PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase The Way Things Are (with PeterF)

Wow. One of the best I've heard from you. It feels like a long time since I've heard Janice sing a full song, as opposed to harmonies etc. for other people, so this was a real treat.

Who wrote the lyrics??? It's not clear from the SoundCloud post, but whoever did it ... hats off.

Please keep writing and creating ... these times are perhaps also an opportunity for us creators to create and alleviate some of the pain so many of us are going through, through music, lyrics ... in one word, through art. So let's do it. THANK YOU for regaling us with this beautiful, beautiful song!

Really enjoyed this one!

Great writing, Bud, man I wish I had skills in that department! My favorite of many:

"a friend said her neighbor
was gonna go to hell
they went to a different church
was all she could tell"

Janice as always sounds great, love it when she brings in the harmonies.

Peter sounds a bit like Clapton to me on this one, very good indeed (cool ending!)

And a pro sounding mix to top it all off.

Excellent!

Wow. One of the best I've heard from you. It feels like a long time since I've heard Janice sing a full song, as opposed to harmonies etc. for other people, so this was a real treat.

Who wrote the lyrics??? It's not clear from the SoundCloud post, but whoever did it ... hats off.

Please keep writing and creating ... these times are perhaps also an opportunity for us creators to create and alleviate some of the pain so many of us are going through, through music, lyrics ... in one word, through art. So let's do it. THANK YOU for regaling us with this beautiful, beautiful song!

Nice to hear an original from you and what a touching one it is! Hopeless story, powerful lyric writing. I was expecting something relieving in the end, but that's the way things usually are in real life, no happy endings. But luckily the excellent production makes me smile, Janice's voice and the guitars sing the ode of sadness very gently.

Janne

Oh Man, this is simply outstanding. Janice your voice is perfect for ballads, and it's time you did an album.
Peter, brilliant guitar work as always

As usual, excellent production, clear mix, and emotive singing.

Mind you, I'm not a fan of this sort of song, because they're as subtle as getting continually smacked over the head with a 2x4 cluestick.

Then again, who likes taking medicine? So I guess you can put that down as a measure of the song's success.

Hi Janice and Bud,

What beautiful song! Such a nice melody and so wonderfully performed. Only you can sing it that way, Janice!
You all, including Peter, did a very good job on this song!
You almost forgot what sorrow you sang about. Maybe I have to criticize you on that...
and what coincidence I have posted a song myself about that worrisome times we live in. And I sang very angry, maybe even ugly. But that nasty world made me do that ;-)

But then you sang: 'all you have to do is pretend it’s just a play'. Well, there I became speechless. What a cynical, but also wonderful way of telling how to deal with it!
I don't think you need more compliments, otherwise you will walk beside your shoes (a Dutch proverb meaning: you become too vain).

Hans

Really enjoyed this one!

Great writing, Bud, man I wish I had skills in that department! My favorite of many:

"a friend said her neighbor
was gonna go to hell
they went to a different church
was all she could tell"

Janice as always sounds great, love it when she brings in the harmonies.

Peter sounds a bit like Clapton to me on this one, very good indeed (cool ending!)

And a pro sounding mix to top it all off.

Excellent!

Nice to hear an original from you and what a touching one it is! Hopeless story, powerful lyric writing. I was expecting something relieving in the end, but that's the way things usually are in real life, no happy endings. But luckily the excellent production makes me smile, Janice's voice and the guitars sing the ode of sadness very gently.

Janne

I wish I could write like Bud.
I wish I could sing like Janice.
I wish I could play guitar like Peter.

After hearing something so professional it almost makes me want to sell my instruments.

Everything is perfect, as usual from you all!

The narrative & perspective are terrific.
"that's just the way things are"
Says it all really.
The lies we tell children, (science, faith & education are full of them as stepping stones to further understanding), form the adult they become.
Cool song on all levels.
Thank you.

Janice and Bud, after all the comments here is hard for me to add anything to top it. Anything that you all do is simply great. Production, vocals ,lyrics, you name it. All perfect!

Mike B.

Oh Man, this is simply outstanding. Janice your voice is perfect for ballads, and it's time you did an album.
Peter, brilliant guitar work as always

What a collaboration and with BIAB too! Great lyrics. Absolutely outstanding. Wonderful and full vocals. Beautiful Great guitar playing. I love that style. Someone said Eric Claptop. Yes . I'd throw in Mick Taylor too. Great production (mix, etc.) too.

Ok, this song IS emotion! It's one of those songs that captures a feeling so well that you sort of lose sight that it's a song and feel like you've just witnessed something. It's a story told so unbelievably well.

To expand on that a little bit without going too far, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is one of those types of songs. I'm not saying this sounds like that, just the power of the writing and performance get you to that place.

You three have so expertly accomplished this through the use of a well-delivered melody and harmonies, fantastic guitar work, production, and extra attention to the details of the lyrics. Instead of using words like Mom or Dad you chose words like Mommy and Daddy. Those words I want really drive it home.

The feel has even taking on life in the cover photo. From what I've seen, a lot of your covers have a really cool blue Spectrum to them. The Earth Tones had me expecting something different, and it was delivered

I lend on the overall sobering subject matter. I commend you for bringing it into perspective for those of us who may have forgotten the fears of a child. it's especially poignant given the times were in.

I am sitting in sitting in a parking lot as I write this. And by right, I mean speak it into my phone. I'm quite certain there will be many typos and it's not overly easy for me to go back and put in correct. I'm getting better at not worrying about that and just getting the comment out. that's what's most important in a work as amazing as this is! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It is truly top-notch in every aspect!

I wish I could write like Bud.
I wish I could sing like Janice.
I wish I could play guitar like Peter.

After hearing something so professional it almost makes me want to sell my instruments.

Everything is perfect, as usual from you all!

Loved the intro. Love the tone of Peters guitar. Excellent vocal Janice. Professional level production. Well done

The narrative & perspective are terrific.
"that's just the way things are"
Says it all really.
The lies we tell children, (science, faith & education are full of them as stepping stones to further understanding), form the adult they become.
Cool song on all levels.
Thank you.

What a collaboration and with BIAB too! Great lyrics. Absolutely outstanding. Wonderful and full vocals. Beautiful Great guitar playing. I love that style. Someone said Eric Claptop. Yes . I'd throw in Mick Taylor too. Great production (mix, etc.) too.

Janice, Bud and Peter

Heartfelt, poignant lyrics from Bud, superb singing from Janice (who would expect anything else) and tasteful guitar work from Peter. Great job by all.

I know Peter will particularly enjoy the Clapton comparison in the comments. In our early teens, he and I both bought our first guitars cause we dreamed of playing like EC. These days, Peter actually can. Me, I’m still strumming a few simple chords to help me write lyrics. Goes to show that dedication, hard work and perseverance pays off (and vice versa).

Regards,
Leon

Ok, this song IS emotion! It's one of those songs that captures a feeling so well that you sort of lose sight that it's a song and feel like you've just witnessed something. It's a story told so unbelievably well.

To expand on that a little bit without going too far, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is one of those types of songs. I'm not saying this sounds like that, just the power of the writing and performance get you to that place.

You three have so expertly accomplished this through the use of a well-delivered melody and harmonies, fantastic guitar work, production, and extra attention to the details of the lyrics. Instead of using words like Mom or Dad you chose words like Mommy and Daddy. Those words I want really drive it home.

The feel has even taking on life in the cover photo. From what I've seen, a lot of your covers have a really cool blue Spectrum to them. The Earth Tones had me expecting something different, and it was delivered

I lend on the overall sobering subject matter. I commend you for bringing it into perspective for those of us who may have forgotten the fears of a child. it's especially poignant given the times were in.

I am sitting in sitting in a parking lot as I write this. And by right, I mean speak it into my phone. I'm quite certain there will be many typos and it's not overly easy for me to go back and put in correct. I'm getting better at not worrying about that and just getting the comment out. that's what's most important in a work as amazing as this is! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It is truly top-notch in every aspect!

Dear Janice, Bud & Peter,

this is really something special !!!

Thoughtful and heartfelt lyrics - Bud: KUDOS !!!. Janice you sing these outstanding lyrics with a deep emotion without any artificial sentimentality, that is just fantastic.

I love the arrangement and the overall sound of this production - oh Bud, you always get things right!

Peter, great playing (like usual).

Like I said, "This is really something special".

Stay healthy - there's more than just a storm ahead...

All the very, very best to all of you,

Stefan

Loved the intro. Love the tone of Peters guitar. Excellent vocal Janice. Professional level production. Well done

This website forum is the hidden gem on the internet for the best, most original, and creative artists, songwriters, and their songs.

THIS song is one of the reasons why.

Nicely done.

Love your genius, Bud, and Janice's superb delivery. Excellent song with so much sadness. Peter's guitar work is superb as always. What a great song!

Janice, Bud, Peter...

Superb.

Everything is just as it should be to tell your story.

A solid write. Nice progression in the lyric/story. A well-matched melody.
The BAND does its job perfectly - as does the guy who put them in place...
Peter's guitar work is wonderfully supportive.
Seems silly to even mention Janice's vocal. PERFECTION.

A crystal clear mix. Sounds SO good on my monitors!!

One to be proud of (of course, they all are...)

fj

This is one of your best. Bud, I really like how your crafted that first verse to lead smoothly into the chorus--that really hooked me.

Well, I bet a lot of full grown adults wonder the same stuff every day, I know I do. I appreciate that in mentioning religion you touched on the good and the bad in it. Production was first rate as usual. And that voice! I'm out of superlatives. Thanks!

Thanks for the listen and the kind remarks!

J&B

J@B + Peter,
Beautiful and sad original! I jumped into listening and was pretty sure I knew it. Turns out I did not Well, just wait 100(?) years and it will become a public domain... and somebody will re arrange and re-post it here. Very well done! Great teamwork! Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

WOW!

This so worth the price of admission ... plus a fine dinner afterwards. there is so much fabulous talent on this forum. You two put out the cream of the crop entertainment in these parts ... and a lot of other parts, I would imagine.

Janice shines on this ... she always does, but this one is extra special. The harmony is beyond sweet. And Bud, you knob twisting talent is to die for.

Wishing you both everything good. take care ...

Alan

All around powerhouse of a track.

Janice, Bud and Peter,

Wonderful collaboration!
Very nice intro guitar.
Very pop with a lot of Folk feel.
Janice's Vocals are excellent as usual.
Great production.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Dear 'Bud', Ms. Janice and 'PeterF'...

I think a song could be 'upbeat' even while it expresses sorrow, regret, anger, loss, or any other unwelcome feeling, because the act of setting to music the sentiments expressed in the lyrics is in itself an act of faith and hope. People normally don't raise their voices in song to purposefully make themselves feel bad -- they do it to release the bad feelings and free themselves from despair, as any worthwhile 'blues' song does.

Thoughtful lyrics and Ms. Janice's gentle, empathetic vocal treatment of them make the song, The Way Things Are, something to take to heart. 'PeterF', I believe I have not heard you play an electric guitar in such a somber, questioning manner (to my ears, at least), but your performance cleared a quiet space for itself and deeply affected my experience of listening to the song.

'Bud', I think I would not use the word 'mixing' to describe what you do on the production end of a song -- instead, I would say that you tend to your 'sound gardens' with care, sensitivity, and love, even.

If there are 'intelligent' aliens out there in the cosmos somewhere, I hope they'll detect this song, be moved by it, and come to Earth to help us fix things up !!!

LOREN

A very poignant listen. Janice's vocal very well covers the weary resignation of a parent in this world. The change of meter under the title line perfectly frames this. "Enjoy" is not a word to use, but it was a time of listening and reflecting and identifying that was much appreciated. The band softly supports and the mix sits just right. Peter leads the band here, even though I expect he came "last". Wonderfully summed up in his play.

Love the "...wish on a star, ...that's just the way things are" hook Bud. One of my new fav Janice vocals and loved the guitar tone Peter used - fit like a glove.

WOW!!! This is a forum Wall of Famer for sure!! Everything is beautifully done!! Everything!!! An instant classic!!! Take care. Greg

Hi, Janice.Bud & Peter !:))
This tune is very, very good
in every aspect, Janice´s vocals
Bud´s mixing and Peter´s playing
not to forget those lyrics !
What a wonderful collab
I like it very much !

Cheers
Dani

J&B,
I think this is one of your best lyrics, Bud; engaging,accurate details of a child`s view and you can just hear the mum & dad`s caring, universal response.
Wonderful warmth and phrasing in Janice`s vocal- of course!!

Robert

Hi Janice, Bud and Peter man this is good!! the vocal was super great changes guitar work fit perfect loved the lyrics thanks for sharing Eric

Wow, this sounds great y'all.

Beautiful production, excellent guitar work, and stunning vocals as usual.