This song, "Pretty Girl" by The John Michael Brown Band is the current #1 hit Beach Music song on the SOS Beach Music circuit for the second week in a row.
I thought it would be a interesting to use BIAB tools to analyze and deconstruct the construction of the music. I found the lyrics to be simple to analyze and a bit cliched. To me, this normal for the regional beach music genre. Most of the local bands strive to record original songs that 'sound like' and copy previous beach music songs.
This song has held off the #2 song, a cover of "Unchain My Heart" as well as #3, a song penned especially for Marsha Morgan by established hit song writer, Eddie Floyd, "Waste of Time". Eddie wrote/co wrote "California Girl," "Knock On Wood," "Bring It On Home to Me and many more.
I have attached BIAB sgu chord chart photos as well as one showing how I use the Stylepicker to audition styles over the audio.
I initially download the song using audacity and the process that audio through the Audio Chord Wizard to determine the key signature, tempo and chords.
You can see it is a very simple structure and chords backing simple lyrics and vocal harmonies.
The song was fun to hear, Charlie. I was not sure what "Beach Music" might be. It (this, at least) harkens back to late '60s AM hit radio or early '70s bubblegum sound. It is ear candy.
Were you able to find a BIAB style to approximate the sound? Are you writing one for our listening pleasure?
Though the lyrics are, as you say, very cliché, they are just what this song needs. Anything more "meaty" would "get in the way" of the casual fun of the song...
The song was fun to hear, Charlie. I was not sure what "Beach Music" might be. It (this, at least) harkens back to late '60s AM hit radio or early '70s bubblegum sound. It is ear candy.
Were you able to find a BIAB style to approximate the sound? Are you writing one for our listening pleasure?
Though the lyrics are, as you say, very cliché, they are just what this song needs. Anything more "meaty" would "get in the way" of the casual fun of the song...
(it is still looping in my head...)
Beach music is quite unique and diverse music. NC/SC beach music is now under the auspices of the SOS and The Carolina Beach Music Awards (CBMA) organization that awards the CAMMY.
There is also a tightly connected group of Beach Bands that have a strangle hold on Beach Music airplay. Regional 'super' groups from the 1960's group The Embers have splintered into various sound alikes each fronted by a former Embers member. They write material for each other, record with each other and perform together in festivals. These bands average around 7-11 members and are more horn and keyboard instrumentation than guitars. It's not unusual to see a 9 piece band with only one guitar.
Beach music is mostly based on 4/4 blues shuffle styles so there are many suitable BIAB styles. Vocally, the sound depends a lot on backing vocals - the Beach style evolved from groups such as the Temptations, Tams, Drifters, and Coasters. One singer/songwriter,General Johnson recorded the song 39-21-40 shape with three different groups and two, the Showmen and Chairmen of the Board charted nationally. He is the lead singer, so they sound nearly identical.
The North Myrtle Beach, radio station is a Beach Music Format and you can receive it via streaming. It is controlled by the local beach band conglomerate and their music is to write and record songs that 'sound' like beach music is supposed to sound. They also play very obscure jazz and blues stuff. Oddly, you will hear a song that sounds right out of 1954 and it's some local release cut in 2016 in a home studio and meant to sound like a beach song.
Here is a link to their streaming site: 94.9 The Surf
Floyd, if you check out the station, listen for songs by Rick Strickland. He does all original stuff, not necessarily beach music but is probably the biggest act outside of the beach band conglomerate. He is a good songwriter, performer and producer.
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
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