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The Pain Game by Peter Greenstone [Email]

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 8629
Comments: 55
Votes: 32
Plays: 1266
Last Played: Oct 11, 2008 - 12:23:15 PM
Downloads: 85
Fans: 18
Uploaded: Aug 09, 2005 - 06:59:49 PM
Last Updated: Oct 25, 2006 - 05:59:15 PM
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Description:
THE FINAL MIXED AND MASTERED VERSION OF THIS TRACK IS AVAILABLE ON MY DEBUT ALBUM, "SOMETHING".

http://www.simig.com/records/artists/peter/peter.htm

THIS VERSION IS CLOSE TO FINAL BUT NOT THE FINAL.

This is a major overhaul of one of my first songs. Among other things, I redid all the vocals and added other parts, totally changed and worked out the the drums, added numerous sounds and nuances, extended the intro, and massaged the overall mix.

Lyrics:
This is a twisted game we play each other every day
the pain you feel is nothing strange
so take it as you will

When at last you feel safe
and everyone's changed
we'll just do it again

Nothing is as empty as that smile you're giving me
the fleeting light will evanesce like waves across the rolling sea

When you've had enough pain
and it all feels the same
you'll just do it again

I feel it calling me
to where I began

It's the same old game we've played
each time we meet it hurts the same

How many times has it happened
How many times been forgotten
In the end you know we'll
do it again and again and again and again

The act of loving someone that you feel the need to change
will take you to an endless plane
so take what you can get

And when at last your time comes
and there's nobody home
to say it isn't so

I feel it calling me
to where I began

how many times
how many times
how many times
how many times

Hardware:
G5 w/2 gigs, ART Tube preamp/compressor, M-Audio Firewire 410, Taylor acoustic guitar, Westbury electric, Audio Technica MB4000C mic

Software:
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Cool &mdash 08/09/05 - 07:13:45 PM
This is really a great track. Wonderful work!!

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Cool &mdash 08/09/05 - 09:10:34 PM
Thanks, Mr. Geek.

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think this is my favourite &mdash 08/09/05 - 07:15:15 PM
hey pgeenstone. i think this song is by far my favourite of
yours. i liked grow up very much too. but this is really
good. your vocals are excellent and liked the guitar
sound on top of it!
kewl! downloaded!

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think this is my favourite &mdash 08/09/05 - 09:13:58 PM
Thanks, JH. I'm glad you like it so much. Actually, "Grow Up" is another one I'd
like to redo. Unfortunately, I don't have the mix project for that one anymore
and I will have to start from the beginning again.

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Lots of energy... &mdash 08/09/05 - 09:05:15 PM
...but still has that dreamy quality I like so much. The
production on this one is excellent. Your production skills
just seem to get better and better every time. Love the
various effects you use on the vocal tracks throughout. Very
creative and well put together.

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Lots of energy... &mdash 08/09/05 - 09:18:20 PM
Thanks, jgurner. I learn something new with every song. Getting the first 90%
of the song produced is relatively easy and fast, but that last 10% really is where
the hours/days/weeks of work come in to play.

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Excellent &mdash 08/09/05 - 09:40:55 PM
song. I'm impressed by how frequently you're able to post these songs with such interesting vocals. Really great production again.

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Excellent &mdash 08/09/05 - 09:43:05 PM
Oh yeah, I meant to add that while I typically really like your song art, the
pic here is my favorite yet... very, very nice.

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Excellent &mdash 08/10/05 - 01:38:25 AM
Thanks, PV. I always like trying out new things with my vocals. I nearly popped
a blood vessel singing that really high note near the end.

I'm glad you like my song art. This one is using a b/w photo I took in my
brother's suburban back yard using a red filter to enhance the early evening sky.
I did some colorization and added the ominous black hole/orb in Photoshop.

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Great track! &mdash 08/10/05 - 01:24:32 AM
Very enjoyable, great performance and production
Steve

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Maybe it's time... &mdash 08/10/05 - 04:34:17 AM
to re-think the whole day job thing, Peter. Another nice do-
over.

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Oustanding &mdash 08/10/05 - 05:57:04 AM
I agree with Ac..
gotta rethink your day job!!!

Fantastic production.. and great vocals.
Love that high note.. heh heh

Slimmie

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Wow, wow, wow! &mdash 08/10/05 - 10:29:13 AM
The one of the best song I've heard on here so farr! This just
a brilliant piece of work, from lyrics, vocals, arrangements
and production! The only thing I would change is the
ending, it sounds like the song is "just" fading out while it
could be a but more arranged..? Anyway, that's just a small
"picky" notice... This is great! Thanks!

Mikki

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Wow, wow, wow! &mdash 08/10/05 - 03:14:16 PM
Thanks, Mikki. You're probably right about the ending. I'm sure it could have a
more interesting finish than a fade. I'm preparing to put togetehr an album and
I'll consider comments like yours for the absolute final CD versions of the tracks.
Which reminds me, how's that little organ part you were doing for me coming
along?

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Stunning.... &mdash 08/10/05 - 10:46:39 AM
I shrink away from giving nines on the voting, in
part, because I have a hard time calling any song
"stunning., took my breath away." Well, I am still
breathing, but this song is stunning. The whole
song construction from lyrics to instrumentation to
a totally cool arrangement... your performance
(man, you can sing these songs!) and production
effects... originality/creativity (try finding a song
like this on your radio dial).... overall (see comment
above).

Peter, I agree with AC and SGF... although like
Harry, you've got a daytime job and doing alright,
I can only wonder if one day you might become
another MJ alumni that gets "found." Of course,
now you're talking gigs, travel, interviews, endless
streams of fans and groupies, Grammy Awards
ceremonies... nah, too tiring... forget it. Sorry I
mentioned it.

Any way, nice song!!

Jack

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Stunning.... &mdash 08/10/05 - 03:57:07 PM
Thanks, Jack. I really appreciate the encouragement you all have been giving
me. Who knows where it's all leading? But I'm just having a grea time making
the music and sharing it.

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lush arrangement! &mdash 08/10/05 - 12:22:38 PM
There's a lot going on in this mix and you manage to
balance it all very well. The arrangement is very
"professional"-sounding. Your new, improved recording
gear really does make a difference -- along with your
continually-improving recording skill.

Through my headphones, the "highs" were a little
prominent, but a bit less so when I cranked up the
volume.

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lush arrangement! &mdash 08/10/05 - 04:01:07 PM
Thanks, Cameron. Louder makes everything better ;-)

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Neato &mdash 08/10/05 - 12:54:29 PM
Cool song.. I like it

I think that sometimes it needs a little more in the background though.

~ERIKA!~

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You've done it again, Peter... &mdash 08/10/05 - 02:16:25 PM
Excellent.
Excellent.
Excellent.

Keep making music, would you? ;)
And thank you so much for sharing it.




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Supertight &mdash 08/10/05 - 03:03:18 PM
As everyone else has already said, Well Done great song
terrifically tight and seamless, your voice consistantly
reminds me of David Bowie during his Lodger phase, your
music suggests Prefab Sprout wall of sound abit in my head,
which is pretty brilliant in my mind.

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Very nice &mdash 08/10/05 - 04:47:52 PM
Vocals and guitar sound great. To me, this has a U2 flavor, but not as annoying. Great work dude.

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It's the mix of things... &mdash 08/10/05 - 05:58:42 PM
...that takes this to the next level...

You've got a lot of Bowie influence in the vocals, sure, but
a lot of you...and as noted below, some elements of
middle period Bowie production...but then you have more
spangle and drive in the guitars (and I really love the
guitar in this song) and more variation than Bowie did...

Another song where I can't wait to get my headphones
on...I can just TELL...

Great song. Lyrics real good and never the expected...even
the form is different...

You know the ONLY thing I don't particularly like on this
one? The title. To me, 'The Pain Game' sounds a little
teenage angst and cliche. The song ISN'T and DOESN'T,
but, not knowing it was you, I almost didn't investigate
the song because the title put me off.

Small quibble, though, and only brought up because I
would want people drawn in to this song. It's great.

Ed

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It's the mix of things... &mdash 08/10/05 - 11:01:01 PM
Thanks, Ed. Glad you like. I guess I can understand what you mean about the
title but it seemed like an appropriate name to me. It's one of those things that
can be very different from person to another as far as what assosiations come
up with some words.

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spit shine.. &mdash 08/10/05 - 11:51:25 PM
& then some. you have surpassed perfection. beautiful, man

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When is that CD coming out again? &mdash 08/11/05 - 01:37:11 AM
Peter, You know how much I admire your music, and this
is just another in a string of outstanding tunes you've
posted. You are one of the few MJers with a distinct
"sound" regardless of the style of music you're doing.
Maybe we need a "pgreenstone" genre added to the list?
Love everything about this, but most of all the fantastic
sound you get on your vocals.
Brilliant!

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When is that CD coming out again? &mdash 08/12/05 - 12:58:16 AM
Thanks, jguma. I hope to get the album (CD) done soon. I'm working on a new
song to go on it but waiting for a part from another MacJammer that is taking a
long time to get. The other tracks are pretty much done, maybe just a couple of
tweaks here and there. Then I just need to design the cover and insert and get a
batch off to CD Baby. I think it will have 12 or maybe 13 tracks.

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Wow &mdash 08/11/05 - 03:48:12 AM
This sounds fantastic. Great Vocals, Great Melody.

Nice.

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Yummy! &mdash 08/11/05 - 10:35:49 AM
Tasted good to the ear Peter. Excellent job! Hungry for
more please... - Very, very nice


Cydniko

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ouch... &mdash 08/11/05 - 09:37:56 PM
interesting lyrics...thought provoking as always...quite a departure from the whimsical jellyfish song...i am not sure if i agree with the message of this song though (which is subject to various interpretations depending on the listener)...i agree that status quo or stagnancy would put any game to death, including the game of life, but i don't think pain should numb your senses or make the light fade away...if anything, i think pain should make you feel more alive and conscious of all the nuances of life...i mean, if you had to play the same game over and over again, wouldn't you try to learn from the first round so that you can win in subsequent games?... till you are the winner again and again....(i guess it depends who is throwing the dies)...anyway, please excuse my digression...cool song, cool vocals...how many times, how many times :-)

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ouch... &mdash 08/12/05 - 01:26:40 AM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Mikki. Try to look at this song as a
slice of life, the experience and perspective of particular characters rather than
as a general statement about life. Sometimes my lyrics are directly in line with
and inspired by my own personal feelings and experience and other times they
are written to express more fictional perspectives, sometimes beliefs that are
counter to my own, and sometimes ideas that are derived from conflicting parts
of myself. I actually approach this theme from another angle in "No Matter The
Weather".

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Nice song! &mdash 08/11/05 - 09:39:34 PM
Great melody and high level sound!
I really like it!

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Waves of Sound &mdash 08/11/05 - 11:05:12 PM
Another beautiful production and song Peter! I wish I had
your desire and drive to make every note perfect because
in most cases you achieve the impossible and do make
them perfect.

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Waves of Sound &mdash 08/14/05 - 04:19:18 PM
Thanks, Bronco. Personally, I like the rawness of your music. There are things
that could be polished up some but overall I like your easy going sound. I was
at Carlos & Charlie's on the lake the other night and there was a band playing,
and for a moment I thought I heard a little of you in the singer's voice.

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Your music is fun to listen to &mdash 08/12/05 - 08:16:10 AM
Lots of professional rock feelings, super.

Peter, you have the midas touch!

Keep up the good work! No I don't have to say that, you do
keep up the good work:^)

Peter, your a hit factory!

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Amazing 80s pop! &mdash 08/12/05 - 02:59:57 PM
Sounds dated but who cares? The 80s churned out some
amazing songs and amazing bands. Nice strong voice,
wonderfully simple and refreshingly unaffected (a la Scott
Stapp, Britney Spears etc).

You really sound like Bowie man. It's creepy.

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Not too bad &mdash 08/12/05 - 08:21:47 PM
Your song is very 80's ala Bauhouse or The cure. which an't to shabby. Also reminds me of The Spent Poets.

Kepp Chuggin'!

Paul

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clever title &mdash 08/13/05 - 05:30:43 AM
clever title

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clever title &mdash 08/13/05 - 05:30:50 AM
clever title

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clever title &mdash 08/13/05 - 05:30:59 AM
clever title

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Well Done, Peter &mdash 08/13/05 - 09:37:11 AM
Excellent song, excellent performance and excellent
production.

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Nifty &mdash 08/14/05 - 12:30:33 AM
Several things in this arrangement work quite well. This is
clearly a very carefully thought out job. The guitar parts are
definitely creative.

Just one thing that bothers me. After "it hurts the same"
there is kind of a bridge, where you repeat the same bar 4
times or so, with nothing much happening. To me this
suggests that the energy will pick up again after that. What
happens instead is that you go to a break. It just feels wrong
to me, structurally.

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Nifty &mdash 08/14/05 - 04:11:12 PM
Thanks, TV. I understand what you are saying. It works for me but, listening to
it with your comment in mind, I can imagine something else going on in there
that might work better. Not sure exactly what but some fragments of ideas
come to mind.

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near perfect &mdash 08/14/05 - 07:15:52 AM
this is so well thought out, like a lot of your more
recent work. you definitely are on an upward path
with production. thats what worries me. i think your
song might be getting to clean. not that i dont like
this. not my point. i would like to see a little less
predicability. the passion i there but i think the
production might be holding it back
8-9-7-8

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near perfect &mdash 08/14/05 - 04:04:49 PM
Thanks, tmcfate. I try to keep the soul of the songs while polishing the
production. It's a fine line. Some songs do call for a more refined production
and others call for more rawness. Sometimes my first drafts have qualities that I
just can't recreate when I produce.

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Impressive work &mdash 08/14/05 - 02:49:15 PM
Do you play everything yourself? Very impressive anyway. Read through some of the comments here, and I just wanted to get in line and give my support. You really have something going man:)

Play on, Thoddi

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Impressive work &mdash 08/14/05 - 03:54:51 PM
Thanks, Thoddi. Yes, it's all just me in the cluttered corner of my spare
bedroom/office.

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Big sound &mdash 08/15/05 - 02:44:46 AM
Nice work, really big sound, I like this very much.

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Big sound &mdash 08/15/05 - 02:45:39 AM
Nice work, really big sound, I like this very much. I played it
twice!

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Good work &mdash 08/18/05 - 02:32:38 PM
Nicely put together. In my humble opinion you've got kind of
a Brian Molko vocal going on....which is not altogether a bad
thing. I will be looking up more of your work.

Good skills.

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Good work &mdash 08/18/05 - 07:11:37 PM
Thanks. I've never heard of this Brian Molko person. Maybe I know his music
but not the name. I'll have to go look him up.

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Amazing! &mdash 08/26/05 - 01:13:11 PM
Wow, you are very talented! Excellent work. I like the vocal layering.

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thoughts from the bull... &mdash 10/15/05 - 02:41:37 PM
just heard this song played on the KSVY radio program (Slimgirl Live
show) and was just blown away. immediately went and downloaded.

great work by a tremendous talent. thank you, Peter!

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Great! &mdash 11/21/05 - 04:18:19 PM
I am currently in the process of listening to all of your songs. I feel Ive stumbled upon a goldmine. Im especially impressed with your incredible variety and the ease with which you seem to be able to play and produce music in whatever genre you please. I just went from the eeirie and sparse acoustic Emmet to the angsty and driven Pain Game and it all sounds fantastic.

Thank you so much for sharing your music on macjams.

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Great! &mdash 06/21/08 - 04:12:47 PM
A great listen, excellent work and fine production. Your album is great..

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

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