|
Description:
Hi all! Prepare thyself for howling cuz I'm a singin in this tune... (run for cover now!) But if you do listen, thanks so much for that!
I picked a key and song pace I simply couldn't sing... well actually there probably isn't a key and pace I CAN sing... (hum... well crap)...
I'm simply not a vocalist... I have no range, no interesting tonal qualities to my voice whatsoever... But hey... I couldn't really ask anyone else to sing this.
This is long and kind of repetitive. For me it was venture into many strange keys and changes. I like the general sound but I think it gets boring after a while. I'll apologize up front for that.
The guitar parts were difficult for me due to the strange key. None of the patterns I knew worked so I had to keep trying until I found something I liked. The guitar is fed through my micro-vox amp on heavy crunch, then into LE8 amp processing.
About the song:
My wife and my son are my life these days. They are the people that seem to be there when I need them and there isn't a thing I would not do for them.
A number of years ago my wife and I found out we could not have a child of our own due to a genetic problem with yours truly here.
I've felt guilty over the years that I was unable to give her the one gift many women treasure and that is a child of our own flesh and blood.
We did the only thing we could. We adopted a son from Romania. He has more than filled our childless void. He may not be of our flesh and blood but in many ways he's much more.
It was the only gift I could give my wife. She does deserve so very much more. Her favorite flower is the yellow rose. This is for you Susie!
Lyrics:
Dedication - MRH 2008
I dedicate this to my wife
my mate, my friend, my guiding light.
Your love has kept me strong and true
and for this I owe my life to you.
I know I've missed so very much
done so much so very wrong.
I honestly have tried my best
sometimes I just miss the mark.
I'm giving all I have to give
What's mine will always be yours.
I only hope its half enough
you know you deserve so much more.
I wished with you to create a life
Something small that you could hold
I wish it deep inside of us
Composed from our soul.
That would have been my greatest gift
a chance for us to carry on.
But for us there was a chosen path
Inspired by your endless love
We gave ourselves into a task
our lives cast quickly away
a small soul in need of care
our new found purpose for each day
It was the only gift I could give
to the ones that mean the very most
it is the dedication of my life
My body, my heart and my soul.
I give it freely to you my wife
my love, my heart and my life
I dedicate my soul to both
my cherished son and my wife.
Hardware:
Intel Mac mini, Firewire solo, Keystation 61e, iGuitar, Audix mic
Software:
LE8
|
Dedication &mdash 04/08/08 - 12:47:48 PM
What a lovely love song Mark! I'll bet this means a lot to your wife - such wonderful sentiment. As to the vocals, I think you pulled them off splendidly! A lot of people who think they can't sing really can - I'd put you in that camp. Also, great instrumentation - congratulations! [ Reply to This ]
Far too kind &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:09:48 PM
you are Karen. (Crap watching star wars recently has me talking like yoda!) Coming from you this is a wonderful compliment.
I'm not sure why but I just feel vocally retarded... Anyway thanks so much for your thoughts. Coming from "the next Disney Orchestrator" that is saying something! [ Reply to This ]
So beautiful done &mdash 04/08/08 - 12:50:25 PM
It's filed my heart with a warm feeling you got me thinking hove important it is to shove love to the person(s) you love.
Okay I tell my wife every day hove much I love her and she do the same to me.
This is a very relaxing and truly song I love it.
Take good care of you and your family.
---
Kenta [ Reply to This ]
Wives &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:11:28 PM
Kenta, a wife/husband should be a soul mate. The love has to go deep. My wife and I are best friends and sometimes I just feel like I haven't said enough. [ Reply to This ]
again, excellent &mdash 04/08/08 - 01:15:12 PM
Wow Mark... another great romantic heart. Thank you for sharing your overflowing jubilant love for Susie with us in this song... very sweet music, great performance, and oh by the way, really nice esinging too! I am sure that you, like me, cannot hear anyone tell you that you actually have a nice singing voice, but perhaps Susie will get through to you (smirk). I bet she will love this song for a long time, it is a wonderful gift, yet another way to show her your feelings. Which reminds me, I need to write another poem to MY wife, you got me all creative and romantic at work here :-) Thanks!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Drak &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:13:38 PM
Thanks so much. I think your voice is phenomenal! I just as I said above feel vocally retarded at times and when I listen to some of the singers here on MJ I just want to scream. I wish I sounded 1/100 as good. [ Reply to This ]
meaning &mdash 04/08/08 - 01:15:42 PM
so far i think the vocals are fine. i can tell you don't feel to confident singing it, but with that you still sound good. if you relax a little and let the song flow i think you will realize you sing just fine. i dont mind the repetitiveness. i think the instrumental sounds cool. a song is about it's meaning not complexity. i think your voice can be very good if you let it. the over all tone is nice and you sound to be well enough in tune. [ Reply to This ]
Alex... &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:18:06 PM
Thanks... This was about the 3rd vocal take. I really did try to relax. I found that this range was difficult for me and also the pace... I didn't quite know how/which word to carry and which to not. It was a struggle and yes I was not confident...
When I hear the amazing vocals on songs here on MJ (yours in particular) I get frustrated. I don't think I've ever felt comfortable singing. I'm gonna keep working at it though. Thanks for the comments! [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/09/08 - 08:03:49 AM
mine in perticular? i'm not that great but thank you. if you want inspiration go listen to some of my first tracks with vocals it'll boost your confidence. if only i had the first track i posted here. your tone and everything is good once you realize that you're in tune and trust that you are. that's my problem tho ive gotten better at it is just believing that you are singing the right notes and letting it come out. when recording it's easy to worry too much about hitting the right note it'll make you mess up. i often have troubles with pace too because depending on your mood its hard to get your mind in tune with different paces. some days you feel relaxed and slow works other days fast works. for how little it sounds like you've been singing you did great on this. [ Reply to This ]
Dedication &mdash 04/08/08 - 03:57:08 PM
Man this brought tears to my eyes ..and you can sing
worst than I do ..you rock my friend ...your vocal
has alot of truthness very delicate ..the whole
sound on this song is love so very well done my friend
thnx alot for the gem !! [ Reply to This ]
Feter &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:20:06 PM
Goodness pours from you my friend. Every thing is always so positive... Hey I do sing worse than you! That's a positive right!? heh heh! thanks so much my friend. [ Reply to This ]
For all &mdash 04/08/08 - 06:40:24 PM
it's simplicity, this song is very strong and your vocal is spot on for those wonderful lyrics... sounds perfect to me. Lovely production and tasteful orchestration, love it, regards M [ Reply to This ]
Moviz &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:21:33 PM
That means a heck of a lot coming from you. Thanks so much my friend! [ Reply to This ]
hello mark &mdash 04/08/08 - 06:59:01 PM
you sing just fine my friend ... would even like the vox bumped up a bit more .. lucky lady ... lucky you ...lucky son. be well mark ... this song is sweet man [ Reply to This ]
Wow... &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:24:02 PM
I feel like I've had an audition with the masters! DavisAmerica listening to my wailing! Hee hee... I'm just poking fun my friend... You are so amazing to have you listen to my stuff is a real honor! Thanks so much.
When you say vox... do you mean the guitar or the voice? I might try another pass at this after a week or so. [ Reply to This ]
hello mark again &mdash 04/09/08 - 08:30:55 AM
Thanks DA &mdash 04/09/08 - 09:10:16 AM
From my old radio days vox = "voice operated relay". The confusion came because my guitar was done through a vox amp.
Thanks! [ Reply to This ]
Well done &mdash 04/08/08 - 07:45:06 PM
Knowing both of you so well for so many years I think you nailed this one. Lyrics are perfect and yes, you can sing in your own unique way which is actually not bad at all.
Your friend of 47 years,
Jim [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Jimbo &mdash 04/09/08 - 09:23:12 AM
for listening and your friendship. When are you gonna post some stuff! Come on! Let's hear you get down dude! [ Reply to This ]
A very touching song. - &mdash 04/09/08 - 02:08:08 AM
Your voice sounds great to me but I do agree with Daviesamerica I think it could have come up a touch. Excellent.
John. [ Reply to This ]
John &mdash 04/09/08 - 09:25:14 AM
Thank you so much for the listen. I guess with the vocals I was trying for sort of that surreal effect... I'm gonna take a rest from this piece then I might try a re-mix. I'll play with the vocals and see what I can do! [ Reply to This ]
Don't put...... &mdash 04/09/08 - 01:43:34 PM
your singing down in the description. Put it up and maybe double it. Very romantic lyrics.
Belt it out a little harder to give it some dynamics.
I only say that because I love.
Good song man.
LL [ Reply to This ]
Thanks LL &mdash 04/09/08 - 02:30:03 PM
I'm trying and with the vocals... never felt confident. I guess I just need to let go and see what happens!
Thanks so much for the listen! [ Reply to This ]
True love rocks! &mdash 04/09/08 - 02:02:08 PM
Really nice tuneage! And hey, re the vocals: while it's good that you're no prima donna, you really shouldn't sell yourself short. You did a good job!
I've been with my wonderful wife Diane for 33 years, and your lyrics resonate with me. For the first 10 years of our marriage I was a cross between Fred Flintstone and Ralph Cramden! But she stayed with me, I eventually grew up, and all is well.
Lifelong love, for those who can find it and sustain it, is perhaps the greatest gift this life has to offer.
Well done Mark. Well done! [ Reply to This ]
PS: &mdash 04/09/08 - 02:04:13 PM
When I get into a strange/unfamiliar key and my usual noodlings aren't working I do variations on the melody.
Hope this helps! [ Reply to This ]
Micheal... &mdash 04/09/08 - 02:34:26 PM
Thanks so much. Glad to hear your wife and you are still a pair. Mine is #2 right now... #1 wasn't my fault. I tried. #2 is a keeper for sure.
Thanks on the vocals... I just need confidence and practice. I massaged them a lot in LE to make them sound like they did in the song.
I hear you on the noodlings... My problem is I really am not a lead player. Never have been. Trying to learn but it takes time. This song transitioned a few flats and it took some effort to figure out what would work!
Thanks again for the listen! [ Reply to This ]
Keeping things honest.... &mdash 04/09/08 - 04:04:13 PM
Diane is my second wife (although she's number one in my book).
I was deserted by my first wife of 1 1/2 years. We were BOTH young and stupid. No hard feelings. It all worked out for the best. A year later I met and married Diane. Best thing that ever happened to me! [ Reply to This ]
Great dedication &mdash 04/09/08 - 07:10:59 PM
Thanks for sharing this so deep soulful feeling of a song!
How lucky are we Macjammers to hear such caring songs of love. [ Reply to This ]
Thank you Tiler &mdash 04/09/08 - 09:51:26 PM
Quit with all the apologies! &mdash 04/09/08 - 07:48:50 PM
Your vocal is on pitch, just a lower spoken range and the sentiment of the song is perfect to convey your feelings!
I'd really sing more if I were you, you just have to stretch those chords and jump off the cliff to fly... [ Reply to This ]
Ok ok!!! &mdash 04/09/08 - 09:53:38 PM
Next song will have no apologies! I guess I'm coming off 40 years of thinking I couldn't sing and having trouble convincing myself it may be possible.
Thanks so much for the listen! I know that many of you here have serious talent. This input means a lot! [ Reply to This ]
Nice song &mdash 04/09/08 - 08:30:42 PM
Lovely lyrics and a wonderful sentiment. There are some interesting changes in here that really add a nice dynamic to the track. The guitar sounds good, too, although a little low in the mix. As for your voice, not only can you sing, but you should be turning it up a notch! I lack confidence in my singing big time, so I know where you're coming from, but, dude, you get this just right - a nice, subtle performance that nicely catches the tone of the lyrics. Don't knock yourself, brother - this is cool. Nicely done. Peace. [ Reply to This ]
Wow... &mdash 04/09/08 - 09:57:22 PM
I personally find your voice amazing... You may have not seen it but in your track "Find Yourself" I have that dang song locked in my brain. I find myself humming it, singing it all the time.
In that your voice is so deep, so rich and perfect I hope someday to sound that way myself. "Find Yourself" is another track with some interesting changes. I wanted to try that and this was my first shot.
Thanks so much for the comments! I'm gonna give this piece a rest then come back to it and try a re-mix maybe a re-take on the vocal. With all this "confidence" I guess I should try! Thanks so much! [ Reply to This ]
As an advocate for people learning to love the voice they have, I applaud you :) &mdash 04/09/08 - 10:17:50 PM
I know, I know...it's probably easy for me to say, having been born with a 'natural' voice. But there is no one on the planet who can infuse your voice/your song with the honest power of emotion that you yourself feel.
Kudos for going beyond your comfort zone and putting your own voice to this beautiful dedication!
What an absolutely joyous and sincere gift to give to your wife and child.
No one can take your place--and songs like this were meant to be sung.
Thanks for letting us hear it as well. [ Reply to This ]
Mystified... &mdash 04/10/08 - 10:09:47 AM
Thank you so much for the listen and the comments. Alas a voice is something that either you are comfortable with or you are not. I'm trying to get more comfortable with mine.
You do have a beautiful instrument and you use it VERY WELL! I'm very envious of that ability.
At 51 I'm a bit old to take on vocal training... Wish I had done it at 17 when I was in various bands but we always seemed to have singers a plenty so I concentrated on the music. [ Reply to This ]
very sweet &mdash 04/10/08 - 07:07:49 AM
What a wonderful dedication to the one you love. I am sure that she is more than honored at what you have done here and the love that shines through in this song. You are very good Mark. To be a singer does not mean necessarily that you must be like Frank Sinatra...it means that you have "Heart" and feelings and emotions. You clearly have these things and more! You are a very talented man and I am proud that you took the step out of your comfort zone and gave it your all and most importantly... all your heart. Thanks for sharing this with us. Awesome job!
[ Reply to This ]
very sweet &mdash 04/10/08 - 07:11:17 AM
What a wonderful dedication to the one you love. I am sure that she is more than honored at what you have done here and the love that shines through in this song. You are very good Mark. To be a singer does not mean necessarily that you must be like Frank Sinatra...it means that you have "Heart" and feelings and emotions. You clearly have these things and more! You are a very talented man and I am proud that you took the steps and gave it your all and most importantly... all your heart. Thanks for sharing this with us. Awesome job!
[ Reply to This ]
oops sorry Mark &mdash 04/10/08 - 07:15:10 AM
I did not read all the reviews before I wrote mine. I should have read Mystifieds...Looks like we are on the same page. I tried to change the wording a tad am resubmit but oh well...so you got both versions. Dagnabbit, where is that delete key when you need it?? [ Reply to This ]
Oh Gail... &mdash 04/10/08 - 10:18:50 AM
You are just as sweet as ever. Thanks for the vote of confidence. Don't worry.. I will send music your way one day! I honestly can't wait!
I'm trying to get my wife to sing on a track. She's amazingly good when she sort of forgets people might be listening!
[ Reply to This ]
warm and inviting. &mdash 04/11/08 - 02:22:35 PM
i think the style in which you sang it fits nicely. a lot of "flash" in the vocals would take away from the song, i think.
Lovely arrangement, and melody... and the lyrics are inspiring. makes me wanna go kiss my wife and hold her tight.
lovely song...
p.s. iguitar? never heard of it till now. i just googled it... looks like a pretty cool little toy. i may have to check it out more. thanks [ Reply to This ]
Faelin &mdash 04/19/08 - 07:10:37 AM
Thank you so much for the listen!
I was going for a surreal kind of sound but the lyrics needed to be keep somewhat Earthly too.
The iGuitar is very cool although after owning it, I find it does not play as nice as my old Les Paul. [ Reply to This ]
Nothing wrong with your voice mate! &mdash 04/14/08 - 08:03:41 AM
That's the second time I've said that. I hope I don't have to say it again.
i think that you have some very rich tones in there - you are only lacking confidence. Just let it out! You'll be surprised.
Lovely intimate song and extremely well performed and recorded. Thanks for the open and frank glimpse into your life too.
Cheers
Len
[ Reply to This ]
Lengold &mdash 04/19/08 - 07:12:43 AM
Thank you so much for the vote of confidence! I have so much to learn and learning to be confident will take time.
I wish I had sung more when younger... I won't continue to apologize... I will try to "let it out" and see what happens! [ Reply to This ]
Good advice in these lyrics &mdash 04/18/08 - 08:33:45 AM
Say what you want about your subdued singing, I favorited this to remember my wife when I forget her. Hope that tells you something about my opinion of this tune. I've become pretty calcified, jaded, this might shake some of that off. [ Reply to This ]
Bob! &mdash 04/19/08 - 07:15:01 AM
Thank you so much! Wow! That really means a lot coming from you! The funny thing is that my wife has yet to hear this piece! She's been working some very long hard hours and I have not wanted to force her to come and listen. Hopefully soon.
[ Reply to This ]
hey man... &mdash 04/22/08 - 10:59:21 PM
don't be so hard on yourself! the vocals really aren't bad, and your intentions for the song were right and true. i say great job...great dedication piece! you actually remind me slightly of Spiritualized. not bad at all!
age
-sons of hypnos [ Reply to This ]
I'm trying... &mdash 04/22/08 - 11:00:49 PM
I think I will get more comfortable as time goes on. Thanks so much for the comments and notes of confidence! [ Reply to This ]
WOW! &mdash 04/26/08 - 08:49:11 AM
Great... simply amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
dedication &mdash 04/29/08 - 01:03:26 AM
Mark,
Nice work. And your voice doesn't s*ck as much as you think it does! Don't be afraid. With honesty and heart like this, great things can happen, and like they say practice makes perfect, that and a little pitch correction software, I should know, believe me. Glad I dropped by.
P [ Reply to This ]
So beautiful... &mdash 05/01/08 - 12:07:46 PM
in every way. Love songs are so healing, and this one is wonderful. [ Reply to This ]
stada &mdash 05/29/08 - 09:15:25 AM
full of love! I admire your dedication to your wife, she must be very proud of you. Indeed you are a family not just a couple. keep up [ Reply to This ]
|
[ Reply to This ]