Direction of this song???

[johnhampt]

I wrote and did a rough of a song I really like and think has potential. I know the drums are a bit busy and distract from the melody lines so that will definitely get fixed. A friend I have recently started to colloborate with did a rough of the song instrumentally. His is much more country while mine is a bit more rock, along the lines of an Eagles song. I want to meet somewhere in the middle and thought I would get you all's opinion. My version is John, his is Neil.www.taxi.com/jwhamptonSouthern Girl (Northern Wife)I sat across you at the breakfast tableMy grits were colder than my cup of coffeeYou hid yourself behind the morning paperWhistling Old Glory way out of keyAll my work shirts were still in the hamperCouldn’t find my keys to save my lifeWell it’s a quarter to eight and I’m running lateYou don’t even get up to kiss me goodbye(Chorus)You were my southern girl from a southern worldTee shirts and cut off jeans, you left your hair in curlsGot me a northern wife, become the Nordstrom typeWe should have never left our Dixie lifeYou’re my southern girl, northern wifeI’ve never bothered keeping up with the Jonse’sI work hard at what I got and that’s just fineOur new life was supposed to bring us closerI’m still drinking beer but you’ve switched to wineYou spend your days spending all our moneyTook a second mortgage on your nip and tuckAll your Prada bags, outfits with Gucci tagsYou drive a new Mercedes, sold my old pick up truck(Chorus)(Bridge)You’ve lost your roots, threw out your cowboy bootsIt’s all gone to your headA Southern man’s gotta take a standWe’re heading to our Georgia spread(Chorus)You are my southern girl from a southern worldTee shirts and cut off jeans, you leave your hair in curlsHad me a northern wife, became the Nordstrom typeWe never should have left our Dixie lifeYou’re my southern girl, a southern lifeYou’re my southern girl, southern wife

[clonsberry]

For what it's worth... I have to go with Neil's. It's a fairly country sounding song anyway. The "rock" version doesn't change that. But the "country-er" version plays upon it.

[squidlips]

Well, this might sound a little out there but John's version reminds me of Jimmy Buffett.....if you played that up, it'd still sell country, wouldn't it? I mean, Neil's is okay but it still doesn't really strike me as country. It's almost like this song wants to be something but it's not there yet. The lyrics say country but it's got this southern coast feel in it (as we say down here) that reminds me of Margaritaville, in a way.I bet that didn't make sense.

[johnhampt]

Thanks guys! I am def. shooting for a country song. I have always thought J. Buffet is country (at least a branch of it). The thing is, I can't stand Buffet but I have had people say that at least 2 of my songs sound like his style. Maybe I am getting some kind of subconscious influence from him. I thought my version was more along the feel of "Already gone" by the Eagles and Neil's is more "Check yes or no" by George Strait. Well, I am redoing the drum loops today to have more of an aggressive feel like mine but more open like Neil's. Neil, a fellow guitarist and keyboard player, and his buddy that is an engineer and has a studio have agreed to take this project on with me to make my first broadcast quality endeavor. I guess our roles are I am the writer, producer, bassist and singer, Neil will do guitars and any keyboards and his buddy will engineer. I'll keep you all posted and hope to get your feedback along the way. So, does the song have potential? Catchy, hooky, etc...?

[squidlips]

Oh, it's definitely hooky. I think I would've done a slightly different melody on the chorus to play up the first line hook myself but that's just me. I'm a singer and it's all about the phrasing and melody line. Depends whatcha aiming for.......tv? Singers? labels?

[johnhampt]

Please, elaborate. I am always open for suggestions. I am all ears.....