The Wagtunes Corner (Featuring My Best Yet)

[wagtunes]

Another one from my CD "Divas"

Life (What Do You Want)

What do you want from your life
I want to be respected and loved
What do you want from your life
Existing is just not enough
The world can be so quite unkind
And yet I don't really mind
As long as I get what I want
From my life

What do you want from your love
I want him to love me for me
What do you want from your love
I want to be loved to be free
A lover who knows how to care
A lover who's always there
As long as I get what I want
From my love

There's always something to fight for
Something to search through the night for
Something that is true to your heart
Something that needs a new start

What do you want from your life
I just want to live and be free
What do you want from your life
I just want to live and be me
The world can be so quite unkind
And yet I don't really mind
As long as I get what I want
From my life

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... sets/divas

[wagtunes]

Another track from my WIP CD "Outtakes"

Tried something a little different with the production on this one. Looking for opinions.

It's A Love Thing

Come a little closer
I just wanna kiss you
You know that you want it
You know that I miss you

The sparks they will go flying
Without you I'll be dying
We both know just what this is

It's a love thing
No one can keep apart
So sing
There's no more broken heart
Love thing
Now til the end of time
Bells ring
As long as you're mine
Birds sing
Whistle a happy tune
I can feel the love
Joy brings
Sunshine and roses too
From the Lord above
I can't think of a thing
Neither prince or king
That's as great as a love thing

Lying here beside you
I can feel the heat rise
You know that I want it
You can see in my eyes

My heart it will go racing
Without you I'll be pacing
Down halls waiting for your love

Repeat Chorus 2x

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... ead-vocals

[Eauson]

It's A Love Thing

Really brought a smile to my face, little lite in the lower section, possibly a bit of a boost on vox and piano eq, that's to my ears anywho.
Other things, hi sibilants in vox.
All things considered √√√ top marks

[wagtunes]

It's A Love Thing

Really brought a smile to my face, little lite in the lower section, possibly a bit of a boost on vox and piano eq, that's to my ears anywho.
Other things, hi sibilants in vox.
All things considered √√√ top marks

That's what I did on purpose. I'd been getting so many complaints about muddiness, even with all the EQ I've been doing that I finally decided to go for a 1970 AM Radio Mix. I killed everything under 200k. As for the vox, Avanna is a train wreck. She's impossible to process. And with no low end, she gets even worse. But I felt her voice best fit the song so I lived with the artifacts.

In short, I'm absolutely aware of everything you pointed out. It was an experiment. I'm not sure I'm going to produce everything I do from this point on like this, but it's certainly an option.

I'm noticing that a lot of my VSTs have a lot going on between 200 and 500k. I don't know why that is but so many synths are total mud when you get down to it and have to be extensively EQ'd. Even just getting a vocal to sit on top of a piano is a chore. I don't have enough tech smarts to understand why sound in general is like this, but getting things to be clear in a mix is not easy.

Anyway, glad you liked the song.

[Eauson]

It's A Love Thing

Really brought a smile to my face, little lite in the lower section, possibly a bit of a boost on vox and piano eq, that's to my ears anywho.
Other things, hi sibilants in vox.
All things considered √√√ top marks

That's what I did on purpose. I'd been getting so many complaints about muddiness, even with all the EQ I've been doing that I finally decided to go for a 1970 AM Radio Mix. I killed everything under 200k. As for the vox, Avanna is a train wreck. She's impossible to process. And with no low end, she gets even worse. But I felt her voice best fit the song so I lived with the artifacts.

In short, I'm absolutely aware of everything you pointed out. It was an experiment. I'm not sure I'm going to produce everything I do from this point on like this, but it's certainly an option.

I'm noticing that a lot of my VSTs have a lot going on between 200 and 500k. I don't know why that is but so many synths are total mud when you get down to it and have to be extensively EQ'd. Even just getting a vocal to sit on top of a piano is a chore. I don't have enough tech smarts to understand why sound in general is like this, but getting things to be clear in a mix is not easy.

Anyway, glad you liked the song.

Do you use

https://www.sonicvisualiser.org

I know everyone goes on about, use your ears, but if you get a peak freq readout on your tracks it can give you an idea on where to cut troublesome freq, especially in the region you mentioned.
Its not a "this works use it" but it can help

[wagtunes]

It's A Love Thing

Really brought a smile to my face, little lite in the lower section, possibly a bit of a boost on vox and piano eq, that's to my ears anywho.
Other things, hi sibilants in vox.
All things considered √√√ top marks

That's what I did on purpose. I'd been getting so many complaints about muddiness, even with all the EQ I've been doing that I finally decided to go for a 1970 AM Radio Mix. I killed everything under 200k. As for the vox, Avanna is a train wreck. She's impossible to process. And with no low end, she gets even worse. But I felt her voice best fit the song so I lived with the artifacts.

In short, I'm absolutely aware of everything you pointed out. It was an experiment. I'm not sure I'm going to produce everything I do from this point on like this, but it's certainly an option.

I'm noticing that a lot of my VSTs have a lot going on between 200 and 500k. I don't know why that is but so many synths are total mud when you get down to it and have to be extensively EQ'd. Even just getting a vocal to sit on top of a piano is a chore. I don't have enough tech smarts to understand why sound in general is like this, but getting things to be clear in a mix is not easy.

Anyway, glad you liked the song.

Do you use

https://www.sonicvisualiser.org

I know everyone goes on about, use your ears, but if you get a peak freq readout on your tracks it can give you an idea on where to cut troublesome freq, especially in the region you mentioned.
Its not a "this works use it" but it can help

Yeah, I looked at the peak freq's. I have tools. The problem is, her whole mid range is a problem. And at different notes. I would have to do automation for every second of her vocal in order to get everything perfect and there's no way I'm doing that much work.

[wagtunes]

Another track from my "Outtakes" CD.

Empty Spaces

The thoughts in my mind
Just won't go
Sometimes are unkind
You should know
I don't dwell on the past
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

The days are so long
They drag on
Sing you a sad song
Then you're gone
I don't dwell on the night
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Oh there it goes again
So where to find a friend

My life comes around
To the shore
Looks back at the ground
There no more
I don't dwell on the dreams
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

And so death is near
Coming soon
Nothing that I fear
Gloom and doom
I don't dwell on the end
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Empty spaces there for you
Only empty spaces

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Another track from my "Outtakes" CD.

Empty Spaces

The thoughts in my mind
Just won't go
Sometimes are unkind
You should know
I don't dwell on the past
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

The days are so long
They drag on
Sing you a sad song
Then you're gone
I don't dwell on the night
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Oh there it goes again
So where to find a friend

My life comes around
To the shore
Looks back at the ground
There no more
I don't dwell on the dreams
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

And so death is near
Coming soon
Nothing that I fear
Gloom and doom
I don't dwell on the end
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Empty spaces there for you
Only empty spaces

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

Won't somebody find an Elton for this Bernie?

[wagtunes]

Another track from my "Outtakes" CD.

Empty Spaces

The thoughts in my mind
Just won't go
Sometimes are unkind
You should know
I don't dwell on the past
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

The days are so long
They drag on
Sing you a sad song
Then you're gone
I don't dwell on the night
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Oh there it goes again
So where to find a friend

My life comes around
To the shore
Looks back at the ground
There no more
I don't dwell on the dreams
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

And so death is near
Coming soon
Nothing that I fear
Gloom and doom
I don't dwell on the end
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Empty spaces there for you
Only empty spaces

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

Once again, really great lyrics ruined by a really bad song (My opinion, of course). If I just resist the temptation to click on the link, I could imagine you to be one of the songwriting greats.

Won't somebody find an Elton for this Bernie?

You know what's ironic? I hate writing lyrics. They're a means to an ends to just get my music out there. Most lyrics, just like this one, I just rush through and find any old words that fit.

But I have to ask. Why do you come back here? You know I don't sing anymore. You know I use Vocaloid. You know you hate Vocaloid. And I am certainly far from your favorite member here.

So why? Why are you in this thread? Are you a masochist? Do you enjoy tormenting yourself or is it that you simply can't pass up an opportunity to insult my music?

This is one for a top psychiatrist.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Another track from my "Outtakes" CD.

Empty Spaces

The thoughts in my mind
Just won't go
Sometimes are unkind
You should know
I don't dwell on the past
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

The days are so long
They drag on
Sing you a sad song
Then you're gone
I don't dwell on the night
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Oh there it goes again
So where to find a friend

My life comes around
To the shore
Looks back at the ground
There no more
I don't dwell on the dreams
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

And so death is near
Coming soon
Nothing that I fear
Gloom and doom
I don't dwell on the end
Like you do
Empty spaces there for you

Empty spaces there for you
Only empty spaces

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... lead-vocal

Once again, really great lyrics ruined by a really bad song (My opinion, of course). If I just resist the temptation to click on the link, I could imagine you to be one of the songwriting greats.

Won't somebody find an Elton for this Bernie?

You know what's ironic? I hate writing lyrics. They're a means to an ends to just get my music out there. Most lyrics, just like this one, I just rush through and find any old words that fit.

But I have to ask. Why do you come back here? You know I don't sing anymore. You know I use Vocaloid. You know you hate Vocaloid. And I am certainly far from your favorite member here.

So why? Why are you in this thread? Are you a masochist? Do you enjoy tormenting yourself or is it that you simply can't pass up an opportunity to insult my music?

This is one for a top psychiatrist.

I've listened to more of your music than you might have imagined, but I try not to comment if I have nothing positive to say. However, i just noticed a trend in me liking the lyrics of your songs far more than the vessel you create to carry them. And, for the record, I edited my post to just leave the compliment part (And it is a compliment )

As for your dismissiveness about your lyrical process: That suggests to me that it is something that comes naturally to you, whereas (for me) it's the music that sounds forced, and rushed

And Vocaloid? We've already had the discussion where I explained that I don't hate Vocaloid, on principal. I don't think it works so well in the English language, at least not without a stupid amount of editing; I don't think it conveys emotion very well, and I think that the way you write melody forces it to sound way too, erm...TWEE!!! Having said that, there have definitely been examples where I think you've got it to work for you.

[wagtunes]

@el-bo

Hmmm. Not at all the reply I expected. It is interesting the way we perceive things. Publishers, A&R people, and just about anybody in this business who "matter" have always praised my music and criticized my lyrics saying that they were what was holding me back. And this has almost been unanimous. And I even agree with them to an extent. I really don't enjoy writing lyrics at all. Now, having said that, I did take lyric writing courses to write "commercial" and "good" lyrics. And while I do know the "A, B, C's" of writing them, I still do not enjoy the process at all. Music, I love writing. I've always said, if I could find a good lyricist, maybe I could make some kind of a career. But I find most people are horrible at writing lyrics. Even worse than myself.

I don't have an answer for what you're reading or not reading in my lyrics. In fact, after the conversation I had the other day with one person who said that nothing I do is as good as this song (I won't even post it about a guy singing about McDonald's hamburgers that just sounds ghastly) I really had to scratch my head wondering what it is some people think of as "good" music. Go to Youtube and look up "Rock And Roll McDonald's" by Wesley Willis. I still can't believe what I heard.

As for Vocaloid, my correction. I thought you hated it. I agree, it ain't human sounding and it will never replace a real singer. I make do given my refusal to sing or work with others. And given all that, I certainly don't expect anybody to like anything I do. I've long stopped posting music for approval. This is just a way for me to kill a few minutes in my day, posting stuff and maybe getting some feedback that I can respond to, like now. It breaks up the day a bit. I mean there is only so much songwriting you can do in one day and I really don't have a lot of other hobbies. This forum is my time kill. That's really all it is now.

Anyway, thanks for the additional insight. I learned something today.

But I still hate writing lyrics.

[vurt]

don't you knock wesley

[wagtunes]

don't you knock wesley

I'm sorry but that was the worst piece of crap I've ever heard in my life and I'm pretty tolerant of just about anything. But seriously. It was sung poorly, it was played poorly and the lyrics were absolutely ridiculous. I found absolutely no redeeming value in that song.

[vurt]

you got no soul.

[wagtunes]

you got no soul.

Yeah, I got no soul but I love....

James Brown
Aretha Franklin
Marvin Gaye
Wilson Pickett
Jackie Wilson
Smokie Robinson
Stevie Wonder
Four Tops
Supremes
Brenda and the Tabulations
Isley Brothers
Sly and the Family Stone
The Stylistics
Honey Cone
Ray Charles

and more groups than you've probably ever heard of.

Maybe he just has no talent.