There's A Magpie

Finally got together with Leon to record some new songs. This is the first one (I've got quite a bit of work to do!).

Another "bird" song - we posted one about a White Cockatoo a while ago.
This one about being replaced by a new lover.

Leon lyric & vocals.
I played some guitar and did the arrangement.


The Band:

RealTracks in song: 2937:Bass, Fretless Electric Pop8thsRene Ev 085

RealTracks in song: ~~688:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 065

RealTracks in song: 3267:Cello, Background CelticAirFlowingNatalie Ev 085

RealDrums in Song:AmericanaSlow8sBrushesFred^1-a:Brushes, Ride , b:Brushes, HiHat

Had the Fretless Bass RT play a little bass solo.

Also used a Kontakt picked acoustic guitar.

There’s A Magpie

There’s a magpie
Strutting around my yard
For all the world as if he owns it

There’s a new guy
Sleeping in your bed
For all the world as if he owns it

He’s got his arm around your shoulder
As if to say ‘she is mine’
I wonder if I wiped that smile off his face
Would a judge consider it a crime?

There’s a big hole
In the middle of my life
That once was full of you

I’m sinking
There’s a hole between my feet
Got no rudder, got no crew

He’s got his jeep parked in your garage
His ride-on mower’s in your shed
I’ve got your image imprisoned in my heart
Your voice is trapped inside my head

There’s a black crow
Crying like a lost soul
I guess I know just how he feels

There’s a new world
One without you in it
I don’t see how that can be real

You’ve got his picture on your sideboard
Where that one of us used to be
I didn’t think you would replace me
So quickly or so easily

There’s a black crow
Crying like a lost soul
I guess I know just how he feels

Yeah, there’s a black crow
Crying like a lost soul
I guess I know just how he feels

That's very cool Peter. Leon's vocal is a bit hot at present.
The fretless is interesting...in this context it seems more like a bass synth...but it works.
Some of the bvox could be slipped & slid to a tighter match in a few spots.
lastly I wish the magpie had made a reappearance as the 2nd last part rather than double crow.
All of that written I really LOVE the song.

Peter and Leon:

Love the opening of this song—actually that fingerpicked acoustic guitar is strong throughout, really holding the song together. Leon’s vocal is great—it might be just a hair too up front . . . maybe . . . I keep going back and forth on that, so see what others think. Love the guitar solo . . . and the write overall. Some very inventive and fresh lines throughout. Well done, gents . . . this one’s a winner!

All my best to you both,

Deej

Very nice song. The Magpie is an interesting angle.

Good job on the vocals. I agree with others that it's a little bit hot in the mix. But that's a small nit.

The fretless bass is very effective in this song. Is it my imagination or is there also an unlisted pedal steel present?

Like the guitar solo too!

Rob

Thanks Ray - the last few had comments that Leon was too far back in the mix.
The doubling was quite painstaking so I'm pretty happy how it ended despite a few small glitches.

Appreciate the comments.

Peter

Peter & Leon,

I absolutely love this song... Sounds like Dylan and The Band from the Basement Tapes album.

This may be my favorite from you two.

Great, great stuff!

Bob

Great start, I can clearly see the magpie strutting and it settles the subject very well. And the black crow at the end to describes the losing of someone (I might have used raven).
Enjoyed the arrangement, I really like the fretless bass, although it almost swallows the picking guitar, but that's how the new lover does. The solo fits excellently.
Very cool song, nice melody, grows on every listen.

Janne

I listened without reading the whole description first, and was startled by the meaning in the second verse, in a good way. A fine song, thank you.

I love this... beautiful soundscape.
Vocals, guitar solo, everything sounds great...
What processer are you using on the fretless Bass? I love it.

Excellent vocal Leon. Loved the vocal processing. Gave the song a very cool vibe. The picked acoustic was a very cool add. Really well done..

Peter...you and Leon did a masterful job on this...the fretless is very cool and it's instrumental was a really nice touch...the narrative of the song was captivating and stylistically perfect...your arrangement was done so well and the guitar solo at the end was really, really good (was that you?)...very nice indeed!

Thanks a lot Deej.

Peter

Clever write! Musical and interesting throughout.

I didn’t think you would replace me
So quickly or so easily

Excellent line!

Hi Peter and Leon,

Great intro, very effective! The fretless bass sounds cool. Nice, super tasteful, outro solo.

Clever write, and good vocal. Read the other comments about the level, for me overall it's about where it should be, just a couple of spots where it seems a little hot.

Good one, gents!

Right from the opening guitars I loved it. Leon's vocal and lyrics are always a treat to listen to and read. Man, I love the way you used the fretless. More like Yo Yo Ma than Jaco. Sweet. Not sure if yo made some changes, but Leon's vocal sits so well in the mix. This is such a good write, and I love the harmony. Man, that bass sounds like he wrote this with you two.

Like pretty much everyone here, I really liked that bass. It sits well with that finger pickin' guitar and made the song for me. I agree that sometimes the vocals sound a little loud, but overall I think you did a great job putting it together. The entire melody fits the song well and sounds good!

Thanks Rob

Yep, a little pedal steel at the end - wasn't in the original SGU file so missing from the generated list.
Thanks for the comments.

Peter

Thanks Bob, Leon will love that comparison.

Peter

Thanks a lot Janne

Peter

Hi, Peter & Leon !


How nice a tune this is !
I liked everything about it
but most of all that wonderful
guitar picking and those nice
vocals !!!

Cheers
Dani

Love the lyrics, and the vocals and other instruments match the vibe of those lyrics well.

Was the fingerpicked acoustic guitar the "Picked Acoustic" from Kontakt? I've used that plugin to good effect on songs.

Another suggestion. I've used BB Real Track 522 for picked acoustic guitar and it has also worked well for me. You can also easily "double track" that guitar (just generate another version on a separate track). When I get some time, I'll post a remix of a song I did a while back, using that trick in the remix.

Thanks a lot.

Peter

Thanks, appreciated. Nothing special on the bass, just some e.q. and compression.

Peter

Super nylon

Great fretless bass lead - brilliant

Good vocal with interesting lyrics

Two thumbs up

Thanks Scott.

Peter

Leon & Peter,

Pretty much Loved! everything about this.

The Picked Acoustic sounds great. Awesome sound bass(es). Cool use of the cello.

Excellent write. Strong vocals.

Nice outro guitar.

Might be my favorite from you guys.

So good.

fj

Thanks a lot. The guitar solo was me, I almost always do my own solos and sometimes other guitar parts as the mood takes me.

Peter

Really great work guys!

Loved this!

Thanks a lot Dave.
Peter



Thanks David.

Peter

Thanks Marty the fretless RT's are very nice - we could do with some more.

Peter

Thanks Brad.

Peter

Hey Peter and Leon, I enjoyed your song very much. I used to call my sister "Magpie" so the title grabbed my attention right off. I do think the judge would consider it a crime if you wiped that smile off his face - LOL loved that line.

Josie

Hello Peter and Leon,

Lovely song abouth that bird. First heard of it's name in Australia. We saw it had layed it's eggs on a parking place. The male Mackpie had a hard time defending them. And we were puzzled why they had their eggs there...
My sister who lives there, called them 'Messerschmitts'(German fighter in WW2), because of their behaviour. since then we can only think of Magpies like that.

But that has nothing to do with your song about that bird. You made a lovely song with very nice lyrics!
I also had that question Ray had; why call the song Magpie when the crow had the most attention? But never mind.
I enjoyed this song, the vocals and the vocal harmony.

Hans

We’re so happy that you and Leon were able to get together!

Man, that fretless bass sounds great.

Your guitar solo was sublime and the steel sounded really good with it.

We enjoyed the doubled vocals by Leon and, as always, loved his lyric.
Your melodies and arrangements suit Leon’s lyrics perfectly. Why, y’all must’ve known each other a while, huh?!

“There’s a big hole
In the middle of my life
That once was full of you”

“There’s a new world
One without you in it
I don’t see how that can be real”

The above lines had Janice near tears. Sad but beautiful lines.

We’re looking forward to the next song already!
J&B

Thanks Dani

Peter

It was the Kontakt guitar. Another option if I'm not too lazy is play a picked acoustic. I've played along with some RT's in the past.
Thanks for the comments.

Peter

Hans,
I know why the magpie is there...they like to "collect" thing - thieves basically so the story of the magpie stealing the love makes sense as does the introduction of the clever, dark, dangerous, unhappy crow. I wanted the magpie reprised in the 2nd last stanza just to, sort of, take the song & ideas full cycle buy contrasting the bragging thief with the sorrowful critter.

HI Peter & Leon ...

So original and excellent. That fretless sure gives it a distinctive sound. As usual, Leon's vocals are spot on. And Peter's guitar work is always such a pleasure. Good on yas!

Alan

Thanks Mario

Peter

Thanks floyd appreciate the comments an support.

Peter

Thanks David "Carlos" Snyder

Peter

Thanks Josie - I agree unlikely to be looked upon kindly by a Judge.

Peter

A really good song!

The NI Picked Acoustic and the fretless bass mesh well together, giving a unique feel to the productions. I recognized the NI guitar right away: it has a distinctive sound that I like (and I experiment with it a lot at home).

Well done!

Thanks Hans, magpies can indeed be aggressive and launch themselves at your head.

Peter

Bud & Janice

Thank for the support and kind words. I'm already behind on the new ones......


Peter

Thanks Alan.

Peter

The NI acoustic certainly has a nice clean sound.

Appreciate the review.

Peter

Peter and Leon,

Nice song and vocal!
The combination of each instrument is wonderful.
Among them, the fretless bass is especially effective.
Guitar solo is also great.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi