vocals and what was being said. I moved to my ear buds and could pick out a bit more. The low vocals and airyness of them fits well for the overall groove of this song but also combined with the reverb, make the vocals indistinct in quite a few places. Posting the lyrics might certainly be useful to the understanding.

In spite of not being able to clearly understand the words, this is a pleasant song and I enjoyed it.

Vic...stellar job constructing or should I say reconstructing a track worthy of a great vocal...very powerful and haunting...I do this a lot with my older songs and it is a daunting task but well worth the effort...the track fits the vocals like a glove...BRAVO!!

The nameless voice really pulled me into this... shades of Billie Eilish, or Julee Cruise. Moody music well made and well produced, and I appreciate how challenging this kind of compositing can be.

I'm with Mark here - the vocal is what sells the song, and so as long as the arrangement supports the vocal, it's a success.

As other noted, the vocal is indistinct in places. I'd like to have had it closer in front, but it fits the mood.

The cajon seems off-beat in some places, and is so quiet, it doesn't really seem to be adding to the mix.

Still, very musical and kept my interest throughout.

Thank you Scott.
Much appreciated.

Vic

Thanks Misha.
I upped them a little.

Vic

Hi AudioTrack.
Thanks for your encouragement.

Vic

Great job with the backup... I love the singer and the song... Who is she..?

Hi Guitarhacker.
Yes, challenging but fun when you "get it".
I tweaked the vocal as much as I dared and was not able to get it any clearer.
I would have preferred to work with the dry track but that was not forthcoming.

"Drums" I did think about but I didn't want anything too busy. Maybe just a kick, hat and ride. I was thinking of dropping that part completely too.

Thanks for the suggs and for listening. More to consider.

Vic

Cheers, Firesong.
Glad you enjoyed it.

Vic

Such a wonderful listen, Vic. A very good mix that adds so much interest to this already wonderful song. Contemplating your navel is a good way to reconnect with your creativity, Vic. Well, that and building a shed.

I think this turned out great.

Very spell-binding.

Thank you Mark. I just found out the singer is called Megan Ennenbergh.

Vic

Thank you David.
Yes I agree about the cajon. I may ditch it. I picked it because I wanted a simple beat.
As for the vocal it was written in stone. Already had effects on it when I received it although I asked for dry stems but they weren't forthcoming.

Vic

Hi Bloc-head.
Thanks. I found out today she is called Megan Ennenbergh.

Vic

Thanks Marty.
Not sure which creativity is just a hobby at the moment.

Vic

Hi Vircan,

very sweet composition with very pleasant harmony and vocals. And I also like the guitar solo. Well done.

Best regard
Derochette
alias JaniJackFlash

Cheers David.
Appreciated.

Vic

Hi David,
Thank you.

Vic

Her nice smokey voice is excellent. Wish you had included the lyrics.

You did a good job with the remake. That process is never easy.

The solo lead was nice ... wondering which RT it is?

Enjoyed it!

J&B

I think you have done a wonderful job with this!

First of all, I really like the song, and love that vocalist.

Mix for me is spot on, good choice of guitars, and they are sitting just where they need to in the mix. Nice job getting that lead guitar to do just what it needs to do during the fills, not always that easy when dealing with Realtracks.

So, how did the shed turn out?

There's a touch of Sade in the vocal - there's alos a touch too much sibilant & other noises.
I like the backing - simple and effective to carry the vocal.

Thank you BlueAttitude.
The voice is quite haunting, I thought. The shed is work in progress.

Vic

Vic,

Well, I obviously have no idea how the original version sounded . . . but this is really solid. Haunting, with a 90s alternative feel to it. I think the mix is solid . . . hate to disagree with Misha (who has a great set of ears), but I’m listening to this with headphones on and it sounds just right to me. Any louder and I think you’d overtake the soft, but haunting vocal. Seriously great job on the resurrection. Superbly done!

Hope all is well in your world.

Deej

Thanks for pointing it out Ray.
Took the sibilance down a notch.

Vic

Thanks Jani.

Hi Deej
To be fair to Misha I have since followed some of his suggestion.
Thanks for your support.

Vic

Vic,

Very good song. Sounds great to me.

Bob

HI Vic ...

Terrific resurrection. I've resurrected several of Di's song in a similar manner. You nailed it! Her words a re a bit to discern at times but she sure has that sexy, haunting voice that's captivating. Good job in all respects. Take care ...

Alan

Thank you Ronnie.

Vic

Hi Al and Di
I hope you are well.
Couldn't do much with the vocal clarity. Unable to contact her to change it.
Thank you for listening.

Vic

Thanks for the comments Janice and Bud.
The lead guitar is Brent 3521
Lyrics are:

Blue and Yellow © John Vaughan 2022

VERSE
Last night the sky turned red
In sadness, the moon and stars closed their eyes
A mother caressed her child in her bed
Spoke words of comfort, she knew could be lies

VERSE
So tired she slept and dreamed
that they'd woken to a better world.
No longer the nightmare that had been
outside, children's laughter could be heard

CHORUS
Morning came, sleep had left their heads
Last night the sky had turned red.
One day after a million tears are shed
The sky will glow, blue and yellow above their heads

VERSE
Spring flowers should now have bloomed
but not one blade of grass she saw outside
Last year sweet flowers lit up the room
now all beauty has found a place to hide

BRIDGE
She held her child close to her breast
Whispered I love you darlin' with a kiss
Made a vow to her, it won't always be like this

CHORUS

The sky will glow, blue and yellow above their heads

Thanks Vic!

J&B

Great vocal

Super band

Outstanding mix

I really liked this

Very nice of you to say, Mario.
Thank you.

Vic

YW

Vic

Vic

Excellent job on this. Sounds really good and a very nice song to boot.

Peter

Hi Vic,

Luckily I saw your song when strolling through the forum pages.
Very nice. I enjoyed it (more then) a lot!
Maybe a bit too much reverb on the beautiful vocals, makes it hard to understand the words (for me).
But I saw the very nice lyrics were included later.

Hans

Hullo Peter.
Thank you.

Vic

Hi Hans.
Thank you for your comment.
Re the vocal, that's how I received it (too much reverb). Have not been able to get a new one yet but I am trying to do that.

Vic

Vic,

Wow your vocalist really makes this tune happen! Such a haunting sound in the delivery and really delivered well I might add! I like the laid-back sparse accompaniment! It's a long song, but sometimes it's a must to go the distance to convey the message! Very nice song and production! Thanks, Torrey

Thank you Torrey.
Yes, she does have that haunting sincerity.

Vic