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PublicDomain
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Keywords:
The Fountain (1), love song (41), Rachel (1)
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Description:
Well, this is, i think, the only real love song I've ever written. The vocal line, and most of the lyric ideas, came to me on a friday night, driving home from a showing of the film 'The Fountain'. The song was basically done in about 5 days .... then I listened to the mix, and re-did the bridge part, and did another mix ... this is the version here.
Ironically, part of the movie is about a man who loves his wife so much, that he gets obsessed about finding a cure for her illness and neglects to live his life with her ... life mirrored art as I worked on this song!
Lyrically, this is one of the most direct/least obscure songs I've written ... which is nice.
Steve
Lyrics:
Shouldn't I really give in on a Saturday night
Over something so small?
The movies that you intend,
I always know how they end
Kisses and all.
This is my apology
For days I sufficated in me
But then I know you mean everything to me.
Rachel Said ...
I ran the engine for years
Looked for something real
It was right in my hands.
We make like foxes and hares
But I'm never sure who's hunting who.
You should be worshiped and adored
Look in the eyes of your conquistador
Who stole the heart of his queen.
Rachel said.....
'Just for one moment
It's a beautiful world.'
Hardware:
Shure mic
Keystation keyboard
iMac
Software:
Logic pro 7
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Epic &mdash 02/25/07 - 09:22:29 AM
Bloody hell.. &mdash 02/25/07 - 09:32:56 AM
... that was quick, Steve! Ta. I'm not in the same league of gravelly singers like yourself, but the vox on this is skating around the suburbs. Reminds me of suede a bit ... ooh, real drama!
Ta
Steve [ Reply to This ]
An excellent piece of work &mdash 02/25/07 - 11:07:17 AM
Dig it..Fav it and D-load it.... Hm!!! And I have 2 iPod it.
Thanks for sharing.
Best Regards
---
Kenta [ Reply to This ]
Podded! &mdash 02/25/07 - 01:55:46 PM
Professional! &mdash 02/25/07 - 11:15:56 AM
Great mix on everything - your vocals are excellent,you a very versatile range - particularly on the high er.. falsetto parts (if thats the right terminology) - full of emotion.Well written lyrics,and the first time I've ever heard the word conquistador used in a song.. Great stuff! [ Reply to This ]
Mix it &mdash 02/25/07 - 02:06:10 PM
Hey Paddler (are you a Batman villian???). Thanks for the comments. Mixing is the part of home recording I dislike most ... i had a couple of goes at this, and basically stopped today ... I could tinker endlessly. The only other use of conquistador i know of is the song of the same name by Theatre of Hate ( I had to look at this on my ipod to get the spelling!!).
Thanks for stopping by
Steve [ Reply to This ]
wow &mdash 02/25/07 - 11:49:21 AM
I have to see that movie now! This song sounds big/epic/cinematic. You truly were "under the influence" of what surrounded you. I'm happy I heard this. [ Reply to This ]
Hiya! &mdash 02/25/07 - 02:10:55 PM
Hey Estellie - great to hear from you. I had to try really hard not to intellectualise the lyric, but just keep it pure. The song was written really quickly .... i used quite a lot of reverb on the drums, and that dictated the kinda 'big' sound of this track.
I dislike love songs ... i tried to keep this focused on small personnal details (fighting over what movie to watch on a saturday) to avoid cliche ... but it does wander off in parts.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
rachel said &mdash 02/25/07 - 02:10:34 PM
another great song. outstanding vocal delivery. man the high falsetto, I could stand on a chair and never get that high. GREAT PERFORMANCE ALL AROUND! [ Reply to This ]
The feeling.. &mdash 02/25/07 - 03:03:15 PM
... is mutual ... in terms of appreciation, Vic. I don't get the old falsetto out often (as i usually don't hit the notes), but it worked for this. If only I'd got you to do the guitars on this ... it would've been kicking!
Thanks for dropping by
steve [ Reply to This ]
SAY IT AGAIN &mdash 02/25/07 - 02:12:45 PM
What a Vocal
Perfect Guitar work and placement.
Stunning Production Values.
"Like a Cool Breeze", Brother
Very Best,
Cooper [ Reply to This ]
Blocked Vox &mdash 02/25/07 - 03:06:46 PM
Hey RC ... funny thing is, I did the vox for this just after a cold ... it still sounds kinda nasal-ey to me, but I do like the sense of drama to this. I poured over the mix on this for ages ... still not as good as a lot of what's posted here, but thanks man.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Man.... &mdash 02/25/07 - 02:35:10 PM
This is great!!! I especially like how you bring things in after the break/bridge. Excellent vocals for sure. Outstanding tune, Steve! [ Reply to This ]
take it 2 da bridge &mdash 02/25/07 - 03:12:36 PM
hey Mikey - thanks for this ... took a lot of tinkering with the bridge to get it feeling right - initially, there was no drop out, but it didn't quite work - the vocoder vocals and solo were the last things added ... odd, but they work, I think. Tried to listen to your latest track, but I still can't get a lotof stuff to play on the site. Will keep trying.
Ta
Steve [ Reply to This ]
holy mither! &mdash 02/25/07 - 03:47:09 PM
that was a HUGE creation! the musical arrangement is truly impressive, and just a joy to hear unfold. but your voice is what snags me. gee whiz, you look so young, yet sound like you've been around forEVer - smooth, polished, & professional with a wonderful vocal presence. when you blast the line HEART OF HIS QUEEN, i swoon in appreciation of that kind of going for it - it pays off Big Time. RACHEL SAID is full of excellent dynamics - great hook. "for days I suffocated in me" is a spiffy line. i also like the beatle-esque "ooo" near end. bravo, steve! i'm an instant fan, anne [ Reply to This ]
Sisters are doin' it &mdash 02/26/07 - 02:53:59 AM
Hey Anne - I stumbled across some of you're work today (after hearing the name in the forums) and was instantly captivated. Glad you liked this ... the 'heart of his queen' is unashamedly romantic, and if I'd thought about it too much, I probably would have tried to obscure it, so I'm glad you liked that. Similarly, the 'suffocated' line is so true ... I get very wrapped up in myself and my own little world. The song tries to capture, I think , one of those moments when you realise what someone means to you (and in this case, when you've been married to them for 12 years)... a moment of perfect clarity, when you get hit by a feeling of 'God, I love this person', and realise what that really means.
man, this is all just therapy for me!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Young! &mdash 02/26/07 - 03:42:11 AM
Oh, and I'm not really young - the colours in my picture cover up all the wrinkles!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Awesome!!! &mdash 02/25/07 - 04:06:36 PM
Amazing voice, Super arrangement, Wonderful Guitar break ( short :-( )..
your a true Pro!!! [ Reply to This ]
Hi UK... &mdash 02/26/07 - 02:56:04 AM
... thanks, and ta for stopping by.was good to hear your stuff for the first time yesterday.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
echoroom & the bunnymen &mdash 02/25/07 - 05:04:53 PM
the voice on the "foxes and hares" lines has something MacCullouchian about it (which I suppose you will/should take as a compliment), though the "rachel said" part is more in the Muse area. I wish they was more of this rythm guitar before the "solo"(?) kicks in in the end.
hey, paddler, the "conquistador" makes an impressive appearance in Joy Division's "Dead souls", by the way. [ Reply to This ]
Echoing &mdash 02/25/07 - 05:58:51 PM
Hey CJ - you know me too well - I always take any Mac comparisons as a compliment! Actually, i also really liked the rhythm guitar part, and it's underused here - I may use it again in another song (as it's a bit wasted). Funny anout Muse - I thought the piano in the drop-out was kinda Muse-ish. Hope you liked this - i really dig your latest tracks.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
And everyone said... &mdash 02/25/07 - 06:43:13 PM
Finally, the most anticipated follow up to your last Macjams hit, and a most worthy one!
Wow, your voice hasn't sounded better! I listened to this three times right away, and the first thing I noticed was the clarity of the vocal recording and the mix. I loved the soaring vocals you did here... really hit them with such flair and emotions! The intro was deceivingly understated. It doesn't take long for anyone to notice the pro-level instrumentations you did on this one, and it just keeps building up from there. Again, structure and composition wise, you transcend conventions with the flow, depth and mystery in your lyrics. Really, really impressive. As always, this song has an all-around polish, which has characterized all you other songs.
Hope it doesn't take months before I get to hear your next song! :-) [ Reply to This ]
Hey Leon.. &mdash 02/26/07 - 03:01:57 AM
... always great to hear from you. Funny, Gentle machine had such a good response, I was a bit nervous about following it (god, the pressure!). I've got about 3 -4 tracks on the go (the next one to finish will be a collab with Pengui), but this one just popped out in a fit of inspiration, and made it first to the finish line. I think 'cause this started from a vocal line, i came up with something that suited my voice, and then just wrote the music around that ... vox were done pretty quick, all in one session (but there are about 7 vocal tracks on this - nightmare to mix). The verse vocals actually sound a little too dry to me, but it helps make them feel up front.
Lyrically .... well, you are the master of romance. and it's the first time I've written something like this ... i think your influence must be mellowing me!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Really terrific vocals... &mdash 02/25/07 - 08:26:41 PM
...that's what first grabs me with this one... And great drums....
Lyrics are extraordinary... like a poem that doesn't give away too much... The combination of lyrics and vocals rides a taught line between Lou Reed and Bowie, with something else in there... Maybe a bit of Bono mixed with Bryan Ferry...
All in all, this is really impressive, Steve.
Ed [ Reply to This ]
Poet who didn't know it! &mdash 02/26/07 - 03:27:34 AM
Hi Ed - I've been trying to listen to your latest tracks, but am still having problems downloading some stuff (e.g. yours and I, Spikes') to play ... but will perservere. I think all the guys you compare me to are influences in some way, so I appreciate the compliment ... not sure who I was channeling when I did this vocal! I actually find the lyric to this very direct, but then I understand how it may be a little vague if you're not me! I played this to Rachel last night and found some of it quite funny (the first line is about arguing about what films to watch, as she tends to go for romantic comedies, whereas I'll want something serious, or Die Hard 2).
Thanks for the kind words
Steve [ Reply to This ]
When you first sang... &mdash 02/25/07 - 09:56:32 PM
When you first sing "Rachel Said" man, geez you got some pipes dude. Well done! DL'd, faved, etc, raved. OK, now, so when it gets dark with the distorted electric is when you really got me. Wish that part was longer and raised up to more of a cresendo rather than bowing out so soon. This is radio ready. Seriously. Awesome. [ Reply to This ]
rat trap &mdash 02/26/07 - 03:33:51 AM
Hi Philip - thanks for that, after the last few tracks I've done, it's been good to let rip on one (er, as it were). I totally agree about the instrumental break - it was written without guitar or drop out, and then arranged into it's current format ... in hindsight, i could've worked this a bit more. I really like the rhythm and lead guitar sounds, so will probably make another song out of them (recycling, you know?)
Cheers bud
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Yep, me too.... &mdash 02/25/07 - 10:48:48 PM
I like this a lot. It has a kind of ineffable sound, like a lost great track from the 80's, but with much richer production. Great presence on the vocals, perfect mix, punchy song. Tops!
[ Reply to This ]
Thanks, i think. &mdash 02/26/07 - 03:39:15 AM
Hey Sonny - thanks for that, although I'll have to go and look up ineffable (but I'll take it as a good thing). I get a fair amount of comments re: the 80's, but that's the era when I really got into music, so a lot of my influences are from then.
Cheers
Steve [ Reply to This ]
HA!! &mdash 02/26/07 - 11:38:40 AM
I will not review songs when I've been drinking.
I will not review songs when I've been drinking.
I will not review songs when I've been drinking.
[ Reply to This ]
no seriously... &mdash 02/26/07 - 02:15:48 PM
......... &mdash 02/26/07 - 10:30:10 PM
ineffable
–adjective
1. incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible
Now, about that lachrymose keyboard........ [ Reply to This ]
Sunny &mdash 02/27/07 - 09:57:41 AM
... lachrymose keyboard........
Sounds like a great name for an indie band
Or a Jam pack instrument! [ Reply to This ]
A Bunny in the Echo Room &mdash 02/26/07 - 01:39:57 PM
I'm so glad you decided to spend some extra time on this song. I just can't imagine how terrible it must've been 3 days ago. Speaking of old wrinkled men, this song started out as if you had a visit from a bunny man in your echo room. Think he still has all that hair?
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WORLD WE LIVE IN
A SWEET ROMANTIC PLACE
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
THE WAY THEY SHOW THEY CARE
Good stuff buddy boy. [ Reply to This ]
Bunny boiler &mdash 02/26/07 - 02:19:50 PM
Hey Bob, 3 days ago, when the chorus came in, it was like a feckin' limp fish slappin' you mildly around the head .... rubbish... (but still better than Razorlight).
Actually, i saw the Bunnymen a few years ago, and much as I loved 'em, they should stop, 'cause Mac's hair looks crap now, and he's filled out a bit. Luckily I live on bagels and cereal, so i don't have that problem (yet).
Take care buddy
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Man Steve &mdash 02/26/07 - 04:11:47 PM
Such a real song... powerful and a little mysterious... I like that... it draws me in.. the vocal is passionate and mature... very pro... with a hint of David Bowie... talk about emotion... When that chorus kicks in, you have my full attention...
thanx for that... ain't Logic fun... woo hoo [ Reply to This ]
Wow... &mdash 02/27/07 - 10:12:24 AM
..thanks Scott, really appreciate the kind words. I get a lot of bowie comparisons ... rachel reckons it's 'cause of the kinda wobble/vibrato when I sing.
Anyway, gosh, thank you!
steve [ Reply to This ]
Little Radiohead in here? &mdash 02/26/07 - 04:53:23 PM
Reminds me of radiohead with a little more clean. I like the "make like foxes" line. Nice and sparce, sounds like it was recorded in a nice open room (ahh reverb) [ Reply to This ]
KO computer &mdash 02/27/07 - 10:19:36 AM
Hey Pengui - yeah, I get that, sorta Bends era maybe. This was recorded in my small spare room, as ever, but I used Space Designer in Logic for all the reverb (a fantastic toy!). The main verse vocal reverb sounds a bit odd to me ... seemed like a good idea at the time!
Have completed lyrics for the track you sent me - will start on vocals this weekend.
Cheers
sTEVE [ Reply to This ]
Awesome! &mdash 02/26/07 - 05:21:53 PM
Wow Steve, what a stunning vocal delivery in this well-crafted love song! Fab lyrics. Well played and produced. An instant fave this!
Be well friend! [ Reply to This ]
Its a kins amagi-c &mdash 02/27/07 - 10:25:16 AM
Hey Mike - thanks for stopping by - I was pretty stunned by your latest EPIC, so I really appreciate your comments.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
J2 said.... &mdash 02/26/07 - 07:02:02 PM
excellent song. Really nice job on the vocals too. Fresh take on the lyrics and solid production. One of the best things I've heard from you. Kudos, man. [ Reply to This ]
Hey J2... &mdash 02/27/07 - 10:28:52 AM
ta, difficult to write a love song without it turning into 'Lady in Read'. This, at the moment, is my favourite track of mine, so thanks.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
energy &mdash 02/26/07 - 07:08:17 PM
you've outdone yourself here - fantastic musical and emotional energy!
i like the structure of this song - lots of twists and turns - and it all fits together nicely.
thanks [ Reply to This ]
Twisty &mdash 02/27/07 - 10:33:07 AM
Thanks smokey - the structure was originally a bit simpler, but the bridge underwent a number of changes, and there are quite a number of changes in a fairly small space of time ... but i think it works (although i could've probably got a couple of songs out of this!).
Cheers
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Greatness &mdash 02/27/07 - 11:59:31 AM
Ruff! &mdash 02/27/07 - 03:22:02 PM
Um yeah ... what everyone else said ... &mdash 02/27/07 - 02:30:12 PM
... fabulous job on the vocals ... great tune all around ... it has already all been said! But thought I should pop my head in here anyway! [ Reply to This ]
Feel free &mdash 02/27/07 - 03:30:40 PM
to pop in any time!
Thanks Alannah - from the bottom of my rusty vocal cords.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
one word &mdash 02/27/07 - 04:06:06 PM
Two words &mdash 02/27/07 - 05:15:23 PM
over the top &mdash 02/28/07 - 03:22:43 PM
Instantly pleasing, brilliantly vocalised and sung (I admire your control on the upper vocals), strong on all levels: production, arrangement, performance, lyrics (outstanding by the way). Holy cow, Steve, I thought you somewhere reached the top with 'Gentle Machine', but you just walk over it with your hands in your pockets (hmm, that's probably not the right english expression I guess, but you get my point...). This is a pro track, a solid hit, a brilliant gift...
- Walter [ Reply to This ]
It's a hit! &mdash 03/01/07 - 04:08:50 AM
Hi Walter - great to hear from you. I did struggle with what to do next after Gentle Machine, so I tried to do something a bit rockier. Glad you liked this - I think the verse vocals are quite close to your style. lyrically, this was knocked out in a fit of inspiration very quickly - it came from the heart, rather than the head!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Great vocals &mdash 02/28/07 - 03:24:01 PM
You surely are a swell singer. Great instrumentation towards the end. Really impressive. [ Reply to This ]
Swell! &mdash 03/01/07 - 04:15:29 AM
Hey Thanks Cori - the vocal on this is a bit nasal, as I was getting over a cold, but again, I wanted to get it down and capture the feeling - which hopefully i did.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
. &mdash 03/03/07 - 05:05:47 AM
Great. &mdash 02/28/07 - 10:25:38 PM
oooh - thanks &mdash 03/01/07 - 04:17:31 AM
What can I say, Ash.
Will check out your tracks this weekend.
Cheers
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Pre Brit pop &mdash 03/01/07 - 04:44:13 AM
You like everyone else I liked this one too. Cool Vox and nice production meaning that all the parts are sensibly in their places. My fav bit was the break and guitar part about 3/4 the way through. Will have to have a listen to some of your other stuff me thinks. [ Reply to This ]
Brit pop &mdash 03/01/07 - 12:21:47 PM
.... maybe Paddy pop (I'm actually Irish, livin' in Engerland. Glad you liked this ... although I guess the guitar is pretty tame, compared to your stuff, man!
Cheers for stopping by ... and I totally agree about the bridge!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Great Work &mdash 03/01/07 - 04:48:46 PM
Terrific vocal range, I loved the lift in the chorus, sweet production. Excellent lyrics and really well sung. Bravo. [ Reply to This ]
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Like it a lot
Steve
[ Reply to This ]