Hiya,
No, don't REALLY lie--that's the song title.
I prefer honesty straight-up no ice, personally.
EDIT:
Song #2 on Soundclick: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=587695
This is a worktape I'm sending out for a demo next month.
It's as close to perfect as I can get today--but I have a little time to recut vocals or fix timing etc. Can you help me figure out where to work? Is it good enough for demo folks to figure it out?
Production ideas would be great too. I'd love to have exit with a soaring guitar or sax solo, and maybe a little solo break between the verses. Other than that??
THANKS!!
Linda

Lie to Me
(c)2007 Linda P. Adams. All Rights Reserved.

I know why you've come here
And I think that you should go
You're sayin this won't be easy
But there's something I should know
Well maybe I don't want to
And I think you missed your cue
All I need from you is to--

Ch:
Lie to me,
I can't take your honesty
Ooooh... lie to me,
Make it easy to believe
Or else turn around and leave
If you can't bear to lie to me.

(2 lines instr.)
You think I've been dreaming
Or you think that I'm just blind
Well lemme tell you somethin
Don't need you to read my mind
All you have to do is just--

Lie to me,
I can't take your honesty
Oh... lie to me,
Make it easy to believe...
Or else turn around and leave

See, it's not so hard to do,
All you do is...

Lie to me,
I don't need your honesty
Oh... lie to me,
Give me something to believe...
Well what else can I do?
I can't bear to hear the truth.

==============================

THANK YOU ALL, so much!!

Linda

Hi Linda.I feel your pain.Its best to do something new.Its the only way you will know if the song is good.I dont play live either and am doing a concert in Sept.Just go have fun!

Thank you, MJ!

Such a risk though--if I think it's amazing and it just TANKS--don'tcha think?? Still... "Lie to Me" is the song I'm most in love with at the moment... that much is true.

I'm so excited for you, doing a concert! Do you have your setlist planned out yet? Where will you be? How did you line it up? Best wishes on that!!

...Someday I hope to be playing live doing concerts. ~sigh~ I shoulda picked guitar over piano, and it would be easier to find venues. That fretboard mystifies me still.

Linda

I like it. This seems like a real good song, assuming the melody is good. If you have great worries that you might flub the performance, you might be safer and more secure going with a song you've performed to a large audience before. But if you have this song well rehearsed, I would think to go with this one.

Good Luck.

Thank you, Moose! (A Moose from Vacaville... somehow that hit my funnybone tonight! sorry...)

Yeah, the melody is good (IMHO), the chorus especially. The verses are a little brooding and low... then the "lift" line goes up but drops back down unexpectedly on "Lie..." --Well, with any luck you can listen tomorrow, assuming my recording equipment functions properly (hahahaha) and I can get a worktape put down.

I always worry that I'm a little too in love with my own stuff though, which may be the case with this one. I can pontificate for a while about how a lie is complex, so the chords are more complex than your typical I-IV-V, and blah blah blah but that's so boring.

I doubt I'll flub the performance, because it's too much fun 'acting' the character (who seriously needs help, yikes!!). I just have to not... OVERact it. haha.

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Linda


PS "Catfish Lips" is a very fun song! It sounds a wee bit distorted (volume too high?), but it's a cool lyric and a bouncy, toe-tapping tune! Liked the vocal too--seemed to fit the song just right.

Hey Linda:

I like this lyric too. Had the same opinion as Moose, regarding song selection. Sounds from your response though that it isn't an issue with this song so I'd go for it...

Scott

Linda,

Knock em dead...sometimes 10 is a harder group to play for than 200. I know you will be fine...

tim

Thanks Scott! Here goes nuthin'...

Thanks Tom, and AMEN. So right. I much prefer a bigger crowd of blurry faces than 5 best friends! Eeek!

I got a live take done just now. No mistakes, but the emoting in the middle got a bit overcooked. (No--I'm not crying--my voice just slipped funny on me, actually. oh well...) I'll do better than this by next week, but this was a good enough take to post the melody/chords. Now that I can hear how I sound--I can figure out where to tone down or pull it forward. (Any help on that would be appreciated, too.)

Sorry the piano's a little muffled sounding... it's live, straight thru, one track, one mic, so I can't adjust the instrument separately.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=587695&songID=5398805

Please let me know your thoughts on structure, melody, length, etc.--if I'm pulling back where I should punch it, that sort of thing. I want it to be as good as I can make it. THANK YOU!!!

Linda

PS the other not-good thing is, I'll be playing this on an unknown keyboard, so I'll need to simplify the arrangement a lot (I'm not as good on the electronic thingys).

Linda,

I couldn't wait for the post -- I went to your soundclick site and listened to it. The piano is too soft for the vocals on this demo. You need to crank the piano a little more.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin!
Glad it was up when you got to it!

It's only a live worktape--one track, one mic--so I can't fix that on this copy. When I work up more of a "demo" of it, I will multi-track and crank up the piano, for sure.

Any comments on the song, lyric, melody, that sort of thing?

Thank you!

Linda

This is tough, I have listened to it 4 or 5 times and I probably need to come back later and re-listen. Anyway here are my first impressions. Since it is a good song and lyrics and you have confidence in it, I will just stick to the "negatives" for me (if I didn't like it, I would definitely go away and NOT give any quick first impressions).

1.) I couldn't grab on to the transition from verse 1 to the chorus. I'd rather see you cut the note short on "to--" and let the audience know "hey, here's the chorus."

2.) It seems that some of the vocalization was done to vocalize and not move the song ahead. Of course, this is more acceptable live, but I thought I would mention it.

3.) This is a "torch" style song -- yes complete with a wine glass on the piano and smoke drifting in the air (cough, cough). Therefore, I need it needs a little more build up. The first verse should be more "straight". Ease off of "go" and "should know". I also think that the entire line before the first chorus "All I need from you is to" should be straight with less emotion -- again it steals from the first chorus.

OK, I am in over my head. I am sure I will be in the minority here, but this was my first impression. I think you have a potentially very powerful song here -- I bet you blow the showcase folks away!!!

EDIT: I reserve the right to completely change my mind on these comments.

Kevin

Thank you, Kevin!! I mean that!
It's really good to have your impressions. It's also really good that you could stand to listen to it 4-5 times and will come back! That's SO much better than yanking the headphones off 20 seconds into it!

I'll try cutting that note short and see what happens. Shorter is better. (It'll be over with faster!) ...I wrote more lyrics in the beginning, but the thing clocked out to 6:00. And that's just too long!!

I really truly appreciate the 'acting direction' it needs... all of that helps so much. I'll try it out and see how it goes!

Thank you thank you thank you, and I do mean that!

Linda

Linda...You're asking....I say do the the Christian song that you have done before.....your vocal is more suited to that genre....imho.....hope it goes well.....Bob

Linda.. I really like this song. Gave it a few listens and when I close my eyes I picture myself sitting at the theatre listening to an andrew lloyd webber musical. I really like the chord progressions. Excellent songwriting. I have two comments for improvement.
1. careful in the chorus on "believe" If you could open the vowel a little bit towards a "U" instead of "E" it may improve the sound
2. I agree w/ Kevin about the chorus. Also you're hanging on the "L" on lie when first entering the chorus. Making the consonant shorter and more rhythmic may help you get the "here's the chorus" effect Ken was talking about.

Good Luck on your show!!

Thank you for your honest opinion, T-Bob! I know, I just have this "church voice," don't I? I might stick with this one this time around and just see how it goes, since I've been working on it.

JD, thank you for your compliments and great advice!
I probably won't have time to re-record it before I go (if I can, I will), but I am definitely going to put these suggestions into place for the show.
and I'm amazed to be compared to Webber... I love his work. Thank you! (At least I'm assuming that's a compliment! LOL!)

Linda

Linda....Don't get me wrong...I like church songs....not a thing wrong with a good church (christian) song....good luck with this one or whatever you decide to do.....I'm still in favor of the church song for you over this one......only one man's opinion....I'm the only one so far....Bob

Hi Linda, I think the song is not as important as your performance. You seem very secure in your performing ability, I'd rely on that. IMO tho, I liked the song you picked but a faster song wouldn't hurt.

Hi Bob, (I sure have a hard time trying to drop that "T!") I know, and I like church songs too. The churchy one I had in mind though, is even longer, and plays s-l-o-w-e-r than this! It can run 5-6:00 if I forget to play it at 90bpm, and I'm not sure what to cut to fix that up. "Lie to Me" is about 100-110 and finishes at 3:45-4:00.

Hi Dan,
It's that "seem" that's the operative word there. I mainly hope I don't freeze up once I get up on the stage! I'm confident in my ability to practice. How's that?

Not sure I have anything bouncier that's performance ready, but I'll flip through my notebook just in case.

Have any of you ever changed the song you planned on last-minute? Who here responding has performed at a Showcase? Just wondering! Thanks!

I need to stop obsessing... I need to stop obsessing... I need to stop obsessing...


Linda

PS -- JD, I just noticed how new you are to JPF! Welcome aboard, and I hope you stick around a while, post a lot, and let us get to know you!!

I've been here almost a year. I have a lot of posts only because I talk a lot. Probably, mostly about nothing. LOL.

Anyway, WELCOME! Looks like you're figuring things out fine--just ask me if you have tech questions on how to do stuff.

Linda

G'morning! I'm still second-guessing it this morning... I want to see if I can get a rough recording done today of two other songs I'm thinking about instead... watch this space. With luck I'll get a better version of "Lie to Me" up too.

...If I really wanted it over with quick I could do "The Underwear Song" and be outta there in 30 seconds, but!
~sigh~

Linda

Okay, this is not good. My voice went out about noon. Total laryngitis. What NEXT??
I hope it's short-term--I still need to rehearse!

I can't believe the STUFF getting thrown in my way to try and mess up my trip.
(The laryngitis is just the icing on the cake)

K... later.... I think I'm just talking to myself at this point anyway... oh well... thanks everyone so far

Linda

Hi Lin

The piano music is so low that it is barely audible.. it's sounds like your solo vocalizing.

So it's really hard to tell how much the pitch is moving without the music.
Sounds like you get it more on key and smoother as it gets further in.

remember to try to start off good, so you set the feel for the song and performance.
where is the music???

Linda...Get your voice rested and do "He Knows My Name"....that's my opinion....Bob

Thanks for listening, Mike!
I would redo it if my VOICE was not suffering laryngitis today. I have a chart for it--I can send it to you as a .PDF or Finale file, if you want it?
Or, you mean, what happened to the piano? It was a live take with the mic in front of the piano. One track. Which is why it's so unbalanced. [is there a tear-my-hair-out smiley??] I was rushing to get at least the 'feel'/sound of the song up for a test, to see if the song's any good or not.


Thanks, Bob! At least it's near-performance ready (chords not quite as memorized--I cheated and used my chart when I sang it in church!), so I might. Did you listen? Like it?? -- I'm afraid to click and listen to it myself.

I appreciate your patience with me. You're very kind!
Y'all know my big dream is to have pros do my backing tracks, then just hop into a studio to record vocals, with coaches & directors to help me get it right! (yeah... as the "dream on, dream on" chorus by Aerosmith plays in my head!)

Mostly my goals for the Showcase are to:
meet Brian and a few other cool JPF people
not completely suck on stage



Linda

Hi Linda,

I basically agree w/ sub/Mike. w/o much music or established rhythm it's hard to judge the melody.

FWIW, IMO, those 3 'lie to me's in the chorus need to sound related. IE the same motif and melodic rhythm, even if they're not exactly repeated. I think you may be intending them this way but in this recording, I'm not sure they establish your hook. As recorded that is.

So basically it sounds like a nice start....

Peace,

Ian

Thank you, Ian!
Hm, the first 2 "lie to me's" have the same interval pattern (whole step down - half step) and similar timing... the 2nd one is up a step from the first... but maybe that isn't showing. (oops) I will work on that. I think it's a very good point you're making, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Thank you for listening! Assuming my voice comes back soon, I'll make another pass at recording it next week.
I am just not very good at producing recordings... I hope I'm better live... it worries me that I might really just tank, period. We'll find out huh??
Linda

Hi Linda,

I'd strongly recommend ovedubbing your vocal. Record the piano first. Establish your rhythm. Then do the vocal. Use a click track if need be. (just record a metrinome on a separate track if your box or software doesn't have a click function). By having an established rhythm, those melodic repetions you've written will become more apparant.

Concentrating on each part by itself might also make you think constructively, in a different light maybe. It'll make you 'learn' your own tune. And by having piano and vocal on different tracks, you can easily get a better balance.

By just doing this you'll improve your presentation by 300%

Peace,

Ian

Linda...

Hi. I am with whomever suggested that you use the song with which you have the most confidence. A terrific song performed unconvincingly still leaves the memory of a less than stellar performance. A song that may be a "less musically/lyrically rich" song, but performed well will leave the audience with the memory of a nice performance.

When I do my demos at Pinetfest, I am not going to do the ones I like best, or which are better songs...I am going to do the ones with which I feel I can do the best performance and might have some commercial appeal.

The type of showcase you will be attending is structured more to highlight the performer, not the music. That's not to say that you want sing "Ring Around the Rosie" simply because you sing it well, but I think you know what I mean.

Whatever you decide to do, just have a heck of a good time and enjoy yourself. Don't fret about everything! Just find a song that you are comfortable with and blow their socks off! Good luck to ya, girl!

Al

Linda, I read most of the other notes and it appears you've gotten some good advice. Also sounds like you've got some stress that's affecting your voice. At some point you have to relax and do what feels right, where your confidence can take over. Personally, I find uptempo songs easier to do in new live settings because they kind of force my mind and body to get withh the program. Slow songs give me time to think about what I didn't do well. If I'm doing a five song set, then the slow song or songs come twoard the end. That gives me time to get over any jitters and then belt out the ballads.

Regardless of what you sing, you've got to believe you're going to knock them dead. In a positive way, of course.

Best of luck.

Kelly

Hi Ian,
Normally I do follow that procedure. It takes me a very long time to get it sounding exactly right though (and even then...) and I didn't have that much time left. I *will* redo this much better when I can.

Yesterday I started working with the metronome, and the playing is improving. I did put the melody into sheet music and write out the chords for practice purposes (until I didn't need them anymore) but exact timing has never been my strong suit. I've thought about taking drum lessons someday because that will MAKE me do it! (And, because I'd love to bang on a drum. Beside the point...)

I just now had the thought that I *might* be able to overdub another piano track over what I already have... if I get a chance today I may try that. (If my voice wasn't out, I'd have tried doing a new two-track recording already.) I just feel like I'm rushing to get everything done so I can leave well-prepared in a week. (Print new business cards, get my hair done, all that other stuff has to happen too! and I need to not be sick!) But you're 100% right--putting myself through the process of focusing on each line as I record a "good" track WILL teach me my own song that much better.

Thank you for your helpfulness and great ideas!

Linda

Hi Al,
Thanks for stopping by!
Either "Lie to Me" or "He Knows My Name" I have the most confidence performing. "Lie to Me" is more fun but it could come across as a 'downer' lyric, possibly; "He Knows My Name" is a positive song that I feel in my bones to be 'true' to who I am and what I believe, but it might be too deadly serious for the venue. I feel "Lie to Me" is more commercial and marketable.

Which brings up a new question.... I was just reading Jason Blume's book 6 Steps to Songwriting Success this afternoon (yes! I do other things besides post on the boards! LOL) and he mentioned that you want songs that don't put the singer in a bad light. Does this lyric do that??

I can blow the fish out of the pond doing with "Summertime," but I can't play it. (Well--I think I do...) I've sung it a cappella before. But I'd rather bring one of my own songs than do an old old overdone cover. Still... maybe that's a thought. I can't record & post it without a license. I've thought about getting one though.

Thank you, Al! I appreciate your friendship. I hope to go to Pineyfest next year in 2008, and meet more of you!

Linda

Hi Kelly,
STRESS? I sound stressed? No, really?!?!?
I was utterly TERRIFIED before I did my first open mike. Oh my goodness I don't remember being so scared in my life, except maybe in the dead of night after a horrible nightmare.

But after I sang I got a HUGE performance buzz and felt SO great--even though I'd made a few mistakes. It was SO FUN!! So, I'm trying to focus on *that* aspect--that I am going to have FUN and enjoy myself. (And meanwhile hope I stay on pitch enough not to injure any eardrums, especially Brian's!)

I have 5 minutes onstage, and I get one song.

I think I can I think I can I think I can I think I can...
knock 'em dead!
I *feel* confident when I sing this song... I have the chords down pat... and I need to kick FEAR out the window where it belongs. Easier said than done.

Here's a good verse for me to focus on this week: "For GOD hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 1 Timothy

Thank you, Kelly, for your kind advice and help!!

Linda

Hi Linda,

Not that I'm qualified to offer an opinion, but I have to say that I really like, "He knows my name". I realize that you couldn't get through the whole song, but I found myself replaying the song in my mind after I'd listened to it, so that's a good thing!

I'm not really familiar with this genre, but the song was memorable for me.

In my opinion, that's the one you should go with.

I think you'll do great!

Hi Shelly! Nice to meet you! Thank you so much. I appreciate your vote, and I'm so glad you liked it. The bridge is really pretty (OK, if I say so myself), so I'm sad I couldn't get it in there. I intend to have it pro-demo'ed someday (whether it's commercial or not) because I think of it as one of my "signature songs"--a thing that defines part of who I am and what I hope to communicate as a songwriter. (Another reason to perform it...)

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Linda

Sounds like this could be played on guitar too.
I like the expression in your voice.

I don't think my opinion is much qualified either, but a good song can be played in a bunch of different ways.
I have been at concerts, where the studio recordings are a lot more elaborate and played with different instruments, yet the songs are magnificent on an acoustic instrument live and have another unique element.

You sound like you are thinking ahead to a bigger setting.

Sometimes the work recordings are better in their own way.

Anyways, I enjoyed listening.

Matt

Thank you, Matt!
I've heard the same, where the recordings are HUGE but the concert version is minimal, and both versions of the song are wonderful. (Um, you're aware of my fondness for Queen, right? They're the essence of this. I love their live, more "raw" performances as much as all the overdubbing.)

And I appreciate your opinion, whether you feel "qualified" or not--you're a music listener, and that's what matters. Thank you for listening!

Linda

bump!
NEW WORKTAPE uploaded... 2nd one on the Soundclick link up there at the top.
Please let me know what else it may need to be sent off for a demo.
Thanks!
Linda

PS: WOW, SLOW day on the boards!! Five hours later, this has only dropped two spots! Where IS everybody???

It's a cool song, Linda.

Seems to me that it is in good enough shape for someone to figure out how to make a demo.

Can't give you any real advice - I've only had Sub do stuff for me and, aside from general comments, left the production up to him.

Maybe some people who have had demos made will weigh in on how much info you should give them to make sure they get close to the sound you want.

In any case, best of luck...

Scott

Thank you, Scott!
I appreciate the listen & comments!

Linda