konalavadome

New song and video recorded out in the desert. Feedback welcome

  • 31 Replies
  • 3253 Views

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

RealKevM

  • *
  • Platinum Album
  • ****
  • Posts: 573
    • Soundcloud Real KevM 2
« Reply #15 on: April 04, 2018, 09:41:58 PM »
Decent mate. Good work with the video! You've got a distinct, quality voice.

Mike67

  • *
  • Guest
« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2018, 08:28:54 AM »
Great song and a great performance. I agree that there's a place for more obscure lyrics; Lennon, Dylan, etc, and I generally prefer them.. No nits apart from the missing apostrophe in "you're".  I"ll forgive you this one time as it doesn't detract from what's a great song.  ;D

Muso1070

  • *
  • Open Mic
  • **
  • Posts: 126
« Reply #17 on: April 05, 2018, 12:05:38 PM »
Decent mate. Good work with the video! You've got a distinct, quality voice.

Cheers budd appreciate the compliments glad you enjoyed  :)

Muso1070

  • *
  • Open Mic
  • **
  • Posts: 126
« Reply #18 on: April 05, 2018, 12:08:45 PM »
Great song and a great performance. I agree that there's a place for more obscure lyrics; Lennon, Dylan, etc, and I generally prefer them.. No nits apart from the missing apostrophe in "you're".  I"ll forgive you this one time as it doesn't detract from what's a great song.  ;D

Thanks Mike definitely its nice to hear something different and more obscure.
I prefer that myself indeed.

Thanks

GinaEllen

  • *
  • Busker
  • *
  • Posts: 16
  • Session Singer
    • Online Session Singer
« Reply #19 on: April 05, 2018, 01:10:44 PM »
Beautiful voice  :)
Professional session singer for hire online.
Website ... Online Session Singer
Soundcloud
Facebook
Instagram
Spotify

Muso1070

  • *
  • Open Mic
  • **
  • Posts: 126
« Reply #20 on: April 05, 2018, 02:01:18 PM »

Johnnyuk

  • *
  • Guest
« Reply #21 on: April 05, 2018, 09:01:28 PM »
Hi,
You have a great voice 100%. I didn't watch the video as i did not want to be distracted from the song.
Once the song had finished tbh i did not know what it was about or it's message. :(
Sound wise everything was there. Great recording with a crystal clear vocal.
Again for me it is down to the lyric. For me when you hit the chorus there was no resolution, nothing in it to me imo said this is what my song is about and here is it's message.

So i would consider revisiting your lyrics to make sure that when you hit your chorus it is patienly clear what your songs message is because in all honesty no matter how well the music is played or the melody is sung if the message of a song is unclear lyrically it will always be unclear.

For a moment lets say that you and me met in the real world over a coffee and during that conversation you said to me... Your like a shadow that haunts me through the night...
A silhouette man chasing waiting to strike.

How do you think i would respond to that? I would say... what?
That is what i mean about it not being clear enough lyrically.


I hope this helps.
Johnny :)

Thanks Johnny i do love to hear other peoples opinion very much.
I can see where your coming from too but i disagree, personally i don't think a song needs to give a clear message all of the time.
Its mysterious and can leave the listener wondering and perhaps wanting more and a reason they will come back to it.

Hi Chris,
You have a wonderful singing voice and the music is rock solid in this production. Like i said it was the lyric in the chorus that i felt the resolution was lacking.

I would also like to add that it is not what you think about your song that is important at this stage tbh. It is all about the listener and what they think. Otherwise you would not be posting your song in here for feedback etc...

Leaving a listener wondering might work for a few die hard fans but for the rest of us they will simply click off your song and wander onto someone elses song.

Remember that you are trying to sell your songs story/message to the listener so it isn't about what you think your song means etc, it is for those listening from their point of view to decide what your song means.
If they do not get your songs message then you have two choices. Either ignore what they are saying or do something about it.

A good way to get a clear understanding about your songs lyrics on here for instance would be to ask everyone here what they think this songs message is all about?
Because right now no one has posted in here and said what a great message your song has in here.
And the reason why is because as mysterious as it is it fails to give resolution
in it's current form.

As i read through your lyrics this is what i was getting from them...

The first verse drew me in, some very descriptive lyrics. You painted a great picture of some lone cowboy type of guy being stalked by a bounty hunter. All of that was crystal clear to me.

Mysterious and obscure can work very well in songs 100% BUT the big difference is those very obscure songs we have all come to love still have resolution in them.

Your chorus didn't give me imo resoltuion.

Please note that your chorus has only two lines in it.
Why did you only allow two lines of lyrics for your songs entire message???
The most important section of your song/chorus/it's message to me simply got over looked. :(

I don't know of ANY chorus with only two lines in it that is memorable and more importantly sells the story/tells the message clearly to the listener?

The chorus is your songs absolute message for those of us listening to it. Those listening are rooting for you and cannot wait for the chorus to kick in after a great build up from the verse to then tell them what happened! Erm not alot actually. :(
 
The entire reason we write a song is to tell our story and it's message so those listening can connect to our song.

Imagine watching a cowboy movie based on the lyrics you have right now for this song.
What we as movie goers will see is a cowboy being followed by a bounty hunter BUT that is all we get to view. There is no showdown, no one dies. all that we get is a guy following another guy for 90 minutes.
Would you honestly go back and watch this movie all over again the next evening???

Your chorus to me could easily be your showdown. Then the next verse you could trick the listener into who got shot and did they die etc until after the final chorus.
I would also consider adding more content about why he is following you and what did you do for him to stalk you like this because you never give us what it was that got this guy hunting you down.

Did you steal his wife or marry his daughter? Rob a bank? What did you do etc?

Your showdown for me must be in your chorus to give the listener resolution and a reason to continue to listen because what happens next?
The potential for your song is huge.
Like i said earlier, give us the listener the resolution that we need to connect to your song because no amount of mystery will ever give that feeling of gratitude/resolution to know who came out on top in this outlaw situation for those listening in it's current form.

Finally the songs length right now is at 5:26 mins. That is way way too long imo especially when you give no resolution to the listener throughout this version of your song so i would shorten it to 3:30 mins which is the sweet spot for those listening.
Johnny :)



« Last Edit: April 06, 2018, 09:48:56 PM by Johnnyuk »

Muso1070

  • *
  • Open Mic
  • **
  • Posts: 126
« Reply #22 on: April 07, 2018, 09:47:06 AM »
Hi,
You have a great voice 100%. I didn't watch the video as i did not want to be distracted from the song.
Once the song had finished tbh i did not know what it was about or it's message. :(
Sound wise everything was there. Great recording with a crystal clear vocal.
Again for me it is down to the lyric. For me when you hit the chorus there was no resolution, nothing in it to me imo said this is what my song is about and here is it's message.

So i would consider revisiting your lyrics to make sure that when you hit your chorus it is patienly clear what your songs message is because in all honesty no matter how well the music is played or the melody is sung if the message of a song is unclear lyrically it will always be unclear.

For a moment lets say that you and me met in the real world over a coffee and during that conversation you said to me... Your like a shadow that haunts me through the night...
A silhouette man chasing waiting to strike.

How do you think i would respond to that? I would say... what?
That is what i mean about it not being clear enough lyrically.


I hope this helps.
Johnny :)

Thanks Johnny i do love to hear other peoples opinion very much.
I can see where your coming from too but i disagree, personally i don't think a song needs to give a clear message all of the time.
Its mysterious and can leave the listener wondering and perhaps wanting more and a reason they will come back to it.

Hi Chris,
You have a wonderful singing voice and the music is rock solid in this production. Like i said it was the lyric in the chorus that i felt the resolution was lacking.

I would also like to add that it is not what you think about your song that is important at this stage tbh. It is all about the listener and what they think. Otherwise you would not be posting your song in here for feedback etc...

Leaving a listener wondering might work for a few die hard fans but for the rest of us they will simply click off your song and wander onto someone elses song.

Remember that you are trying to sell your songs story/message to the listener so it isn't about what you think your song means etc, it is for those listening from their point of view to decide what your song means.
If they do not get your songs message then you have two choices. Either ignore what they are saying or do something about it.

A good way to get a clear understanding about your songs lyrics on here for instance would be to ask everyone here what they think this songs message is all about?
Because right now no one has posted in here and said what a great message your song has in here.
And the reason why is because as mysterious as it is it fails to give resolution
in it's current form.

As i read through your lyrics this is what i was getting from them...

The first verse drew me in, some very descriptive lyrics. You painted a great picture of some lone cowboy type of guy being stalked by a bounty hunter. All of that was crystal clear to me.

Mysterious and obscure can work very well in songs 100% BUT the big difference is those very obscure songs we have all come to love still have resolution in them.

Your chorus didn't give me imo resoltuion.

Please note that your chorus has only two lines in it.
Why did you only allow two lines of lyrics for your songs entire message???
The most important section of your song/chorus/it's message to me simply got over looked. :(

I don't know of ANY chorus with only two lines in it that is memorable and more importantly sells the story/tells the message clearly to the listener?

The chorus is your songs absolute message for those of us listening to it. Those listening are rooting for you and cannot wait for the chorus to kick in after a great build up from the verse to then tell them what happened! Erm not alot actually. :(
 
The entire reason we write a song is to tell our story and it's message so those listening can connect to our song.

Imagine watching a cowboy movie based on the lyrics you have right now for this song.
What we as movie goers will see is a cowboy being followed by a bounty hunter BUT that is all we get to view. There is no showdown, no one dies. all that we get is a guy following another guy for 90 minutes.
Would you honestly go back and watch this movie all over again the next evening???

Your chorus to me could easily be your showdown. Then the next verse you could trick the listener into who got shot and did they die etc until after the final chorus.
I would also consider adding more content about why he is following you and what did you do for him to stalk you like this because you never give us what it was that got this guy hunting you down.

Did you steal his wife or marry his daughter? Rob a bank? What did you do etc?

Your showdown for me must be in your chorus to give the listener resolution and a reason to continue to listen because what happens next?
The potential for your song is huge.
Like i said earlier, give us the listener the resolution that we need to connect to your song because no amount of mystery will ever give that feeling of gratitude/resolution to know who came out on top in this outlaw situation for those listening in it's current form.

Finally the songs length right now is at 5:26 mins. That is way way too long imo especially when you give no resolution to the listener throughout this version of your song so i would shorten it to 3:30 mins which is the sweet spot for those listening.
Johnny :)

Cheers Johnny, yes good points there your probably right about opening the story up more.
I'm really happy with it where it is anyway
This is just an album track single so i don't believe in all these rules that it must be a certain length for radio and have a sound or lyric to appeal to the masses i just write what comes out.
Thank you very much for checking it out i may try and open up the story some more.

Cheers

Johnnyuk

  • *
  • Guest
« Reply #23 on: April 07, 2018, 10:00:16 AM »
Hi Chris,
Bottom line here is it is your baby and you and only you decide what to do with it.
All any of us on here can do is point things out for you to consider.
If it was my song and i loved it so much that i wanted to keep it at 5:30 mins then that is EXACTLY what i would do.
Also if i wanted the lyrics to stay just as they are again that is exactly what i would do.

But now you have feedback, a different view point. Why not keep the version you have as it is length and everything else.
But also work on a shorter version with more story in it with a showdown chorus, guns at dawn etc.
Then you'll have two songs from one song idea. It's a win win for you.

Johnny :)


Muso1070

  • *
  • Open Mic
  • **
  • Posts: 126
« Reply #24 on: April 10, 2018, 12:51:43 PM »
Hi Chris,
Bottom line here is it is your baby and you and only you decide what to do with it.
All any of us on here can do is point things out for you to consider.
If it was my song and i loved it so much that i wanted to keep it at 5:30 mins then that is EXACTLY what i would do.
Also if i wanted the lyrics to stay just as they are again that is exactly what i would do.

But now you have feedback, a different view point. Why not keep the version you have as it is length and everything else.
But also work on a shorter version with more story in it with a showdown chorus, guns at dawn etc.
Then you'll have two songs from one song idea. It's a win win for you.

Johnny :)

Definitely I could try that.
Thanks again for having a good look and expressing your thoughts appropriate that.

Cheers

tboswell

  • *
  • Platinum Album
  • ****
  • Posts: 750
« Reply #25 on: April 10, 2018, 01:54:16 PM »
Lots to like about this, lovely rhythmical playing on the guitar and a gravelly voice that really works on the the songs.

I really like the way you saw the major chord changes for the chorus and keep the focus on the lyrics up to that points.

I do think there is too much empty strumming in places, like the start 30s or so and the gap between the two lines in the chorus.
Think it would be more effective with all that tightened up a bit.

But overall wonderful atmospheric stuff.

samturneraudio

  • *
  • Busker
  • *
  • Posts: 5
« Reply #26 on: April 10, 2018, 05:57:31 PM »
Seriously good voice mate. Nice one.

steevm

  • *
  • Busker
  • *
  • Posts: 20
    • soundcloud profile
« Reply #27 on: April 11, 2018, 04:07:56 PM »
Good song, great vocal performance. I enjoyed it a lot.

Re the video/shoe shots etc., I think the idea of splitting up the shots rather than having one long static shot of you singing the song is good. There's definitely a lot more potential there for some post-editing and cutting together of different takes from different angles - just to keep the video more visually engaging and interesting. You might have wanted to take a few more frontal shots, from different angles and also different distances. Just changing the shot makes for a more dynamic video.

As it is, the video is fine for me as a musician; I'm watching you play the guitar and that keeps me nicely entertained. But I question whether your average man on the street is going to find it that engaging visually for 5 minutes. (Speaking of watching you play the guitar, I also do that bent thumb and mute the low string thing.)

What I like about the shots looking at your back is that you can see the landscape in the other direction, and there's a nice juxtaposition. Behind you there is just nature. Looking the other way, we see the electric pylons and the outreaches of civilisation. You've ridden out of the town alright, but it still casts its shadow and you can't completely leave it behind.

Muso1070

  • *
  • Open Mic
  • **
  • Posts: 126
« Reply #28 on: April 22, 2018, 09:28:48 AM »
Lots to like about this, lovely rhythmical playing on the guitar and a gravelly voice that really works on the the songs.

I really like the way you saw the major chord changes for the chorus and keep the focus on the lyrics up to that points.

I do think there is too much empty strumming in places, like the start 30s or so and the gap between the two lines in the chorus.
Think it would be more effective with all that tightened up a bit.

But overall wonderful atmospheric stuff.

Hello Tboswell thanks for leaving a very positive comment i appreciate.
Yes your probably right with empty strumming etc i can do shorter for the studio version.

Cheers

Muso1070

  • *
  • Open Mic
  • **
  • Posts: 126
« Reply #29 on: April 22, 2018, 09:29:52 AM »
Seriously good voice mate. Nice one.

Thanks bud glad you enjoyed :)