JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Send Fireflies...Now remixed

Here is a song written by Kim. She posted it earlier when it was at the embryonic stage.
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/790822/page/6#Post790822

Here is the latest remix....
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=8887195

Here is a link to her original rough demo
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8677773

She asked me to do a version of it and try to take it to the next level. Here it is.
This is a departure for me and different from most stuff I normally perform. I did take the liberty of making one or two adjustments to melody and arrangement etc so I hope I have done it justice.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=8875031

Send Fireflies

We toss the times in the bin today
Ignore what the headlines say
Too many lives to save anyway We pull the wool
We’re not compelled to plant a seed
Live in a mindset of greed
‘Cause all is good, if we succeed Our cups are full

We place possessions on display
Wrap words in promises and sad cliché’s
We’re not in the mood anyway For more bad news
We turn our eyes from broken lands
Draw our lines in the sand
Not willing to lend a hand Or get a clue

Chorus
Who will save the day? Who will light our way?
Who will set the path ablaze? Push beyond halfway?
Can’t we see that talk is cheap And there’s nothing left to say
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way

Bridge
In other lands tonight, a million tears will be shed
As souls in utter darkness wait for news
I wonder to myself as I lie in my warm bed
Will I shine my little light or hide it from view?

Chorus
Who will save the day? Who will light our way?
Who will set the path ablaze? Push beyond halfway?
Can’t we see that talk is cheap And there’s nothing left to say
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way

Who’s gonna save the day? Who’s gonna light our way?
Right a few wrongs If the fireflies are gone?
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way
Send fireflies, send fireflies Send fireflies to light the way

Big Jim....I haven't listen to anything but your version, so far....I will go back and listen to the original later on....

These are my first thoughts.....hot off the press, so to speak...lol...

The musical production is terrific....the music made me think fireflies.....

I really love the bridge and the chorus.....

I thought of a full scale "We are the World" type thing right away...especially when you hit the chorus...
you can laugh about that statement if you want....lol...for real...that was my thought....

When it came to the bridge I thought "Queen".....yea..."Queen" Freddy Mercury..."Queen"....love the piano there....

Vocal is right on as usual....

I really enjoyed this and I will go back in an listen to the original....

Hope you are feeling well now and are on the mend....take care my friend....Bob

Well Big Jim as always it is 5 stars, beautiful production
and you already know what I think about your voice .. doesn't get better than this ...

Absolutely incredible my friend as always. I run out of words to describe your work cause it always blows me away.

Awesome write Kim ...

my goodness the talent
Dan

Thanks Bob....Your comments are always positive and appreciated.

Thanks Dan. I can always count on you to make my head bigger than it already is. LOL

I listened to the Kim's demo first -- it is amazing how far she has come since she first starting posting, amazing!

Big Jim did his normal great production stuff and I think it all turned out pretty good. I think Bob is right about having a big choral sound booming in -- so harmonies of some sort would really top it off! It was a good listen.

Story-wise, I think americans (and folks from other countries) did pitch in and try make a difference -- and we all try and do something whenever tragedy strikes. I didn't do much except make a donation here and there at the grocery store, but it was better than nothing. So the premise of the song that no one is doing anything is not really true.

Kevin

Hi Big Jim,

Good music
Good singing too, real nice job.

Hi Kim,

Very good writing.

I totally enjoyed the listen, thank you.

Calvin


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

Great job Big Jim, that's a pretty catchy chorus.

I think the music is a good match for this. I wanted the vocal to be a bit more foward or something. It could just be me getting deaf. I can tell it's your usual powerful vocal. I especially liked the chorus. I could hear some harmony coming in on the chorus too.

I rolled over Kevin's comment about the lyric. I think Kim means this as a commentary on all the countries in the western world. That perhaps we all don't do enough to help one another. Especially the people in countries like Haiti where the problems are so overwhelming it's easier not to think about it than to make a solution.

Thanks for the kind comments. I have to say that this is just a rough quick mix and not a final mix by any stretch. I am going away for a few days and wanted to give Kim something to listen to before I went so I just did this rough quick mix version in the time I had. I intend to tweak here and there when I come back and then of course it has to be mastered.

I made one or two subtle changes to melody on her original take and tweaked here and there but it is basically 99% all her version. Kevin is right Kim has come on in leaps and bounds in a very short space of time.

I disagree with Kevin on the political aspect of the subject matter however. IMO this song is about the apathy generally of most folks towards the plight of others and is a strong message saying we should all do more to listen to what is going on in other places and do more to help. Everyone has a "I'm all right" attitude to a certain degree. People are starving all over the world and living in terrible conditions. Whilst some of it is as a result of floods or earthquakes and other disasters some of it is manmade. People are dying from thirst, starvation and preventable disease whilst others stand by and let them. We all can and should do MORE as governments and individuals. It would be fair to say the western world does not do as much as it probably could. We do not want "More bad news" so we turn a deaf ear.

Love it - has an anthem feel to it that fits the message! Great work both of you, Jim and Kim.

I think if you bring the vocal up in the mix, it'll be there!

Nice!

Scott

Hi Jim

It’s a nice sound you have here. I feel you could push the vocal more to the fore in the mix and I sense a melody uncertainty, or maybe it’s just lyrical phrasing that needs tightening in places. At 5 minutes it’s a bit long, I’d be tempted to trim a full minute and half from it, however I do appreciate that Kim’s version was also long.

You have a good strong voice but I don’t think you are really doing it justice here (maybe it’s the melody thing again).

It sounds like a grower to me – so well done to both of you.

Cheers

Nigel

Thanks Scott. As I said in previous post this is just a very rough quick mix. The vocal is too far back in the mix as you correctly stated. Silly me sent the wrong file to Soundclick. I will fix it. Might not be for a few days as I am going away. This was a rush job and I decided to give you what I had up till now. Glad you like it warts and all.

Thanks Nigel......It is a tad long for a pop hit....IMO it is OK as is for an album or extended version. This could easily be trimmed for the pop market. Re the mix it is in hand as I posted the wrong thing. The version I was working on had the vocal probs addressed plus one or two other things adjusted to give more light and shade. It does sound a lot better with the vocals higher in the mix. I think your concern re performance is valid but because it is so low in the mix takes away from the performance I think the edit addressed that to a certain extent. I cannot put up edited version right away as that is in the studio and I will not be going back there for a week or so. I will post it as soon as possible.

I have now remixed and have posted the new version.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=8887195

If I had to go to the Antarctic for a year and could only bring 3 CD's with me .... One from Big Jim would be included in the three... the guy is that good. A music hero to me for sure.

I would take a HEAVY coat and two blankets instead.LOL

Hi Jim !

THIS is Hands Down my Favorite from you ! Great Job you and Kim -- Nice Nice Nice !!

Great tune, love the originality.

The voice works terrifically.

I think the rim shot could do with being a bit fatter.

Otherwise everything sounds clean and audible.

Great job!

Dave

Cool arpeggiator beginning, almost "Tangerine Dream," it sounds like fireflies look. Then the classy piano. Vocal gives me a little Harry Chapinesque feel. Very good feel. I'd love to hear a harmony on the lift. The piano bridge gets very "real."

Top notch. As, I would have expected. Kudos to all.

Mike

What a great cut! love this! So original and well done. You guys knocked this puppy out of the park!

Alan

Great version! This song has been stuck in my head for a month, and now it's REALLY stuck.

Okay, who's making the video?

Thanks guys for all the great comments...sadly Kim has puter probs and cannot reply...I am sure she will reply and thank you all when she gets her PC sorted out.

BigJimmy....I liked it before, no different now....This is one helluva great production.....it's terrific my friend....you're Quincy Jones with hair....lol....this is Movie material.....it's hard to find words that do this justice....so I'll just use one.....EXCELLENT....Bob

I heard Kim's original a while back and thought the lyrics were pretty great....

Jim's production and performance definitely moves it up a few more notches. Great vocals and piano.

Not sure this is radio material but it could easily be something that accompanies a TV show on a related subject and could even become a sort of theme or anthem for a group that supports the message contained.

On a political note, it seems that fireflies seem to be more evident when the country in question has a few large oil wells.

Thanks Colin....I have to be honest and say that this was a departure from what I normally do. I was not sure if the style was really me but I loved the experience and the song grew on me. As far as the message goes..I do hope that someone takes it up as an anthem....pretty strong hook...could be the start of a protest campaign with everyone wearing firefly badges to get something done.

Friendly bump!...waiting for Kim to get back online.

Just heard this. Listened to the version 1 link in topic header and thought the vocals were way too low and hey presto, read all the other comments and saw a new version and played that too. Sorts out the issues I had with it. Great song and it's only a little out of your comfort zone Big Jim 'cos I've listened to all your work but hell, it's way better than anything I could do.

God bless
Mark

Thanks Mark you are too kind....I have heard a lot of your stuff and you do yourself down.

Hi Guys...I am sorry to have been gone so long...computer crash then myself and hubby with stomach flu...God..what a week..

I am so glad that Jim took my lyric and embellished it with his cool voice and music. He was very kind to work on this one for me. I am very thankful to each of you that commmented on it through the process of the past months of my lyric, to my music/singing attempt to the final of Jim's hard work.

Good to be back guys. I missed you all!! HUGS!!!

Kimberly:)

Glad to have you back Kim. So glad you liked my version. I am still of the opinion that this is a bit out of my comfort zone and I think that this song is more suited to a female voice. More comments would be appreciated.

Hi Big Jim , really enjoyed the listen . Good arrangement and perfomance.
Keep up the good work .
All the best
Jan

The sparkling water sounds at the beginning create a great mood - the vocal quality is just right - rich, full and with just a touch of roughness that works here to give texture. Nice feeling. The music is so good - clear and not muddy - but full and rich and sweet. So good.......

Tom

Thanks guys your encouragement is always accepted.

Lovely! I love the idea of someone sending fireflies!! Beautiful arrangement and lyrics.

Thanks Marcy glad to see you participating.....

Jim and Kim..

Fantastic lyrics. Fireflies is a great hook. Love the opening firefly music. All that fluttering was neat. The production is top notch. Your voice comes across like a mix of Springsteen and Meatloaf on this. This was a musical extravaganza to my ears.

Rick

Rick..I just wanted to say I am glad you liked he lyrics..that means alot to me that you liked it. thank you! Kim