Recently, I was inspired to write a song after learning about "Kintsugi", the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. Kintsugi's basic technique involves reassembling broken pottery using lacquer/glue that has been mixed with gold, silver or platinum. By doing this, the scars of breakage become valuable features that enhance the broken ceramics immeasurably.
Because there is a bit of a story behind this song that might interest some forum members, I'll detail my songwriting inspiration and approach in the post immediately below this one. In the meantime, if you'd like to have a listen (lyrics are on Soundcloud)...
The journey of "Get Up And Get Going" began with the below video clip that I stumbled across on YouTube.
After watching this, the idea of embracing damage and using it to create something even more beautiful than the original started playing around in my mind. It's a very powerful metaphor for life.
While I was pondering this metaphor, I began zig-zagging my way around YouTube looking through old songs from the Tin Pan Alley era. That was when I landed "Put On A Happy Face" (POAHF) with Dick Van Dyke singing.
Because I approach songwriting mostly from an analytical perspective, my next step was to use POAHF to create a template.
When I looked at my sheet music for POAHF, the song was 32 bars long. Comparing this to the lyrics, I found that each eight bars of POAHF corresponded to four lyric phrases. In other words, the song consisted of four lots of 8-bar sections. The first and the third sections were musically and structurally the same, so I labeled these 'A' sections. The second and fourth sections were different from each other and different from the A-sections, so I labeled these 'B' and 'C'. The format of the song, therefore, can be described as A-B-A-C.
Since I've never written a song in this format, I was guided by POAHF and constructed my song in the same A-B-A-C format where each section was eight bars long. I varied the last two bars of my second A-section, though. This meant that while it was mostly the same as the first A-section, the second A-section was slightly different. Musically, such a section is often denoted with an apostrophe-like dash.
So the format for my song can be described as A-B-A'-C
I also noticed that in this format, the title appears as a lyric phrase on the second and fourth lines of the A-section.
Thus, with a format in mind about how to create a 32-bar song, I set about writing some lyrics to fit.
this is a v special song imho i really liked this.
sometimes kiss just works.
loved the 'bounce' of this and the 'naturalness'.
an old AE i once met said 'a good hooky song should come thru' in a few traks'. this is a excellent example of what he said and a grrreat song. its also an excellent example of not needing a ton of plug ins in a song.
this is a v special song imho i really liked this.
sometimes kiss just works.
loved the 'bounce' of this and the 'naturalness'.
an old AE i once met said 'a good hooky song should come thru' in a few traks'. this is a excellent example of what he said and a grrreat song. its also an excellent example of not needing a ton of plug ins in a song.
SUPERB...>>>SERIOUSLY CATCHY.
happiness.
om
Hi om,
That was quick!
Thank you so much for jumping in and having a listen!!! It's 2:45 a.m. for me here right now, and you've made my night. I really appreciate your comments a great deal
I think this is a real gem. It sounds like a tune from one of the great musicals of the 40s, 50s and 60s that Rodgers and Hammerstein, or Lerner and Loewe wrote. I've always wanted to write a song like that and have tried but not been successful at it. There are one or two lines where the prosody could be better but I'm comparing it to the great masters and that is perhaps unfair to do ("tougher and can do more" feels slightly cramped, for instance). In fairness, my songs always have a few instances like that.
I saw recently where you say you liked Tin Pan Alley songs but didn't think you had the voice for it. I think you should give it a try anyway. You have a great voice and it just may work in that genre.
Again, this tune's a real winner!
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
This song really is a good combination of "Kintsugi" and the song "Put on a happy Face". Interesting video about Kintsugi. I had seen these lines before, now I know why they are there. It's like life itself. All the cracks in our lives get healed in the long run (except the loss of a child, my mother told me), they make our lives interesting. We should look upon wrinkles and scars as beautiful gold lines, that healed us too. Sometimes other people heal us, sometimes we have to do it ourselves. A happy face may help.
The song is really good, your voice beautiful and it gives you a happy feeling.
Anne-Marie
We are Rob Meulman and Anne-Marie Bovenkamp from The Netherlands.
I hope this will come across in the spirit it's intended in, i.e. I hope this won't sound offensive in any way, because it's meant as a genuine compliment :-)
This song sounds like something Kermit the Frog might sing on Sesame Street! Something like "Being Green" or something. It has that kind of simple, clear, direct message - and your voice is the perfect "carrying agent", if that makes any sense, for this kind of song.
I personally genuinely loved it - you are the master of the positive message song. Bravo, bravo, bravo - and thanks so much for sharing, really put a huge grin on my face :-)
Noel ...this song should be presented to Disney or Pixar for one of their family picture...it's really a joyful positive song...Dick Van Dyke would have killed this one...though perhaps not as good as you just did it! really enjoyed it! best regards...Dan
www.soundclick.com/firesong BiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10
You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
Nice to hear again another Noel positive song. Very interesting backstory and inspiration for the song. Just wondering should I break something just to re-built it stronger
"Scars of experience are badges of pride" and many other beautiful lines are very uplifting and really made me smile. Perfect title for the catchy chorus. Simple but working arrangement and your smooth vocal is always big pleasure to listen to.
It's great to see one of my favorite artists gracing the forum with another classic! I love the simple instrumental approach of this track. It serve's to cradle perfectly the wonderful vocal you delivered here! What a great message that everybody needs! That ukulele...yes!!
I think this is a real gem. It sounds like a tune from one of the great musicals of the 40s, 50s and 60s that Rodgers and Hammerstein, or Lerner and Loewe wrote. I've always wanted to write a song like that and have tried but not been successful at it. There are one or two lines where the prosody could be better but I'm comparing it to the great masters and that is perhaps unfair to do ("tougher and can do more" feels slightly cramped, for instance). In fairness, my songs always have a few instances like that.
I saw recently where you say you liked Tin Pan Alley songs but didn't think you had the voice for it. I think you should give it a try anyway. You have a great voice and it just may work in that genre.
Again, this tune's a real winner!
Hi TuneMonger!
Thanks a ton for the uplifting comments.
It's interesting that the influence of Musicals came through. That was purely accidental. I'm a huge fan of musical-comedies, though, and I admire the melodists and lyricists from this era enormously. Quite honestly, I don't mind being compared to these masters favorably or unfavorably *LOL*. I'll take it either way.
And yeah, I love the Tin Pan Alley era of music. When it moves into the big-band genre, though, my skills are limited. Maybe one day I'll wake up feeling adventurous, and I'll try my hand with BIAB's big-band tracks. When others use these realtracks, like Josie/Sundance did recently, they sound awesome!
Thanks again for the visit, your comments and the smiles you brought my way Noel
This song really is a good combination of "Kintsugi" and the song "Put on a happy Face". Interesting video about Kintsugi. I had seen these lines before, now I know why they are there. It's like life itself. All the cracks in our lives get healed in the long run (except the loss of a child, my mother told me), they make our lives interesting. We should look upon wrinkles and scars as beautiful gold lines, that healed us too. Sometimes other people heal us, sometimes we have to do it ourselves. A happy face may help.
The song is really good, your voice beautiful and it gives you a happy feeling.
Anne-Marie
Hi Anne-Marie.
It's really great to see you! Thanks for visiting me and my song
When I saw that video on Kintsugi, I was inspired to do two things. The first was to write a song and to use the principle of Kintsugi as a metaphor for the lyrics. Now that I've managed to do that, I can move on to the second thing that I was inspired to do. And that is to break a piece of pottery and to put it back together again with golden highlighted cracks.
I've done a bit of research around the internet now and some of the Kintsugi craft work is incredible.
I love these thoughts of yours....
Originally Posted By: Anne-Marie
We should look upon wrinkles and scars as beautiful gold lines, that healed us too. Sometimes other people heal us, sometimes we have to do it ourselves. A happy face may help.
May lots of good things come your and Rob's way! Noel
User Video: Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box®
The Bob Doyle Media YouTube channel is known for demonstrating how you can creatively incorporate AI into your projects - from your song projects to avatar building to face swapping, and more!
His latest video, Next-Level AI Music Editing with ACE Studio and Band-in-a-Box, he explains in detail how you can use the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box with ACE Studio. Follow along as he goes from "nothing" to "something" with his Band-in-a-Box MIDI Melodist track, using ACE Studio to turn it into a vocal track (or tracks, you'll see) by adding lyrics for those notes that will trigger some amazing AI vocals!
Wir waren fleißig und haben über 50 neue Funktionen und eine erstaunliche Sammlung neuer Inhalte hinzugefügt, darunter 222 RealTracks, neue RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, "Songs with Vocals" Artist Performance Sets, abspielbare RealTracks Set 3, abspielbare RealDrums Set 2, zwei neue Sets von "RealDrums Stems", XPro Styles PAK 6, Xtra Styles PAK 17 und mehr!
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
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.
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!
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."
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.