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Well, everyone was dissing the word "Love" in their song titles, so I figured I owed it to Love to throw another one in the ring.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=759055&songID=6448165

Hold On Strong to Your Love

In the space of a moment
In the blink of an eye
All of the people you love
Pass you by
And it's cruel and it's crazy
So we push and we shove
But when it's time to move on
You've got to hold on strong to your love

Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love

Said goodbye to my mother
Said goodbye to my dad
Everything passes away
It makes me sad
You can bury me someday
Chuck me down in the hole
And my body will die
But your love is alive in my soul

Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love

Who really knows
Why everything goes
Or why the best of our memories fade?
They slip away so fast
The only thing that will last
Is the love that you made

You can bury me someday
Toss me down in the hole
And my body may die
But my love will survive in my soul

Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love
Hold on strong to your love

In the space of a moment
In the blink of an eye...


(Copyright 2008 by Mark Kaufman)

Very impressive sounding to me, Mark. The additional voices are a very powerful touch. How did you do all that????

I think the chorus is so great that you need to revisit the verses to see if you bring them up to the same level. I don't know what to suggest for an improvement, but if you you could find a way to make the same kind of impact, then we will be listening to this song on the radio next year.

Nothing wrong with the verses, it is just that the chorus is so powerful ..... Maybe the first verse is just fine, but maybe the other verses need more to keep the power moving on. I'm probably not making any sense, so I'll stop for now.

Great song,

Kevin

Hey thanks, Kevin. Well, all my life I've wished I could have more tracks to use...now that I have Cubase SX I'm having fun with simply doing track after track of vocals until I sound like a full choir. Always wanted to do that. Did all that this morning, singing low, singing high.

This song poured out in a torrent yesterday and this morning. For six or seven years I've been playing the piano riff from the chorus...but I could never figure out what to do with it until yesterday when I finally came up with chords for the verse and bridge...then it all just spilled into place.

Now that I step back, I want to cut the last verse in half, cut the final chorus in half, and it will probably flow much better...and be about 3:30 or so.

Glad you like it! Gracias. -mk

nice work my brother man...MJ

Thanks Moke!

Mark, nice one, I really like the melody and the chorus is cool.. I'm thinking maybe if you mixed the lead vocal in the chorus a little louder, might blend a little better.

Thanks Louis! I think you're right. I guess when I was mixing it down earlier today, I sort of wanted to bury it...thought it might be too out there. Now I think you're probably right.

Appreciate it!

Mark...your stuff is getting better all the time...actually since I've been listening,your stuff has been good...like the added vocals...it is an added dimension of music that gets overlooked and can add so much musically...good job!!

Thanks Ted...I've always been recording to cassette tape...so this change to full digital really helps to clean up the production. Things that used to be hard or impossible to do on tape are now easy...silencing noise on empty tracks, not having to bounce things down to one track, being able to EQ any little thing.

Thanks a lot, Ted! -mk

This is a gem, Lyle. Seriously. Well done!

Agree with Louis on the main vocal in the chorus - doesn't have to be overwhelming - just a bit louder....

Can't believe all those voices are you

Scott

Neither could my dog! She thought I was wounded or something. It sounds okay all together, but if you single out the soprano part, it sounds a lot like Mickey Mouse.

Thanks Scott. Yes, I'll bump that up in the mix.

Hey Mark

Wow brother this is way different than I am used to hearing from you. I loved the piano is that midi or keyboard or a real piano? Either way I am quite impressed. The verses kinda remind me of Billy Joel... While the choruses remind me of nothing I have ever heard (except choir music maybe). Awesome job on this one you really got your production issues worked out, wish I could make mine sound as good.
Derek

Mark,

I think you've got a winner here...it's a very reflective lyric. The ending caught me by surprise, but then again, it's supposed to I suppose...

Is that you playing the piano among other things?...gotta like the piano...

(when's the barbecue/pool party?)

Kristi

Mark,

This is probably what the Polyphonic Spree will sound like when they all turn 40 and realize they're going to die. But seriously, this is beautiful. I tried to write something along the same lines but yours offers hope, whereas mine, well..it's a real downer. You always surprise me with your versatility and creativity. Wish I was half as good as good you.

"Way different than I am used to hearing from you" is music to my ears...I love changing it up...I would never have made it solo because they would never know what bin to throw me in.

That's a full sized digital piano, a Roland HP something. Good to have when you come home late at night and the family is asleep...you can pound on the piano with headphones on.

Thanks, Derek! -mk

Mmmmm, barbecue! Thanks, Kristi. Truth is, I'm downright morbid...I've written a lot of songs about death. But why not? We all think about it, but we never talk about it. And before we're gone, we sure see our share of it... Found myself thinking about my daughters and what they might remember about me down the road when I'm gone...thought I'd put a little something on record about my feelings on the matter, and maybe it might cheer them up someday.

Thanks again! -mk

Polyphonic Dread! Love it.

Well, quit your wishing because you've already got the goods. We all want to be a little different than the way we already are...but for what it's worth, I listen to your stuff and have the same feelings. I may have more experience actually doing it and performing it...but IT is always elusive, and when I hear your stuff, I can almost see that angel hanging around and feeding you those good ideas. For those of us who write just to write something as best as they can...then accomplishments are not measured by trophies, sales, gigs, or fame...they're happening in the Here and Now. For the record, I love your work.

Thanks Wendy! -Mark

Hi Mark

This was really really good, great mood & feel. I loved the verses especially the melody. You're very musical and it shows in all you do.

I told you before how incredibly you would have fit with my buddy Falc & myself, all the old FALCARO music I post from my other lifetime. What a band we would of had...

For the dissing of "Love" it's just a Biz thing, when your shopping to get songs cut especially as an unknown they attack everything.. lol

I like all the lines as they fit this feel and you really finally found a home for this great musical piece now. The only two things i would have altered was,
"chuck me down in a hole" that stole some beauty from the song.
And the very ending from a production stand point was too abrupt..

I like what you were going for but in this one a little sustain would have been nicer or at least verb on the last chord. The surprise element didn't quite work. Love the harmonies and chorus, fits like a glove.

GREAT work on this I really loved it

I am HOOKED, oh Mark go the love songs. Great job with the lyrics, and you sing the song beautifully.

Lots of potential this song of yours. Well done Mark! I'm a FAN!


Michele
Aussie fan from down under

Thanks Mike...well, that's comment number two on the ending, so I guess I'd better think harder on that one, even though I like it. (You know how it is with crits...if you only hear it once you're okay, but more than once and you've got a problem... ). I have a couple options...I could finish it with two more lines like the end of a verse. Another thing is...I was originally picturing building this song with strings behind the choir, but I "chucked" the idea when I heard it working without them. But maybe they would be good, and then the ending could be enhanced as is, but with a little string sustain to cap it off. I'll think on it. I'll also give some thought to being tossed in the hole...sorry, but that's just so who I am...

I changed the levels on the chorus lead vocal and re-posted...hope it isn't too over the top. (All alone in the house doing that vocal, I felt like I was trying out for Jesus Christ Superstar.) Later I will edit the last verse in half...and maybe also cut the final double chorus into a single.

Thanks for the advice and insight! When you like it, I know there is potential. Oh, and if I had joined with you guys, I don't know that your music would have improved, but mine sure would have. Thanks for the thought, it's very nice to imagine.

-Mark

Thanks Michele, I'm a fool for love. Glad you liked it...did it push your button??

Take care and good luck with everything that's coming your way lately. We're all cheering you on.

-mk

This is really good. I see it as a simple piano vocal with a huge gospel choir if you ever want to do a full production to demo it properly. What did you use for the harmonies? I detect some sort of vocal harmoniser unit like vocopro or such like. There were one or two moments when the vocals were getting away but you managed to pull it back however I know this is just a work demo so we can hear the song and its potential. It was still very good. This is definitely a keeper.

Great song Mark, sounds like you have a choir in the Chorus. Love the pool picture. Is this your backyard or your dream pool? I've been dreaming of a pool since I was alittle kid.

Best,
Lynn

It's an aging unit called Mark Kaufman. I'm actually singing all those parts on about 10 tracks. No speed-ups or slow-downs...just me turning purple on the high notes and looking stern on the low ones.

Man I would love to do this with a real choir.

Thanks Jim!

Hi Lynn! That's the beauty of digital multitracks...just sing the parts over and over, and pretty soon you ARE a choir.

Oh, that little thing? That's just the pool behind my guest house garage...yes, the real one is ever so much bigger.

OK make it play a chord! AND WHERE DO YOU KEEP THE AMPLIFIER. LOL

Okay, I just posted an alternate version...the "choir" is fuller, the levels on the "soul man" are adjusted, and I took out the front half of the last verse to move it along (I think it loses momentum at that spot).

Thanks for the listens!

Lyle:

This is a very strong song even without the production. Throw in the Lyle Tabernacle choir and it's killer! We're all enjoying your new recording software.

Mark

Yeah Mark, your song pushed the nice button. You keep working on this song, cause I love it. Take all the suggestions in, and continue to work on it, OKAY! OR ELSE, this AUSSIE GIRL, will be shattered.

Mark, how can I put love hearts in my post?

Aussie Fan

Michele

Much Better. Was it you on piano?

Mark: I am still amazed that you did all those vocals yourself, it was just an awesome production! I am gonna have to try that out myself one of theses days -- but I might not have the vocal chops to pull it off like you did.

Kevin

Like this!

Yes, but I play tricks to speed up the process and minimize mistakes: I only play about as long as a verse and stop. On another track I pick up from there. I do this until the end, and it sounds seamless. It sure beats getting alllllmost to the end and messing it up, having to punch in and smooth out the transition point. Sort of like the difference between the old days of typewriting a research paper or using a word processor.

Kevin, it worked better than I thought...but if you were to hear the high part all alone, it sounds ridiculously bad, very much like Mickey Mouse shouting angrily. But mix it with all the others and it works. Very strange.

So does anyone else dislike the abrupt ending? Does anyone like it?

I might add a little piano tag/flourish/whatever to take it out otherwise. Thanks!

you'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs

Mark, this is great!

only suggestion is some kind of instrumentation before the "choir" - it kind of just appears out of nowhere and i think it would be good if some strings or something appeared just beforehand to ease the transition from a solo piano/voice to a full choir.

..ant

Thanks ant! Strings are still very much on my mind with this one. Once I get my MIDI controller issues resolved, I intend to inject some orchestra and see how that works...I think those dynamics would be great. Even hear a little French horn in the bridge.

What do y'all think about the ending? Does it need to change? Kristi McKeever, Mike Caro, and my wife don't care for it.

Come to think of it...that's probably enough... But does anyone like the end?

The ending is OK it is better than a fadeout or just finishing on Hold On.

I still think less is more. Just a piano and gospeL choir would give it the OOMPH factor. Too much orchestration could IMO spoil the effect. I do not agree with ant I think the transition from solo to choir works great.

man that chorus is awesome and worth the price of admission. The piano riff, in spots, reminds of a tune by the baby's called Isn't It Time. Been a long time since I have heard it but I had flashbacks hehe.

This is a really an outstanding tune. I enjoyed it immensely!

Hi Mark

Go the love hearts, you are so cool, I love this song, what great songs we have here on JPF.


Michele
Aussie fan from down under

I like the current ending. Of course, if I heard a different ending, I might like that better. You need to set up an OurStage type thing with various 30 second endings (LOL!). Yes, even a fade finish would work here (gasp! sacrilege)

The "abrupt" chorus was fine by me. But maybe "fading" in the chorus might be a cool idea, too.

Kevin

Thanks Jim! I agree with you...but I also like to hear variations. The beauty of Cubase is that I can save all the different versions and choose to use any of them.

The Babys! Man, I forgot about "Isn't It Time". Now that I think about it, that song is as close as it comes to classifying this one...whatever that was, so is this...a pop rock ballad, I guess. I love that song, but I haven't heard it in ages...no doubt its influence was there somewhere in the old Subconsciousness while I wrote this. In fact, their chorus also is choir-like. No escaping our influences, is there?

Thanks for the kind words...and the lost point of reference!

Mark:I bet you had loads of fun doing those harmonies. When I first got a multi tracking machine I went crazy -such fun!!


As for the song, its first rate. lovely spirit to it. Great chord changes. I felt lots of feeling like you opened a little part of your soul on this one Mark.

Good Luck with it...Paul

Almost missed you, Mark! The Lyle Tabernacle Choir. Yes, well, it's very disconcerting to walk around the house and keep bumping into all these bloody replicas of myself. I'm getting a little freaked out...

Thanks, Mark, very much. -mk

Thanks again Michele.

Mark,

How might one go about getting a copy of this to burn to a CD so I, I mean someone, could listen to this on their way to work?

I came back by and listened to this again tonight. I went to a Sacred Harp/shape note singing recently and your song makes me think of this very old form of singing. If you are not familiar with shape note/Sacred Harp, there's a really good documentary that sometimes airs here in the ATL late at night on PBS called Awake My Soul. There's also a web site for the movie. I think the wall of sound you've created with the different vocal parts touches the emotions and stirs the soul much in the way Sacred Harp singings do.

Hi Wendy! This one generated a lot of interest--you are definitely not the first to ask about that, which I think is pretty cool! So I just made it available for free download on the link. Let me know when you get it...I'd prefer not to keep it available like that for more than a day or so.

Thanks for asking! And I will have to look into this Sacred Harp/Shape Note thing... -mk

I really appreciate the input, Kevin. I can imagine a fading chorus, but don't really care for it. I might hold the vocal note of the last word for a couple measures while the piano does a little thang.

Thanks!

Thanks, Paul! As far as the feeling, you were right. This is one I wanted my daughters to have...we all go someday, and I wanted my daughters to be able to listen to some sort of message from me about my feelings on the matter. My mother wrote me a note that I still think about. Thanks again! -mk