JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum "Closer"

I wrote this mainly for the TV show Smallville on the WB a few years back. Unfortunatley they wont listen to it. I value you's guys feedback more anyway

Peace
Sub

"Closer" ©2004


[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 11-15-2005).]

Absolutely top notch work here sub, Wow! Maybe the folk's over at Smallville have small imginations, or small minds, or small, uh, ........never mind,you get the picture.

How much of this is actually you? vocals, guitars? bass? keys? There is a wonderful sophistication in the arrangement, individual musician parts, the mix. You got it goin' on my man!

Rob

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I used to be indecisive, now I'm not sure... My Songs

Excellent song, man. Sounds extremely professional. Did you get that mastered in a studio?

I'm sure you are, but you should keep shopping this one around. Screw Smallville anyway
This deserves to be on something better.

Matt

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Check out my music!

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

Nice work Sub.. yeah I can hear this in a movie.

Wow. That was great! Can't think of anything else. Except that was great!
Would also like to hear the details the other guys want.

Scott

That was GREAT!!!!! That kept me involved throughout the enitre song you are very talented and should keep writing....Look foward to hearing more.

EXCELLENT! In all aspects Sub! It climbs and soars. THIS songs comes ever so "closer" to my ears, heart and imagination!

Holy Sh.,....! This is really great!

SUB does his own mastering in his studio, where I know he just about lives all the time.
Your time has payed off, if not for that show, then for the fact that you and your arrangements, sounds, writing and mastering is worthy of any show, or any artist worthy of this work!

When Do I get to record with you! Would love to hear our songs "closer" to what I just heard! Love the song as much as any of ours, if not more. BIG Fan M,,,,Sub!

John Daubert

[This message has been edited by dhsongs (edited 08-17-2005).]

Thanks alot guys.

I used that show and it sought of fit a few other modern youth shows for inspiration.
Peoples feelings for someone and not being able to tell them. Never the right moment type of thing. I purposley kept it vague but emotional.

RJC- I played drums,bass,guitars and keyboards all live, no programming. A friend also played guitar. I recorded it in my house and mixed it. Engineering and trying to get over behind the drums before the tune starts I originally sang a rough but couldn't handle the bridge & out chorus's I'm no singer..but have sung a few, so my friend Ruben sang it. What I liked about him the most is he sang it as if he wrote it and that's hard sometimes to get across. He used to be in the Pop Group Menudo as a kid. (Imagine That) Great guy and real pro..to work with.

The biggest challenge was the arrangement where to have a half chorus and then a full chorus. The off time in the bridge and such. Very subtle things that can help make it more effective. You know how your song can go so many different ways.

Peace
Sub

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 08-17-2005).]

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 08-17-2005).]

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 08-18-2005).]

Hey sub,

A great song by all accounts! Would love to hear another! Rob

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I used to be indecisive, now I'm not sure... My Songs

Always a crowd-pleaser, Sub - can't wait to get my hands on one of these and yet I'm totally intimidated by how good you are...

Keep on truckin', I'm sure you'll make a million on these one day.

Libby

good one sub

fits the program perfectly
i cant believe you did all this
blew me away!
writer...

I hope you did this in a professional studio, if you didn't I give the hell up!
The quality of your production is so good. I'd like to pick your brain for hours on how you got this sound and that sound. Alas, I'll just appeciate your excellent song.
Tom

PS I just read your response and you did record it in your house. That's it I quit.

[This message has been edited by Somefellow (edited 08-22-2005).]

Yes, he is THAT good, along with his friends which he knows who to use and when and why. Sub has reached a level in several areas I think we all would like to get to. I know I would.

"Quiting": I read in a book about great piano players where Louis Armstrong, who was pursuing piano playing as his craft early on in his life, heard Art Tatum in a club and quit piano that night and soon after took up the horn instead. (trumpet with that long angled-up piece he was famous for playing).

I have a friend who when he hears somebody great he says the same thing about quiting. He wonders, "What's the point?"

Congrats Sub for reaching a level that will inspire many and maybe have some others find their way through some other means!

But don't quit Tom!

John Daubert

Thank you John for the encouragment. I won't quit, I've tried I can't. But if sub or you for that matter offered lessons in recording I would be tempted to fly to NY for that.
Tom

Hi Tom,

I think about packing it in all the time then someone says are you crazy? I'm gonna say it to you are you crazy? You are very good and have come way to far to quit. I never studied music or recording in a school. I don't depend on talent which I feel I'm lacking in alot of ways. I depend on my ears and my unrivaled persistence. I started with a 2 sided cassette deck then a 4 track cassette porta studio. then an 8trk porta to a 8 trk reel to reel which was my favorite. I try to read things and fool around with differnent stuff. I try not to let the technology and the gear interfere with my songs,creativity and music. But it does of course even though they go together it is a constant battle believe me. So if I'm doing 10 different things I just work ten times harder. I am on myself everyday to improve something. I have much to learn and my studio and instruments humble me everyday.

I know your not quitting, I want to fire you up a bit.
Your doing great and if there's anything I can help you with just ask anytime.

your friend
Sub

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 08-23-2005).]

Hey Sub,

First I've heard your stuff. This is
mind blowing! As someone else said,
Screw Smallville! This is too good for it!

Diane

Yep, that is damn good. The production is outstanding. I wish you were here. Or I were there. With a pocketful of money. Dream on.

Hi Sub,

If you don't mind some critical feedback (and from an idiot to boot)...

I think there are moments of greatness in the song, but I think they come after the record company has already turned it off. Not that it isn't good, its AWESOME.

To me, I think the vocalist starts out a bit weak (or wimpy might be the right word). He sounds very good when he gets 'edgy'. It might be better if the 'closer' line were sung a little more coarse, and not so high pitched. I think if this were a "little more Creed" and
"less John Waite" you'd have a chartbuster.

At the beginning, I thought maybe the music was mixed too loud, but that feeling went away as the song progressed. But I'm listening on my laptop so I may be way off on that.

I'm just a guy with an ear though, so don't take me too seriously. Good stuff.

Hi, ubergoober,

Very good ears on that my friend. The song is supposed to be a demo, but I usually try to make my demo's as convincing as possible so we actually sound like the artist or a band. When I sang the opening it was very cool lower bassier sounding even I liked it. Then the rest of the song got really tough for me to belt as I'm not really a singer. So when the vocalist did it we transposed it to a higher key and he kinda hit the opening a little to soft. I actually suggested coming in mellower but it's just the character of his voice on the first 2 lines especially that always bothered me some. we boosted the level but the sound still wasn't what we visioned there. Then he starts to cook and it's cool. You were very perceptive to pick that up. I tell ya it's so hard to get the right vocal style and sound for your own songs.
He gets rougher a little later but a tad bit to sweet in the opening.

I agree with you and have learned to just accept what we have as I cant change it now. But I'm very impressed that you felt that to and glad you mentioned it to me.

Thanks for the input and the very kind words.

Peace
Sub

Totally agreed ubergoober !! Nothing else to add.

All the best to you Sub,
I like your music style very very much ,

Steve Sledge




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Wow! You are very talented and I love the song! It's definetely a hit.

I would suggest you submit it to USA Networks for their series The 4400, which has been nominated for a number of Emmy's. The whole vibe of the song and the lyrics are so right on with the shows. I am sure they would love it!

Keep us posted.

Hi Madeline,

Thanks very much... I wonder if USA Net will accept the usolicitaion. The WB didn't, I matched that song against, Smallville, Dawsons Creek, One Tree Hill and one or two others. It just fit all of them which was my intention in the first place. I felt we succeeded there but not with placement. No one bigger takes music. So here it sits with the all the others It did make it into a cool movie but no money there unless the film does well enough to make a soundtrack. I'll look into the USA Network, Thanks again for that..

Peace
Sub

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 08-29-2005).]

It definitely has a WB feel/sound to it. I don't think they have as many hot shows they're featuring music on as they did a couple years ago, but there's no reason to not send it in. Perhaps check some of the new series being launched by them and other studios and send music to them before they get too hot.

Good work,

Brian

Brian thanks..

Warner Bros won't accept unsoliciated. Along with the other song I posted "Little Things" "Closer" has a spot in the upcoming movie "Pope Dreams"
Maybe by some longshot someone will want to use it elsewhere. I was inches away from having a band do it on a Major label release this fall. Decision "No need for band to do outside material " Tough all the way around, but this is the life we choose.

Thanks
Sub

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 10-03-2005).]

For my friends that are interested, and anyone else who cares to share

Just an update.. I have seen the DVD of the final
version of the movie "Pope Dreams"

This song..
"Closer" got a nice spot right in a pivotable point in the film.

"Little Things" got the entire end credit.

"Tragic Comedy" is buried in bar scene on the jukebox, never heard a jukebox so low in a bar

"Orphanology" has a 15 second spot blasting over speakers in an audio store scene.

thanks for all your support and encouragement to push this song..

peace
Sub

[This message has been edited by substudio (edited 10-15-2005).]

Hey Thanks,

Is it 5:43 in the morning there to?
Who's not determined

Let me know what you need to cover the Brooklyn song, lyrics etc.. of all songs to pick that makes smile..

sub- gonna pass out now

Hey Sub:

This kind of thing seems almost bound to happen in any project where there are more than a couple of people involved.

I'm betting that over time though, your disappointment will be overcome by the thrill of getting 4 of your songs (4 great songs!) into a movie!

If I hear a short clip of music I like in a movie, I'll sit through the credits to see who it is and then chase down more of their music on the web or in the record store. Have to believe that others do the same thing.

Congrats!
Scott

I missed this thread until just now. I'm very glad it got bumped up to the top of the forum so I could notice it.

This is a terrific song and a fine recording.

Thanks!

Greg Paul