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Keywords:
Friendship (11), Faith (37), Compassion (2)
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Description:
The Texas tour had been long and wearing and full of strange events like all of the band equipment somehow ending up in Taiwan before the performance in Texas A&M stadium. Playing on borrowed equipment is tough but Gail would not let her fans down and put on a magnificent performance.
Things had just seemed jinxed on this tour and often the band found themselves left with nothing but each other to console their frustrations.
Gail, the star of the show, had also had a minor disagreement with Jason her primary male backup vocalist. He had left Texas A&M in a taxi leaving the band hanging.
There was one more small venue to play, a coffee house. Gail had hoped it would be a relaxing wind down to the tour but with Jason gone she would be soloing. She was definitely strong enough for that without a doubt but then boarding the bus from the stadium another strange event occurred, the bus door had slammed shut on her right hand.
The fingers were not broken but were stiff and very sore. Playing the piano would be difficult at best. Not one to let her fans down Gail turned to her long time guitar player Mark in desperation and asked if he might fill in on keyboard. She'd heard him play and while not in her league he got along well enough. Mark had been with her since the start and she valued his friendship and his dedication to her.
The night before the coffee house gig Gail happened up on Mark practicing alone and listened to the song he was gently singing and she knew instantly it would be the one for the coffee house. Together they sketched out the lyrics finishing at close to 4am.
With just a few hours of sleep they entered the packed coffee house and performed this song together for the first time...
Lyrics:
Friendship and Faith
MRH & Gail 2008
Mark: I face each day alone
Gail: I'm always there for you
Mark: I'm searching for the answers
Gail: I will search with you
Mark: I'm struggling to find my way
Mark: through this confusing time and place
Gail: We are never alone
Mark: How can you be sure?
Gail: The answers they will come
Mark: Are you certain?
Gail: As friends we share a connection
Gail: a bond that links us as one
Mark: I wish I had your strength
Gail: My friend you are strong
Mark: I wish I had your faith
Gail: Just believe and you will
Mark: I wish I could really feel
Mark: That everything will be all right
Gail: Strength comes from within
Mark: But I'm filled with doubt
Gail: Faith is yours to take
Mark: What must I do?
Gail: As your friend I'll help you
Gail: through this troubled, troubled time
Mark: Please take my hand
Gail: I'm reaching for it now
Mark: Help me to understand
Gail: I'll teach you all I know
Mark: What I must do
Mark: to have strength and faith like you
Gail: Just hold my hand
Mark: I'll hold on tight
Gail: Relax and understand
Mark: I'll rest easy tonight
Gail: That every thing you need
Gail: Is already part of the plan
Both: Friendship and faith
Both: Friendship and faith
Gail: Friendship and faith
Mark: Thats all we will need
Gail: Friendship and faith
Mark: Everything will be fine
Gail: Friendship and faith
Both: Friendship and faith
Hardware:
Intel MacMini, M-Audio Firewire solo
Software:
Logic express, Gail, Mark
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Friendship & Faith &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:26:47 AM
Very nice guys. The separation of the voices in the headphones makes me think I'm sitting right at the front. Beautifully written and performed.
Very best wishes
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Steve &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:33:05 AM
I tried hard to people feel like they were really there!
Thanks so much for listening! [ Reply to This ]
Friendship and Faith &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:30:59 AM
This is BEAUTIFUL you two! Congratulations - really lovely vocals. Your voices do VERY WELL together! And Mark, I hope Gail isn't being mean to you. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Karen &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:35:15 AM
I'm glad you liked it. No Gail is certainly not being mean to me... She does however really PUSH me!!! I mean those vocals of hers are gorgeous (1 take I might say too) and for a vocal hacker like myself (oh 9 or 10 takes) it is tough to hang in there with her! [ Reply to This ]
Neat............ &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:33:32 AM
.... I'm speechless, one of the best performances ever heard here. Great presentation, great background sounds, amazing piano playing and the vocals are so warm together. Carefully well mixed and excellently produced. A true GEM!
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
Wow Yeman &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:42:02 AM
Thank you so much. Coming from you this means so much. Thank you so much for this! [ Reply to This ]
i like this &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:36:21 AM
Wow &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:43:37 AM
A well written &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:52:26 AM
and performed song with a good structure. Your voices blend together and compliment each other. The song is thoughtfully arranged and moves to it's next part smoothly and with ease. Most enjoyable.
John [ Reply to This ]
ps &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:54:58 AM
John! &mdash 06/16/08 - 12:04:40 PM
Thanks for dropping by my friend! I knew you'd like the picture for sure!
I've heard stuff like this in small coffee type places and I thought it would work well. Gail's voice is so pretty. So difficult for a vocally limited guy like me to stay with...
Anyway thanks so much for dropping in! [ Reply to This ]
hey! &mdash 06/16/08 - 12:00:31 PM
was that my mocha ??? well, well guys .. this sweet ... and the coffe shop ambience is perfect! very honest and heart felt performances ... this is just lovely. who ever did the production .. hats off indeed and very nice! [ Reply to This ]
Hi DA &mdash 06/16/08 - 12:07:54 PM
Thanks so much! I did the production/engineering (if you want to call it that). Gail is the real talent though as you know... With a voice like hers mixing is easy because you don't need to do much!
Hope you enjoyed your mocha... Drak got stuck with the bill!!! :) [ Reply to This ]
Bwaahaahaa... love my expensive Latte! &mdash 06/16/08 - 01:55:27 PM
This was worth the wait. What a great song, absolutely adore the lyrics and the fact that YOU TWO put this together, what great friends, sentimental and honest... love it. Great singing from Gail, although she knows that she has a great singing voice... but MARK, your singing is deeply soulful and warm and satisfying (sort of like this latte, what did you add... is there a bit of clove in it?) and your piano playing and music writing is excellent. You know, being able to sit and listen to music like this, I have no problem at all picking up the bill, great work you two!
WHAT THE... $542.75?? What the heck did Jack order? Oh, OK, never mind, I'll just wash coffee cups for a month, with this playing on my iPod :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
oh, and another thing &mdash 06/16/08 - 01:59:41 PM
I forgot to mention that the little touch of sprinkling the coffee-order intercom through the song was deliciously fun, and done very well (people don't know how HARD it is to do that so it is funny and not too intrusive, kudos!) And, I really enjoyed your story-telling in the description. I hope Gail's virtual hand-accident has healed and she can return to her piano soon, although now we know that you can hold your own just fine on the keys there too!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Hey Drak! &mdash 06/16/08 - 02:10:42 PM
Sorry you got stuck with the bill! :) I was a bit busy trying to keep up with Gail!
We'll try to make sure the bill is evenly split next time and Jack... quit ordering so many of those expensive coffee drinks!
On the serious side what absolutely amazes me is how easy this was to do. Gail is so fantastic with such an amazing voice hers is 1 take, while I did about 10 or maybe more!
Thanks for the vocal comments Drak. I wish I felt more comfortable with my voice. I guess I hear every flaw! Yet when I listen to Gail I hear nothing but perfection.
I'm sure Gail's hand is just fine now and we will so have another hit masterpiece to treat our ears. She's probably catching up on sleep. The tour was long and tedious at times.
Thanks for dropping in my friend! [ Reply to This ]
ummmm ... &mdash 06/16/08 - 07:57:59 PM
F&F &mdash 06/16/08 - 02:18:40 PM
will comment after I get this lump out of my throat...
it's absolutely beautiful [ Reply to This ]
Take your time &mdash 06/16/08 - 02:42:35 PM
Very fine &mdash 06/16/08 - 02:39:49 PM
From beginning to end. Yes, Gail has a beautiful voice but you were a perfect compliment to that. I enjoyed the whole presentation. Thanks to you, both. [ Reply to This ]
Char &mdash 06/16/08 - 02:45:07 PM
Thank you very very much. Gail's voice is spectacular and it is a treat to sing with her although I feel so outclassed.
I'm really glad you enjoyed the presentation. I tried to add a fun atmosphere to it.
And nice to meet you! I've seen you about but have not had a chance to say hi. [ Reply to This ]
Friendship & Faith &mdash 06/16/08 - 03:08:57 PM
folks you are incredible ..its why I love you
and cherish your friendship ..your music and freindship
reflect why this place is just a dream to think it
even exsist ..you just sing with hearts ..and thats
all so much a gem thnx for sharin ...!
btw
my name is feeeeeter :-) [ Reply to This ]
Mr. Feeeeter! &mdash 06/16/08 - 03:17:24 PM
I'm so very very sorry! I meant no harm and when we do a retake of this I'll be SURE to get it right!!!
M [ Reply to This ]
Hazelnut Latt &mdash 06/16/08 - 03:17:57 PM
sounds good to me! :-) This song sounds even better. Wow, what a perfect coffeehouse entry. You two sound so good together, and the sound effects are perfect. Looks like Drak skipped out without paying his bill, or even sipping his latt- he must have been outside, picking Daisies. hehheh. Wonderful piano and vocals here. :-) [ Reply to This ]
Roxylee! &mdash 06/16/08 - 03:20:49 PM
You have always been so supportive that you deserved a huge mention in the song. I guessed at hazelnut... I have no idea if you even drink lattes...
Anyway Drak was actually there but go so into the music and mood I think he didn't notice that everyone was charging his tab!!! :)
Thanks so much for the dropping by and having a listen! [ Reply to This ]
I'll have... &mdash 06/16/08 - 03:49:30 PM
...mine black, no sugar, please...
I was definitely there...very nicely produced and performed. You 2 should do the circuit... [ Reply to This ]
Bob! &mdash 06/16/08 - 04:13:36 PM
Thank you so much!!! I'll make sure your coffee is steaming hot just as you ordered it.
Gail is the real star. She really pulled this one off with that fantastic set of pipes she has!
Thanks for the listen and comments my friend! [ Reply to This ]
Beautiful tune &mdash 06/16/08 - 04:23:57 PM
Just a lovely song, beautifully sung and played. Plus, you've got the world's cutest song art. [ Reply to This ]
Thank you so much! &mdash 06/16/08 - 04:40:52 PM
Yes the kittens are very cute! It was a pleasure to do this with Gail! Thanks so much for your input! [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 06/16/08 - 06:00:41 PM
great performances from you both - the vocals are so complementary - nice recording too - love the separation between the voices - and the Coffee House 'clatter and chatter' is great!
Peter [ Reply to This ]
Thanks so much Peter! &mdash 06/16/08 - 06:08:00 PM
Your work with Mr BirdMan Wayne was fabulous!
Gail is so easy to work with. No mixing required. She just sings and it sounds great! [ Reply to This ]
I just want to know .. &mdash 06/16/08 - 06:35:28 PM
.. how you got the grand piano through the doors ;)
Very nicely done - a great coffee house mix (including the background sounds). Your vocals work really well together, and the song is a gem.
Congratulations Mark and Gail - a top post.
Cheers from Oz,
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Hi Neil, &mdash 06/16/08 - 07:54:20 PM
I was told that the old coffee house was actually built around the piano! Seems that before MJ took over it, it was a small theater!
Glad you enjoyed the tune. Gail is amazing to work with!
M [ Reply to This ]
hmmmmmm &mdash 06/16/08 - 08:00:44 PM
Very, very nice! &mdash 06/16/08 - 07:59:26 PM
This really captures the feeling and powerful emotional weight of a live performance.
A beautiful song about two very important things. [ Reply to This ]
Thank you Adam! &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:04:23 PM
WOW! &mdash 06/16/08 - 08:13:07 PM
I have a guest appearance and I didn't even know I was in the building! HaHa! I LOVED the intro sounds and your little opening comments - although I have to say I've worked in a lot of coffee shops and have never used an overhead speaker system to call out people's drinks!
Anyway, on to the music. Gorgeous. Beautiful. I really liked the voices in each side of the headphones. Beautiful singing. Very nice lyrics and the piano playing was good Mark! I really like your voices together. Very nice - I could hear a little acoustic guitar in there (when you have the rest of the band back together, of course). Sorry to hear about the bad luck on the tour. Definitely sounds like you've broken through the clouds on this one - bright sunshine, warm and full of hope. Thank you for sharing this sweet tune, both of you - wonderful job. [ Reply to This ]
Ah but &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:06:58 PM
Kassia... You've never worked the MacJams Coffee house... This is a big place! It even had a grand piano for performances!
It would be nice to get the band back together but the break up at A&M came hard. It may be a while! :)
Thank you so much for the listen and the comments! [ Reply to This ]
WOW Mark &mdash 06/16/08 - 08:45:42 PM
What a great job you did with this. I am just amazed by your entire performance. Truly, very good. You did a great job pulling this all together and I really had a lot of fun. I consider it an honor to work with you and really enjoyed the "Texas Tour" lol. The sound effects you added were terrific and using so many people in there was so thoughtful. But then, that is just you Mark. Sweet, thoughtful and delightfully talented. Thanks again for allowing me to join you! Here's to friendship and faith! [ Reply to This ]
Oh come now Gail girl!!! &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:10:04 PM
You know this would just be another lukewarm piece of music had your vocals not shined so brightly!
Step up and take the bow! You sound amazing and the pleasure was all mine. Like I've been saying: Gail: 1 take = perfect. Mark: 9 or 10 takes and it still kinda sucks but hey I tried!
It was a blast and you did perfect. I hope the hand is healing well :) and I hope that soon you will be cranking out more gorgeous piano to treat us! [ Reply to This ]
oh yeah &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:42:34 PM
first off a beautiful song, second I'll take another espresso.
i like the trade off vocals and deep feeling lyrics. very sincerely sung!
Very nicely done Mark and Gail. Now where's that money jar? [ Reply to This ]
Hi Vic &mdash 06/17/08 - 07:30:16 AM
thanks for dropping by. I think both your espressos were charged to Drak so their no charge I think.
MJ Coffee wouldn't allow a money jar! So this one is just for fun. But we are sure glad you dropped in. Wish you had your guitar with you... we could have used a VH style solo at some point! [ Reply to This ]
Very nice &mdash 06/16/08 - 11:51:20 PM
You would think you 2 were sitting right next to each other when you did this. [ Reply to This ]
Mr Bazemore! &mdash 06/17/08 - 07:49:22 AM
Thanks for stopping in! I did see you in the front row. How many mochas did you drink? There were a lot of cups on that table!
Hey thanks for the comments! [ Reply to This ]
You are welcome &mdash 06/17/08 - 11:42:28 AM
Don't do Mocha's but I guess the cups look the same. Do regular drip and it was about 12 cups ;-O [ Reply to This ]
Wonderful &mdash 06/17/08 - 08:42:34 AM
call and answer tune. It has that early Simon and Garfunkel interplay. [ Reply to This ]
John! &mdash 06/17/08 - 08:48:53 AM
Thanks so much. A comment from you is like money in the bank my friend! Thanks so much! [ Reply to This ]
Nice one M & G &mdash 06/17/08 - 09:22:12 AM
Mr Lamp &mdash 06/17/08 - 12:40:16 PM
Uplifting! &mdash 06/17/08 - 10:38:11 AM
A GEM of a collab my friends! And one heck of a sordid tale in the Song description! Ha ha...
Wonderful lyrics. Beautiful piano playing. It's very nice to hear the two of you singing together. Sounds like a real live performance too.
Bravo and encore!
Be well! [ Reply to This ]
Mr. Wark! &mdash 06/17/08 - 12:43:22 PM
Coming from you this means a lot! Thank you so much!
Really the star of this show is Gail. She is so amazing to work with, so easy. She does in one take what takes me many!
Glad you enjoyed the story too!
Re the piano playing... I am not even in Gail's league but I figured with sore fingers I had better stand in! :) [ Reply to This ]
BRAVO!!!! &mdash 06/17/08 - 12:12:14 PM
Outstanding you two this is so beautiful. I enjoyed the preamble to lol. You want I should take care of Jason for you? I know people lol. Great performance and wonderful song you guy's. Thanks for sharing. [ Reply to This ]
Hello Mr Grooves! &mdash 06/17/08 - 12:46:00 PM
Thanks so much for dropping in and leaving a comment!
Ha ha... I am pretty sure I hear that Jason's cab got held up 2 blocks from the airport and then when he finally got on the plane it got hijacked to Havana!!!
Thanks so much for your input! [ Reply to This ]
nice &mdash 06/17/08 - 04:06:37 PM
wonderful collab, guys. feels like i'm sitting right up front! love the question/answer structure of the vocals. well done! [ Reply to This ]
Mr Sorensen! &mdash 06/17/08 - 04:41:10 PM
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Gail made it a treasure to do. She is wonderful to work with! [ Reply to This ]
Friendship and Faith &mdash 06/17/08 - 04:34:57 PM
Great Photo but the music is fantastic. The lyrics are so beautifull and you two did a great job vocaly.
Thanks, Russ [ Reply to This ]
Thank you so much Russ! &mdash 06/17/08 - 04:43:33 PM
Gail's vocals just shine... I wish I was in her league! But thank you so much for the input!! [ Reply to This ]
I like mine black &mdash 06/17/08 - 05:10:12 PM
One straight black &mdash 06/17/08 - 05:28:35 PM
Very well done &mdash 06/17/08 - 06:09:54 PM
The mix is perfectly done, and I love the voices in the background - very nicely done. The piano sounds great, and the vocals are great. The lyrical interplay is very well done. Very well written duet, and a terrific performance. Nicely done to both of you. Kudos. Peace. [ Reply to This ]
David &mdash 06/17/08 - 06:19:23 PM
Coming from you this means a lot! Your music is always so perfectly mixed and has such a wonderful sound. It is a goal I work toward!
Thank you so much! [ Reply to This ]
i love this... &mdash 06/19/08 - 05:42:03 AM
the lyrics, the playing, the sound of you both together - this powerful song (brilliantly mixed) has gone into my itunes and i shall be listening again and again - thank you both xoxoxo
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Very best wishes
Steve
[ Reply to This ]