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#421153 - 07/09/17 08:26 PM [User Showcase] NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
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Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Hello forum friends. This song was conceived in Hawaii. I was pushing my kid's on some waves while they were boogie boarding. The hook line (High in Hawii, and I'm feelin' so low) just started running through my head. Wasn't sure where it was going but I banged it out at home a few weeks later. It is a slow ride. If you're in the mood for ear candy or something energetic, come back later when you're feeling mellow. Always love to hear what you think. Take care all. Greg

https://soundcloud.com/gjohnson-2/high-in-hawaii

HIGH IN HAWAII




There are times in your life when you look, and you see a dead end
And sometimes a soul can sink down beyond the reach of a friend
We had a good thing, better than most
And to strive for perfection may be chasing a ghost

But I dreamed of Hawaii
Of a life beyond reach
Longboards and shave ice
Gettin’ high on the beach
But dreamin’ of paradise
Still don’t make it so
Now I’m high in Hawaii
And I’m feelin’ so low

Sometimes your heart gets confused, and ambition just fails
Scrapin’ by in those winters in Pittsburgh, hammering nails
And it’s hard not to tell yourself there’s got to be more
Some brighter horizon, some warm, distant shore

So I dreamed of Hawaii…

And if ever a boy had regret, I guess I got it bad
Pity the soul, the fool who lets go, of the best thing that he ever had

Because dreams of Hawaii
They never come true
Now I find myself dreamin’
Of a life back with you
It may not be paradise
But it’s the best thing I’ve known
Now I’m high in Hawaii
And I feel so alone

Yeah, I’m high in Hawaii

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#421154 - 07/09/17 09:56 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 06/05/12
Posts: 16755
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
AudioTrack Online   content
Veteran

Registered: 06/05/12
Posts: 16755
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
Sensationally presented Greg, great crisp vocals, well mixed, and the use of the harmonica sat perfectly in the blend.

You nailed it.
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#421157 - 07/10/17 12:38 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 12/06/03
Posts: 5199
Loc: Sydney Australia
PeterF Offline
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Registered: 12/06/03
Posts: 5199
Loc: Sydney Australia
Greg

A Jimmy Buffett ballad vibe (with the Coral Reefer band) - beautifully presented with a lovely melody.
Excellent vocal - evocative lyric - really well done.

Peter

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#421182 - 07/10/17 07:35 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 12/08/11
Posts: 7164
Loc: Edmonton, Ab, Canada
Scott C Offline
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Registered: 12/08/11
Posts: 7164
Loc: Edmonton, Ab, Canada
Love your vocals Greg. Super delivery. Excellent backtrack. Excellent lyrics

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#421187 - 07/10/17 07:56 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 08/09/10
Posts: 5626
Loc: New York
rsdean Offline
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Registered: 08/09/10
Posts: 5626
Loc: New York
Greg,

This is outstanding... Loved the vocals and production - also a very cool backdrop for the lyrics.

Bob

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#421190 - 07/10/17 08:16 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 05/02/14
Posts: 3990
Loc: The Netherlands
RnAM Offline
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Registered: 05/02/14
Posts: 3990
Loc: The Netherlands
Wow Greg, this is gorgeous!
A very surprising beginning. And after that a perfect buildup of the instruments.
Especially the pedal steel guitar works great.
Your vocals are beautiful.

Rob & Anne-Marie
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#421198 - 07/10/17 08:53 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 06/19/17
Posts: 2933
Loc: Victoria, BC
Ember - PG Music Offline
PG Music Staff

Registered: 06/19/17
Posts: 2933
Loc: Victoria, BC
What a hauntingly beautiful song. I especially love these lyrics:

"Because dreams of Hawaii
They never come true
Now I find myself dreamin’
Of a life back with you
It may not be paradise
But it’s the best thing I’ve known"

Keep up the great work.
_________________________
Cheers,
Ember

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#421219 - 07/10/17 12:24 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 10880
Loc: Florida
floyd jane Offline
Veteran

Registered: 08/10/12
Posts: 10880
Loc: Florida
Greg,

A beautiful write. Solid from start to finish and from every angle. It's natural to go with a Buffett comparison, but to me it calls to mind the best of Don Henley's introspective stuff...

The production is "just right". Excellent mix. Gorgeous vocal. Such "feeling" to it..

What's not to like...

floyd

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#421245 - 07/10/17 02:47 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 07/03/07
Posts: 53
Loc: Houston, TX
tsanders Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 07/03/07
Posts: 53
Loc: Houston, TX
Really nice - great vocals and a beautiful mix - everything sits just right.
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#421276 - 07/10/17 07:48 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 11/19/12
Posts: 2360
Loc: Middletown, PA.
44kfl Offline
Veteran

Registered: 11/19/12
Posts: 2360
Loc: Middletown, PA.
What a great write and you delivered a super vocal

very visual, very much enjoyed the listen

Loved the chord progressions too

Kenny

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#421290 - 07/11/17 12:02 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 05/11/15
Posts: 2597
Loc: Aichi, Japan
animarorecords Offline
Veteran

Registered: 05/11/15
Posts: 2597
Loc: Aichi, Japan
Hello, Greg

Very beautiful tune with great vocal!
Lyrics touched my heart deeply. The melody line is also wonderful.
The reason the key of this tune is F#major is in order to be matched to the vocal range?
And as usual you have some ingenuity in chord progression.
The chord progression of the beginning is very good.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

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#421312 - 07/11/17 06:35 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 02/15/17
Posts: 3414
Deryk - PG Music Offline
PG Music Staff

Registered: 02/15/17
Posts: 3414
I've never been to Hawaii, but its always peaked my interest, and this song really paints a vivid picture of how wondrous I imagine it being smile The delivery on this is truly beautiful, and the lyrics are imaginative and heart felt. You should be proud of this!
_________________________
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Deryk

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#421323 - 07/11/17 07:23 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 4767
Loc: Ontario, Canada
BlueAttitude Offline
Veteran

Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 4767
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Wow!
Wonderful in every way, lyrics, instruments, mix, and especially the vocals. Great song, great performance!

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#421333 - 07/11/17 08:29 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 13002
Loc: GA USA
Janice & Bud Offline
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Registered: 12/05/11
Posts: 13002
Loc: GA USA
“And if ever a boy had regret, I guess I got it bad
Pity the soul, the fool who lets go, of the best thing that he ever had”

There is a ton of emotion packed into those two lines. This is an wonderful write and the production just takes it over the top. floyd mentioned Henley and the more we think about it the more it seems apt. And the pedal steel pushes it every slightly more into that feel. A good thing.

Your mastery of the ballad is second to none.

Outstanding

J&B
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#421336 - 07/11/17 08:48 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 04/20/10
Posts: 5139
Loc: Florida
90 dB Offline
Veteran

Registered: 04/20/10
Posts: 5139
Loc: Florida
Outstanding.



Regards,


Bob

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#421445 - 07/12/17 10:17 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 3301
Loc: Finland
jannesan Offline
Veteran

Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 3301
Loc: Finland
Simply beautiful, I feel like I'm in Hawaii smile Great arrangement with harmonica and pedal steel blending together nicely. Excellent vocals and very emotional lyrics.

Janne
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#421506 - 07/13/17 05:44 AM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Greg Johnson]
Registered: 08/29/14
Posts: 7012
Loc: North Carolina
David Snyder Offline
Veteran

Registered: 08/29/14
Posts: 7012
Loc: North Carolina

But dreamin’ of paradise
Still don’t make it so
Now I’m high in Hawaii
And I’m feelin’ so low



What Great lines Greg!! I really loved the whole feel of this song and the vocals especially.

The whole production really shines, but your vocals are especially great one this one.

Going back for another listen! Well done!

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#421710 - 07/14/17 07:12 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: AudioTrack]
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Originally Posted By: VideoTrack
Sensationally presented Greg, great crisp vocals, well mixed, and the use of the harmonica sat perfectly in the blend.

You nailed it.




Thanks Trevor. I appreciate the listen and nice comments! The harmonica was just something I thought I'd try and I loved the feel (YAY BIAB!) Take care. Greg

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#421711 - 07/14/17 07:14 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: PeterF]
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Originally Posted By: PeterF
Greg

A Jimmy Buffett ballad vibe (with the Coral Reefer band) - beautifully presented with a lovely melody.
Excellent vocal - evocative lyric - really well done.

Peter


Thanks Peter! I too am a big fan of Buffett (an unabashed parrothead) and the reefers (great band). I saw Jimmy's studio in Key West about a week or two ago-doesn't look like much (a building used to store shrimp before he converted it) but it was a thrill for me. Take care. Greg

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#421712 - 07/14/17 07:15 PM [User Showcase] Re: NEW SONG POST: High in Hawaii [Re: Scott C]
Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Greg Johnson Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/21/13
Posts: 6792
Loc: Davis, CA
Originally Posted By: Scott C
Love your vocals Greg. Super delivery. Excellent backtrack. Excellent lyrics


Thanks so much for the kind words and continued support Scott! I really liked your "color of sound" on the last one. Take care. Greg

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