PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase A protestsong against All that Talking

Hello everyone,

I got triggered writing/composing a protestsong when seeing all those images of burning Australia while their government did nothing more than asking to pray. But it wasn't that alone, but more that climate issues are too often ignored or not taking so serious. And that we more talk about it than really act.
But I'm not a kind of climate-ayatollah (as we say in the Netherlands). I also fly in a plane and possess a (petroldriven) car. But time to act is becoming more urgent now instead of ignoring it.

But enough of that. Now abouth the making of this song: https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130/all-that-talking

The key: Em, Tempo 92, Length (m:s)=4:10
The style PEAT.STY (Bogs Bottomless Baritone Blues)

RealTracks: 2613:Bas, Elektrisch, Ritme Funk Pompend Offbeat 8sten Gel 100
RealTracks: 3337:Piano, Electric, Rhythm FunkJeff Ev16 110
RealTracks:3351:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Rhythm SwampyBluesBrent Ev 095
RealTracks: 3354:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Rhythm LowdownBluesBrent Ev 085
RealTracks: 3528:Vocals, Background GospelCool2-part Sw16 075
RealTracks: 3352:Guitar, Baritone Electric, Soloist SwampyBluesTalkBoxBrent Ev 095
RealDrums : Funk70sPop: a: Snare, Kickb: Snare, Ride

I thought it might be a good idea to add a group (a track) of Gospelsingers in this song. Of course I hesitated at first, because could gospel fit in this song, I asked myself. But it did surprisingly well, to my opinion. The same hesitation I had was with the solo-bariton guitar with the explicit sound. But then I liked it. I only added a keyboardtrack in my DAW from Native Instruments to get an 'exiting tone' from the beginning of the song.
And at least I mastered the song in a new programm called Finalizer. I still can use it freely for a week, but it was very easy to work with. (maybe now some of you will say that they can hear that...)
But I hope you like it, but also give me serious comments on what I did wrong or whatever,

Hans Berkhout

The lyrics (with some advise from Stefan Nachtsheim. Sadly he's having a cold now)

All that talking
(c) HWBerkhout, january 2020

Australia is burning, a billion animals have died
Their government is only praying, the cause they denied
Oceans are choking, plastic islands everywhere
But can you tell me...... Who does really care?

=Chorus=
We have a 'situation' can't you see?
The world is in danger, because we can't agree
World leaders are only talking why they have to pay
This is so hopeless, I better start to pray

Pollution is getting skyhigh and the climate has changed
Yet we just keep talking, while nothing gets arranged
Democracy is weakened, Nationalism now appears
We know where that brings us. Worst we should fear

=Chorus=
We have a 'situation' can't you see?
The world is in danger, it affects you and me
All that talking won't help us anyway
I feel hopeless, do you still pray?

--solo--

With our advanced weapons, the world can be pulverized
Although they cost a fortune, they are always subsidized
Solving climate problems may cost the same
but no one wants to pay for it, ain't that a shame?

=Bridge=
All that talking...
mostly empty words,
but...

=Chorus=
The world is dying, can't you see?
It is now crumbling, affecting you and me
All that talking, and we could only wait
We need action, no more time to waste

The world is dying, don't you agree?
It is crumbling, affecting you and me
All that talking while nothing's being said
We need action, before we are all dead
Act now!!!

Cool! The synth at the beginning really sets up the feel for the song, and the gospel choir is an inspired choice.

The mix sounds excellent through my speakers.

The opening music grabs me from the onset.

Good choice with the gospel choir. It brings your song to the next level.

I love the whole sound package hear. Fantastic aural wave!

Your message is spot on.

Hans,
Well done!
I love the addition of the singers, I thought that fit very well with the music and the message.
the only thing I would suggest is to bring the vocal a little more upfront maybe some EQ?

A worthwhile message for sure.
Thanks for speaking out in song,



Many of my songs are born from similar themes.
I've posted 2 songs here, the first was on the same subject.
I'm always shocked and disappointed that not everyone is in agreement on this subject.

Hans,

Excellent Protest Song.

Excellent choice of tracks with very cool variations throughout. The stops and "jerky" chords work well...

Good "angry" vocal.

Well done.

fj

I really like this one, Hans.

Great protest song about an important subject, and a subject I care about a great deal.

Nice production, that choir sounds really good! I also like the guitars you chose, works well for the song.

Enjoyed!

Great protest song...
But take heart...
It seems new solutions are being implemented everyday
For these thorny problems.

Unfortunately the news media only seems to report the problems
And not the solutions.
I found a couple of interesting articles today in a Nature magazine.
One was about how they are repairing the coral reefs...
Another article I read a few days ago was about a new photosynthesis procedure
That can turn carbon dioxide into a "green" methane energy source.
They are there but you will have to search for them!

As someone suffering from the anti earth, anti democratic government referenced - I thank you.
It's also very good!
Get angry more often.

Hi Hans.
Your well crafted song grabs my attention and holds it throughout.
To me the message is a damn site more than thoughts and prayers are required to change anything.
Rock on.

Very good protest song, angry vocals and angry sound express the important subject very well. Nice combination funk, gospel and rock - really work together, reminds me of Who. This is a good start for the year, I hope it inspires us to DO something more to save the world.

Janne

Dave well expressed our feelings about the song. We will only
add that your fine edgy vocal perfectly delivers the message.

Well done!!!

J&B

Hans

A good solid protest song with a lot of interesting features.

Strong vocal and I liked all the instrumentation.

Excellent.

Peter

Hello Hans ...

Excellent song about a message that needs to be said. the b/h choir really adds some rich drama to the delivery ... great choice! And that's nice guitar on the right channel. everything about this is excellent.

Best to you ...

Alan

PS: Loved that intro!!!

Thanks David!

Yes that synth wasn't in before. It sounded allright, but I missed something. I played some tunes on my keyboard and then I knew what I missed; an exciting tone!
Also, the gospelchoir was a wild guess. But it fitted in nicely. They shout and i sang angry. what more do you need?

Hans

Hi Ezekiel,

Thanks for your comment. As I wrote to David Cunny the synth and choir turned out very nice.
It only took me some time to figure out how I had to sing. In earlier versions I was shouting more, but luckily I got a sore throat and decided to sing more modestly. Worked out better.

Hans

Thanks Rich!

I think it takes more to convince 'our' leaders...
But at least you're on!!!

Hans

Hello Captain!

Thanks for your comment on the song.
The only thing I was puzzled about is what you said about the eq.
I listened again to the song, but I think my voice is upfront enough. So help me with what you said.

hans

Hi Floyd, Dave, Jim and Ray,

I responded to some people individually, but then saw my picture appearing all the time and saw that was not a good idea. Now I do the answering like I did before.

Floyd, thanks for your comment. Nice you have the same feelings about this toppic. I am also gladly surprised you had no remarks on my mixing or so. Does that mean I'm improving the quality of my songs, or have you stopped trying to learn me that?

Dave, thanks for your compliments too. I'm glad the gospelchoir fitted in so well. I hadn't expected that at first.

Jim, I knew you would like protest songs. At least it would have amazed me if you didn't. And I know that there are more and more sollutions for environmental issues, as you wrote. But I wasn't singing about that. The song is about the mentality of decision makers in a lot of important countries. They give the impression not to be willing to act on those problems. They deny them, or delay implementation of sollutions. Probably because it brings danger to economic growth. That was why I compared it with those weapos that can destroy our planet. buying them is never a problem. In Dutch the title 'would have been 'Al dat geklets, meaning All that banter'(but in 'flatter' language)

Ray, not even some crumpy words about the mixing of the song! Thanks for your compliments! and I know you suffered, probably now from flooding. My sister lives near Brisbane and complaines all the time on the phone or when she was here some weeks ago. And you both are right (and have a lousy government).

Hans

Hi Janne, Janice, Bud, Peter and Alan,

Thanks a lot for your nice comments on the song, the gospelladies and the exiting tone.
It's also very nice to notice you all agree on the topic. So we only have to convince some leaders and then a better world can come!

Janne, like Floyd you mentioned that 'angry voice'. I thought I was too soft and even a bit too polite in the vocals. In one of the first versions I more had a shouting indignation (ask Stefan, when he'd recovered from his illness).

Janice and Bud, I also have to thank you for your nice words on the song and my vocals. I was wondering, have you put the song 'all the way up' on your speakers? (you once told me you did this on one of my songs). I used a new masteringsoftware (Finalizer) that suits me more than Ozone 9, but maybe you already know it?

Peter, thanks as well. These are nice compliments, but I won't do these protestsong more often, I think. Maybe twice a year? But that gospelchoir... Maybe together with an acoustic guitar?

Alan, it was wonderful to receive two post from you with nice words! I'm sitting behind my desk typing these words with a smile on my face. But that counts for all the nice words I read from you all. Thanks again!

Hans