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Getting Colder is a song about social isolation: https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130/getting-colder
It can happen to all of us, like with Covid-19, but also because of social or emotional situations.
That happened to me some time ago. I remembered what it did in my head. I hestitated bringing this song to the forum because of that, but I want the melody to be judged. It's not only a sad song. If you listen closely, you can hear a Latin touch in the chordprogression. I had 'La Bamba' in mind, but a lot slower. Still it can be heard, provided you know that song.
I ued no drums, only a footstomp. This is to give more space to the other instruments and the vocals.

I do hope you like it, but don't hesitate to tell me what I did wrong, can do better, or did well,
Hans

The instruments:
The Style is _MANDOWN.STY (Man Down Ev8 Country Mando Solo)

RealTracks: 2915:Bas,
RealTracks: 1690:Piano, Acoustic
RealTracks: 2051:Guitar, Ac, Fingerpicking
RealTracks: ~896:Guitar, 12-String ac.
RealTracks: 3236:Guitar, Nylon, Fingerpicking
RealDrums: FootStomp Reel:16ths SlightSwing

The lyrics:

Getting colder
(c) HWBerkhout

It's getting cold now
There are no blankets to warm all of me
Yes, it's getting colder
Nothing around me, here at this place I can see

Can't stop the shivering
and the chattering of my teeth
It was foolish to go to this place
Without power and no one to meet

When I muse about my reasons
I can't remember going anywhere
I even can't remember what I've been doing
I was just there

It is so cold now
No branches to use for a fire(
I'm f*cked)
Maybe I'm older
Can't figure out how to retire

I'm afraid no one's will come to this place
I don't hear no sound
And my mobile is out of reach
while it's getting too late to go around

When I muse about my motivations
I can't see a reason why I went
It was more or less an obligation
No one knows about or understand

And if I muse about my situation
No messages to friends I send
Although I know what will happen now
I still can not comprehend,
No I don't!

solo

It's getting colder
I'm tired, close my eyes for a while (2x)
I'm getting so cold now
So very damned cold
Oh it's much too cold

Hans,

I really like this.

Good opening. Nice instrumentation throughout.

A solid lyric. I like the melody. Very effective.

A really good vocal. One of your best, I think. Clear and "present".

Excellent job all around. Well done.

(and I like your picture!)

fj

Very sad ... but

very will written;

very good vocals;

and very well mixed.

Thought provoking ... powerful

Excellent composition and performance!

J&B

Hello Hans ...

Loved this from the very beginning. Your vocal sounds great! Nice transition from the all-acoustic to the full band! Everything about this is really, really good. Very sad but appropriate fort the time. Enjoyed those unexpected chord changes in places. Excellent work!!!

Best to you. Be safe ...

Alan

Powerful!

Hans, this is my new favorite from you.

Love the arrangement, the lyrics, and this has to be your best vocal yet. Nice mix too!

Very, very good!

I'm with Floyd on this. Good song.

Hans,
Interesting self examination in the lyric matched by a strong vocal and a good melody.
The solo guitar & later piano/guitar simple arrangement works well.
It could be my `phones but I get some harshness in the vocal - sounds like its overcooked in places- you have a powerful voice!
A minor thought fwiw;I don`t think I`m squeamish about offensive language, I just find its better left out of lyrics- the one word here distracts a little.

Robert

1. Superbly written lyrics that penetrate the heart.

2. Melody: This is one of those songs that the melody fits the melody, as the cliche goes, like a glove. Wonderful!

3. Vocal performance is one of your best: expressive and clear.

Hi Floyd,
I'm most pleased by your comment / judgement of the song.
I had a similair feeling about this song, being one of the better ones.
For me this means I grow in the proces of recording and mixing.
That took so much time the last years. And the results never were what I wanted them to sound.
That was quite a frustrating process. When listening to your songs, they all have that high quality of brightness I want to reach.
It still will take time to reach that, but I'm getting warmer...

And you know you're the first mentioning a picture accompanying my songs. Like that!

So thanks Floyd,
Hans

Hi Janice and Bud,
What very, very, very nice of you to write this about the song.
You are such loyal listeners of my songs, and always with positive reactions.
I really appreciate that.

Thanks,
Hans

Hello Di and Alan,

A very lovely reaction from you! I always like the way you write your findings, especially the compliments ;-)
One last thing about the 'unexpected chord changes': because it is a 'heavy' song I thought to add some lighthearted chordprogressions. That was a bit dangerous for the original melody, but I am glad I did it. Thanks for noticing!

Hans

Hans,

I liked it a lot — your vocal slays on this one. You can hear the “La Bamba” progression, but your use of it is unique, and had you not mentioned it, I might not have picked it up--nicely done. My only nit is the shift musically into the chorus—e.g., at the 1:15 mark and later in the song—is the transition too dramatic? The song continues to sound great afterward, so wondering if there’s a slightly softer way to move into it that chorus. Dunno—but then again, that may have been your intent and it may work really well for others—so take it for what it’s worth. Outstanding work regardless—with some sweet production touches. Enjoyed it!

Hope all is good with you,

Deej

Hi Hans
Nice instrumentation and melody and a strong vocal. Sounds like the personal circumstances you've drawn on were hard going. Hope that using the memory of those feelings to create the song was cathartic (as it often can be).
Regards,
Leon

Hi Dave, thanks for my new ratings! I wished more people would feel the same about this dark song, but we have a crowdy forum...



Hi Herb, thanks for that!



Hello Robert, thanks for your well thought comments on the song! And no, it aint your ears that are playing tricks here.
Although the vocals also are not overcooked. It had to do with the way I did the mixing. I use two vocaltracks. Adjusted a minor vocal issue in one track with melodyne, but forgot to do the same in the second track. It's a minor thing but I will fix it later.
The song brought back bad memories i have to get rid of. still i made the song because many people can have these kind of feelings (and I liked the melody). About that offensive language you mentioned; that was not my intention; when I sing I try to empathize with the subject. The spot in the lyrics where I used that word was where I realized I was in big trouble (according to the situation). And this is what people (could) say when they realize they are in big problems. Sorry if it offended you, but that's why I used it.



Hi Ezekiel, thanks for your wonderful comment. I glowed with pleasure the day you wrote this!



Hello Deej, thanks for listening so thoroughly and still having such a positive judgement. That 'La Bamba' chord progression was -in a way- meant to be 'hidden'. The purpose was to let a dark song sounds somewhat lighter with a bit of swing. But I admit, it happened by accident when re-composing the song. But I liked it, that's why it came in the final version of the song.
And I understand what you say about the transition from verse to chorus. I had a hard time on that one. I tried different things. But the durance of the song played a roll too. I choose the solution (with a pause and push) you are not so satisfied about. If you have another sollution, let me know. I want to learn!



Hello Leon, a very nice comment on the song you have! But no, the memory was not cathartic, quite the opposite. When I had that hard time it helped writing about it. But singing about it after those years brought the bad things back to me. Why making the song then, one could say? It's what made me and i like the melody a lot. But it's really nice of you to think about it this way.

So thanks again everyone for your nice and good comments.
All the best,

Hans

Very nice Hans. Lots of passion going on here.
Great band choice and very well produced well produced.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Rob4580

Awesome vocal Hans. One of your best. Very cool lyric. Backtrack was perfect.

Wow Hans you really out did yourself on this one. A super vocal that expressed those lyrics fantastically! Excellent job on that. All of that plus a spot on mix. This has everything.

I didn't get cold but it did put a chill up my spine.

Excellent work!

Hi Scott and Mario,

Thanks very much for your comment on the song.

I hope it won't stay my best song/mix, but it's nice to read that a black, chilly song can reach your standards!
Is your spine all right again, Mario?

Have a nice day,
Hans

Just pure-out internal monologue the way everybody experiences it. I guess. I don't know for sure because it's internal. Complete disrespect for genre, it just goes where it's compelled to and remains as long as it needs to. All the while that twisted La Bamba progression lurking like the Declaration of Independence.

If you can't tell...I enjoyed this.

I'll make a small and rare "mixing" comment. The opening guitar in the left channel is a bit too "loud". I'm not apologizing for that, either.

Hans, you obviously hit a home run with this one because everyone, including me, loves your vocal on this. I'm a little undecided about some of the changes in the song, they are quite drastic, almost separate songs. If I listen more, the musical side of my brain may come to accept it. But despite this, let me repeat that you knocked it out of the park with this one! Congratulations!!