PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase All the Love, a bit funky

Hello everyone,

I made a funky song, because I was inspired by the BiaB style (see 'Technicall stuff').
Also I added trumpets,Normally I'm not fond of trumpets, but the song yelled for them, so I did it.
There are 2 versions of the song. In the key of Am and Em. And I couldn't choose which version I prefered.
Had a discussion with Marty about that (that man advises almost everyone on the forum). He liked Am a bit more, but that was before the trumpets.
Because they didn't sound that good in Am, the Em-version won
The song is called All the Love, https://on.soundcloud.com/x4a8u


The lyrics are on SoundCloud
I hope you enjoy it, but in any case let me know your opinion,

Hans
==========================================
Technical stuff
Style is _DODGE.STY (Dodge Funky Blues)

RealTracks in style: 4235:Bass, Electric, BluesFunkyAB Ev 120
RealTracks in style: ~674:Organ, B3, Background Blues Roadhouse Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 4229:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm SoulFunk70s Ev 100
RealTracks in song: 3991:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm RumbaBluesKevin Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 698:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ElecRockDirty Ev 120 (A:muted)
RealTracks in song: 3986:Guitar, Electric, Soloist RumbaBluesPat 120
RealDrums in style:FunkHalfNotePulse: a: Snare, Kick b: Busy Kick, Snare

In Logic Pro I used Trumpet loops and cut and pasted them a bit to fit into the mix.

Good balance and punchy sound, Hans.

Vic

Hans,

Great opening!
An excellent write.
Very cool production.
The guitar solo is nice.
The horns are well done. (I think they need to be EQ'd to be brighter)

Love the Ending, too.

Man! you are putting out some GOOD stuff!!!

fj

Hans, this is fantastic.
Loved that intro and the arrangement.
Super vocal and guitar leads.
Nice touch with those trumpets.

Like Floyd said "Man! you are putting out some GOOD stuff!!!" and I totally agree!

Cool funky blues tune!!! The track really pops!! Like FJ says, horns could use a bit more high end. Fantastic!!! Take care. Greg

The bass intro is very cool and sets the song up really well.
The horns work well when they're in the mix but that section before the solo leaves them a bit naked and not as effective.
The false end reprise works well too.

Man, you are getting on a funky roll these days.

So much great energy and swagger.

I love these new sounds Hans. Keep it coming. Sounds great!

Cool groove. The Bass sounds great. is that all Real Tracks? Like the horns it adds allot to the overall feel of the tune.

A good song with a great arrangement and mix. Very good use of the horns.

Hello Vic, Floyd, Mario and Greg,

Thanks for your very nice comments on this funky song with the trumpets.
I looked at the trumpets in my mix, because of what Floyd and Greg wrote about them.
I gave them more high end on the eq and heard no more complains in the posts afterwards.
The problem with those trumpets was I normally don't like them and the 'high end' in my ears is a bit bad (tinitus).
But i learned from that, thanks!


Hi Vic, thanks for your comment. I did my best to make the sound more punchy and it looks it worked out well!


Hi floyd, in my intro I said I listened to you about eq-ing the horns/trumpets.
Thanks for all your very nice words. they made me smile of course.
My son said he didn't like that 'stupid' afterburner in the song (the outro).
I thought if he says so I'm on a good track and left them in ;-)


Hello Mario, Like your 'Thoughts' I liked to do something funny, like the funky sound and the lyrics.
Well... the only serious thing in the lyrics is the addiction of mobile phones. I always see people staring at those things.
No interaction is possible when that thing is in their hands. But I bet no one will notice that in my lyrics...


Hi Greg, As I said in the intro I altered the trumpets so now they must have a brighter sound. Yust like you asked me to do.
Thanks for your compliments as well!

Have a nice day , all of you!
Hans

Hans,

Love the vibe and swing... Your vocal is excellent, as is the track selection and mix.

So well done!

Bob

Ray, David and Elliott,

Thanks a lot for your replies to my song.
Once in a while I like some more power in my songs and, if possible, something unusual (for me at least).
Both happened here. Funky stuff and trumpets!
But I received some comments about the sound of the trumpets and so. That is good, because than I can learn more.


Hi Ray, why do people call trumpets horns? For me, horns have a heavier, lower sound (in orchestras for example).
But beside that, when you mentioned that part just before the solo, I knew right away what you meant.
At first I had some doubts too about that section, but after hearing it more, the doubts disappeared.
But I changed it a bit by adding volume to some other instruments there.
And also I changed the eq on the trumpets, so they become 'sharper' in the high end.
Thanks for your opinions!


Hello David, I think I got inspired by your latest song 'To stand as one'
But also by the sound of the percussion in the BiaB style I used. Liked that immediatly.
My next song has to be something different. Don't know how (yet), but also inspired on your lyrics!!!


Hi Elliott, I used the bass from BiaB, but I altered the eq on it, more high, less low.
I made 2 versions of the song, in Am and Em (this one). The bass in Am sounded a lot better in my ears, but the trumpets made the song dull.
By changing that eq I solved the 'problem' of the sound of the bass guitar

In 'The Dice' I also altered the sound of the bass, although there I did that with the use of Melodyne.
Just before I saw a YouTube video on that subject.
And I think you heard the song just after the changings I made on the trumpets because of the posts on that subject.

Have a nice start of the week!
Hans

Hello WaoBand and Bob,

Thank you both for your nice compliments!
As I wrote in my reply above this one, I think you heard the version just after the changings in the eq.
So it must have worked out fine!!!



Have a very nice day today,
Hans

Oh, yeah, I always liked the Em horns much better. But you know what I find most interesting? Usually when the one key is so much lower than the other you'd expect the vocal to be relatively lower also. What you did in both version is very very talented. Rather than sing the same melody line lower or sing a close harmony line, you totally changed the melody while making it seem the same. That's wild, man. Super vocal in both. You haven't lost a thing with that surgery --maybe even gained something intangibe.

Hi Hans.

This is first-class listening all the way. It's a very engaging presentation from start to end. You've nailed the style!

I really enjoyed the journey.

--Noel

There's some good stuff in this. You made those trumpets fit nicely, and yeah...good call on using them.

I'm continually amazed at just how good this program we all use actually is. You are using it well.

I liked those accent/hits throughout. They really put this into a whole different level than most of the songs I hear on this forum. Did you use the microchords for that?

My nits..... I agree that the horns could use a bit of brightening and the vocal could actually go the other way with some rounding off of the high end.

Well done.

Funk & Hans, that must be a great combination of two my favorites I thought and didn't have to be disappointed. I enjoyed the lyrics, I can imagine a funny video to accompany the story, a sweaty muscular man, a diamond ring and a woman staring at her phone.

Cool groove with nice breaks, good work with the horns... sorry, trumpets And your vocals sound as good as ever, I like how you sing over the solo, mixed also very well.

Janne

Hans - all the love

Well, you made a really GOOD funky song as it had Janice dancing all around the kitchen.

We love those horns and the bass intro and, of course, your vocal, Hans!

Great lyric too and we can relate to the “staring at the mobile phone” thing. Even the little kids at family get togethers seem to be hooked.

Fun!

J&B

Hi Marty, Noel, Guitarhacker, Jannesan and Janice and Bud,

Very nice reactions you gave me on this funky song. I knew the trumpets/horns would give some discussion (of course). So, also today I shaped them a bit better in the mix. But because today it is Friday the 13th, I fear some things can go awfully good or wrong. Let's hope it is the first one...
Thanks a lot for those replies, I will respond after each quote.


Hi Marty, I had the honor (and you the bad luck) I could sent you 2 version while in the making process of this song. In A major and E major. At first without the trumpets, but soon after with them. Like now, you were always positive in your reactions. Amazing! And you know what happened? I am going to believe the surgery did something good to me, because of you, while I only had bad memories of it.
I had to look up on Google what your last word meant, but as I say I start to believe you are right. At least you raised the bar for me to act as if you are right ;-)
Thanks for that...


Hi Noel, what a nice reaction from you. Also on SoundCloud. Thanks for that!


Hi Guitarhacker (I constantly forget your real name, hope you don't mind). Band in a Box is indeed a very nice program to make songs with, or use as a good starting point.
The trumpets however were from Apple, or beter from Logic Pro, in their loop section. I had to cut and paste some of the sounds, but they were nice to use.
I also tried a Cuban trumpet from Native Instruments and from other orchestra software, but the didnt have 'the sound'. And still I had to shape them, as some of you (and you) adised me to.
So, no I couldn't use microchords on them. I do sometimes on guitar solo's. Nice facility in BiaB. After BiaB, the mix and extra addings take place in Logic Pro and Ozone.
Thanks!


Hi Janne, you have a wonderful imagination, that is why you can make those lovely songs and now picturizing my song as well!
In fact that 'sweaty muscular man' at the start was my youngest son. He runs all the time to stay in shape, whether he has a girlfriend or not.
And where I go, I always see people staring on their phone, not noticing anything around them. That gave me the (simple) idea to glue both situations together.
But making a video is not (yet) my thing...
And you got it; trumpets not horns. As far as I know horns are, say, like French horns. They make a different sound. Not suitable in this song.
Thanks for this!


Hi Janice and Bud, ha! I anaged to get Janice dancing on the kitchen table, eeh.. around the whole kitchen. Have you recorded it on camera???
Thanks for the nice image I have in my head now!

Wish you all a very nice, creative day!
Hans

Hans,
Sorry late for the party. I assure you this was on my "listen to" list and it didn't disappoint a bit. Very cool style fusion. Tasteful brass, neat stops and overall very vibrant arrangement.
Super vocals and excellent mix (!) To my taste one of your top tunes this year. Listens very well, and thank you for sharing.

Misha.