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The Last Song

In 2016, on a local musician forum, there was a song contest with Ballad as the theme. So, I opened the BIAB song picker and looked for a song idea with the slowest tempo and found a song composed in 2007, tempo 60 BPM, powerful sounding RealDrums in the chorus section, perfect! But it had no proper lyrics, just some images of a sunny church scene. That gave me an idea to write an ultimate ballad, death as the subject. Originally written in Finnish and Vocaloid singing, one listener liked it so much that wanted to sing it and he did a wonderful job.

The reception was mixed, not so easy to swallow on one listen (agonizing, not listener friendly). On the other hand, one friend has said that it is one of the greatest songs in the world, but required three tries to listen to the end…

Now I have made the English version, I'm quite satisified with the translation although some parts don't work but they didn't work in the original either. My vocals are bad, I couldn't reach the low G, so I tried to save things with Melodyne and 3 overdubs, but it can be heard. I hope the listening experience is not too painful despite these flaws.

RealDrums: PopModernGrooveSync
RealTracks:
Bass #2937
Cello #1856
Acoustic piano #1006, #891
Electric piano #2506
Electric guitar #2535, #869, #2878, #3230, #1167 (solo)
Pedal steel #2542
Mandolin #3074
Fiddle #1593
Horns #2291
Sax Soprano #1060
Trumpet #1064
String Quartet #2334
Synth Pad #1842

MIDI: Strings (PSYK2.STY) - VST SampleTank3, bells (GPO5, Motor Rhythms)

+Sound effects

Vocals by me + Cantus VST

Mixed in Cakewalk by BandLab

Lyrics:

I can hear a tear to fall
when it hits the wooden church floor
silence is suffocating
death's last call is irrevocable
revealed to all
when my surname is carved in the tombstone
by a chisel strike.

This is the final hour, the tongue at the tower clocks
the hammer of the sexton hits the last nail on the box
capture peace at rest
when the instant gathers the harvest.
The cantor plays the final chord, it's wafting from the loft
Cupid's last arrow has missed once too oft
Cerberus by the graveyard, ready to stamp my clock card
didn't live long to tell the dear ones farewell
just once more.

I can hear a coin to fall
when it hits the empty alms bag
that's left of my accomplishments
when worthlessness of this passing life
is revealed to all
the hardened heart is finally broken
by a big bell's strike.

This is the final hour, the tongue at the tower clocks
the hammer of the sexton hits the last nail on the box
capture peace at rest
when the instant gathers the harvest.
The cantor plays the final chord, it's wafting from the loft
Cupid's last arrow has missed once too oft
Curtain closed by the wicket, but no return in the ticket
my enticing song to chime for the ferryman of time
just once more.

-------------
Janne

Janne,
Very unusual piece of music. I assure you, I was not it pain listening... Good instrumentation, interesting lyrics. Ending was very cool.

"Cerberus by the graveyard, ready to stamp my clock card"

Thank you for sharing!

Misha.

Janne,

It was an interesting listen—a really original and ambitious piece of work. As Misha noted, not in anyway painful. A lot of potential in this one—I’m wondering if the chorus is just a tad too slow tempo-wise, maybe not. I go back and forth. But its a nice melody, and love that close—nice touch there! Keep at this one.

All my best,

Deej

Best thing I've heard from you. I can't find the words to say why, but it feels like a substantial piece to me. I also like you singing those lower notes. I was wondering how Cantus sounds in a real piece, this gives me a good idea.

hi janne this is very different many styles working together great job on this well done eric

Painlessly enjoyed it, Janne. I also loved that line quoted by Misha: "Cerberus by the graveyard, ready to stamp my clock card." An eerily engaging piece!

Janne, this is very unusual but also very good. Your lyrics are excellent and was the mix. Your vocal was very strong. Excellent use of RTs. This is definitely movie ready.

I liked this one!

Thanks Misha for your nice review, I'm glad you were not in pain

Janne

Thanks Deej for your kind and positive comment

Janne

Thanks TuneMonger, "best thing" and "substantial" are really rewarding feedback Cantus fits very well with a slow piece like this, but I have used it also in a faster song.

Janne

Janne

An ambitious composition, with a lush interesting sound. One of your best I think.

A very impressive work.

Peter

Janne,

Very interesting and as Misha said, unusual piece! I think you did an excellent job with this and the vocals were done very nicely! The chorus in this is really good as far as I'm concerned! The outro on this was really impressive! Thanks, Torrey

No pain here. Your lyrics really stand out. Such vivid imagery! Although the song is unusual, it is interesting. I like the amalgamation of sound/instrumentation you created.

Outstanding production. "Enjoy" is not a word easily used for a piece with such a theme, but it was very engaging and well-wrought.

Hi Janne,

The only painful thing I had with your song was the churchbell in the beginning. I had the volume too high, it appears...
You had a couple of nice things in this sweet song with that sad melody: the churchbells (now meant in a possitive way), your voice suddenly going 'under the floor' in the beginning (I think on purpose), the sound of a flooding chuch. Things like that. And than the lyrics! I admire the way you can write abouth the last hours of that chuch. So sensitive.

But the most remarkable part in your song where your vocals. You say they hurt ones ears. In the start of the song (after the bells) when you begin to sing, it sounded a bit unstable, but very good. And that feeling became stronger during the song. Your voice touches an invisible snare of emotion (at least with me). I like that effect your voice has.

Bye,
Hans

Good track, Janne, production wise and lyrically lots of interesting things going on. Vocally my favorite part was the choir, very effective.
Enjoyed!

Janne
Some salutary well written lyrics; my favourite lines:

I can hear a coin to fall
when it hits the empty alms bag
that's left of my accomplishments

ouch! No sugar coating as the last nail goes in that coffin.
The vocals are clear ; I think your accented English adds mystery to the tale.
Cool choir and effects at the end.

Robert

There's one spot in the vocal that you could address for me: at the end of the 2nd line you sing "floor" and the fretless sounding bass picks that note up as youi hold it and slides down, (to the floor), with it - seems like your voice was caught and dragged with it by Melodyne - if you ended the note sooner it wouldn't seem connected with the bass.
Apart from that you have a courageous performance of a very interesting narrative to a nice backing.
Cool.

Thanks Eric, I'm glad for your positive feedback

Janne

Thanks Marty for your kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed my art That line you quoted could have been different… in the original Finnish version I had a funny rhyming idea, but then I found it had already been used. Now I realize that it could have been translated almost directly (something like "St. Peter by the Heaven's gate, offers me one green North State", North State is a brand of cigarettes, probably not known outside Finland).

Janne