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Merry Christmas everybody!! Maybe an odd season for a sad song...but I'd like to get this in for 2013 as it'll likely be the new year before we can record again.


Feeling Nothing At All

Alternate if you have a problem with SC:
Feeling Nothing At All

Several weeks back I was complaining to floyd about my inability to write one of those “tears in the beer” songs for Janice. Straight ahead bluegrass, blues, and some americana stuff seems to come to me every now and then — but I was really struggling with this style. Whether for bluegrass or old school country there’s a dividing point somewhere between the stark (but heart wrenching simplicity) of these songs and the maudlin, angst ridden, often tawdry stuff that you hear on the radio now days. Anyhow, floyd bailed me out from my total writer block by suggesting a song that he had written and posted on the forum last year.

Janice and I listened to his version and it became quickly apparent that he had set the piano on fire and left the stage with his interpretation. There was nowhere to go with it. It so completely captured the whole vibe of the genre that we decided to try and take it in another direction both with the vocal and instrumental arrangement. Janice will be the first to tell you that she’s not a power singer….so I, as always, encouraged her to just sing it the way she felt it. Instrumentally we decided to go with all bluegrass instruments — trying to duplicate the feel we used to create when we played in our BG band. BTW, I included "Janice version" in the header. Search for "Feeling Nothing At All" to find floyd's post.

Knowing how different it was from floyd’s version and that he had written it we were really delighted when he offered up the harmony. And I really appreciate his help with the mix.

Thank y’all for taking your time to listen. Comments are most welcome.

Lead Vocal: Rodes NT1/Blue Icicle USB Interface
Harmony Vocal: Whatever Mr jane uses
Mixing: Garageband with BIAB interface
Mastering: Ozone5

RTs
Bass 1121
Guitar 1109
Fiddle 1124
Mandolin 2043
Mandolin 1699


FEELING NOTHING AT ALL

you opened my heart
to feelings that i'd never known
when we fell on hard times
you left me to face me alone
so i sit here crying
while the whiskey's trying
to help me not recall
and help me feel that old feeling
of feeling nothing at all

feeling nothing at all
cause now nothing's worth feeling
feeling nothing at all
cause that's all i can stand
i stand on the edge
and wait for the fall
into that bottomless hell
of feeling nothing at all


you were the first time
that i let my heart cross that line
when you tore me in two
you swore i'd forget you in time
now the phone's off the hook
and the bottle's half empty
just so your memory won't call
and just so i'll feel that old feeling
of feeling nothing at all


repeat chorus

I love this one, 3rd listen already!

You guys should very proud of this one.

PS: Janice just about has me crying along!

Merry Christmas,

As usual, beautiful vocals, perfect levels in the mix, great song. And why does my beer taste like it's been watered down?

hey Guys...

This is a great cut! The lyric and the music are such a great match. Janice's voice is perfect for the number. loved everything about it! A medium-slow Bluegrass Waltz...I like it! best to you...

Al & Di

Hey Danny, thanks we appreciate that. We're really glad floyd offered this up for us. Quite different from our last several blues songs but we're really happy with the way it worked out.

Awesome lyrics. As always a stellar performance. Love this kind of music...

"you left me to face me alone" what an emotive line, it says so much.

Janice's voice as ever is excellent.

As Danny C says "You guys should very proud of this one".

Alyn

Hi Janice, Bud and Floyd
Its good writing that can take a song in different directions. This is one of the best.
A sad song at Christmas? Why not? Its great writing and as always Janice has the emotion nailed.
This is a top class production all round - Floyds understated harmony is a perfect fit with Janice's vocal and the BT mix is truly excellent.
Sad song that it is, its a superb job and thoroughly professional.
cheers
ian

What a beautiful song. Congrats to all involved in perfect performances and production.
Janice, when I'm listening to your voice something warm and fuzzy happens to me inside.


John

Janice,Bud and Floyd, Your collaboration has returned some excellent results. The vocal is tremendous as always and the writing , production and mix are top notch. Congratulations on a fine track. Tom

What a great interpretation of a song. Loved the use of the BG instruments and Janice's drawl just hits the nail on the head perfectly.

Hi Janice, Bud and Floyd,

what a great collaboration.
Janice's vocals and Floyds harmonies are
a perfect fit.
Merry Christmas.

Guenter

Thanks! Glad you liked the mix - kudos to floyd especially for helping with the harmony mix. Hey man, start with a good IPA and then a fountain wouldn't water it down



Thank y'all very much. It's a bit hard to work with waltz's as the RT's are limited -- but the ones there are good and it's fun to splice.



Thanks Scott! Sure not much of this type around any more -- at all.



Thanks Alyn. We really got lucky when floyd offered this one up to us.

I am pleased - and proud - to have you guys record this!

SO cool to have the song done differently than it's been done before.
And done so magnificently. It's a whole new song!

Great tracks. A prefect vocal. You can hear when a song has been "done with all the feeling possible"... so very sweet (so very sad).

Janice, you are a treasure. Bud, you are a master.

I'm biased, I know... but I love it!

floyd

Hey Ian, thanks for taking the time to make these comments. Janice and floyd really do sound good together. And I really appreciate you noting the mix. I struggled with the 3/4 RT's.

[/quote]
Thanks John, once you hear her scat singing a blues lead guitar that feeling might go away!


Appreciate that Tommy. Floyd handed us a gem for sure.

Thanks John, once you hear her scat singing a blues lead guitar that feeling might go away!
[/quote]

That I gotta hear!! I've PM'd you.
cheers
Ian

Thanks Herb. Glad you like the arrangement and Janice's vocal. We were not sure how a BG "band" would work out. Glad it worked for you!



Thanks man. Yep, those voices fit together really well!

We are so pleased that you liked where this project landed! Janice definitely immersed herself in this one. Your version of it was both inspiring and intimidating which was why we took it in a different direction. Thanks again for offering us a shot at your song.

Well Janice & Bud !

I felt much more than nothing at all ? :))
The tune is very nice and Janice´s
beautiful singing and the duet
gives me goosebumps!:)) Just great !:))
Congrats to everyone involved !:))

Cheers
Dani

Hi Janice, Bud and floyd,

Once again, I have no idea what say. Mathematically speaking, the best way I can summarise the impression you all made on me is to say ...



Whether I talk about the sincerity of performance that underscores Janice's amazing voice, or the focus and clarity of Bud's production that glitters, or the perfect marriage between the exceptionally well-crafted lyrics and melody that floyd has penned, the result is the same.



Music doesn't get any better than this.

Hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas,
Noel