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I never dreamed I would post this song. I've never even considered recording it. After clifton and David broached the subject in their songs, I went and dug this up. This is a snapshot of a specific time in our history. And the reactions and feelings from certain segments of America. It tells the story of a "conflicted" veteran. And how he (and others like him) were treated by a small (or maybe less than small), but very vocal group of the Americans he had gone to war for. This sentiment, fortunately, no longer seems to exists. But it ripped the fabric of America at the time. We have healed. The Wall commemorates those who gave their lives for the ideals of America. Those who returned no longer face the anger and ridicule that some chose to greet them with at the time. That should give us all hope for the future. Again, keep in mind this was written in 1975. (I was 20). A snapshot in time. UNPOPULAR HERO i was raised in the bible belt by mom and apple pie all my life i pledged allegiance while the stars and stipes would fly and when my notice came the canadian border never crossed my mind like my grampa, my dad and my uncles i was proud to serve my time unpopular hero in an unpopular war i was still a virgin she stood leaning in the door she just wants her pay she don't want my love she just want her pay i read the history they wrote i saw the movies they made audey murphy, john wayne and my dad came home to ticker tape parades but when we came home no one looked us in the eye we didn't want to talk of it but no one asked us why unpopular hero in an unpopular war we were all just virgins she stood leaning in the door she just wants her pay she don't want my love she just want her pay i've got pictures you don't want to see swirling through my head every day i fight to forget my fight is all but dead go ahead, ignore us maybe we'll go away will anyone mention vietnam come memorial day unpopular hero in an unpopular war sixty thousand virgins please no more it's too much to pay it's too much to pay The BAND: Style is _LAMENT.STY (Lament Modern Pop Country Ballad) RealTracks in style: 1825:Bass, Electric, PopModernGrooveHeld Ev16 075 RealTracks in style: 1537:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBelieveArp Ev16 065 RealTracks in style: 1037:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm NorthernRockBallad Ev 065 RealTracks in song: 3056:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Pop16thsSyncBrent Ev16 085 RealTracks in song: 836:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AltCountryRootsy Ev 075 (A:muted) RealDrums in style: ModernPopBallad16ths^01-a:Quiet hat, Sync-kick, b:Open hat, Sync-kick floyd
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I am using the new 1040XTRAEZ form this year. It has just 2 lines.
1. How much did you make in 2023? 2. Send it to us.
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Floyd,
A tremendous song... Outstanding and heavy write for a twenty year old. Very cool to hear you perform this now - I love the way it sounds like you are looking back.
I also love the mix and the way the rhythm guitars bubble underneath the track.
Headed back for my third listen...
Bob
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Spot on Floyd that's the way you do it.
Did you use realtracks or loops or are you playing the guitar ?.
I would love to hear the original even if recording standards were not as advanced (a wee tape recording maybe) WHY..?, I love all that stuff, vinyl,tape, my passion.
win 10 64 bit 16gb,i7 chip, ssd 500gb, m-audio air, ,Roland BK-7M, 1000,shure sm7b,sonar,acid,mixcraft, variety of plugins.Sample tank 3,Kontakt. TC Helicon Voicelive 3 2 . https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases
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Great song about a very sad time in our history. I lost seven friends in that war.
As usual your mix, vocals and lyrics are top notch.
Me, it's not about how many times you fail, it's about how many times you get back up. Cop, that's not how field sobriety tests work.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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No words. In all the best ways. I can't even imagine aside from glimpses like this. Thanks for giving some insight.
And..
Thank you to everyone who has served. I NEVER take that lightly.
This song will haunt me for a bit.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier) TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
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No it;s not another Vienmam war song, it is an outstanding Vietnam war, era song. This just brings to life that period that is so remarkable in all of it's glory and horror. THis is down to earth, from someone who was in the time period. Love it Floyd.
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floyd,
This is very, very powerful! I'm glad you pulled it out, dusted it off and unleashed BIAB. I love that ending and the ending chord. It really left me hanging in the air thinking about all you'd sung. As I'm sitting here typing this, the song and its images are still bright in my mind.
I thought it was excellent the way that you used the chorus as a kind of parallel narrative. For me, the verses were a glimpse into the mind, heart and soul of the unpopular hero and the choruses (complete with their own independent development) were a glimpse of the 'other side of the coin'. 'Heartbreaking' is a word that just sprang into my head. Your story-telling and commentary unfolded like a movie for me. First person narrative was an ideal choice of perspective.
Everything about this sits perfectly in my headphones. The acoustic guitar beginning was terrific and its sound was first class. Then as the rest of the band started joining in and building a wall of sound with musical precision and intent, I found myself getting pulled into the music and the lyrics more as a participant than a listener. I think that's why the starkness of the ending was so powerful for me. It was like I was there, a part of the history.
This song resonated with me in so many ways!
All the best, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2024
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Man, what a song! On my second listen as I type this.
Just a tremendous write! And the fact you did it when you were only 20 ... pretty deep stuff.
Love the production on this too, the way you start with just the acoustic and then slowly build intensity by adding in the additional instruments with the drums not coming in until the last chorus, and then that last hanging chord ....
I'm glad you decided to post this, it's an song that should be heard.
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FJ, You ACED IT. In Australia we has a "hit single" in about 84 which essayed some of the things you covered. We were at a stage where we could talk about Vietnam by then - ignore the evil politics of the war and focus on the human story. If you get a chance to look up I Was Only 19 (a walk in the light green) by Redgum you may like it. Is has a different impact to your song but different is always good. Your song has incredible impact and is sung/performed perfectly for the topic, time and purpose. Well done. I Was only 19 - Redgum Oh, it was a hit again a couple of years ago - but as a cover by a hip hop band - odd but that's OK. A mate & I wrote our own - but from the perspective of observing the evacuation... It doesn't have the impact of yours and, as is usual for me, has too many words and not enough emotion - YOU get the balance right. Solong Shuffle - Pygmy Beat
Last edited by rayc; 04/29/18 01:44 AM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Apprentice
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Apprentice
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Posts: 266 |
Yes, the final chord, because it ends like Vietnam, just going on, the final chord still there when it 's only a phantom. I still remember the face of the guy who said, they killed my brother, so I'm going over there.
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floyd, The sound you get is always crisp, clean and well balanced. Good choice of instruments and you skillfully added them as the build progressed. The write was advanced considering your age at the time. It shows that you were not immune to the collective feeling at the time of loss of innocence. Your chorus brings that across with some stark images. I was in my teens and twenties at that time and looking back I can say with certainty that the war affected every single person that I knew in one way or another. You have left no doubt that it affected you. Beautifully done, Tom
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I never dreamed I would post this song. I've never even considered recording it. This is a snapshot of a specific time in our history. And the reactions and feelings from certain segments of America. It tells the story of a "conflicted" veteran. Per our previous PM conversation I'll echo all other comments. One gains many new perspectives when one experiences the true face of war, the brutality of it all and coming to grips of what's expected of you when faced with the challenging circumstances every day. One can't unsee any of the images or reconcile many of the experiences at such a young age. But, no complaints here....that's life. Carry on.....back to topic.
Last edited by chulaivet1966; 04/29/18 05:48 AM.
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eddie - means a lot that you accept and like this... thanks... Floyd,
A tremendous song... Outstanding and heavy write for a twenty year old. Very cool to hear you perform this now - I love the way it sounds like you are looking back.
I also love the mix and the way the rhythm guitars bubble underneath the track.
Headed back for my third listen...
Bob Thanks, Bob. I had a tendency to write a number of "heavy" things in those days. Listening to too much Prine...
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Floyd,
Very powerful write and great production.Love the ending. Bringing this from your back pages seems very appropriate to me... just watched the Ken Burns doc- this song would fit there and lose nothing to all the anthems of the day.
Robert
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floyd Excellent writing from a 20 year old (or anyone else for that matter). Great arrangement to go with the lyrics. Going back for another listen. Peter p.s along with the song Ray mentioned another Australian song referencing this issue was Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel. Khe Sanh
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Love this song Floyd. Was a very different time back then. Excellent vocal and back track. Your lyrics were powerful. As always you put together a polished professional level song. Thanks for sharing...
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Spot on Floyd that's the way you do it.
Did you use realtracks or loops or are you playing the guitar ?.
I would love to hear the original even if recording standards were not as advanced (a wee tape recording maybe) WHY..?, I love all that stuff, vinyl,tape, my passion. Thanks, beatmaster. The tracks are all RealTracks. No loops, no additional guitars (though I use both on occasion). IF I have a tape of this it would be 40 years old - and is buried in a box somewhere. I have a certain number of old lyrics that continue to get copied over to my latest computer (though I don't change that often, either). That is where I found this lyric to re-visit... Great song about a very sad time in our history. I lost seven friends in that war.
As usual your mix, vocals and lyrics are top notch. Thanks for listening, Mario. Sorry for your loss...
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No words. In all the best ways. I can't even imagine aside from glimpses like this. Thanks for giving some insight.
And..
Thank you to everyone who has served. I NEVER take that lightly.
This song will haunt me for a bit. Caaron - Thanks for that. Indeed, we should all thank those who served...
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Well, for me, I get it. Three years in Viet Nam back to back.
Thanks for posting this song. Even all these years later, a song like this brings back the reality of that time and place.
Songwriting and music is an effective time machine.
Some really unpleasant stuff happens in any war but the Viet Nam war still rages on in the minds of quite a few of us who are still alive to remember.
There are no winners in war, only survivors.
Thanks again,
Billy
New location, new environment, new music coming soon
Seize the moo-ment If you feel like you’ve herd all these cow puns before, you probably have deja-moo
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Update Your PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 Today!
The Newest RealBand 2024 Update is Here!
The newest RealBand 2024 Build 5 update is now available!
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.
This free update is available to all RealBand 2024 users. To learn more about this update and download it, head to www.pgmusic.com/support.realband.htm#20245
The Band-in-a-Box® Flash Drive Backup Option
Today (April 5) is National Flash Drive Day!
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!
Learn more about this free update for Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/support_windowsupdates.htm#1111
Band-in-a-Box® 2024 Review: 4.75 out of 5 Stars!
If you're looking for a in-depth review of the newest Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows version, you'll definitely find it with Sound-Guy's latest review, Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows Review: Incredible new capabilities to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs.
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."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!
There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed!
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