Hi Y'all,

Please give a listen to this recent collab between me and fellow JPF'er Robert George..

https://soundcloud.com/michael-zaneski/silver-bay-final-v11-hq-mp3

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Silver Bay


Silver Bay
Shrouded in a mask of mist
Remember when we kissed along the ocean-side
How were we to know, love would ebb and flow just like the fickle tide

Days gone by
Although I still think of her
God only knows for sure where all our bygones go
Yet my memory, is a foggy sea where tides of teardrops flow

Come what may
I believe in love because
It’s a mystery to me
Love gives breath
To the history that was
And the history to be

O Silver Bay
Where we danced along the shore
But diff’rent steps soon tore our futures at the seams
Yesterday has gone, yet our kiss lives on in misty midnight dreams

Of Silver Day, Silver Bay

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Music by Michael Zaneski
Lyrics by Robert George
(C)2016 All Rights Reserved

Lovely music. Beautiful vocal melody and execution. Listened twice. You're very talented Michael. Well written lyrics also,

Martin

Excellent! I really enjoyed it. The eighth notes configuration works well in the bridge. Thinking... maybe half way through the bridge the drums can build with eighth notes into a bigger end verse/chorus. Anyway, fine the way it is. Always enjoy your chord structures.

Best, John

top notch guys!You caught the feeling of these nice lyrics very well Michael.Mike

Michael,

You are an artist. In the true sense of the word. That is often overlooked in places like this (forums) where so many are concentrating on aspects of songwriting.

What a gorgeous "package" you have created! These lyrics in "lesser" hands would likely not have such impact. Your music (melody, production, phrasing) does all the right things at all the right times.

Sprinklings of Christopher Cross or Crosby & Nash... The echoes and harmonies as important as any other element.. Such a sound!

Cool songs, guys.

floyd

Such a beautiful production! Great lyrics, voice and overall mix. Everything sounds super tight. Great work and good vibes, keep it up!👌

Hi guys,

Smooth work !

I really enjoyed this part.....Yesterday has gone, yet our kiss lives on


Calvin


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

Beautiful soundscape wrapped around evocative lyrics. Gorgeous!

Love gives breath
To the history that was
And the history to be

Ricki

This is beautiful. Great production, vocal, music, and killer lyrics. Fantastic work!

Hey Michael,

Beautiful production, with some difficult vocals for sure!

Liked everything about this one, also agree with what Floyd had to say, he hit it on nail.

steady-eddie.

Michael and George--

I give this one A+.

Mackie

Thanks, Martin!

This was a lyric that jumped out at me to set. It created strong images that led to specific music chordal structures and sounds.

I appreciate your kind words.

Mike

Thanks, John!

Yeah, the chord structure of the verses come from sessions of free associating Rob's imagery to things in my life, among them my love for the TV series "Lost" --in which Michael Giachinno utilized that I to iii change in his "Life and Death" theme. Those chord changes became the heart and soul of the music.

I've also spent many hours "at the crossroads" at the ocean, grazing on nearby sand..so a song about love and loss and memory..these things were tied to my own experience quite strongly.

Oh, btw..I think I do go eighth notes on the drums in the bridge--the drums kinda match what the guitarists are playing, rhythmically. I let the lead guitar create most of the momentum leading into the last verse, while the drummer stays locked in..but some 16th note runs from the drummer, in the last two bars might possibly improve that transition..though I'm torn cuz I like that it kinda slips back into the verse, without all the usual earmarks..

Thanks again for the thoughtful comments and all.

Mike

This is brilliant! What a joy to listen to this! Wonderful collab and execution. Love it!

"This was a lyric that jumped out at me to set. It created strong images that led to specific music chordal structures and sounds."

That articulates what we feel much better than I can put into words. When the nonvocal tracks work so well with the lyric imagery magical thing happen. It takes a lyric way beyond what a "neutral" production could accomplish. I think it also expands the possibilities that the listener has for a personal interpretation of the imagery.

We enjoyed the listens!

J&B

Thanks so much, Mike. It's interesting how good lyrics can conjure up associative memory, which can then translate into music. A very mysterious but beautiful process..

Thanks again!

Mike

Hi Floyd,

I feel like the Cowardly Lion who was just told (and then realizes) he actually had courage all along, LOL..thanks you for these wonderful comments..and I can only add (as to being a "true" artist..)..it takes one to know one..

Mike

Thanks Nicholas! I appreciate your listening and your kind words, and I'm always look forward to your new music.

Mike

Hi Calvin,

Thanks! Yes, Rob's writing is always accessible and engaging and often quite beautiful, like here.

There are a few lyric writers who, to me, create "little movies" with every piece they write. Rob is among them. Like yourself, his imagination knows no boundaries.

Mike

Hi everyone. ...thanks for all the kind replies. Mike's treatment of the lyric was exactly what I wanted, only better. I think it's a keeper and something we'll be proud of in twenty years.

Both music and lyrics and good. You picked a great lyricist in Robert George.

Hey fellas,

Wow, the perfect marriage between lyrics and musication. Not only is the tone well-suited to the lyric, but I especially enjoyed how the music and vocals surge at the perfect lyrical moments.

The lyrics themselves are wonderfully evocative.

Very nice indeed. Thanks for sharing!!

Cheers,
Beth

Haunting an exceptional song guys.Enjoyed it a lot
Travis

Hi Ricki!

Thanks a bunch..

I know! Those are great lines. Rob can write pulpy, OR classy, depending on the song..this definitely falls into the latter..

Mike

Hi James,

Thanks for listening and the warm comments.

Mike

Hi Eddie,

Thanks!

That was one of my early decisions--to sing the vocals up in Henley territory. I don't push my voice often enough but notice that songs with lead vocals in that zone where the voice might break tend to sound more emotive and passionate, and that's what I wanted for sure on this one.

Thanks again..

Mike

Hi Mackie,

Thanks for the A+..

I'm always looking forward to your new music.

Mike

Hey Michael,

That's a real nice tune mate. It just works.

cheers, niteshift

Hi Cindy,

Thank you! I'm so happy knowing you liked this a lot. I'm all smiles..thanks again..

Mike

Thanks Janice, thanks Bud. You expanded on my thoughts quite well. It's like you're saying "from the personal to the universal" counts for music, too, not just lyrics, and I'd have to agree. I think the key is trusting ones own associative process, and that can be hard, cuz it oft times won't present one with the most obvious choices, but more idiosyncratic ones.

Thanks again, it makes me very happy knowing you enjoyed it.

Mike

Thanks, Jim. Rob and I have known each other for years and this time he picked me, and the lyric "sang" on first reading..and I always honor that, when that happens. Can't turn away a song that comes practically fully formed while reading the lyric.

Mike

Hi Mike and Robert:

The Title led me to a song I wish I'd written. Your vocal and arrangement, Mike... is stunning and really does the job of making this an unforgettable song. Congratulations and here's wishing you success with this delight to the ear and imagination. ----Dave

Thanks, Beth!

Evocative, and they deepen for me with each new reading/listening. It's fulfilling to feel like I did right by Rob's great lyric. Thanks again.

Mike

Thanks, Travis.

Mist..mystery..I did want a bit of a "haunting" feel in the music, as I felt that in Rob's lyric. I appreciate your listening and nice comments.

Mike

Thanks, Nite!

I'm all smiles over here..thanks again.

Mike

Hi Dave,

Your comments are always so thoughtful.

A million thanks..

Mike

Hi guys,

Even though I listened to this while sitting outside, I have headphones on, so I know those were waves I heard in the song! It’s subtle details like that, along with those harmonies that add more and more to the richness and depth of the story. The song is like a movie within itself.

The images and sentiments in the lyrics are lovely...cool metaphors....and the music and vocal tenderly take it and deliver a beautiful song. I like that higher register you chose for this.

Great stuff!

Kristi

Thanks, Kristi!

I put a little ocean sound at the beginning and end, but used a stereo ocean recording to drive a synth, throughout the song as well, so the synth sounds dash left and right and ebb and flow and take on other ocean-y characteristics. I keep the synth at a low level cuz I wanted it to be more subliminal and felt rather than foregrounded and taking away from other things. But you were probably experiencing "ocean-ness" throughout the whole song, due to that synth! That was my favorite part to compose. I always feel good if I can innovate a little, and I think I did that in a way that no one's ever thought of before, so like I was telling Rob, creating that part made me really happy!

Thanks for listening, and it makes me really happy knowing you enjoyed it.

Mike

That is truly a winner Michael....GREAT JOB!!!

Thanks Bobby!

I wasn`t letting this get away without saying how great I think this song is..what a wonderful write and arrangement here, and Mike you are an outstanding presence in this song`s structure and your performance is impeccable.

Oh Yeah.... Finally got around to listening and I'm glad I did. I think it takes a keyboard player to come up with a melody and chord progression like that. It's just different from what a guitar player would write - in a good way. It sounds very commercial (also in a good way!) and could easily find a home in a TV production so I hope you are sending it to libraries or music supervisors.

A fine job!

Lane..

Compadre..

I'm glad you enjoyed this and I appreciate you taking the time to let Rob and I know. Thank you so much..

Mike

Hi Colin,

Thanks for the nice thoughts.

I am a much better guitarist than keyboardist, but tend to write by mousing notes directly to the "piano roll" in my particular workstation, FL Studio.

When I get time, I'll conference with Rob and we'll figure out what Libraries to send this to and such..

Thanks again.

Mike

man am I ever glad I came here today. Micheal, absolutely awesome the way you to Couch's lyric and turned it into a beautiful song..have to try that I iii myself now

And Couch, nice lyric as usual..only missing a moon

Simply beautiful, Mike.
Hats of to you both on a job well done.

Especially powerful work on the vocals / harmonies.

I think the melody and phrasing on this is amazing. I love the lyric, but don't expect anything less from the hand of Mr. George.

Are there vocal effects on the harmonies? I like the sound of the vocals together, just wondered about the sound, but I don't have the best of speakers.

So beautiful, the perfect treatment for these words, a great listen!

Tammy

Hi John of The North,

Thanks! I'm glad you came here today too, LOL. The respect I have for you is immeasurable, it feels fantastic knowing you enjoyed our song.

Mike

Thanks, Nelson. I need to sing in a higher register more often.

Mike

Hi Tammy,

Thanks! I know..often overlooked, Rob writes a killer love song, and it's usually rather unique..like this..

There was reverb and compression on the harmonies, and if your ears are really keen and you know the sound of pitch correction, maybe you noticed a little of Melodyne at work, too, though I use it sparingly and subtly.

Mike