Do your original songs move your audience?

[patentcad]

I go to open mics quite a bit (I actually have my first paying gigs coming up soon as well); write a lot of songs. When my dog Sam was sick and then passed on, I wrote several songs about it. Very emotional stuff. This last song I wrote (and it will be the last one I write on that topic, kind of wrapped it all up for me) is one that I have played @ 3 open mics in the last couple of weeks. The audience really seems to like it, you can hear a pin drop when I'm playing this, and afterwards, each time, somebody has approached me with tears in their eyes telling me how much they connected with the song.

https://soundcloud.com/patentcad/right-behind-mp3

Now I write these songs for me, they are conversations with myself. But when the audience reacts that way it's at once flattering and gratifying. One person told me that they had never heard that changing of the doggie guard/pet loss thing put into a song; considering what a common emotional trauma it is for so many of us, that is a bit odd. I can think of one pop song in the last 50 years on that topic (an early 70s ballad that went 'Shannon is gone I've heard, she's drifting out to sea, She always loved to swim away, Maybe she'll find an island with a shady tree, Just like the one in our backyard').

Anyway, I was out of playing guitar for 10+ years, jumped back into it two years ago, and started writing a lot of songs. I NEVER could write songs before. Now I can't stop. I'm 56 years old. Go figure.

 

[Smacky the Frog]

Bowel movements, yes.

 

[Smacky the Frog]

I NEVER could write songs before. Now I can't stop. I'm 56 years old. Go figure.

So I guess there's hope for me then. The songs I've written have been mediocre and never fit music I've written (and vice versa). I'm hoping that something will click with me and I'll get that burst of writing creativity I've lacked the past 20 years.

I do get gratification when people comment on my music (when it happens). The most flattering was hearing "That sounds like...you", since you can obviously hear a lot of influences in some of my playing so something friends like is probably the most gratifying (since they've heard the same stuff over and over).

Guitar critiques usually creep me out. I see them staring at your fingers from the bar and some come up close and look with a hand under the chin as if they're trying to figure every note out. I don't get gratification from that.

 

[magdream]

Yes...right out the door!

 

[RGB]

Beautiful song, Pete. Very moving for an animal lover like me.

It's funny that you should say that you've never heard others write about this subject. I wrote a song when I lost my Golden, Beau. So devastating to lose these family members. You'd think there would be more tunes written about this subject.

I met a guy on the old "Mp3.com" website that was doing a compilation CD to raise money to fight puppy mills (called "Dog Dreams") and I submitted my song. I was surprised that it was chosen among many great songs, because it meant a lot to me but I didn't think others would get it...I have a feeling you would have been one of those that did.

This is a link to it:

http://richard-grant.com/mp3s/best_friends.mp3

I hope I'm not intruding by posting the link and please just let me know if I am and I'll delete it immediately.

Again, great job...I know what it meant to you to write this and I thank you for sharing.

 

[colonoscopotamus]

I've got one song that invariably gets "that was beautiful. Who wrote it?". I guess its a compliment? Or a commentary on the low quality of the rest of my songs.

 

[patentcad]

Bowel movements, yes.

At least you get a rise out of somebody.

 

[patentcad]

Beautiful song, Pete. Very moving for an animal lover like me.

It's funny that you should say that you've never heard others write about this subject. I wrote a song when I lost my Golden, Beau. So devastating to lose these family members. You'd think there would be more tunes written about this subject.

I met a guy on the old "Mp3.com" website that was doing a compilation CD to raise money to fight puppy mills (called "Dog Dreams") and I submitted my song. I was surprised that it was chosen among many great songs, because it meant a lot to me but I didn't think others would get it...I have a feeling you would have been one of those that did.

This is a link to it:

http://richard-grant.com/mp3s/best_friends.mp3

I hope I'm not intruding by posting the link and please just let me know if I am and I'll delete it immediately.

Again, great job...I know what it meant to you to write this and I thank you for sharing.

You and I write songs like this, but songs like that never crack the Billboard 100. And I don't see why anyone would object to you sharing your music here.

 

[splatt]

i like the sound of your voice;
it's nicely relic'ed.
_______________________

 

[RGB]

You and I write songs like this, but songs like that never crack the Billboard 100. And I don't see why anyone would object to you sharing your music here.

Yeah, I never had any illusions about it (or any other of my tunes) making me rich and famous, that's for sure.

I was worried that my posting the link might be taken as an attempt to hijack your thread...just didn't want that to be the case...I don't often post my songs, but this seemed like a good thread to share this song and I'm glad that it doesn't bother you that I did.

 

[patentcad]

I'm glad you posted your music. That's kind of the whole idea. If anyone else wants to, please do.

 

[patentcad]

i like the sound of your voice;
it's nicely relic'ed.
_______________________

I hate relicing. But then I hate my own voice. Hey, who doesn't?

 

[CC Overdrive]

It's always such a boost when someone says they like your songs. My band does original music sets about twice a year, so we don't have much of an opportunity to get it to the public. We often sneak our two "poppiest" tunes into the cover set, and catch people dancing to them. Sure, it's not an emotional type response, but it's the exactly the kind of thing that gives me that extra "pump" while I'm on stage.

 

[HHB]

Our trio played saturday night to great effect! About 70% original material, we were very pleased and humbled by the crowd reaction so Im saying yes, people dug my tunes

 

[buddaman71]

i like your voice and style...interesting that you've found a songwriting voice a bit later in life...well done...

here's 2 versions of a tune that my longtime bandmate/best friend and i wrote a few years back...we originally wrote it an acoustic ballad, then revamped it for more rocking live show and it gets love and local radio play both ways...

Sleep Alone Tonight: Studio Acoustic Version (I layered 5 tracks of acoustic and sang the harmony vox)

[SOUNDCLOUD]https://soundcloud.com/buddaman71/sleep-alone-tonight-acoustic[/SOUNDCLOUD]


Sleep Alone Tonight: Live Up-tempo Version (simple club recording with a Zoom H2 aimed at the stage)

[SOUNDCLOUD]https://soundcloud.com/buddaman71/sleep-alone-tonight-2[/SOUNDCLOUD]

PS: NOT trying to hijack thread at all either! just showing how we organically tweaked one of our tunes to fit different gig

 

[patentcad]

i like your voice and style...interesting that you've found a songwriting voice a bit later in life...well done...

here's 2 versions of a tune that my longtime bandmate/best friend and i wrote a few years back...we originally wrote it an acoustic ballad, then revamped it for more rocking live show and it gets love and local radio play both ways...

Sleep Alone Tonight: Studio Acoustic Version (I layered 5 tracks of acoustic and sang the harmony vox)

[SOUNDCLOUD]https://soundcloud.com/buddaman71/sleep-alone-tonight-acoustic[/SOUNDCLOUD]


Sleep Alone Tonight: Live Up-tempo Version (simple club recording with a Zoom H2 aimed at the stage)

[SOUNDCLOUD]https://soundcloud.com/buddaman71/sleep-alone-tonight-2[/SOUNDCLOUD]

PS: NOT trying to hijack thread at all either! just showing how we organically tweaked one of our tunes to fit different gig

Great stuff. Don't worry about hijacking, this is the kind of exchange I'm looking for here. I like the song, I like both versions. I think it works better as a full band song, actually. Very cool.

 

[patentcad]

My stuff is recorded on a digital recorder sitting on a stool while I play live. Haven't had the fortitude yet to try and tackle Garage Band. I don't think I have the patience for that.

 

[redgold]

I really enjoyed that... thank you.

 

[patentcad]

Thank you Ray. I'd really love to hear anybody's original music here.

 

[patentcad]

Come on boys, I KNOW there's more good original tunes out there here on TGP. Share them here.