JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Never Guess Why

Andy Kemp did up the music for me on this one. Bang-up job.
His track sounds better 'n me. LOL

http://soundcloud.com/lindaofficial/never-guess-why

This one some may remember from years ago, it's 5 yrs old.
Dedicated now to my dear best friend Jenn, her husband Dave and two little boys. (they lived in CA not Tennessee but CA was a way harder rhyme!!)

Jenn was diagnosed with stomach cancer when her youngest was 22 months old, and fought it with all she had for 7 years, many surgeries, many relapses, and passed away Feb 2010.

This is for all caregivers in really tough situations that may never go away or find a solution - but I mean it to be upbeat and hopeful at the same time.

PRODUCTION:
I've been working at these vocals bit by bit as I can since January... this is the first draft I feel all right about posting. Mixing/effecting reverb etc with Audacity which is kind of crap.... in a few months I may be able to upgrade that to GarageBand (unless there are any vocal producers w/ProTools or something willing to give this a better shot).... meanwhile this is "as good as it gets" for the time being.

Yet I will take all mixing & re-cut this/that line/verse etc into consideration for future retakes. For now I'm done except for small remix issues I can fix in Audacity. Or if someone wants to toy with the vocal tracks and mess with it.

All said & done I feel I'm improving overall at vocal delivery, timing (comfort in the pocket) and esp. pitch. Though there's a spot or two I'm ahead of the beat just a touch.

I am never 100% happy when I listen back. I am always picking on myself. Anything y'all have to say, I have most likely already noted. haha But go ahead, it's cool.

Music mixing pointers, send comments to Andy, he's got all those tracks.

Well thank you for listening!!

Linda

LYRICS:

Never Guess Why
(c) 2011 Linda Adams; All Rights Reserved.

I know a couple down in Tennessee
Their life just isn't what it used to be
Travelin around and havin fun
Raisin up a few fine sons
Well sometimes life just delivers a blow
And your health is gone before you know

But she's got you
(standing by her side)
She's got you
(to hold on tight)
It sure is a mess and I could never guess
Why
Bad things happen but
Long as she's got you
Somethin turned out right
Yeah, she's got you

Now it's all doctors 'n tests 'n waitin
Hard to find anything that isn't breakin
Still travel a lot, but it's no fun
Got another appointment when this one's done
That's when life just loses its sheen
When an ambulance is your limousine

But she's got you
(help her through the night)
She's got you
(to hold on tight)
Sure is a mess and I could never guess
Why
Bad things happen but
Long as she's got you
Somethin turned out right
Yeah, she's got you


Can't tell if it'll ever be better
It's all you can do just to
Hold it together
But you love her
And she loves you
Some days
That's all you can do

[chorus out]

It's also sorta dedicated to Mike Caro & his wife Tripp & friend Johnny; Glynda & her family taking care of her; Roy & Helen.... the list of friends I have suffering goes on and on and on....

Two of my good friends had completely unrelated but equally scary emergency brain surgery in January.... and I've lost count of the cancer diagnoses among my near and dear ones.

Not to mention the four+ funerals in our church family since January due to cancer or old age or other causes.

Just want to send out a note of hope: when you've got each other, you've got a real blessing worth counting in the middle of it all.

Hope you like.

Linda

hi, just gave this a listen. i think you have written these lyrics well, really tells the story well, and everything works in the lyrics and music. the hook line, "she's got you" is very good. sorry to hear about your friend.


dmk

hi again, one thot, the hook line "she's got you" may present itself as the stronger title choise.

dmk

Hiya DMK, thanks for listening!

That was the original title actually.

However those three words tend to imply a love-gone-wrong song, (think Patsy Cline had that one??) and the THEME or overall idea of the song is more about not knowing why things happen, but sticking together is what's important in such times.


So........ I changed it. Because the original title was misleading people wandering in and clicking on the old worktape I had up (5 yrs ago). As to what it was all about.

But thank you for the thought!!

Linda

very very well done Linda.

I take it that as this is done and the music is finished then lyric suggestions would be pointless, especially if it changed the melody...

We listened, me and Helen and do really love the sentiments of the song.

God Bless Roy and Helen

Thanks Linda,

This is great...you really did great on this and it makes me proud to be one of those caregivers, tonite we've been called stat to the nursery, 2nd floor, ICU and to the ER and all before 8 pm....it takes alot out of you, to be there for the patient and the patient's family, but also for each other working and caring for these patients ...it seems to never stop...but we love it..

Also thanks for mentioning my name, you all know how sick i've been, and you all have been here for me...thanks for all you've done for me..and i'll never forget you sending your group of missionaires to bless me, right here in my hospital bed...you're a wonderful, loving and beautiful person with lots and lots of talent....thanks for being a friend to me...

glyn

Hey Linda:

It's a beautiful song - and very catchy too. Love the music track!

I believe it's mostly the vocal holding this back. If that sounds blunt I only say it because I know what you are capable of!

There are three issues for me - one is that the phrasing/timing seemed a little awkward in places. Best example is here:

Can't tell if it'll ever be better
It's all you can do just to
Hold it together
But you love her

The timing just doesn't feel right to me there. I wouldn't even try to sing something like this, would require a jazz gene on my part - which I don't have. But I know you can do it.

A second issue is that the intensity of the vocal doesn't match the intensity of the music for me. I know you don't want to go over the top on a lyric like this but I think it will work better if you ratchet the intensity up some. Mostly in the verses. You could bring it back down to about where it is on the hook line to give some nice dynamics.

Maybe in the privacy of your recording room, really cut loose with confidence on it. Then listen and see how much you have to dial it back.

Last thing is that the vocal didn't sit really well in the mix for me. Seemed a little dry and faded in and out in spots. I'm thinking maybe some (more?) compression and reverb. Not so much that it sounds processed though.

Hope this doesn't bum you out. It's just one opinion, of course, and I could very well be wrong. However, I wouldn't be this critical if I didn't think this had mega-potential and that you were the one who could pull it off.

Scott

+ 1 what Scott said .

Strangely I got a Fine Young Canibals kind of vibe when the chourus hit in " She Drives me Crazy " :-) Cool ..

All the best
Jan

Those are some great lyrics Linda! I love the message of the song, it's cool that you were able to pay homage to her caregivers while doing something you love. As for the music, the guitar solos sound great. Best of luck with it.

Nick

Jan you're spot on there man it's really got that vibe on the chorus. I'd not noticed it until you said.
I'm going to try and do a more laid mix without the big guitar and drums (witch was requested by Linda :-) the girl loves to Rock) and when Linda has recorded the vox I'll mix them into the track. Thanks for the great feedback guys.
I know this track means a lot to some folks so it has to be handled with care.

Mork

You can make a suggestion, it's all right. I may be redoing and redoing this for months more anyways

Linda

Scott, not bummed, I appreciate your ear and you are 100% right esp on the bridge timing and the vocal production (from piece to piece in Audacity) being all difficult & all over the place for me to balance properly. I am just not a sound engineer. ugh.

Probably needs a 100% recut with 100x more run-throughs but... at least people can hear the general idea.

I'll look at what you said very tightly as I go through it again, much gratitude my friend. If you didn't have confidence in me - that I COULD get it better -- you'd just pat me on the head and that is not what I need.



Linda

Jan, Nick, thank you much for listening and your comments.

GLYNDA!!! yeah, I think of you quite a lot. Sick yourself and yet still a caregiver helping parents go through very often the worst of the worst.

You inspire me.
I'm still working on your "Angels" song in the background too.
Not where I want it vocally yet either

Linda

Andy ---------- you're flat-out amazing and I'm so pleased to be working with you on this track.

I think a more laid-back track may be the key more than overdriving the vocals which are thoughtful and should be somewhat gently delivered more than belted. It needs a powerful delivery but that doesn't have to mean Ann Wilson.

(Yeah I like rock - maybe I'll send you a silly fun real rocker next to play with?? haha)

Maybe clip down the intro to 2 measures or something....

I just wish there was room in it for you to really solo something cool, even if it was less overdrive & more clean and soaring.

Never caught the "Drives me Crazy" vibe myself... haha

Good thoughts always on this board folks. I appreciate all of you.

Linda

I will return reviews for y'all next week when my senior daughter is finished GRADUATING high school and all the surrounding activities......... this week is just a mess.
No listening to new music time

Linda

Linda, excellent song. Very heartfelt and delivered with great emotion...

Bob

Hi Linda & Andy

Looks like Scott has offered you both some great suggestions, and I have to agree with him.

Linda you have the most amazing voice, and I know you're still working on this song, but it's not their yet. I feel you need to put more emotion into the song, and it sounds to rocky for me. It's a sad song, listen to Rodney singing "We all Walk the Same Journey", and that's what I feel you need to do with this sad song.

I believe in YOU, and Andy, so keep at it hah.

Big hugs Lv Michele

Hi Linda/Andy,

This is a nice colaboration.
Looking forward to the completion of it.

I enjoyed this a lot....

That's when life just loses its sheen
When an ambulance is your limousine

Have a good day.

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

PS!

Please make sure you PM me hah, I wouldn't like to miss the changes you two make to this song, I'd love to listen again.

I hope I wasn't to harsh hey, because I didn't mean to be.

Special hugs Michele

Linda,

In a few spots I would recommend not carrying out the vocal so much and let the music "breathe" a little more. Like with the word "you" it seems to me the instruments are making some cool changes there and I don't think it fits the vocal. If it was one hard hitting repeating note I could see it working.

To me the vocal does not quite fit the style of the song and the guitar work in the beginning is great but a little too heavy and builds a little too much excitement at the beginning which is never really matched again imo. I guess the best way to describe it is that it mixes genres for me. Is it hard rock, soft rock, pop, or country? I hear all of that in there at certain points and its like the song doesn't ever make up it's mind.

I would like to hear a version with the vocals turned down a little so the music would come through more. I think if you are going for more of a rock song it should be that way anyway.

That being said there are some very redeeming things here. The verses are fairly average to me but the chorus I like quite a bit. I like that it's different and still catchy. I think you did a really nice job there. I also like the ambulance limousine line.

I like these types of songs where the message is mostly sad but the music and a few lines are "light". I don't mind listening to sad songs but like a little bit of a rainbow in it. You do have a song that is upbeat and hopeful but tough at the same time. Good job with that too.

Andy, You did a good job from what I can hear but the vocals are taking away from some of your music imo. As I said great guitar work in the beginning and some really cool progressions that keep the song moving and interesting.

Good job both of you. Thanks for posting this and I hope these suggestions help in some way.

And sorry to hear about your friend. Makes it a little tougher to critique when you put so much heart into it!

Ricky

Thank you Bob, most appreciated.

thank you also Calvin!

Linda

Thank you Michele, and absolutely, not too harsh, no worries mate!
Good thoughts.
I don't want to sing it too sad though because I want the positive part of the message to come across more.

But thumbs-up! I know you (et al) are just wanting me to get this to being the best song it can be, and I agree, it's not there yet.

Linda

Ricky, big hugs and thank you, that is a very insightful and useful critique!! I really appreciate the time you took to listen and to type all that out and you make excellent, and very true points. I am listening.


So........ back to the drawing board

Andy, I'll email you with some thoughts.

We'll be back.

It may be a while tho, I don't know what I can get done over the summer with kids home & have had some health issues lately - but - I'll see about addressing all these glitches.

I want it to be the best it can be too.

Linda