The Street Next Door thread (original music)

[Helmut83]

Oh, come on, Uno! Buttler , vlogdance and myself break our backs working on a tribute song for this legendary specimen and you come and paste it's photo on "Claims to fame"?

jefflynneselo.proboards.com/thread/443/inacwg-new-original-song?page=3

Maybe we should ask Horace or queenofthehours to move it.

But you are right, we are delighted to know our friend has woken up earlier this year and is gifting us with his beauty already in November. I can only say "...how come he look so pretty...". How good that you remembered to post a photo of it!

[vlogdance]

Hi, fellow forumheads,

Here's the second release from Celtargitalic forum band The Street Next Door (Helmut, Buttler and me). 

- Helmut83: music, synthetizers, harmonica and vocals
- Buttler: piano and keyboards
- Vlogdance: lyrics, vocals and backing vocals

This is the link to the mp3 file: 
www.dropbox.com/s/grdeoy78jv30m7w/Out%20like%20a%20light.mp3?dl=0

And here's the official video, made by Helmut83. 
Band logos (seen at start and end of video) designed by Gareth Jones.

Let us know what you think. 

[Horacewimp]

Helmut83 vlogdance and Buttler you are all geniuses the song is great. Love the singing, duets, harmonica and keyboard.

Trying to think of a comparison or influence, currently I'm thinking Roxette who I know Helmut likes. Vlogdance's vocals are superb and sound very natural and up in the mix.





Off for another listen.

[Helmut83]

Jan 28, 2016 21:43:47 GMT Horacewimp said:

Trying to think of a comparison or influence, currently I'm thinking Roxette

Man, this almost brings a tear to my eye! You couldn't have said a better praise no matter how much you though about it, thanks!

[unomusette]

Love, love LOVE IT!!

Such an original idea, I agree with Horacewimp totally about vlogdance's brilliant vocals and the music is funkily fab. As for the video, who can resist a troupe of animal harmonica players? A well worthy addition to the Street Next Door catalogue for absolute sure. When Brian Pern is over I'm going to listen all over again and will probably spot even more tasty titbits.

Massive congrats to Street Next Door, woooooo!
 

[unomusette]

Second listen, I'm getting Roxette too especially in the last line and the bass is pure Last Train to London which is universally considered to be a disco classic.

Must say Buttler is a lot younger than I thought, if that's him on keyboards right at the beginning (love the way Tom the cat comes in to take over, perfect timing too). vlogdance doesn't get to hog all the vocals either, some very fine manly tones to harmonise from Mr Producer himself.

It's a triumph, pure and simple, and a big coup for the forum to get the very first play

[BSJ]

Bravo for “Out Like A Light”!
Hit the lights and shine them on Celtargitalic Forum Band! Cool stylish singing and gentle keyboards are just part of the winning formula here Forumheads! Trippy techno beat and sing along hooks completes this creative song!



Master video Mr Producer! Buttler ’s a corgi? People you need to tell me those things! Is that Our Jeff discoin’? Mmmmm… wonder where the old boy’s been.

Your album cover ready made with those nicely done band logo's.

Thank you for making this song. This is proof of what a great forum this is and I’m happy to be a member with ya ’all.

[dillwyn]

well done all....what software / process did you use ..may I ask?

[Helmut83]

Jan 29, 2016 14:05:28 GMT dillwyn said:

well done all....what software / process did you use ..may I ask?

Thanks! Band-in-a-Box 2012 for Windows to generate the bass and drums track. It's quite primitive and it sounds terrible compared to any paid modern software of that kind, but it's free and it's what my computer can handle. Then, to put the parts together and record my voice and the harmonica I used Audacity.

dillwyn , have in mind that we are amateur or aficionado level, we just do this for fun with literally zero budget and the equipment we have at hand -and living thousands of miles away from each other-. To give you an idea, this is the mic I use to capture my sounds:

[Helmut83]

Thanks unomusette and BSJ for your very kind comments! I'm glad you enjoyed the song.

Uno, I hope to not have ruined the song much with my vocals. What I thought was worthy were the last choruses with the male and female voices together, but I couldn't come out of nowhere at the end of the song because it would be too shocking, so I had to have a small participation somewhere before. Huh, and you are the second person getting Roxette out of hearing this, so I'm sure we definitely sound like them!

BSJ, that corgi is not Buttler but his pet. Just imagine if his pet can play keyboards that well how good his owner must be... I'm glad that you got some parts as "singalong hooks", it's what you want to achieve when writing a song of this kind but you're not sure if it's going to work.

Talking about "Last Train to London", what a hypocrite I am, huh? So much time criticizing ELO's disco songs (and the genre in general), next thing you know I get together with my bandmates and happily record a disco song as if anything. smiley-music025

[Buttler]

[dillwyn]

Jan 29, 2016 17:33:39 GMT Helmut83 said:

Jan 29, 2016 14:05:28 GMT dillwyn said:

well done all....what software / process did you use ..may I ask?

Thanks! Band-in-a-Box 2012 for Windows to generate the bass and drums track. It's quite primitive and it sounds terrible compared to any paid modern software of that kind, but it's free and it's what my computer can handle. Then, to put the parts together and record my voice and the harmonica I used Audacity.

dillwyn , have in mind that we are amateur or aficionado level, we just do this for fun with literally zero budget and the equipment we have at hand -and living thousands of miles away from each other-. To give you an idea, this is the mic I use to capture my sounds:

I'm very impressed by all your work over such a long distance. Performances are good imho...Power to you all.
my zero budget work would never sound so good.....

[Helmut83]

Huh, I owed you the lyrics (credit to Vlogdance):


Deep in the night, the room is quiet - on the dark side of the bed
You're sound asleep, but still the beat goes on inside your head,
The rhythm needs a dancer, so you seize your dressing gown
Throw off the duvet, with the urge to move, and you get up to get on down

You don't even know where you're going
Or who'll catch the shapes you're throwing
You just want to chase your dreams to Boogie Slumberland

Out like a light, but now you're dancing
Out like a light, electrified
Feet taking flight, along the landing
Into the can't sit still of the night
Out like a light

(Solo)

Step by step from heaven, you go dancing down the stairs
Mr Cool, catnapping, hips are swayed with casual flair
The Land of Nod is your iPod, eyes shut your funky stuff
Don't miss a beat while you sleep the sleep of the just can't get enough

You dance up a storm as you're gliding
Steppin' out in slumber and lightning,
Moving it to every hit on your somnambu-list

Out like a light, but now you're dancing
Out like a light, electrified
Feet taking flight, along the landing
Into the can't sit still of the night
Out like a light

(Solo 2)

You don't even know where you're going
Or who'll catch the shapes you're throwing
You just want to chase your dreams to Boogie Slumberland

Out like a light, but now you're dancing
Out like a light, electrified
Feet taking flight, along the landing
Into the can't sit still of the night

Out like a light, but now you're shining
Out like a light, the power supplied
Stayin' alight, your pace and timing
Now that you've found your feet of the night
Out like a light



Let's se how many of those word games and references you can get...

[unomusette]

I really like the "Dark Side of the Bed" bit, for a start.
And "get up to get on down" - genius!

[queenofthehours]

This track is perfection! It's got a very 80s, electronic sound which I like. Very Human League, Aha, and indeed Roxette. However it has a slightly melancholy, sad element which give it an edge.

This is now one of my favourite songs. Great harmonica solo, perfect vocals, piano like Jeff's guitar - simple but affecting. Zero budget? This sounds better than tracks with a budget of thousands. So catchy I'm still singing it. Someone send this to a record company quick!