I actually want to take one more stab at recording my vocals before listening, because my musical ear is easily swayed, and I want to be able to mix and match with the takes I’ve already done. Of course, I may listen to your phrasing afterwards and decide that’s the way it MUST be. I really like “you bring me back alive” too.

Yesterday I wrote a little instrumental bridge to change up the progression. The arrangement just needs a little softening around the edges, and it should be good to go.

Can’t wait to hear the bass, twinkly noises, all the things that will bring this song together. It is “touch”ing already, even without all the embellishments. Still the soundtrack to my life. “When talking leaves us unsatisfied…”

I recorded myself singing the lyrics so you could hear my suggestions for phrasing, emphasis, enunciation, etc. Just suggestions! I know I probably found the feminine edge of the song and don’t really have the voice for this style, but I’m hoping you can still find a couple nuggets in how I interpreted the words. The only one I’m really attached to is “you bring me back alive”. Because without that, I’m not sure the line before makes sense. I would love to hear how you would emphasize that aLIVE on your arrangement.

Track URL: http://fairtilizer.com/track/slowdance
The password is “sushi”.

And the lyrics I used:

It’s only natural to demand
That I should free your captive hand
When we’re not seeing eye to eye
And when that thinly veiled contempt
Descends to open discontent
It’s positively justified

Casual facts, inaccurate claims
Our apologies won’t take the blame
When compromise is conquered by pride
All it takes is one touch and I’m back on your side
I’m back on your side

When sleeping with the enemy
There’s no “excuse me,” “thanks,” or “please”
It won’t pay to be polite
And in a twist of irony
Love’s a liability
We must control our appetites

Back to back we’ve drawn our line in the sand
Though our house may be divided together we’ll stand
Emotionless like part of us died
All it takes is one touch and you bring me back alive
You bring me back on your side

Forgiveness is a powerful word
But speak it doesn’t always mean we are heard
When talking leaves us unsatisfied
All it takes is one touch and we’re back on the same side
Yeah I’m back on your side

Interesting idea to swap out the mp3. I’ll probably just keep the snippet, this vocal melody sketch, and the demo clip I hope to present next week, all as separate files. That way if someone wanted to, they could follow the development of the album from start to finish on the site (it starts here).

John, those twinkly noises will most likely end up in the final version. Please disregard what you’re hearing behind the vocal melody. It’s just a temp loop for me to sing over. I like to have an abundance of elements prepared, including completed vocals, before laying out the arrangement.

Brian, you’re never going to believe this, but I also attempted to write a melody and lyrics to Hoover Slam since I liked it so much. When I couldn’t figure out how to download and loop your snippet I just put it on guitar and ran with it. The four chords at the beginning of Hoover Slam became the foundation for a very heartfelt country song that no man would ever want to sing! http://fairtilizer.com/track/manenough

I think it mutilated Hoover Slam beyond recognition by the time I was done, but I wouldn’t have even gotten that great start of a verse melody/progression without your snippet playing in my head as the soundtrack to my life on Friday night. =).

I like your idea of posting snippets for feedback and I’m so glad you turned me on to Fairtilizer. It lets you swap out the mp3 as you progressively make it better, but the link stays the same. So it’s a great way for die-hard fans (is that me now??) to listen to the continuous improvement as a song works towards its final arrangement. Of course, then you have to give up the surprise factor. Trade offs. All the things I have learned from working with you, and all the new directions you point me in, not even on purpose! Rock on, Brian.