Madam X

[cameron]

Hi gang,

Here's the work tape of the latest song I co-wrote with Robert George. Not sure what genre this is-- probably not really suitable for the country market we normally write for-- so I'll probably go for some the A/C muzak listings here on Taxi and some other sites (not with this recording though).

I don't record to a click track (seems to make my playing too mechanical) but then I tend to speed up as the song goes on, so it's a little faster than it should be by song's end.

Thanks in advance for the listen. Comments and/or suggestions are always much appreciated.

Cam

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_9240394
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Madam X

Well, I get off work ‘round midnight
Out at the Tiger Shark Saloon
As I drive the bayside highway
I love to hear some smoky tunes
After sundown there’s a DJ
O and she won’t reveal her name
But she haunts the witching hour
With songs that set the night aflame

Then that myst’ry woman speaks
And I lose control
Her enchanted voice
Sprinkles stardust on my soul
And the songs already know
What my heart suspects
Ev’ry melody, is a spell she casts for me
And they call her Madame X

Some say she’s the gypsy waitress
Who’s workin’ days at Harry’s joint
Others say the southern poet
Who’s livin’ out on Lobos Point
When the moon’s a ruby petal
Fresh from a mystic, midnight rose
I can feel her secret passions
When I listen to her shows

When that myst’ry woman speaks
I will lose control
Her enchanted voice
Sprinkles stardust on my soul
And the songs already know
What my heart suspects
Ev’ry melody, is a spell she casts for me
I’m in love with Madame X

Somewhere in the night mist
She’ll bewitch her handsome devil
With the silky jazz of
Norah Jones and Aaron Neville

I get home and light the candles
Before her show goes off the air
And I wait there in the darkness
While footsteps whisper up our stairs
Then she’ll play a sultry album
There’s dancing shadows on the shade
As the night starts moving slowly
Into a lover’s serenade

Then that myst’ry woman speaks
And I lose control
Her enchanted voice
Sprinkles stardust on my soul
And the songs already know
What my heart suspects
Ev’ry melody, is a spell she casts for me
When I make love to Madame X

©2011 Robert George (BMI) and Cameron Earnshaw (SESAC)

[sedge]

Hey Cam,
Thanks for this, sweet to wake up to on a slow sunny sunday here!!

Like with the 'The Hawk' im proper digging the sincere vocal man!

It felt at times to me like some lines were a little clunky or offtimed ever so slightly??
or maybe like they were sang while reading the lyrics?

Also maybe "Then that myst’ry woman speaks" should be "when that myst’ry woman speaks"?

Only it didnt seem logical , then suggests it should follow on from the verse flow, where as when could make it stand alone and put in any context.

Very minor nit pics, I felt like there is a number 11 to turn up to on the delivery here a little!

Hope I helped

Sedge

[sedge]

Played it to our Lisa, she recons it should be "make love with" , for the girly listeners : )

[feaker66]

cam

Don't you dare farm this vox out. Nobody but you could sing with such passion.

This is your best vocal performance yet!

i wish I could write lyrics like this. I usually don't even pay attention

Had seven beers in the last few hours and went home for a rest before the fireworks.

Love your stuff.

Thanks for checking out my song.

sincerely

Paul

[ernstinen]

Hey Cam! Really nice song, lyrics, piano and vocal (did I leave anything out? ). I know this is a work tape, but it "works" as is!

I've been playing without a click for about a year, and putting drums down. (I hear at least a backbeat coming in on the second verse.) It IS possible to put drums down after the initial track if you can move time around if you're off now and then. It is hit and miss, no pun intended. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But it's worth a try, because this track has such a nice feel... a stick on the backbeat with some reverb is pretty easy, but a kick on the downbeat and anything fancy is much harder.

I agree with Paul --- don't discount your vocal ability! It sounds great.

Best Regards,

Ern

[cameron]

Thanks guys... this is one that pretty much fell out the first time I tried to play along with the lyrics, so I'm glad to hear that you think it turned out OK. I had to shorten a line in the chorus from what Rob had originally written, and that was about it.

Ern, that backbeat starting in the second verse is actually me playing a guitar rhythm (with my RealStrat software) against the piano part. I think perhaps it comes in a bit to abruptly... one of those things I'll probably fix on a re-mix.

All great comments Sedge-- yes, I was reading the lyrics and could definitely improve upon my delivery. Tell Lisa that I agree with her too... make love "with" is so much more romantic.

Thanks again everyone!

Cam

[howlindog]

Cam,

Great song. There are probably a few spots where you would want to re-record the vocals, but for a "work" track, I think you sang this very well. The vocal harmonies could line up with the lead vocals a little better and perhaps be a little hotter in the mix. I agree that the drums coming in with a back beat in the 2nd verse and building from there is a good idea. And I'd probably write the end of the hook as "I get lost in Madame X" (but that's just me), but these are pretty nitpicky details. Great song; great job.

Don

[cameron]

Thanks Don! I appreciate the feedback.

Cam