Hi Group,
 
My Girl and I recently put this song together at the house.
 
It's in an all acoustic form right now and I would really appreciate some
arrangement, production, tempo suggestions and ideas for the song. 
Also first impressions.... good or bad.
 
https://soundcloud.com/us...7/forever-home/s-iSZoq
 
Thanks
Craig
 

Craig,
 
First, the song is really solid as are the vocals.   The arrangement is very 80's Power Ballad as far as the guitar style.    Personally, I would go for a Contemporary Country Ballad with this song.   Simple strumming acoustic guitar, bass, drums, maybe a fiddle or strings.    If you are leaning more pop, use an acoustic piano arrangement with strings and some light percussion/drums.    Either of these choices would get you in a more contemporary lane.
 
The vocals you have here would work for either style, in fact I think your existing vocals could be integrated into a new backing track if you don't change the tempo, and, I think the tempo is good as is.   Lot of potential with the song.
 
Regards

markno999
Craig,
 
First, the song is really solid as are the vocals.   The arrangement is very 80's Power Ballad as far as the guitar style.    Personally, I would go for a Contemporary Country Ballad with this song.   Simple strumming acoustic guitar, bass, drums, maybe a fiddle or strings.    If you are leaning more pop, use an acoustic piano arrangement with strings and some light percussion/drums.    Either of these choices would get you in a more contemporary lane.
 
The vocals you have here would work for either style, in fact I think your existing vocals could be integrated into a new backing track if you don't change the tempo, and, I think the tempo is good as is.   Lot of potential with the song.
 
Regards

Mark,
 
Your soundclick page is sounding really great! Are you playing all the instruments and singing?
 
Thanks for the advice.  I'm gonna try some chord experimentation and see if I can take it another direction.
 
 
Craig
 
 

This sounds very much like stuff on the christian market (sans theology).  Of course, your voice just makes everything shine.  Good job.

Craig, this is very professional songwriting for these times.  A song like this can go in several directions, which is great, because is shows how versatile this song is.  However, it could easily be overproduced and lose it's raw soul in the process.  You've got it now, and I'd be asking myself, how much further does it need to go?  Great performances all around!

Craig,


 
No problem.    Appreciate the look at my Soundclick page.    I am sometimes collaborating, playing, programming, but never singing.   My voice would ruin any production:)
 
 
Regards
 

Lynn
Craig, this is very professional songwriting for these times.  A song like this can go in several directions, which is great, because is shows how versatile this song is.  However, it could easily be overproduced and lose it's raw soul in the process.  You've got it now, and I'd be asking myself, how much further does it need to go?  Great performances all around!

Lynn,   Wow! Thanks for the compliments about the song.  I've tried several different approaches on my own that I've shelved but Robin and I are collaborating with markno999 on a variation that I hope everyone will like.  We'll post it here pretty soon. I'm liking the direction we're taking. 
 
Craig

eph221
This sounds very much like stuff on the christian market (sans theology).  Of course, your voice just makes everything shine.  Good job.

Thank you much.  I think Christian music basically had it's heyday back when Mercy Me , Casting Crowns where at the top of their game.  Amazing Bands with amazing song writing and musicianship.   Song as powerful as " I can only Imagine" of  "Who am I"....... these are absolute masterpieces.
 
Craig