Is this a breakout hit – adult contemporary song

[Casey H]

Thanks all!

I will see if I can clean it up a bit more. Unfortunately the vocalist has already been paid and he's not gonna get paid again so hopefully I can tune him myself.

Hey Mike
Before you put too much energy into cleaning up the mix, etc, maybe step back and think about whether or not the SONG is strong enough to begin with. Given the issues with the lyrics and not having a strong hook, you might be pounding your head against the wall.

Remember, it all starts with the song.

Sometimes we (myself too!) get sucked into thinking it's all in the technology and every problem can be solved at the computer console... But there is also a time to just 'let it go' and chalk it up to experience and learning.

Not being mean or harsh here. Just trying to give the best, honest advice I can especially since I've "been there, done that" a few times.

Best,
Casey

[2lane]

Thanks all!

I will see if I can clean it up a bit more. Unfortunately the vocalist has already been paid and he's not gonna get paid again so hopefully I can tune him myself.

Hey Mike
Before you put too much energy into cleaning up the mix, etc, maybe step back and think about whether or not the SONG is strong enough to begin with. Given the issues with the lyrics and not having a strong hook, you might be pounding your head against the wall.

Remember, it all starts with the song.

Sometimes we (myself too!) get sucked into thinking it's all in the technology and every problem can be solved at the computer console... But there is also a time to just 'let it go' and chalk it up to experience and learning.

Not being mean or harsh here. Just trying to give the best, honest advice I can especially since I've "been there, done that" a few times.

Best,
Casey

Solid Advice Case.....as I know FIRST hand


Hey Mike,What hit me with the vocal is, right off the bat, it brought up pictures of the guy just reading the lyric in his hand, like it was the first take. A for effort though, keep at it
Steve

[mikeymike2000]

Thanks Casey, and everyone!

Well I would be lying if I did not say this is kind of a bubble burst but it is better to have a bubble burst than live in an alternate reality.

What I am getting here is that even if everything vocally was perfect, the reverb was corrected and the piano not so busy it would still not be right for this listing? OK, it is what it is, a learning experience. At least I cut my losses and saved the $5

I am wondering though if there is a future possibility of another listing with this being corrected or is it better fit for a musical?

All in all I agree with all the production comments but I was also of the mind that even though the listing is saying everything must be top notch at the end of the day this is a demo listing so I am a bit confused as to what is being asked for. If they are looking for something that is ready to go on the radio why would they even bother to have another artist re-record it? I ask this just for future reference. I am no longer planning to submit this song for this listing.

Time for me to take a break, I have been at it way too much for way to long (M-sat sometimes sun for 6-8 hours per day min for several months) with no real 'vacation'. Perhaps I am trying to hard or trying for too many things. This next week is no music at all for me. All work and no play makes for a potential insane composer with a clouded judgement.

[cardell]

Before you put too much energy into cleaning up the mix, etc, maybe step back and think about whether or not the SONG is strong enough to begin with. Given the issues with the lyrics and not having a strong hook, you might be pounding your head against the wall.

Remember, it all starts with the song.

Yes.

Time for me to take a break, I have been at it way too much for way to long (M-sat sometimes sun for 6-8 hours per day min for several months) with no real 'vacation'. Perhaps I am trying to hard or trying for too many things. This next week is no music at all for me. All work and no play makes for a potential insane composer with a clouded judgement.

I'm keen to work on this song with you [still]. It just needs work first.

Stuart

[mikeymike2000]

I'm keen to work on this song with you [still]. It just needs work first.

Stuart

I am open to that for sure but I have out-of-towners for the next week starting tomorrow and then boom, the deadline. Won't have any time to do anything until the 8th.

Besides that, it seems that no matter what this song is just not right for this listing, according to the crowd.

Aside from the production and vocal comments, which are correct, I think the structure is great, the lyrics tell a cool story that for me are very much in line with what the listing asked for. Now that I think about it, being a request to feature the piano I think that it is not at all too busy.

"needs work" is very general... at this point I am going to be thinking about what I really want to do with this whole game while I am on my break. I am working myself too hard and it is starting to be not fun anymore. I truly need a break. It is not like me to even think about giving up music entirely but I am doing just that at the moment. Not cause of this specific post but everything combined. My forward ratio (total of 2 so far since Nov 2011) is about 1 in 18-20. My expectation going in was 1 in 5-10. So as far as I am concerned that just sucks. So maybe I just suck. In fact I was joking with a friend the other day about making a web series called "I suck but my friends won't tell me"

That said, if you want I will send over the entire MIDI file (it's different now) and let you do whatever you please with it... We can combine samples at the end to see what fits best but I will not be able to do anything from this point forward before the deadline.
If not, no worries. - You know how to reach me

Part of me is telling me not to post that second to last paragraph cause I am gonna regret it but that is my feeling now and for whatever reason I feel like sharing that with the whole damn world.

[nick.moxsom]

Ah, Stuart's beaten me to the offer – I was gonna ask to have a shot at it, but no matter. Please bear me in mind for the future, though. I really like the bones of this song, and I'm looking forward to hearing what Mr Cardell comes up with.

Nick

[mikeymike2000]

Well I would like to say something slightly off topic. There is a lot going on right now in my life outside of Taxi and I already wish I had not said some of the things I did. Thought about editing or deleting my last comment but I refuse to do that cause I said what I said and at the time it was relevant.

But after some thought I have to say that music is most definitely a powerful muse and the knot at the end of the rope is not starting to loosen even though for a short while it might. - If that sounds familiar it is because I was that guy. Anyway, I am not going anywhere and what has not killed me makes me stronger. life is not this dramatic.

So, there it is, here I am learning and growing for anyone to see. I am sure anyone worth their salt has had this thought one time or another.

"Endless Night" from Lion King has a lot of power for me in times like this. Come on Joe, guide me, I know you are there.

[Casey H]

Hey Mike
Don't be hard on yourself. You've come a long way in your first year. Getting even 2 forwards is more than many get when they start out. And if I recall, you did those all by your lonesome self! Kudos!

You have a lot in your favor: talent, willingness to work hard, accept and take in feedback, adapt and learn. That puts you WAY ahead of many. One of the reasons I gave you such honest feedback was I knew you'd be disappointed but mature enough to handle it. Respect.

Nothing wrong with taking a breather for a few days or a week or two... With a given song, putting it away for a few days and listening fresh always helps.

When it comes to feedback, it's usually best not to take ANY one person's opinion as Gospel... 2-3 opinions from reliable sources such as Taxi reviewers, peers you respect, etc are a better guide.

Collaboration can be an amazing thing. Two (or even three) folks with different strengths and weaknesses can give great results. My most successful tracks have been collabs with other Taxi members I met here or at the rally. I think I read you are coming to this year’s rally… Great! Looking forward to meeting you!

Warm regards,
Casey

PS Best of luck with your MSATs!!

[davewalton]

So, there it is, here I am learning and growing for anyone to see. I am sure anyone worth their salt has had this thought one time or another.

I can't tell you how admirable that is and how beneficial it will be for you in the future to have that attitude.

I came to Taxi in 2004 after a LONG time away from music and I came in with my own musical reality. The sounds from the late 70's and early 80's still sounded "current" to me because, well, that's what I was familiar with. Long story short, I slowly "evolved" my inner musical self through Taxi and this forum to the point where I feel like I've got a pretty good grip on being able to write music that's "current" sounding from the standpoint of both the composition and the production. For whatever reason, it was hard for me to hear the difference initially... I really thought I was current sounding when I was far from it (20 years or so ). But, eventually I started hearing the difference. Now when I play something I wrote today vs something I wrote five years ago, the difference is huge. It does take time to evolve our own musical reality to what really is real (if that makes any sense).

So... good for you! You're in the right place with the right people with the right attitude.

[Casey H]

So, there it is, here I am learning and growing for anyone to see. I am sure anyone worth their salt has had this thought one time or another.

I can't tell you how admirable that is and how beneficial it will be for you in the future to have that attitude.

I came to Taxi in 2004 after a LONG time away from music and I came in with my own musical reality. The sounds from the late 70's and early 80's still sounded "current" to me because, well, that's what I was familiar with. Long story short, I slowly "evolved" my inner musical self through Taxi and this forum to the point where I feel like I've got a pretty good grip on being able to write music that's "current" sounding from the standpoint of both the composition and the production. For whatever reason, it was hard for me to hear the difference initially... I really thought I was current sounding when I was far from it (20 years or so ). But, eventually I started hearing the difference. Now when I play something I wrote today vs something I wrote five years ago, the difference is huge. It does take time to evolve our own musical reality to what really is real (if that makes any sense).

So... good for you! You're in the right place with the right people with the right attitude.

+1
Casey