Flesh is Weak (with Rebsie)

DWL

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Another from the Amokopera (one more to go.......)

Here our hero has met the woman of his dreams and she makes no bones about how she feels.

Graeme Hobbs wrote the lyrics and we wrote the original melody together.

Many thanks to Rebsie who stepped away from her natural style for this.

And if Rebsie was out of her comfort zone I was also into unchartered territory and oftn wondered whether I should have stuck to the simple country ballad this started out as :-)

I'd like to offer thanks to Cameron who gave me a ladder to get out the hole I'd dug by offering some excellent advice about the horn parts (although I didn't manage to follow all of it or indeed do him justice!).

Cheers

Dick

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Song Stats

Hits: 1101
Comments: 41
Fans: 17
Plays: 68
Downloads: 58
Votes:
Uploaded: Dec 28, 2007 - 05:03:31 AM
Last Updated: Dec 28, 2007 - 06:59:12 AM Last Played: Sep 20, 2009 - 09:41:48 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

Amokopera (1), flesh (2), weak (3), intimate (3), brass (21), brash (1), ()

Hardware:

17" iMac

Software:

GB4 & orchestral jam pack

Comments

Peter Bauckham	Peter Bauckham said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Rebsie sounds so different on this piece! The orchestral parts are really well done - that Jam Pack (or how you've used it) is amazing. Great stuff. Peter Check out my latest song called All The Same (CBGB) (Last Chance Challenge)

DWL	DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Thanks Peter I was very pleased how it worked and Rebsie turned in a fine performance. Cheers dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

sonic_magpie

sonic_magpie said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)

Very Nice
I am almost reminded of some of the classic 60's singers like Dusty Springfield and Sandy Shaw and Petula Clark

I don't know if its the effect you have used on the vox or if the vox are just slightly misplaced and could be nudged forwards (to me the vocals sound slightly behind the beat)

Also, did you quantize the orchestral instruments at all - particularly the tympani?

This is a great sound Dick

b

Check out my latest song called Calling (featuring APOD)

DWL

DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)

Vox out of sync
funnily enough Rebsie and I discussed this and put it down to mp3 compression. I did shift the vocals a fair bit and didn't want to push it anymore as I wanted an organic feel for the vocals so it didn't sound processed. Perhaps I should have pushed it more! I'll see what others think.

The tympani are all freehand as are most of the instruments. I rarely use quantization. I might shift the odd note but I find quantizing can take the life out of the music and make it sound more generated than it actually is.

Thanks for the comments :-)

Cheers

Dick

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

peacepiano	peacepiano said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Orchestration Nice addition to the Amok catalogue. Very impressed with the orchestration. Rebsie sounds great. Thanks Bill Check out my latest song called I Should Have Known

DWL	DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Thanks Bill The orchestration was a bit out of my league I think but I got there in the end. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Epileptic Gibbon

Epileptic Gibbon said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)

Lovely songwriting
as always but I'm somewhat uncomfortable about the disparity between the instrumentation and the vocals. The vocals sound overly processed, which is odd because I know you've said that's exactly how you didn't want them to sound. But they don't sound very organic. They almost sound as they've been recorded in a very tight, muffled and echoey small room. By contrast the midi instruments sound a bit too polished and synthetic, and perhaps could do with some reverb or something. I don't feel the blend works particularly well, but I think a tweaking of both could make all the difference.

Check out my latest song called Fiddler Off the Roof w/Komrade K & Caroline

DWL

DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)

When I said processed
I meant that they weren't pitch or tempo corrected or had the breaths removed. I wanted them to sound like they were up close to the mic an wrapping around it.

I think it's down to visions and in this song I wanted a disparity between the vocal and instrumental style. In the opera she's besotted by the hero but maybe a bit uncomfortable with it as well and that's the sort of effect I was hoping to get. An unexpected use of a soft voice against a quite strident backing.

A very valid and thought out crit, thanks :-)

Cheers

Dick

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

sloparts	sloparts said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	An interesting mix of sounds and styles, The music is excellent, and Rebsie's singing, while very good, is also very different for her. I was having a bit of trouble understanding the lyrics, but it's probably dues to my hearing rather than your mix. All in all a great piece of work. Kudos to both of you. Ed Check out my latest song called Just a little Something

DWL	DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Thanks Ed weird isn't it? I think I was more worried about this track than any other I've posted. Partly I didn't want to let down Rebsie but also I was unsure about where I was going with it. I really appreciate the comments. Thanks again. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Feter	Feter said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Flesh is Weak Wo ...I love it realy Rebsie sound very much diffrent of her character in singing ,very superb orchestration just amazing ..thnx alot for sharing !! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

DWL	DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	That's what we wanted We tried to get Rebsie sounding different so thanks for that. I always appreciate your comments feter. Thanks a lot :-) Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Moviz

Moviz said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)

I think
This is excellent and the orchestration sounds fine to me (I'll be asking for lessons LOL) The voice (Rebsie's singing) is wonderful and comes across alongside the Orchestra as if the words she's singing (because of the echo) are in thought-form and therefore work very well with the clarity of the music. I visualise a girl wondering/dancing about the stage 'Thinking' those vocals, if you understand what I mean and Rebsie sounds comfortable enough to me. Really clever stuff, regards M

Check out my latest song called Come Back Billie

DWL	DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Lessons? Should be interesting as I studied music but not composition and I've no idea what I'm doing most of the time! Thanks for appreciating the vocal as I think she did a fine job of it. Many thanks Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)

"I Want To Make Love To You"
is a great lyric... heheheheh

Awesome composition. It starts out so cheesy and seconds later the horns come in and it's no longer cheesy. Then Rebsie turns it on it's head with her voice. Now all the orchestration sounds magnificent. The horns, the big bells - super dramatic ending stacked on top of that cheesy intro sound. Funny how well it works at the ending. Great stuff kids. You guys are so talented and have created a really genuine work of art.

(Maybe I think that intro sound is cheesy because I used actual parts of it for a movie soundtrack with kids running around and acting silly?)

I really enjoy what you do, Dick.

Bob

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

DWL	DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Yo Bob quite a compliment, I'm honoured! This one was hard work and it's great to get good crits so thank you very much. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)

cool song and melody
Seems Rebsie can 'step out of the box' on demand, eh?

Quite scintillating vocals with the accompaniment instrumentation and prose...

I don't know quite what to say about the delay effect on the vocals, though - it doesn't seem to blend in well to the rest. I see other remarks about it above; well enough for me to leave it alone because I don't know what I'd do differently, except take off the delay and try another way to get the ambiance. It wouldn't hurt to try doubling the track and offsetting it very slightly and panning them apart on the channels.

And, who am I to say....

Cool song, anyway.

. - Harold

DWL	DWL said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	Thanks Rocha there in fact is no delay on the vocals and it is doubled slightly out of sync as you suggest. I listened to this for hours on headphones moving the track by milliseconds trying to get the sound I wanted but maybe I tried too hard :-) Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 699 days ago (December 28th, 2007)
	there you go.... swinging your baton all over the place. nicely composed orchestra. very, - fleshy. regarding vocal, actually i like the effect of it. Or possibly just use one track, if your getting the hives. This has been a fun ride. now in the last stretch. Check out my latest song called November

DWL	DWL said 698 days ago (December 29th, 2007)
	End of the road? Until the next one :-) I'm confused about the vocal though as there isn't an effect as such. Just a bit of reverb and a doubling. Maybe I'm just too close to to it to make any rational decisions now. Thanks Vic Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

guitapick	guitapick said 698 days ago (December 29th, 2007)
	I like... ...when we stretch our boundaries. This works really nicely for me. Rebsie's...well...face it: she's h-o-t. And the theme works well with this music. Kudos, people. Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral

DWL	DWL said 698 days ago (December 29th, 2007)
	I am so glad you said that! Many thanks Mr G. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

paul f. page

paul f. page said 698 days ago (December 29th, 2007)

Love it!
What a wonderful composition, Dick. Rebsie's vocals are perfect for this and if there's a delay as others have suggested, then I'd leave it just the way it is because the effect works. I am particularly taken by the strings. What are you using? I'm about ready to pop for something more authentic-sounding...??? Your sense of orchestration is keen, too. The big bells and trombones in 3rds come in at just the right spot. What a pleasure to hear more of your magnum opus. Bows!!!
Peace.
Paul

Check out my latest song called Double Etude

DWL	DWL said 696 days ago (December 31st, 2007)
	Thanks Paul I really appreciate your comments. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

apb

apb said 697 days ago (December 30th, 2007)

I liked this alot
.. in particular spots - really, really love the melody, way it's sung and just everything at the *"our lu-uv woh-oh-on't last forever- baby, noone lives that long.. I swear .. "etc. Did I say- I really love that section!

Orchestration reminded me a bit of Smithers Jones by the Jam from Setting Sons... far from a bad thing.

I thought you did an awesome job - Rebsie's vocals will just melt hearts... I personally thought the effects on the vox suited the song and far from overly processed IMHO.

Nits: the high brass parts in the middle instrumental break (after the last "my flesh is weak") did sound a bit too 'fruity' to me :o)... and the "darling" section reminds me of something, I can't place .. on reading (never bothered me) I think the vocal is a fraction behind the beat (I'd use the 'b' of "baby" in the section I mention to line up with the beat .. it was most noticeable there .. although I liked the effect that timing had with the * line .. so I'd be careful what to move... steady ...;o))

On the whole, awesome piece, great collaboration. Kudos to you both, fabulous performance from Rebsie and great orchestration/song(amok opera writing) DWL, must have taken a fair amount of time- work that JP4! :o)

Check out my latest song called Misplaced

DWL

DWL said 696 days ago (December 31st, 2007)

Blimey!
Thanks Allen, that's quite a detailed crit. I made a bit of a mistake on the middle section. Basically I got it into my head to quote an earlier song Graeme and I had done then I couldn't get the bloody thing out of my head. Cameron suggested I changed that part but I just couldn't get anything else to come to mind.

The syncing seemed to be real problem with this song (leaving aside the comments about the vocals). Dunno what it was about that mp3 but it would be in sync to start and gradually drift out so I was cutting and shifting stuff.

Thanks very much for the very positive comments.

Cheers

Dick

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Cameron

Cameron said 697 days ago (December 30th, 2007)

'60s flashback
Dick, you and Rebsie have done a great job with this song.

I agree that something needs to be adjusted with the vocals. Perhaps more reverb, to help integrate it into the symphonic texture? Also, some phasing might soften the close, immediate quality of the vox as it now sounds.

I can hear improvement with the brass track from the previous version you played for me. The trumpet part with the repeated eighth notes was still a bit...too much, but overall your treatment of the brass added a lot of spice and interest to this tune.

Check out my latest song called EPONYM

DWL	DWL said 696 days ago (December 31st, 2007)
	You got the 60s ! Thanks Cameron, as I explained above I just couldn't come up with anything else for that middle section but I really appreciate your help and advice. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Rebsie

Rebsie said 694 days ago (January 2nd, 2008)

Always a pleasure to work with you
It's good to see this posted after all the weeks (or is it months, I've lost count) of work you've put into it.

I may have been out of my usual comfort zone but it did feel very comfortable to sing, as it happens. Most of the time I'm singing about sailors and sheep and corpses so it's nice to have the chance to be a seductress instead.

I think you did a great job of the orchestration, it's complex stuff and skilfully handled. Graeme's lyrics are a great plus too (as always).

Thanks again for asking me to sing this, Dick. The opera is an amazing achievement and it's a great honour for me to be doing some lead vocals in it.

Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

davisamerica	davisamerica said 693 days ago (January 3rd, 2008)
	right then dwl and rebsie well...have been watching and waiting for additions to this work and this is a wonderful surprise. very evident much work and thought went into this final and that all plays well on the ears. about any nits on the vox..hehe rebsie's voice is so wonderful who can knock that small tweaking mentioned. hats off x2 Check out my latest song called No Son(egobandit band)

DWL	DWL said 681 days ago (January 15th, 2008)
	Thanks matey yes, this took 3 months and a lot of heartache so it's good to see it weel received. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

dajama	dajama said 687 days ago (January 9th, 2008)
	Very nice work Rebsie's singing is excellent, and the orchestration sounds good to me. Love the lyrics and the whole piece works very well. Nice work to all concerned. Peace. Check out my latest song called Across the Wire (MJRF)

DWL	DWL said 681 days ago (January 15th, 2008)
	The girl done well despite me pushing her mercilessly and being a grumpy old git! Thanks Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Laverne	Laverne said 682 days ago (January 14th, 2008)
	Very Real You managed to take GB and give it a very open, orchestral feel. Well, now I know it's possible... Time to experiment. Perhaps I'll ask for your advice on horns sometime, since I can never seem to dig out anything greater than a cacophony of farting. Really nice sounds all around. Props. Check out my latest song called Hark, You're Alive!

DWL	DWL said 681 days ago (January 15th, 2008)
	Horns? Thanks, I'm not sure I know what I'm doing most of the time! Thanks for listening though, much appreciated. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

ceilidh

ceilidh said 678 days ago (January 18th, 2008)

Dick,
this is simply WONDERFUL. Entirely everything, every single bit of it! The melody, instruments, the mood evoked by the music. The trumpets are just brilliant, the violins are great as well, I love especially the playing of kettle-drums and do I hear trombones there too? I so appreciate and praise that huge sensitivity of orchestra towards those soft vocals. One of the biggest highlights of many highlights in this piece (and that's very true, the music is stuffed with it) is for me the moment, where are next to each other two sounds, one could say very contrast sounds, a very gentle and tender vocal together with powerful low toned kettle-drums. The chime together is something... Dick, that's a pure beauty...
But the biggest surprise for me is Rebsie. This is The most beautiful singing of her I have ever heard. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. It fits to her voice SO unbelievably well... I am entirely astonished and enchanted.

Check out my latest song called Gartan Mother's Lullaby

DWL

DWL said 677 days ago (January 19th, 2008)

Thanks Ceilidh
I am so pleased you enjoyed this.

I love brass instruments although I don't play any and try to use them whenever I can so thanks for noticing the trombones as well. How i'd love to have a proper orchestra to play this :)

Rebsie was a revelation on this. I asked her to sing in a different style, explained what I wanted and she delivered so it's great you particularly commented on it.

many thanks

Cheers

Dick

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Doug Somers

Doug Somers said 654 days ago (February 11th, 2008)

When you say you worked on this over months
I can certainly believe it. There is a lot of musical detail get just right in the orchestration, dynamics, and mix, and I can hear how you both were very careful with the vocals to get the different effect from the sound of the orchestra that you were after. I'm most impressed at how well the orchestra sounds - kudos! Lovely work Dick and Rebsie!

Cheers,
Doug

Check out my latest song called Desiree (MJ Space Race 2009)

	said 632 days ago (March 4th, 2008)
	Great! Great work you 2 ... Your orchestration is amazing sir Dick, and as always the great vocals from Mrs. Fairholm. This is amazing piece of your collaboration project! CD coming ? Thanks for sharing .. Take Care - Yeman A. Al-Rawi

said 601 days ago (April 4th, 2008)

Oh my goodness gracious
Me!!! What a cracking good singer Rebsi is. She blew me away with this one especially. Wow!! Music is also fantastic.

I wonder why it took me so long to get to thie outstanding Gem!!
I feel all tingly and so sentimental over this song. what a fantstic mind blowing experience it is listening to this. All I have to say Darlin:)
Is I love you guys well done. xxx Oh by the way my flesh is all goose bumps now.
Cheers Peace Dee.

saymme	saymme said 593 days ago (April 12th, 2008)
	. Love hearing the Both of You...dl & faved ! thanks :)

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Name: dick langford

Been playing guitar for longer than I care to remember (or so said the witch) Never very interested in music at school (what would I have done with a good teacher?) so it was surprise to find I had a little talent. My latest project is a rock op... [see more]

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