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Pretty Good Christmas

Earlier this week, my daughter was awakened by the sound of mice up in the attic.
They were rustling and scampering in the vents.
She spent a sleepless night on the living room couch.
So I crawled up there the next morning to find they had ripped through the ductwork
and made a general mess of things.
I ended up pulling it all out and sealing up the vents.
It's a good thing she also has an electric heater because that room gets pretty cold.

Now she's back in her room, but not very happy
because her twelve year old Mac won't run Minecraft.
Other than that,

   Well, it looks like a pretty good Christmas.
   Yes, it looks like a pretty good Christmas.

We went to get the Christmas tree out from the shed,
but I lost the key for the lock... again,
and had to cut the lock with a hacksaw... again.
The kids hauled the tree in to the house,
and a trail of mouse droppings littered the floor.
That had to go out.
I went looking for another tree on Craigslist,
but my sister had already gotten a couple that she found on an on-line auction site
because it's the season for saving money.
So now there's a tree in the living room covered with ornaments.
Looks nice.

   Well, it looks like a pretty good Christmas.
   Yes, it looks like a pretty good Christmas.

There's been a cold going around the house.
I've finally gotten my turn.
I called in sick today - I can feel myself heading downhill.
I might end up missing Midnight Mass.
Well, I hope not, but Christmas will still come, even if I'm not there to play bass.

"For unto us a child is born,
Unto us, a son is given."

The rain let up, and the Tule fog rolled in.
"It's A Wonderful Life" is playing on the VCR.
Feels like Christmas.

   Well, it looks like a pretty good Christmas.
   Yes, it looks like a pretty good Christmas.

Instruments
3122:Bass, Acoustic, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
3336:Piano, Electric, Rhythm LoungeFunkJeff Ev16 080
1006:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment, PopCaliforniaSlow Ev 085
4195:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm SongwriterRnBGroove Ev16 080
4198:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking SongwriterGentleFolkRock Ev 100
1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
2976:Vocal Oohs-Aahs, Background Pop3-part Ev 085
1840:Synth Pad, PopModernGrooveMellow Ev16 075
RealDrums: NashvilleBrushesBalladPushEv16: a: Sidestick, Brushes b: Brushes


Effects
Master Buss: HoRNet Master Tool
Spoken Vocal: ReaEQ (Full Vocals), EZMix2 (Natural Deep Voice), Panagement2 (Wood)
Lead: ReaTune, GW VoiceCentric(Natural Lead), Panagement2 (Heaven)
BGV: ReaTune, GW VoiceCentric(Background), Panagement2 (Heaven), LX40 Essentials (Vocal Plate Polish)
El Piano: Reaper Delay with Chorus
Synth: Raum (Airy)
Cello: Trackspacer 2, Panagement2 (Heaven)
Piano: Trackspacer 2, Panagement 2 (Heaven)
Oooh-Aaah: LX40 Essentials (Large Vocal Plate)


Background

Hey look - it's short this time!

I'm not really one for "talking" songs, but after I'd written this up, it didn't seem like the sort of song that would lend itself to a rhyme scheme, or even singing. So I figured I'd do something different.

I got the 2024 version of BiaB, and _ENDU.STY seemed like a good backing track. I worked out a chord progression, and after a couple trials got the vocals more or less in line.

I added some more instruments for variety, played with the balance, and... well, that's about it.

Edit: In case you're wondering... Yeah, this is exactly how my week went. Fortunately, I'm still doing well enough to play at church for Christmas.. Which makes me super-busy (and happy) this Christmas Eve, so Merry Christmas, all... I'll get back to the replies when I get a chance.

As usual, any sorts of comments are welcome.

Merry Christmas!

HI David,

Be right back with my comments. I totally screwed this up

OK, I'm back.

Sorry about that.

Man, this was such an entertaining post - seriously. I loved it from beginning to end. Great story- great delivery. I was actually sad when it ended. Great job on everything.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Alan & Di

David,

I really enjoyed this. In fact, I listened twice. It's a great backstory and an excellent song. I love your narration and singing.

The production is perfect. Truly excellent.

Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Bob

Nicely done, David!

I enjoyed the mix of the spoken word story (loved the story!) and the vocal.

Hope you and yours have a great Christmas.

David, it’s a good thing you decided to do a talking song. I couldn’t imagine this being different in any way. I listened then I listened-again. I then had to look up tule fog. This was the perfect way to kick off Christmas Eve! I loved it. I hope you have a great holiday, Tom

David,

Very. Well. Done.
(dramatic license. those aren't actual sentences)

If this were to land in just the right place, it would surely go viral. And should.

A song/story with heart.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

fj

The spoken word works with the small singing bit.
Sounds Pro. Nicely done, David.

Vic

Ha ha!

Awesome! Great!

I love this!!

Happy Holidays my friend!!

That was unlike anything I've ever heard on this forum. Unique and quite the enjoyable listen. Almost like watching a movie about a family that's trying to have Christmas but things keep getting in their way, but they still manage to get through it somehow to have a pretty good christmas in spite of it all.


Nicely done and the creative thought to pull this off was over the top.

David, what a fantastic job mixing spoken word with singing.
Super story told in an outstanding platform.
Everything is perfect.
Two thumbs up.

Hi David
Absolute top song
I like it very much when the spoken text merges into the sung chorus
This is a really good Christmas song
Thanks for sharing David
Many greetings
Andi ;-)

David, just a wonderful tune! These types of narrated Christmas songs used to be big back in the day...glad this new one is back! Really enjoyed every syllable, and the music tracks with it perfectly. You've got a great speaking voice, too! Saw a lot of FX credited, but to your credit, none of them are overused. So...GREAT JOB!

Oh, and I too learned a new phrase: Tule fog. Huh.

Merry Christmas!

Hi, David ! 😁😍😊

Wonderful tune, David !
I like everything about it
lyrics, music and your
superb performance !

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you
and your nearest !

Cheers
Dani

Hi, Alan (and Di!).
Ha!

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

The mouse electrocution machine we ordered arrived from Amazon last night.

The vermin may have had a Merry Christmas up in the attic, but if we have any luck, they won't make it to New Year.

Thanks! And the same to you and Di!

Hi, Robert.

Glad you liked it! My primary computer refused to work with the microphone, so I ended up having to shift the audio recording to a laptop. Fortunately, the neighbor's dog stopped barking long enough to get it done.

Thanks - the same to you and yours!

Hi, Dave.

Thanks! I appreciate you stopping by to comment.

Thanks, and the same to you!

It turned out to be a good Christmas after all.

Hi, Tommy.

Thanks! Christmas went great.

Merry Christmas to you!

Hi, floyd jane.

Ha! Thanks!

Well, I left out the part about ordering a rodent electrocution machine.

The same to you and yours, thanks!

Hi, Vic.
Thanks, Vic!

I appreciate you stopping by to listen and comment!