Falling In Love

[alexis]

Hello folks,

I just finished recording another song I wrote, and because misery loves company I thought I'd share!

This next statement is true, but I just realized I can use it moving forward even when it's not, to excuse my sucky mixing!

"In its current form it's just a guide vocal for the female singer in our band and I had to get it out on a deadline - so when listening, please excuse the destructive mixing if possible, thank you very much!"

Among the biggest mixing sins in this one that I've identified, some of the words are indistinct, and the bass line (which is meant to drive the song!) gets lost on ear buds or other small devices. Also that cowbell, which I proudly rescued from oblivion by turning it up, comes across like a brain-melting torture device on every other system I've since listened to the song on (but I just got a use request from the CIA, so there's that).

I just plain ran out of time and energy to sing and record some parts again,and work more on the mixing!

But be all that as I may, I just wanted to release it from my computer to you guys (I haven't put it up on youtube yet). I hope you like whatever good parts are deep in there. Why would I do that? Because no mother thinks their child is ugly, and that's how I feel about the "songness" of my own songs, haha!

Here's the lyrics because of some unintelligibility. Dylan and Amanise, you obviously don't have to worry about someone muscling in on your profound and groovy meanings territory, know what I mean?

Falling In Love
Verse 1
Falling in love with you, so fine
Falling in love with you, all the time
Ooh, how I'm loving
Falling in Love with you

Verse 2
One little smile, it's the bright sunny day
One little kiss, all the clouds fly away
Ooh, how I'm loving
Falling in Love with you

Break 1
When you're smiling and you hold me so tight,
Then I know it's going to be alright
When you love me,
And say you think of me,
And that's all the time so now I'm ...

Verse 3
See Verse 1

Break 2
(Oh) birds are singing and the sky is so blue,
(But) pretty baby they've got nothing on you,
When you love me,
And say you think of me,
And that's all the time so now I'm ...

Verses 3 and 4
See Verse 1 - Ha!

Anyway, thanks to anyone who might have a listen ...

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wxda77uy ... c6p51&dl=0

[amanise]

Awesome!! Did you know if you play the middle section backwards it says "Donald is dead"? It's always worth checking for these when you hit a cosmic vein like this

That song works - and sounds like the band is going to have a whole lorra fun with it! I give it the amanise UK kite mark of approval!

Well done!

[Sam Spoons]

Can I say it has a certain '20s vibe? Or do I sense a slight Bonzo's influence there?

[alexis]

Can I say it has a certain '20s vibe? Or do I sense a slight Bonzo's influence there?

Will it was written in the 20's ... '2020s!

Yes, sorry, couldn't help myself!

If my vocals hadn't been so muddy I would have wanted to do one of those old time radio voices for one of the middle eights (severe HPF+LPF), but it'll not happen now.

It's for our Valentine's performance, if the whole band wants to do it (a bit of a reach), or if not just the singer, and me on the piano, during the "solo performer" break out session.

[alexis]

Thank you for the kind words!

I'll have to check, I meant it to say, "Where's my cornflakes" when played backwards ...

[Sam Spoons]

Can I say it has a certain '20s vibe? Or do I sense a slight Bonzo's influence there?

Will it was written in the 20's ... '2020s!

Yes, sorry, couldn't help myself!

If my vocals hadn't been so muddy I would have wanted to do one of those old time radio voices for one of the middle eights (severe HPF+LPF), but it'll not happen now.

It's for our Valentine's performance, if the whole band wants to do it (a bit of a reach), or if not just the singer, and me on the piano, during the "solo performer" break out session.

I think it'll work really well with just piano and voice.

[ConcertinaChap]

Thik I'd agree with Sam there. Lovely piano, strong enough to support the song.

CC

[awjoe]

Confident piano - that bit at the end where you slow it down and then take your time bringing it to a close is skillful and fun. Really like it. You could do this live successfully - they'd be onside by the end of the first verse.

[Drew Stephenson]

I think we can agree that the mix needs a bit of work, but the song is definitely worth it.
I think I'd like to hear it with just piano, bass and vocals - and I reckon if you slowed it down it could have a really sultry cabaret vibe with the right woman singing.

[Eddy Deegan]

I think this is a great song. There's something about the piano part that I find a bit strange. Don't get me wrong, it's a really good piano part but the execution is a little robotic and stifled. If you can find a pianist/keyboard player who can take the time to learn it and render it with more fluidity I think it would be time well spent. A personal preference on my part but I think it would sound better with less compression on the piano as well (I'll confess to having a bit of an issue with compression on piano in general).

I get it's a guide for a female vocalist yet done with a male voice and it's clear it's outside the comfort range of the guide vocal.

There are mixing issues but as a guide track it's good. All that said, sterling work on an admirable composition and better than many demos I've heard, mine included!

[alexis]

Thank you very much for your kind comments!

The singer and I are practicing it alone tomorrow. She suggested pulling the drummer from the group to join us in the "solo performers" breakout session at the performance. I appreciate y'all's votes of confidence for "piano/voice only", and I do kind of dread the added complexity of bringing a third person in for practice (none of us have enough live experience to just "get it right" without practicing it together first) - but it's the first time the two of us are working together, and I want to be uber sure I don't come across as a "my way or the highway" kind of guy, so I'll be open to getting the drummer in if that's our consensus tomorrow after the two of us practice.

I could make it sultry slow, Drew, that's a great idea. One problem associated with that is what to do with the part at the end, which is already pretty slow, I know there would be ways to deal with that (including potentially cutting it), but I'm just not feeling very creative !

Thank you again!

[Folderol]

Nearly missed this!
Even as a guide track it's good. I think I would have preferred a slightly 'harder' bass, to cut through a bit more.

[alexis]

Nearly missed this!
Even as a guide track it's good. I think I would have preferred a slightly 'harder' bass, to cut through a bit more.

Thank you, Folderol!

May I ask please for a link or reference to a commercially-available track or two that has a bass sound like you're preferring?

(I'm unhappy how quiet it is on a few systems I've listened to, and also how muddy it sounds in my vehicle).

Thank you!

[alexis]

Thanks for your awesome comments, Eddie! I'm humbled by your compliments, knowing your background and skill.

And grateful for your criticism as well! I'll going go back and listen again to that piano. That was me playing the piano (well, all the sounds came from either my Roland Juno or various apps), I always knew I should record it again (but never could because of a deadline), but the reason I wasn't happy with it was the opposite of what I think of as robotic, meaning that it was "off the grid" too much - too many early/too many late notes, i.e., just plain old sloppy.

If you happen to read this, can you LMK a bit more what caught your ear about the robotic aspect? I would be thrilled to learn something new and try to incorporate it in the goal of being a better piano player!

Thanks again, Eddie!