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Smooth as Silk by Joanna [Email]
Genre: Jazz (vocal)

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 4323
Comments: 58
Votes: 45
Plays: 847
Last Played: Sep 10, 2008 - 01:32:16 PM
Downloads: 209
Fans: 20
Uploaded: Nov 23, 2004 - 11:25:42 AM
Last Updated: Nov 15, 2005 - 11:17:24 PM
Fan List
Description:
It's been too long since I wrote a jazz song, so I decided to return to my favorite genre. I tried to capture the kind of song they would have played in jazz clubs back in the day. Imagine a smoky room at 3 a.m. in some dive with a quartet and a 'girl singer'. I had so much fun with this one. For the lyrics (to keep with that period feel) I played around with cliches, and had a blast doing it.

Lyrics:
Smooth as silk, slick as oil
Sly as a fox, you're never true or loyal
You're a rake, a bounder, a rascal, a cad
Why, oh, why do I like my boys bad?

You set your sights in that smoky room
Helpless as a kitten, I sauntered your way
You smiled, you laughed, enjoying my doom
I couldn't resist that black hair touched with grey

:;Refrain::

You put on airs; lived like a king
I thought you were the man that you pretended to be
The bills came in and I paid everything
A wink, a kiss, and a slap on the tush was your currency

:;Refrain::

You stole my heart, and all my rings
You took my natural pearls but skipped the cultivated
I should have known I'd lose all my things
You wouldn't even breathe without being compensated

::Refrain::

::Some noodling around::

::Refrain::

I don't know...
Loverboy...
Come to Mama.

©Copyright November 2004 by Joanna Sandsmark


Hardware:
eMac, Shure mic.

Software:
GarageBand and JamPack #1
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Is that you Peggy? &mdash 11/23/04 - 12:46:15 PM
Wow! What an amazing voice. Gorgeous! This is your
medium, jazz that is. You were born to sing this kind of
song. And your lyrics are fantastic. Thanks for another
great song. I personally hate bad boys, but whatever. With
such a voice you can sing anything and I'll listen.

[ Reply to This ]
Is that you Peggy? &mdash 11/23/04 - 05:45:44 PM
Thank you, mgauding! I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of bad boys, myself. But
I wanted that vintage feel, and a "he done me wrong" song seemed just the
ticket. I had such a good time singing this one, and that's because I was so
comfortable with the genre.

[ Reply to This ]
It don't mean a thang . . . &mdash 11/23/04 - 02:15:26 PM
if it ain't got that . . . swang.

The torch singer has been rekindled! Very authentic vibe.
And I don't mean Vibrophone! A fun little track!

[ Reply to This ]
It don't mean a thang . . . &mdash 11/23/04 - 05:47:57 PM
Thanks, Paul! When I was a little kid, I used to dream of being called a torch
singer. I think you just helped me fulfill a fantasy!

[ Reply to This ]
That was nice &mdash 11/23/04 - 03:15:06 PM
Thanks. I really enjoyed this song. Your voice is very nice and the overall production is good too. Good job!

[ Reply to This ]
That was nice &mdash 11/23/04 - 05:49:35 PM
Thank you, Phase. I'm so glad you liked it!

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Even Oscar Peterson can't do that &mdash 11/23/04 - 04:04:42 PM
I think this is a great little jazz tune. Very like the kind of
cabaret music you can hear in NYC any night of the week.
Your voice works very well for this style. The piano runs
during the refrain, though, sound a tad artificial to me.
They're just too fast to sound real. Maybe if they were
pulled back in the mix a tad, or weren't so dry.

[ Reply to This ]
Even Oscar Peterson can't do that &mdash 11/23/04 - 05:51:59 PM
Chris - lol, yes, they're very artificial. I don't play any instruments, so loops
are it for me. I'm still tweaking this song, so I'll experiment with pulling back
the piano in the refrain. Thank you!

[ Reply to This ]
POW!!!! &mdash 11/23/04 - 05:58:00 PM
After hearing this, I take back all that junk I wrote in "Rise
Up". Your vocals really shine here! A slightlly smokey,
sultry voice, rich in texture. This just rocked! (or is that
jazzed)? :P

[ Reply to This ]
POW!!!! &mdash 11/23/04 - 06:40:55 PM
Thank you, Pack! This is indeed the genre in which I feel most comfortable. I
absolutely adore singing jazz. It's what I tend to listen to when I pop on a CD.
It's also what I sing around the house. In fact, that's where this song came
from. I was making dinner last night, and just started singing what turned out
to be my refrain. While the microwave cooked, I ran to the computer and
typed up the lyric I'd just sung, and as soon as I finished eating, I opened
GarageBand.

[ Reply to This ]
Blissfull Vocals &mdash 11/23/04 - 06:16:02 PM
Well, Oh my God,
Joanna, this is just too wonderful,You have just the right
timbre in your voice to sing Jazz like this.great loops (
where'd you get em??)
Fabulous lyrics

Oooh, when you play live.. I'm comng over to be a groupie
Slimmie

[ Reply to This ]
Blissfull Vocals &mdash 11/23/04 - 06:46:59 PM
Thank you, Slimmie! You and I are in a mutual admiration society. I adore
your voice, you know. If that mythical performance ever happens, I think it
should be a duet.

As for the loops, they're from JamPack #1. I just got it and was dying to use
those cool lounge piano loops. In fact, I was so excited about my finally
getting a jampack, that I wrote a song about it
(http://www.macidol.com/song.php?band_id=1049&song_id=4857)

[ Reply to This ]
You sound great! &mdash 11/23/04 - 06:50:58 PM
Quite a voice! Quite a pleasure to listen to. An instant
favorite. You should really try to do a collaboration with
some of the members here who can play jazz. I'm certain
the result would be fantastic.

[ Reply to This ]
You sound great! &mdash 11/23/04 - 08:16:06 PM
Thank you, macapa! And you're right -- it would be sooo cool to do a song
with real musicians. A wee bit intimidating, but very, very cool.

[ Reply to This ]
That's it. &mdash 11/23/04 - 08:36:18 PM
I want in. And, if you get Mcboy to play real piano on this
one, it's going to be a gem.

[ Reply to This ]
That's it. &mdash 11/23/04 - 08:42:12 PM
I really wanted a sax on it. But the software sax didn't sound right to me at all
(I used to play sax many moons ago, so I'm a little particular about the
sound).

But man, real piano would be so cool!

[ Reply to This ]
Awesome &mdash 11/23/04 - 10:16:47 PM
Though not my kind of music, I love your voice and the form of the song.

The piano work was amazing too.

[ Reply to This ]
Awesome &mdash 11/23/04 - 10:18:40 PM
Ah, my bad...loops from JamPack 1.

Well then...um excellent use of loops!

:)

---
IM me at atrophy normalcy (AIM)

[ Reply to This ]
Awesome &mdash 11/24/04 - 11:27:18 AM
jc - I know how tough it is to appreciate a genre to which you're not
attracted, so I thank you most sincerely for your comments. My loops thank
you, too.

[ Reply to This ]
Wonderfull &mdash 11/24/04 - 03:42:58 AM
Loved the vocals, so swanky. My only complaint is the too
quick piano riffs.

[ Reply to This ]
Wonderfull &mdash 11/24/04 - 11:29:19 AM
Is, thank you so much. Hopefully, the piano riffs will be solved soon. A
collaboration is in the works!

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Delightful &mdash 11/24/04 - 09:00:29 AM
Very nice. It's great to have a contemporary writing
standards, there can't be enough of tunes like this. I
really like the piano solos between your singing, but it
does compete like a duetist on occasion when you're
singing; and I'd drop the low vibes. Your vocals are in a
different space because of the differentiating effects on
your voice too. But nice tune, nice inventive playing. This
will be a new standard in my nightclub!

[ Reply to This ]
Delightful &mdash 11/24/04 - 11:34:55 AM
Thank you, Tobin! I just got a thrill seeing you use the word "standard", as
those are the songs I love so much. When I played the song here, the reverb
sounded a lot hotter than it had in GB, so I went back and clicked it down a
bit. Unfortunately, I couldn't swap out the now more balanced file. My fault
for posting too soon (the song went from conception to posting in just a few
hours -- one of those creative frenzy things that sometimes happen. Next
time, I'll be more patient and let it age a bit first).

[ Reply to This ]
This is *IT*!!! &mdash 11/24/04 - 09:02:03 AM
Wonderful!

This is YOUR best style, I think, and your comfort level
with this torch song genre shines through brilliantly. Your
voice lends itself perfectly to it.

The accompaniment is excellent as well, very nice rapid
piano riffs, interesting vibraphone "spice". This track is
extremely well put-together. It WORKS.

I haven't heard everything you've posted here yet, but so
far this is my favorite. VERY impressive!

An entire ALBUM of this stuff would do very well. This
track sounds very professional. This track has a similar
flavor to some of the things from Joni Mitchell's torch
song album, but your voice is definitely more soulful.

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This is *IT*!!! &mdash 11/24/04 - 11:40:11 AM
Thank you, Cameron! I think one thing you're hearing is pure, unadulterated
fun. I simply had a blast singing it, and let myself play the role. To me,
singing is acting. In every song you play a character, with the structure of a
song akin to a 3 act play. And because I have a very low voice, this kind of
song does suit me vocally. The combo of comfort and a "juicy role" explains
all that fun I was having.

[ Reply to This ]
Bravo Standing Ovation &mdash 11/24/04 - 11:51:55 AM
professional quaility all the way.

10 8 8 10

[ Reply to This ]
Bravo Standing Ovation &mdash 11/24/04 - 12:54:37 PM
Thank you, Hacked! You know, I'm so overwhelmed by the response to this
song. I never in a million years expected to post a song this well received. I'm
humbled and grateful to everyone who's listened.

[ Reply to This ]
Already a jazz standard... &mdash 11/24/04 - 06:46:51 PM
in my estimation. This song is dressed to the nines. And
you deliver a performance worthy of any jazz anthology. I
mean that.
Gosh, it wasn't difficult at all to imagine the setting in that
late night lounge (I played a few back in the sixties).
"Come on, give us one more song before they close and
throw us out!"
9-9-9-9

Jack

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Already a jazz standard... &mdash 11/24/04 - 07:45:47 PM
Wow, thanks, Jack! Now all the world knows of my secret fantasy to be a jazz
singer. It's so cool that you know that know that life. Man, I love garageband!

[ Reply to This ]
Your best yet &mdash 11/28/04 - 07:02:58 AM
Everyone has one style they feel most comfortable with
and this is defintely you.

Liked it.

[ Reply to This ]
Your best yet &mdash 11/28/04 - 10:37:04 AM
Thank you, Ringo, and you pegged me just right. This is my musical comfort
zone.

[ Reply to This ]
Cool Song &mdash 11/29/04 - 09:44:13 PM
Nice nostalgic sound and mix. Great voice:-)

[ Reply to This ]
Cool Song &mdash 11/29/04 - 10:24:44 PM
Thank you, Scorp!

[ Reply to This ]
top notch, all the way &mdash 12/01/04 - 02:56:29 AM
this is just perfect-the singing, the lyrics & the music!
really great

[ Reply to This ]
top notch, all the way &mdash 12/01/04 - 03:48:51 PM
Thank you, _nder! That means a lot coming from you.

[ Reply to This ]
Great Voice &mdash 12/10/04 - 11:21:04 PM
I've been working in digital music using Pro Tools, which
is a more traditional recording interface. I have access to
lots of software synths and loops, etc. But somehow, I just
don't feel comfortable with robotic music. I think people
do some interesting stuff with it, like you. If you, or
someone, actually played that piano and bass, that's
pretty impressive, but if it was just pre-programmed
loops, it loses some magic for me. But I don't want to
sound like a party pooper. It's all good if its done well.
Keep it up. (Did anyone actually play the instruments?)

[ Reply to This ]
Great Voice &mdash 12/11/04 - 12:34:42 AM
The piano is all loops, but they're audio loops, so we must assume that
someone played the piano in order to record them. I got the loops in Jampack
#1. The bass is a software instrument, also loops.

I would love to be able to play the piano or the bass, but I can't. I'm not a
musician, so I have to use what's available. That said, my voice is real, and I
played some of the vibraphone parts (midi).

Thank you for listening!

[ Reply to This ]
Great lyrics! &mdash 12/14/04 - 02:43:22 AM
Call me a sucker, but who can resist: "You're a rake, a
bounder, a rascal, a cad; Why oh why do I like my boys
bad?" I agree with the previous reviewers, the repeating
piano bits are a bit much, but overall, a fantastic tune.
The vocal work in combination with the lyrics make this a
great tune. Good job!

[ Reply to This ]
Great lyrics! &mdash 12/14/04 - 04:17:31 AM
Thank you, Tall! And stay tuned -- there's a collaboration in the works that's
going to replace all the loops with live instruments.

[ Reply to This ]
What a voice! &mdash 12/30/04 - 11:11:06 AM
OMG
First, I have to say I am sorry that I haven't heard any of
your song till now. You have a great voice!!
Your voice fits to this smoky jazz style song.
I also surprised that you did it just by eMac, Shure mic
and Garageband. It sounds really good. Especially the
piano sounds so good. Do you play that piano too?
I'm going to check your other songs too.

Big smile from Japan.

Rina(mars)

[ Reply to This ]
What a voice! &mdash 12/30/04 - 05:14:50 PM
Thank you, Rina! I'm a big fan of your music and especially admire your
singing voice.

The piano is actually a compilation of loops from Jampack #1. I wish I could
play some instruments, but I can't. I performed the vocals and some of the
vibraphone, that's it.

Domo arigato for listening and commenting!

[ Reply to This ]
Smoothe as Silk it Was Indeed &mdash 01/13/05 - 12:32:34 AM
Well Crafted and the performance is a true seller in itself.

I particularly liked the vibraphone solo and the walking
bass line.

I am slightly trouble by the choice of the word rake. I
know that your meaning is in reference to one that is "an
immoral ir dissolute person", but for some reason I
imagine the "rake" that one uses in the garden. In all
fairness, however, you may have been playing on words
and thus intentional in your homonymnal reference.

Good Work All the Way Around However!

Sincerely,
Johnathan J. Stegeman.
MidiMacMan.

[ Reply to This ]
Smoothe as Silk it Was Indeed &mdash 01/13/05 - 03:23:38 AM
Thank you for your comments. "Rake" was intentional, but not as a garden
implement. I used words that were familiar to the era I was trying to capture
with the song, the mid-20th century. The music, the lyrics, even the vocal
performance were intended to be remniscent of that era.

[ Reply to This ]
Amazing vocals... &mdash 01/13/05 - 11:47:27 PM
..and lyrics and, well, everything. When I first heard this, I
thought that you were a professional singer who had
created a studio recording.
You have the mood and style of this piece down. I'd love
to hear an entire CD of your voice doing this genre!
Thank you for sharing your talent!


[ Reply to This ]
Amazing vocals... &mdash 01/15/05 - 04:56:28 AM
Thank you, Mystie! I'll get working on that CD, if you get working on yours!

[ Reply to This ]
Nice and you did that with loops &mdash 01/15/05 - 09:23:59 PM
I am starting to like loops more and more. I need to delve
into that world for sure just from what you and others
have done here at macjams.

Of course your voice is the topping on the cake! Great
words too.



[ Reply to This ]
Nice and you did that with loops &mdash 01/16/05 - 12:02:22 AM
If I could play the piano, I would, but what's great about loops is that even
folks like me can make music with them. Thank you so much, Tiler!

[ Reply to This ]
It Is You! &mdash 03/24/05 - 09:34:49 AM
I agree that this is your style. More, more, more!!

p.s. and don't listen to the nitpickers. The average person
wouldn't know that was loops instead of your band
playing.

[ Reply to This ]
It Is You! &mdash 03/25/05 - 02:40:22 AM
Thank you, Bronco! And now, I'd like to introduce my band... er...

[ Reply to This ]
Great voice! &mdash 03/27/05 - 08:39:02 PM
But I think I've said that before.

The piano runs are a bit unrealistic though. Did you speed
them up from slower runs?

Oh, nice song!

[ Reply to This ]
Great voice! &mdash 03/27/05 - 08:46:16 PM
The piano is not a software instrument, but the tempo is a wee bit higher
than at what they were recorded. Not by much, though. The actual runs are
just really fast. Apple hires only the best for our loops!

Thank you, Vic!

[ Reply to This ]
That's hot! &mdash 04/28/05 - 09:54:43 PM
Jazz really isn't where I live but the lyrics are great fun and
you have very expressive voice. Congratulations on the
acceptance by MacAddict!

[ Reply to This ]
That's hot! &mdash 04/29/05 - 03:34:58 AM
Thank you, Alan! I especially appreciate you stepping out of your comfort
zone to give it a listen. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy it.

[ Reply to This ]
I am not a big jazz fan &mdash 05/22/05 - 09:56:00 PM
but this is very professional, so I gave you 8,8,8,8!
Great work

[ Reply to This ]
I am not a big jazz fan &mdash 05/23/05 - 04:30:33 AM
Thank you very much, Breezer, for both stepping outside your genre
preferences and for thinking so highly of it!

[ Reply to This ]
Good Lord. Did you really do this?!? &mdash 01/04/06 - 08:33:47 PM
This recording feels like vintage Blue Note...whatever I know of vintage
Blue Note... (Years with roommates with vintage record collections)...

The vocal is so human, the phrasing and the ways you use your voice
so alive... Like you did this in a club, singing to someone you picked
out in the back row, AND someone you picked out in a table at the
front...

The tone of the piano is great, and it's hard to believe this was done
with an eMac and a Shure mic... The reverb sounds really organic and
like a real space...

Very special, real...

Ed

[ Reply to This ]
Good Lord. Did you really do this?!? &mdash 01/05/06 - 12:11:08 AM
Thank you, Ed! With this song, I think it's my own joy coming through
because I had such a blast singing it. Sometimes I can barely control my
delight. The piano is all loops from Jampack #1, which I had purchased just
prior to writing this song. I was so thrilled to get some jazz piano loops I
couldn't resist immediately jumping into them.

The beauty of Garageband, to me, is that it lets someone like me, who
doesn't really play any instruments, build a musical bed for vocals. I love to
sing and those crazy loops let me do so.

[ Reply to This ]
Good Stuff! &mdash 06/22/06 - 07:55:25 PM
I'm so impressed! This sounds like an authentic standard! Congrats! I'm
off to download now. Thanks!

Stacey

[ Reply to This ]
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