we build bigger, better bombs they'll blow us all to kingdom come facebook, fox, twitter, cnn bombard us 'til we're numb walls and presidential bans for those who pray differently we ask "what is wrong with them?" well, what is wrong with you and me?
why can't love be the next big thing why can't peace and understanding be at the core of everything ain't it time we start with the human heart and try to end the suffering why can't love be the next big thing
we've sent rocket ships to planets a million miles away science has unlocked the secrets to our dna the wonders of nature all under our control yet we have so little insight into the nature of our souls
why can't love be the next big thing why can't peace and understanding be at the core of everything ain't it time we start with the human heart and try to end the suffering why can't love be the next big thing
open up your heart we all must do our part so let's get to it we can do it we can rise above it all
let's make love the next big thing let's make peace and understanding be at the core of everything it's time we start with the human heart end the suffering let's make love be the next big thing love...the next big thing
The BAND: RealTracks in song: ~683:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120 RealTracks in song: ~684:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 120 RealTracks in song: ~1676:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 065 RealTracks in style: ~405:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Ev 120 RealTracks in song: ~1639:Piano, Electric, Rhythm JazzFunkBreezy Ev16 075 RealTracks in song: 2878:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm AmericanaSlow16thsBrent Ev16 060 RealTracks in song: 841:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopBalladSlowGritty Ev 065 MIDI SuperTracks in song: 1801:Synth Pad, PopShiningSoft Ev 120 (rendered to organ)
RealDrums in Song: BossaBrushesPerc^1-a:Congas, No Kit , b:Congas, Shaker, Triangle, No Kit RealDrums in Song: NashvilleBrushesCountryPopEv16: a: Sidestick, Brushes b: Brushes
Janice Merritt on harmonies - adding a little more love... (Thanks, Bud for recording those harmonies!)
We hope you enjoy it. Comments encouraged. Love always welcome.
By the time the first chorus came in I was sitting round a campfire holding my youngest and singing along under the stars...and when you soar on the bridge, well its one of the sweetest musical moments I`ve had in some time. A beautiful performance of very well crafted lyrics.
"we can rise above it all". Oh yeah. That's the line on which turns this hopeful song. When the world seems bent on forcing us to choose sides, we can rise above it all.
A great message, riding a simple and effective melody, carried by natural voices and supported by a strong progression and tasteful band. And it sounds good in my 'phones to boot.
Lovely song. A wonderful set of lyrics with an excellent sentiment and a catchy sweet melody topped off with a great vocal and some lovely harmonies by Janice. A great collaboration from some of the forums best.
AMEN Brothers and Sis! We need more beacons of hope like this. WTG, Tom
+1 to what Tom said. It says it all for me. I can't say anything better so I won't try.
Di and I had this discussion over the weekend. What took us all afternoon to say, you two gentlemen said in about three minutes. A tip of the hat and a salute to both you. Wishing both of you the very best. And thank you for this.
By the time the first chorus came in I was sitting round a campfire holding my youngest and singing along under the stars...and when you soar on the bridge, well its one of the sweetest musical moments I`ve had in some time. A beautiful performance of very well crafted lyrics.
Robert
Thanks, Robert. Glad to know the bridge worked so well for you - wasn't sure if that would "do its job" or not... And pleased that we could provide you with some family time!!
The alternative has been there since time immemorial...now to just get folks to embrace it. Yep, we love the sentiment.
When you invited Janice in and we read that it was a floyd/Greg collab we knew it was gonna be strong. It's a floyd production and vocal...what is left to say about that combo. At the risk of being trite...that combo simply delivers EVERY time.
We would also like to mention that the sheer sincerity of this production is apparent all through -- lyrically, vocally and arrangement wise.
Sincere and hopeful, i.e., not angst ridden.
Superb!!!
J&B
PS Janice says thanks again for inviting her to play a small part.
A great collaboration guys. You've got a super song there and a much-needed sentiment. I caught my breath when the first note of the bridge started, wow Floyd. A great job all round.
"we can rise above it all". Oh yeah. That's the line on which turns this hopeful song. When the world seems bent on forcing us to choose sides, we can rise above it all.
A great message, riding a simple and effective melody, carried by natural voices and supported by a strong progression and tasteful band. And it sounds good in my 'phones to boot.
Folks, folks, folks, do you all know what you've done, here??? Huh??? Well, do you??? You took a mighty swing with the big stick of righteousness and knocked the cap off a big bottle of highly-pressurized silence about what's goin' on in these here (dis)-United States. PG Music should give all of you a "Most Socially Significant Songwriting" award for this song of yours, "The Next Big Thing", 'cuz it is.
The title itself piqued my curiosity as to what was this "next big thing", and you delivered on it in no uncertain terms. Your skillful selection of RealTracks carried your "message" musically to this listener in the most ear-pleasing way possible. The sound/feel is intimate, yet tuneful.
Whoever sang the melody just immortalized himself. Ms. Janice's harmonies are the sound of the winds of hope blowing underneath lyrics that are down-to-earth and perfectly descriptive of how badly we're getting our spurs tangled up concerning how we live with each other in America.
This just goes to show all of us songwriters what can happen when you "take it to the river" and get your soul washed nice n' clean.
Bravo, for your courage, honesty, and sincerity, folks!
Deeply grateful, and deeply impressed,
LOREN
Last edited by bluage; 11/15/1803:47 PM.
"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
these are times when people all over the world are losing hope when they watch the new, read the papers, FB and the like. Not so long ago I was pretty sure that things - despite of any setbacks - were going the right direction. I grew up in times where love and brotherhood, peace and justice were our aims, and - call me naive - they're still what I deeoly believe in. It's so sad to see how these aims are being trampled and laughed at and how love and truth seem to have been superseded by hate and lies - worldwide.
I would deeply wish that this song woudn't have been necessary, but I am grateful you wrote, recorded and shared it.
It really touched me and I do hope that more of us will take a stand and write their own cry for humanity. Although this is not only lyricswise a jewel, but also a great, most lovable and well-performed piece, any style of music will be suitable for getting the message through, don't you think?
Thanks all for the wonderful comments! Means a lot to me that you like our tune. Floyd did an amazing job putting this together. I had a concept and some fragmented ideas and he created a wonderful production from it. It is a great treat to get to collaborate with one of your favorite writers. Thanks so much Floyd!! Take care all. Greg
To Greg, Floyd, and Janice the usual vocal, mix, etc accolades. But what took it over the top for me was the lyrics. I much needed powerful message that all in our ultra political divide need to hear.
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
Lovely song. A wonderful set of lyrics with an excellent sentiment and a catchy sweet melody topped off with a great vocal and some lovely harmonies by Janice. A great collaboration from some of the forums best.
Peter
Thanks, Peter. We appreciate that...
Originally Posted By: Al-David
Originally Posted By: tommyad
AMEN Brothers and Sis! We need more beacons of hope like this. WTG, Tom
+1 to what Tom said. It says it all for me. I can't say anything better so I won't try.
Di and I had this discussion over the weekend. What took us all afternoon to say, you two gentlemen said in about three minutes. A tip of the hat and a salute to both you. Wishing both of you the very best. And thank you for this.
The addition to Janice to any project is never small, always a BIG BIG PLUS!! Thanks so much to Janice, one of the best singers I've heard, on or off of the forum!! Take care. Greg
hi greg and Floyd great message love it we need this I agree great colab guys eric
AMD (TM) 5950 4.9 GHz 16Core Processor 64 bit 32 bits of ram windows 10 pro 64 bit os. sound card Antelope ZenQ guitars Ibanez 2202a 1968 les Paul Custom and Cavin ae 185 Guitar boss Gt-100,GT1000 pedal Yamaha HS8 studio monitors
The alternative has been there since time immemorial...now to just get folks to embrace it. Yep, we love the sentiment.
When you invited Janice in and we read that it was a floyd/Greg collab we knew it was gonna be strong. It's a floyd production and vocal...what is left to say about that combo. At the risk of being trite...that combo simply delivers EVERY time.
We would also like to mention that the sheer sincerity of this production is apparent all through -- lyrically, vocally and arrangement wise.
Sincere and hopeful, i.e., not angst ridden.
Superb!!!
J&B
PS Janice says thanks again for inviting her to play a small part.
Thanks for the nice review. More importantly...THANKS for again being a big part of the music!!!
A great collaboration guys. You've got a super song there and a much-needed sentiment. I caught my breath when the first note of the bridge started, wow Floyd. A great job all round.
John
We all say "Thanks!", John. And glad you liked the bridge!...
Folks, folks, folks, do you all know what you've done, here??? Huh??? Well, do you??? You took a mighty swing with the big stick of righteousness and knocked the cap off a big bottle of highly-pressurized silence about what's goin' on in these here (dis)-United States. PG Music should give all of you a "Most Socially Significant Songwriting" award for this song of yours, "The Next Big Thing", 'cuz it is.
The title itself piqued my curiosity as to what was this "next big thing", and you delivered on it in no uncertain terms. Your skillful selection of RealTracks carried your "message" musically to this listener in the most ear-pleasing way possible. The sound/feel is intimate, yet tuneful.
Whoever sang the melody just immortalized himself. Ms. Janice's harmonies are the sound of the winds of hope blowing underneath lyrics that are down-to-earth and perfectly descriptive of how badly we're getting our spurs tangled up concerning how we live with each other in America.
This just goes to show all of us songwriters what can happen when you "take it to the river" and get your soul washed nice n' clean.
Bravo, for your courage, honesty, and sincerity, folks!
Deeply grateful, and deeply impressed,
LOREN
Loren - your review warms our collective hearts. Thank you.
these are times when people all over the world are losing hope when they watch the new, read the papers, FB and the like. Not so long ago I was pretty sure that things - despite of any setbacks - were going the right direction. I grew up in times where love and brotherhood, peace and justice were our aims, and - call me naive - they're still what I deeoly believe in. It's so sad to see how these aims are being trampled and laughed at and how love and truth seem to have been superseded by hate and lies - worldwide.
I would deeply wish that this song woudn't have been necessary, but I am grateful you wrote, recorded and shared it.
It really touched me and I do hope that more of us will take a stand and write their own cry for humanity. Although this is not only lyricswise a jewel, but also a great, most lovable and well-performed piece, any style of music will be suitable for getting the message through, don't you think?
Thanks a lot !
Stefan
Stefan - thanks for that very nice review. Thoughtful and appreciated.
Whoever sang the melody just immortalized himself.
Dear Mr. Jane...
You see the quote I selected from my original post? I chose it to accompany an apology. I know that you were the singer, but what I don't know is why I seemed to be confused about that by writing, "whoever..."
Guess my mind got tangled-up with my fingers as I was typing. Sorry about that. I hope you will forgive me for that...blunder.
Sincerely,
LOREN
Last edited by bluage; 11/23/1801:56 PM.
"Music is what feelings sound like."-- borrowed from a Cakewalk Music Creator forum member, "Mamabear".
To Greg, Floyd, and Janice the usual vocal, mix, etc accolades. But what took it over the top for me was the lyrics. I much needed powerful message that all in our ultra political divide need to hear.
Mario - thanks for having a listen...
Originally Posted By: rayc
LOVE it tiedyed, cheesecloth, sandals or not it's a contemporary and original plea for essentials. In some ways An excellent update of this...
Thanks, Ray. Enjoyed hearing the Nick Lowe again....
The addition to Janice to any project is never small, always a BIG BIG PLUS!! Thanks so much to Janice, one of the best singers I've heard, on or off of the forum!! Take care. Greg
Greg, I am truly humbled. Bud and I both have such a high regard for your vocals that it's hard to express how appreciative I am of what you wrote.
Thank you!
And, again, a big thanks to both of you for letting me be a part.
Great arrangement, excellent write, smooth delivery and wonderful production.
I'm running out of superlatives, and it's only my second sentance!
I'm especially struck by the lyric - this is a great write. You start out with alliteration:
build bigger, better bombs ... well, what is wrong (OK, wrong is only visually alliterative )
You end both verses with the country songwriting trick of reversing the meaning of a word by changing the context:
we ask "what is wrong with them?" well, what is wrong with you and me?
and
the wonders of nature all under our control yet we have so little insight into the nature of our souls
And that chorus is perfection! It's got the title as bookends, and is propelled in the middle by an acceleration with the inner rhyme:
it's time we start with the human heart
And then the final verse answers the question posed by the first two choruses, and invites the listener to take action without finger-pointing.
All in all, an amazing write.
David - It is always nice to have other writers "get it" (and mention "it"). I know Greg will appreciate that as well... Thanks for such a nice commentary...
This is a very uplifting song with beautiful lyrics and a beautiful sound.
Great job all around!!
We Thank you, Mr. Snyder!!!
Originally Posted By: bluage
Mr. Cuny...
Your comments on the structural aspects of the lyric writing in the song, "The Next Big Thing", were very instructive to me.
LOREN
David is always insightful...
Originally Posted By: bluage
Originally Posted By: floyd jane
Whoever sang the melody just immortalized himself.
Dear Mr. Jane...
You see the quote I selected from my original post? I chose it to accompany an apology. I know that you were the singer, but what I don't know is why I seemed to be confused about that by writing, "whoever..."
Guess my mind got tangled-up with my fingers as I was typing. Sorry about that. I hope you will forgive me for that...blunder.
Sincerely,
LOREN
No apology required... We are just happy to have you drop in for a listen!
Originally Posted By: rsdean
Floyd / Greg,
I love the performance and message... Great mix and an outstanding folk-rock song.
The addition to Janice to any project is never small, always a BIG BIG PLUS!! Thanks so much to Janice, one of the best singers I've heard, on or off of the forum!! Take care. Greg
Greg, I am truly humbled. Bud and I both have such a high regard for your vocals that it's hard to express how appreciative I am of what you wrote.
Thank you!
And, again, a big thanks to both of you for letting me be a part.
Janice
And you know I feel the same way. BIG TIME THANK YOU for adding a little more love to this one....
This is outstanding. The music, the lyrics, floyd’s singing, the production, everything! radiates with the phrase “first-class professional and then some”.
I really liked it when the conga drums entered. I’m a huge fan of these. To my ears, congas add an element of casualness and friendliness to a backing and that makes it just a little bit more engaging. And ‘engaging’ is what’s needed for a song with a message as powerful as this.
As is always the case with everything you do, these lyrics not only made me think from a content perspective but also from a “why was it done that way?” perspective.
One of the things that I’ve picked up from reading lyric-writing theory is that lyrics that address a cultural or social problem and want others to join together and mend the problem can very easily become ‘preachy’. In The Next Big Thing, any sense of preachiness was very skilfully avoided and the lyrics come across as seeking co-operation rather than demanding action.
As I sit here listening, the reason these lyrics work so well for me is because of three major considerations. These are...
ONE The chorus provides a very stark contrast against to the verses. In the verses you show us mankind’s enormous capabilities, Then in the chorus you ask us how is it that we can do so much, but when it comes to something as simple as treating fellow humans with decency and respect, we cannot do that? The effect is vivid.
TWO The first two choruses ask questions. This is very clever. By using the question as a lyric device, all sense of preachiness dissolves. When a question is asked, generally people answer it either out loud or in their mind. So when your lyrics asked me, “Why can’t love be the next best thing?”, my brain kicked into action and thought, “Yes! Why can’t it?” What a seriously great hook! It didn’t stop there, though. The first two choruses are composed entirely of questions.
That last chorus, when the question adroitly becomes the suggested solution with the change of just a couple of words, is an excellent pay-off.
THREE Using first person plural – i.e. we, our, us – puts the singer in the same boat as the listener, and all of a sudden, any sense of preachiness again dissolves. As a curiosity, I rewrote your bridge so that it was in second person just to hear the difference. That is…
Quote:
open up your heart you all must do your part so get to it you can do it you can rise above it all
When I did this, it was so easy to hear the bridge go from seeking co-operation to demanding action and taking on the tone of the 'pep talk'. Using we, us and our is so much calmer and so very much more inviting.
I really enjoyed this. It’s wonderful writing by two very competent composers.
Antiwar songs are always a difficult job to do, without becoming pedantic. We (un-) humans always blame others, but it's our banks that get their profits with our money from the oil mob, weapon industry, even the current ever increasing drugscene due their money laundering practice.
I did an attempt writing one, after seeing the refugees trying to reach and the following survival aftermath in Hungary and on the island Lesbos, Greece. Lesbos refugees
I still want to over haul this one, Across the Sea but i need more time as i have now ... PS feel free to help me out on this one anytime I'll re post the song BTW ...
The steel bird’s gone and thus Fear’s in my heart of a coming day The lord is not with us When a gun man tells you how to pray
They may keep the show; I’ll bail out and go Across the sea, don’t you bother me, will you let me be
Paid me a load of jazz For a plane, a train, and a ferry out Tough road that it was A nightmare one should do without
You may keep the show; I’ll bail out and go Across the sea, don’t you bother me, will you let me be
Curse the cold and rain Stuck in the land of the free they say Fences block the way A man with a gun says you cannot stay
You may keep the show; I’ll bail out and go Across the sea, don’t you bother me, will you let me be (don't bother me, just let me be, will you let me be ... )
Thanks again everyone for the nice responses to this song. And a BIG thanks to Floyd and Janice for their wonderful work on this project!! Take care. Greg
Super collaboration! Nice melody with wonderful vocals and harmonies. As Robert said, I also remembered my young days like a campfire and singing along. MIDI SuperTracks in song: 1801 rendered to organ is very effective. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
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