PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Defiance

https://soundcloud.com/user-564042721/defiance
Copied from XtraStyles forum.
My last entry would have been a folk ballad if not for this competition & may move that way later, but this is such a great sounding style I had to have a go.

Style is _BROKEN.STY (Broken Neoclassical Metal)
GuitarCustom Synth is Synth/Plugin Loaded

RealTracks in style: 1009:Bass, Electric, HardRockThrash Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 2336:Viola, Background, Pop Ev 085 (1TrackStringSection)
RealTracks in song: ~1029:Guitar, 12-String Electric, Fingerpicking Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 642:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm HardRockThrashHollow Ev 085
Loop in Song: AcousticDrumFullKit\Metal - gl_tomtoms100a ev16.wav
RealTracks in style: 2338:Violin, Background, PopLow Ev 085 (1TrackStringSection)
RealDrums in style: RockThrashHalfTimeEv16^9-a:Snare , Tom Groove , b:Snare, Open HiHat

Some background:
Between 1869 and the late 1930s, over 100,000 juvenile migrants were sent to Canada from the British Isles during the child emigration movement. Motivated by social and economic forces, churches and philanthropic organizations sent orphaned, abandoned and pauper children to Canada,some as young as 4years old.It was touted as a "Golden Bridge" to a better life, but many were ill treated and abused and all were separated from whatever family they had left and became indentured labourers and servants until adulthood. This song imagines what it must have taken to endure such a childhood.


Defiance

you`ve seen that colour
that colour before
when they tell you daddy`s gone
and you stare at the floor

you`ve seen that ice
that ice in their eyes
the men whe tell children
now you`ll work to survive

you`re sold by the devil
to the deep blue sea
as you plough another furrow
across that vast prairie

innocence will burn, burn, burn
in defiance

you`ve heard those whispers
whispers in the trees
the voices of your brothers
and sisters you had to leave

you`ve seen that colour
that colour before
in the the dawn of a new world
crossing your bridge of straw

innocence will burn, burn, burn
in defiance

all you feel as you kneel
a child ghost almost lost
do as you`re told burning cold
save your soul
in defiance

© Robert Cordrey Sept.2016

A good write, Robert. I like the simplicity and power of the lyric.

The style is perfect for the song. Your vocal has a lot of power, as well...

Nice job on this.

floyd

Floyd,

Thanks for your kind comments.
The vocal style is a bit outside my box, so I`m glad it holds together.

Robert

Robert,

Wow! There's an awful lot to like about this. The beat is perfect for the song. Rather than simply being a groove, it actually drives the song and boosts the power of the already powerful lyrics. In addition, your performance rings with energy and sincerity. That ending that leaves the listener thinking "What? Is that it?" is perfect for forcing attention on the lyric content. It is also perfect prosody for the theme of 'defiance'.

I really like this a lot.

Regards,
Noel

Noel,

Many thanks for your comments - its an easy subject to get behind with feeling.
I`m still in two minds about the ending ( first one I tried was longer & had a tempo change as well as the key & meter change on the current one). Perhaps the transition is too abrupt... anyone else giving a listen, go ahead and weigh in.

Robert

Very cool . Loved the rhythm to this. Excellent vocal and lyric.

Scott,

Yes, that rhythm section is fantastic. Getting back into music via BIAB has begun to stretch the vocal chops a little - it does encourage experimentation.
I`m happy you liked the song.

Robert

Robert,

Great song. I could hear Mellencamp doing this one.

Bob

Robert,

Like we already said in our comments on the contest forum:

A sad but very good song. Your vocal surely enhances the feeling.
Very good work!

Rob & Anne-Marie

Darkly powerful!! Music works great-the minor key, the driving beat, and the string playing over it. Really a lot of impact in the lyrics, and a heartfelt, intense vocal. Great job Robert!! Take care. Greg

Great song - I loved the hard-panned guitars with the phasers on them overtop of the drumbeat. Chilling backstory, as well, I'd never heard of that child emigration movement.

You handled a tragic subject very well here. Congratulations.

Powerful, good song.

Kenny

Bob- I like John Mellencamp`s energy alot, so thanks for that.

Rob & Anne-Marie - Thank you again... I`m going to write a comedy song next to balance this out!

Greg - I appreciate your very kind comments.I`ve learn`t alot about singing lately by listening to the performances of contributors to this cool forum...and then relistening to my old heros & thinking "I`ll try that".

Will- Thanks for the listen. There`s so many ways to play with the guitar effects-I liked the way that doctored 12-string added a melodic element to the rhythm.
Yes, most Canadians are unaware of what happened... including many who are the descendants of those children.

David - Thank you!

Kenny - Thanks for listening, I`m glad the feeling behind the song came through.

Powerful write with a fascinating production. We know a lot of effort went into this and it was assuredly worth it.

The RT choice really works well with the vocals.

We like this a lot.

J&B

Have an in-law who has written a couple of books on child labor -- gonna send him a link.

Great song for me. Excellent real tracks and in the middle a great violin work.
Nice melody and vocal.

Sergio.

J&B,

I really appreciate that - especially that you can hear good things in the production.
re:child labour -Canada`s a great country, but there are some skeletons in the closet.

Robert

Thank you ,Sergio.
Whoever at PG Music paired those strings with the thrash bass & drums to come up with this style, deserves an award!

Robert

Robert, This is a great example of education through entertainment. I learned something while enjoying your wonderful production. Congrats on a fine song and performance. Tom

Tom,
Many thanks for that... especially that it was an entertaining slice of history!

Robert