Simon Says (original)

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propman

propman

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Once again, my ears are fried, so I can't tell what I screwed up, so in case the vocals are too low, the lyrics are on this page. What do you guys think of this one?

Simon Says

Listen to the radio
Watch your favorite TV show
They tell you to jump off a bridge, and you do it.

Even little Johnny's high
He might even kiss the world goodbye
All the stuff that he's done
You knew it, and let him do it.

Look at the media
At all the trash that it feeds you
And what it does to your mind
It degrades it, and it fades it.

Stand behind the podium
And you tell us where you're coming from
But be sure to leave out
That you'll break us, and you hate us.

(Chorus)
Simon says a lot of things he shouldn't
But still you listen.
You mess up your life with trouble and strife
Look what you're missing
Simon says a lot of things he shouldn't
but still you listen.
Don't listen to everything that Simon says.

Those who think they're tall
Stand in juvi hall
It's a sad sight to see, but we made it.

Cuss your father and your mother too
In front of little brother who is impressionable
And you made it.

You're strapped for cash
So steal it from your friends secret stash
That he told you about in trust.

Buy all of it that you can
And make sure that it's in your hand
So they catch you in the bust.

(Chorus)
 
Great song. Couldn't find anything negative to say about it. All good. Cool lyrics.
 
Enjoyed it a lot.

What I'd do:

Vox up.

There's a strong bass drum figure in the chorus that is unaccompanied by a figure in the pedaling bass. I'd add a string bass doubling the figure on the bass drum...unused potential.
 
Supercreep said:
...............Stellar.
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Thanks! I've now updated the mix!

lga5824 said:
Great song. Couldn't find anything negative to say about it. All good. Cool lyrics.
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Thanks man!

jeffmaher said:
Enjoyed it a lot.

What I'd do:

Vox up.

There's a strong bass drum figure in the chorus that is unaccompanied by a figure in the pedaling bass. I'd add a string bass doubling the figure on the bass drum...unused potential.
Click to expand...
I get what you are saying, but I as going for something that I think I got by doing that. Oh, and thanks!

-Adam.
 
What are you trying to achieve?

There's a old, old concept in music that says that the power of multi-instrumental performance...the emotional 'punch in the gut'....is the result of two or more pieces playing together rythmically, harmonically...unison or other..at the same time:

Consider a ballet...where the prime dancers are doing their thing, against a backdrop of 20 more support dancers moving in unison...waves of motion that impact the eye...order and contrast....the picture of an organized landscape behind the subject in the painting. Y'know?

Whatever you are trying to achieve is at the expense of an emotional opportunity in the arrangement. The powerful bottom organization could sweep up the chorus...lift it on a wave of the two big instruments 'copulating' musically.

Counterpoint and syncopation are essential...but they like a firm base to dance on.

If it's possible to do, try tightening up a few measures of the chorus with a rythmically in-unison bass sound to the bass drum part....see how it hits you...before you dismiss it!

This message brought to you by long-dead composers who will never be surpassed!!

2centFWIIW
 
jeffmaher said:
What are you trying to achieve?

There's a old, old concept in music that says that the power of multi-instrumental performance...the emotional 'punch in the gut'....is the result of two or more pieces playing together rythmically, harmonically...unison or other..at the same time:

Consider a ballet...where the prime dancers are doing their thing, against a backdrop of 20 more support dancers moving in unison...waves of motion that impact the eye...order and contrast....the picture of an organized landscape behind the subject in the painting. Y'know?

Whatever you are trying to achieve is at the expense of an emotional opportunity in the arrangement. The powerful bottom organization could sweep up the chorus...lift it on a wave of the two big instruments 'copulating' musically.

Counterpoint and syncopation are essential...but they like a firm base to dance on.

If it's possible to do, try tightening up a few measures of the chorus with a rythmically in-unison bass sound to the bass drum part....see how it hits you...before you dismiss it!

This message brought to you by long-dead composers who will never be surpassed!!

2centFWIIW
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I did give it a try, and I just didn't dig it. Sorry. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'll keep trying.

-Adam.
 
Can you post the little bit so's I kin hear it?

Maybe a few others can listen and compare...and determine that I'm fullo' shit, or onto something that would rock your tune?

I got all excited when I heard the chorus...but I fell through the cracks when the bed broke.

I wouldn't bother if I thought the tune was a throwaway... but I dig it a lot! That's the only thing that disappointed my sense of anticipation. I never got to ride a wave that never formed...sorta.
 
jeffmaher said:
Can you post the little bit so's I kin hear it?

Maybe a few others can listen and compare...and determine that I'm fullo' shit, or onto something that would rock your tune?

I got all excited when I heard the chorus...but I fell through the cracks when the bed broke.

I wouldn't bother if I thought the tune was a throwaway... but I dig it a lot! That's the only thing that disappointed my sense of anticipation. I never got to ride a wave that never formed...sorta.
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OK. I uploaded the track. Just go and click on the same link, and you can hear it. I like it. Is that what you meant?

-Adam.
 
Nice, whichever version I heard. Good groove, nice lyrics.
You've got a great voice. Jack it up!

Thanks!
Matty
 
I like the current version but It's the only version I've heard so no comparisons sorry.
Good, good song & performance. Nice tale to tell to.
I LOVE the piano bass notes!
I also like the current vocal level - I wouldn't mess with it - but then again I like vox to be part of the song not above it.
You're using on your own voice now - & it's really a good one in tone & style.
 
I like it a lot. Yeah..that's it. It's your final say and taste that counts.
It's a great tune...either way. But for me , the unison figure makes it move.

I can hear why you'd not like it..kind of a throwback to "99 Balloons" '80's feel. But you can play with the unison figure...make it on the beats, with no anticipations to ride counterpoint to the anticipations in the melody and top instruments...build to taste.

The main point is, I think , to get some bottom organization...whatever figure you may choose. It's a steroid injection.

There are conventions in music...not because someone may want to sound like someone else, but because certain things work to lift emotion of the listener. And organization into a unison of melodic and/or rythmic figure among instruments is one of those things that works to do that.

Another concept to consider...with this piece in mind......is that the verses are more free flowing, generally..and the lock of the bass and bass drum in the chorus are contrast to the verse's looser texture....which tweaks the listeners' ear...maintains interest: satisfying another old rule: let the listener predict successfully 50% of the time; the other 50%, surprise him/her....

I think I hear some other differences between the first version and the second. I got a Guinness buzz on ..maybe that's why...but it sounds leaner, meaner, and better than before. I hear parts that escaped my attention the first two listens.

I have to disagree, respectfully, with RayC...the vocal has superb qualities, and could come up a CH or two!! [IMHO]
 
rayc said:
I like the current version but It's the only version I've heard so no comparisons sorry.
Good, good song & performance. Nice tale to tell to.
I LOVE the piano bass notes!
I also like the current vocal level - I wouldn't mess with it - but then again I like vox to be part of the song not above it.
You're using on your own voice now - & it's really a good one in tone & style.
Click to expand...
Thanks. About the piano bass, I really dig it to. I sort of got the idea from The Apples In Stereo. I heard Robert Schneider talking about using it a lot in their last album, and I really liked the sound. I always have. It adds a lot of bite. I would like to ask you though, what do you mean by "You're using on your own voice now"? I thought I always had. I sang this in a bit of a high key for me, and the first notes of every part of the verses really made me work to hit it. The first word "listen" for example. Thanks a lot Rayc. :D

jeffmaher said:
I like it a lot. Yeah..that's it. It's your final say and taste that counts.
It's a great tune...either way. But for me , the unison figure makes it move.

I can hear why you'd not like it..kind of a throwback to "99 Balloons" '80's feel. But you can play with the unison figure...make it on the beats, with no anticipations to ride counterpoint to the anticipations in the melody and top instruments...build to taste.

The main point is, I think , to get some bottom organization...whatever figure you may choose. It's a steroid injection.

There are conventions in music...not because someone may want to sound like someone else, but because certain things work to lift emotion of the listener. And organization into a unison of melodic and/or rythmic figure among instruments is one of those things that works to do that.

Another concept to consider...with this piece in mind......is that the verses are more free flowing, generally..and the lock of the bass and bass drum in the chorus are contrast to the verse's looser texture....which tweaks the listeners' ear...maintains interest: satisfying another old rule: let the listener predict successfully 50% of the time; the other 50%, surprise him/her....

I think I hear some other differences between the first version and the second. I got a Guinness buzz on ..maybe that's why...but it sounds leaner, meaner, and better than before. I hear parts that escaped my attention the first two listens.

I have to disagree, respectfully, with RayC...the vocal has superb qualities, and could come up a CH or two!! [IMHO]
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Wow. That is a lot to process. I really do like the last version I did, and you were right. It made it sound better to my ears. And as for the leaner meaner sound, I did some different mastering on it. it is limited (which I rarely do) and the stereo enhancer/widener from the stardust mastering plugin was used. Thanks for the advise. That "sound" I was going for was probably called the "to lazy to fix it" sound. Thanks again! :D

-Adam.
 
Props -
I meant without the obvious influence of others - the last couple haven't been in the style of TMBG or anyone else. Your own vocal style is coming to the fore.
I song with a REALLY cool piano bass line is How Does It Feel? from Slade's FLAME soundtrack - totally unexpected given the band & the time but superb.
 
I don't know what the fuck the jeff guy is rambling about, but it sounds fine to me. Mix sounds good. :D

You don't have to overcomplicate things to make a good song. Go with your gut and do what sounds good to you. It's your song. We're just along for the ride.
 
rayc said:
Props -
I meant without the obvious influence of others - the last couple haven't been in the style of TMBG or anyone else. Your own vocal style is coming to the fore.
I song with a REALLY cool piano bass line is How Does It Feel? from Slade's FLAME soundtrack - totally unexpected given the band & the time but superb.
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Thanks man.

ido1957 said:
Good job Propman !
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Thanks!

Supercreep said:
Everything sounds killer.
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Glad to know. Thanks man. :D

Greg_L said:
I don't know what the fuck the jeff guy is rambling about, but it sounds fine to me. Mix sounds good. :D

You don't have to overcomplicate things to make a good song. Go with your gut and do what sounds good to you. It's your song. We're just along for the ride.
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Lol. You tell em greg! Thanks man. :D

-Adam.
 
Classic stuff, Adam!
I can't find anything I don't like in this song. Your songwriting is simply fantastic and I'm waiting for the day you tell us you've signed a recording contract......;) Love it!

Joey :):):):)
 
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