JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum "The Girl I Used to Be" collab with Amelia Rose

Hi Everyone,

I am working on my second CD and this past week I recorded the background track and the vocals for "The Girl I Used to Be." Amelia posted this months ago but it was a very rough version done at home. This isn't the final version. It still needs some strings, background vocals but it certainly gives you an idea of what it will be like when my CD is finally released.

Thanks Amelia for sharing your gift of writing with me, and thank you everyone else at JPF for giving it a listen and for all your encouragement so far! :-)

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/marlareidmusic.htm

The Girl I Used To Be ©2002/Amelia Rose/Marla Reid

Tell me what You think of me
When You look inside my heart
Do You see the girl who loved You
Before her life was torn apart
I wish that I could find her
I miss the time she spent with You
I long to be that girl again
Will You show me what to do
Help me find the girl I used to be
Reach within my soul and set her free
I need to understand, I'm trying to believe
Lord, help me find the girl I used to be
I remember when You were my friend
I would pray to You each night
Finding comfort in my thoughts of You
Surrounding me with light
As heartache broke the girl in me
Her trust began to fade
That girl is lost somewhere within
And she needs You here today
I've wandered far away my life’s been filled with pain..
I’ve been crawling on my own, will You show me the way home?
Help me find the girl I used to be
Reach within my soul and set her free
I need to understand, I'm trying to believe
Lord, help me find the girl I used to be
Help me find the girl
Oh I want to find the girl
Help me find the girl I used to be

Marla,
As you know, I liked this from the very first time I heard it. This current production is really great, much stronger mixing dynamics and your vocals stand out just right!

I'm sure Amelia will be very happy with this demo... errr, I mean CUT!

Michael

[This message has been edited by Michael Borges (edited 05-31-2003).]

Hi Marla.you got a powerful song and with the strings it will be awesome.great to see your posting some songs so we can all hear your progress.So cool your doing what you believe in!best regards mjm

Marla,
Sounds great and solid arrangement. Nice vocal stylings you have going too. Everything else will just be icing/drama.

I have a question tho'....(warning, caveat, dangerous reflection!)
Why would one want to return to that naivete?
Sweet sentiment that will be widely applauded, but what would be the attraction to "only half" of what life really is? (Yes, that's an actual question, not rhetorical.)

But that last is just head-scratching and has nothing to do with the great musics you've done, ya know.

[This message has been edited by Ozone Pete (edited 05-30-2003).]

Marla, I hope you don't mind me answering Pete here. But since I wrote the lyric, I thought I should chime in here

Ozone Pete, let me try and explain. When I wrote this, I was in a state of "searching." Basically, it's not about wanting to actually physically be a little girl again. But more of wanting that close relationship with God again. When I was a girl, there were no doubts, no questions, there was just something very special. And then through various problems as I grew up, came the doubts, blame, and anger. So with the lyric, the singer wants to find that little girl inside her, to be like her again, in terms of having her faith back. Make sense? Hope so! Thanks Pete

Take care,
Amelia

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/ameliarosemusic.htm

hi girls,

nice song



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Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
www.tonos.com/ande

Hi Ladies!

Lovely tune and IMHO, touching lyric. Best of luck to the both of you on this.


Rob

I thought this was beautifully constructed, lyrically and musically.


Cheers

Gary

Morning Michael & thanks so much my friend! You've always been supportive of this song from way back when & I'm very pleased you liked what Marla has done with this. And yes, I'm happy & thankful for the cut
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Hi MJM & thank you for listening! I agree, it's very cool for Marla to be pursuing what she believes in. (And you too! You've got some awesome songs!) Appreciate the comments
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Pete, I thank you once again for your reply! Appreciate you taking the time to listen
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Ande, thank you kindly for the remarks!
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Rob, thanks so much for listening & for the best wishes!
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Welcome to JPF Gary! Appreciate the listen & comments.
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Take care everyone

Amelia











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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/ameliarosemusic.htm

Hi Girls, LOL
Nice job. I enjoyed the listen. Like you said, could use some strings...but you know that. There was some vocal timings I would have done differently, but thats just me!..
Keep up the great work!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the kind words! Of course any tips and critiques are appreciated as well. Since the song is still in it's production stage I still have the ablity to fix and add to it.

Thanks again!
Marla

Shades of Joni Mitchell in this one. Jewel too. Can I be really honest here? I have to say that I prefer your voice in the body range to where you get into your head-voice - it's got more bite and attitude. It feels to me as though you could actually sing a lot of those higher notes straight if you wanted to and I reckon it would sound better.

It's quite a sparse arrangement as it is but it works as it is. I wouldn't overdo the production on this one. If you're going to use strings or other embellishments I'd suggest subtlety and restraint.

I like the drums on this but the kick is perhaps a bit prominent for the type of song. Much as I like the snare sound you're getting I'd suggest experimenting with a brushed snare - it might work, it might not, but I'd definitely give it a try.

Love the key shift in the last chorus.. it's seamless and really lifts things nicely!

Overall impression? I really like it! I'm on my 5th listen and it's growing on me each time. But I'll say it again - watch that headvoice and use it sparingly.

Cheers

Simon

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your tips. I agree with you that my chest voice is better than my head voice. In all honesty though I am really streching myself on this particular song. I consider myself a writer and a pianist who has to sing. ;-) I have always had a hard time transitioning into my head voice and trying to stay in my chest voice can be difficult to do. I have been working on it though and I have come a long way. I could go back and try it again though and see if I can make it even better.

I am thinking the kick drum won't be as noticeble with the right mix. I am not a drummer so I just let him do what he wants to do there.

Thanks so much for your advice though! It is much appreciated.

Marla

Marla and Amelia..Great job..I love the lyrics and the melody..God bless.

Hi Marla, Amelia,
It's a beautiful song Musically and lyrically. Marla you're gonna have to learn to scream if you're gonna chest voice those vocals What about changing the key? Anyway I love it. Great song Ladies.
Rick

Hey Rick,

Yeah, I thought about the key change but it is a bit late now! When I orignally wrote the music for this I wasn't really thinking about me singing it and I wasn't even thinking about doing another CD at the time. I got so used to the key I wrote it in that I never stepped back to think if I could have lowered it a few steps and make it easier for me to sing. Duh. I swear I do some blond things sometimes. ;-) Anyway, hopefully I can manage to make it work and honestly, compared to my last CD, I think it is already an improvement. I guess that is what I need to look at. I am at least getting better!

Thanks again for the post.
Marla