Life is Tough -- country or rock version?

[DooWahDiddy]

Hello, long time no see! I've got a new song, "Life is Tough", and I'm not sure which version I like better, the country or rock version. Hoping to get some opinions on that, as well as general feedback (maybe you love or hate both versions, lol). Music and lyrics are by me; vocals are by Ray Barnette of Nashville. Thanks for listening!


Country version: https://shorturl.at/gpBiz
Rock version: https://shorturl.at/szXwX


Checked off my list of chores every day
Mowing yards and washing cars, that's the way I was raised
Bagged groceries at 6AM, up with the morning sun
When you're young and under the gun
There ain't no complaining, you get things done

It taught me that life is tough
Nobody'll hold your hand
I'm telling you life is tough
From the start to your final stand
I'm gonna keep rolling on when the road gets rough
The worst brings out the best in me
'Cause everything in my life has gotten me tough

Got married and raised a family a little too young
Felt like a crash course in caring for someone
Took a second job at night to pay for the house and food
When they all depend on you
Well you do what you gotta do

It taught me that life is tough
Nobody'll hold your hand
I'm telling you life is tough
From the start to your final stand
I'm gonna keep rolling on when the road gets rough
The worst brings out the best in me
'Cause everything in my life has gotten me tough

And when I'm old and turning gray
Looking back on times gone bad
I will stand and proudly say
I gave it all I had

And it taught me that life is tough
Nobody'll hold your hand
I'm telling you life is tough
From the start to your final stand
I'm gonna keep rolling on when the road gets rough
The worst brings out the best in me
'Cause everything in my life has gotten me tough

Yeah, everything in my life has gotten me tough

[eeoo]

Not sure what your goals are here but my impression is that the country version doesn't sound very country and the rock version doesn't sound very rock. When i think of those genres i think live band feel and these both feel pretty canned. If I were producing them for those genres I'd try and incorporate as many live instruments as i could and make the the drums sound more live as well. I'd also try and get the vocals to sound more cohesive with the rest of the band, maybe share a room verb or something. As is there's very little connection to the instrumental track. It's not easy making a bunch of overdubs sound "live" but real instruments go a long way.

If it were me i think I'd go for like a Springsteen style production, kinda "Heartland Rock". I think this song would be suited to that kind of aesthetic.

Good luck!

EO

[funsongs]

Hello, long time no see! I've got a new song, "Life is Tough", and I'm not sure which version I like better, the country or rock version. Hoping to get some opinions on that, as well as general feedback (maybe you love or hate both versions, lol). Music and lyrics are by me; vocals are by Ray Barnette of Nashville. Thanks for listening!

Country version: https://shorturl.at/gpBiz
Rock version: https://shorturl.at/szXwX

Hey, Brandon.
I remember your name.
I'm also familiar with Ray Barnette - he's recorded some (background) harmony vocals on a few tracks of mine several years back.

To your song - I think you're kinda 'in the middle' - maybe settling into Country-Rock; would that be a bad thing?
If you wanna lean old-school Country (more my wheelhouse) add some fiddle and pedal-steel (airgigs.com, if you want references);
and if you're more inclined to go Rock (which doesn't really fit a story lyric like this, in my opinion)...
then the drums really gotta take us/me/your audience there - and definitely a different voice/vocal.

My 2 cents' worth of an old-guy's opinion.
It's got potential - but needs to be clearly dialed into who your target audience is.

Also - just a suggestion: shorten the title to just "Tough" - and keep'm guessing.

Hope that helps.
Peter

[Casey H]

Hey Brandon

What is your goal for the song? Artist pitch? Film/TV?

The lyrics are much more country than rock. I can't imagine a rock song with these lyrics. Also, they would not at all work for Film/TV as they are too much a "story song" with lots of specifics.

I agree with eeoo that the country version doesn't sound very country and the rock version doesn't sound very country. Not being able to identify the genre of a song makes it harder to pitch. It definitely would work better as a country song but the production would have to be different.

If your goal is an artist pitch such as for a country artist, I don't think the chorus is strong enough musically. It's not bad but for artist pitches, a song has to be undeniably great. Publishers will listen to that first chorus and it has to blow them away. This chorus doesn't differentiate from the verse enough to really stand out in a high bar situation.

Lots of potential here for a solid country song but it needs some work.

HTH
Casey

[DooWahDiddy]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback! You're right, I should have specified my goal for the song, which is artist pitch. It's definitely just a demo (all sampled instruments, etc) and I would never pitch it for tv/film as-is. And yep, I wrote it specifically as a country song, hence the lyrics and hiring Ray to sing the vocals, lol. But I had that other arrangement and wasn't sure if it worked better.

I think I'll focus mostly on the country version (or at least what I'm calling the country version, lol) and try a few artist pitches with it. I haven't been a Taxi member for a long time and am thinking of signing up again. If I don't get any forwards after a few tries, I'll go back to the drawing board or just let the song go altogether. Thanks again for your thoughts!