New Song - "Hats Off to Beer"

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Czar of Cheese
Member Since: Jun 09, 2004

I haven't heard many songs like this around HRC...

www.homerecordingconnecti...sic&id=1347
(How do you link directly to the file?)

This is a new (August 2004) recording of a song I wrote as a member of an Irish folk band named The Black Velvet Band. The song is called "Hats Off To Beer". (A love song, if you will.) The BVB recording of this was done in a professional studio, but I never really liked how it turned out. (Do a search for "Hats Off to Beer" in one of those music swapping programs and you'll probably find it!)

I'm looking for the Irish-pub-drinking-song feeling. I'm interested in suggestions that would give the song more energy. (Perhaps I should tip a few pints of Guinness and re-record!?!)

Thanks for any input you might have!

Jim

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Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Aug 04, 2004 04:56 pm

Jim

What can I say - thats bloody great!! And its catchy as hell...when it started, I was dubious but those lyrics and the whole ting of writing a song all aboot beer...man - thats QUALITY!!

Catchy, no very folky tho - kinda hybrid folk/country soundin. I know you do that thang but if yer after the Irish type o sound yi need a wee violin mibbes, or maybes even some banjos!!

Now, that is a cooool song. But..the bass is really loud in the mix which makes the song pop along (which is cool). If yer after the Irish sound, lower yer bass a wee bitty and fire some guitar/banjo or some other stringed instrument that sounds cool a bit higher in the mix I thinks.

Youre accent on that sounds kinda cool tae. its like an American country Irishman!! hehehe..comes off well tho.

In fact, its such a jolly happy wee song am off to listen again!!

Good job Jim..good mix and I love the content matter! its gid.

Cheers...

Coco.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Aug 05, 2004 06:09 am

Hey Jim...I just listened to this tune again and I think I was right..it is a REAL GOOD TUNE.

I think all ya need to do here is lower the bass a little and have a more guitars. After the 5th listen, I think thats the way for yer Irish sound yer after.

A good job tho. I cant get enuff of this song..its so jolly!!!!

Coco.

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004

Aug 05, 2004 07:12 am

Geez, Coco...thanks a billion! I'll see what I can do to fine tune it. Wouldn't it be great to have about 10 drunken voices chiming in on the chorus?

Thanks for the ind and helpful words!

Jim

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Aug 05, 2004 08:14 am

I have heard this song VERY OFTEN! My wife downloaded it years ago, and it found its way onto a compilation of Irish drinking songs that gets some very frequent play at our house. In fact, I have that cd with me now and am listening to the old version as I type this! I can't believe I'm meeting the guy who wrote that song on HRC. What a small world!!

I do like the first version better. I compared the two, and here are my reasons.

* the new version doesn't have a guitar line doubling the vocal melody. That gives it a very live feel, and gives it the real Irish flair.
* the new version is slower. The pace, in all honesty, does kind of drag at me when I listen to it. The old version makes me want to snap my fingers... I don't get that with this one.
* the drum machine sounds kind of like a drum track for polka music... The drums sounds themselves do sound very much like they came from a drum machine.
* In the chorus of the old version, what really gives it a drinking song kind of feel is the extra voices chiming in. I can hear that you doubled the vocals on the chorus, but since it's your voice that I'm hearing twice, it doesn't strike me as quite the same.

I love the lyrics of this song, and have been caught singing along on more than one occasion. It's just a good, happy, boisterous drinking song. This is a great song!!! Nice job, man, on both versions. I hope my comments help you out. Hey, I'd be happy to sing some backup if you want another voice! I could probably even fake a bhodran sound on my djembe (or maybe just buy one, they're pretty cheap at our local Irish imports store), if you plan to do anything like this in the future. Consider that an open invitation. Man, my wife is gonna flip when she hears that I'm on HRC with the guy that wrote that song, I know it's one of her favorites.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Aug 05, 2004 08:26 am

Aha... it seems you're holding out on us! There's yet a 3rd version of this song!!

www.soundclick.com/bands/9/jimnelsonmusic.htm

I must admit, the version on this page I like just about as much as the first one I heard. I believe I'll check out a few of your other tunes.... :)

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004

Aug 05, 2004 09:44 am

Tincan,

Thanks for the comments and the input. The original version was recorded live in the studio with guitar, keyboard, mandolin and four voices. That does give it some life...you're right.

I appreciate your suggestions, and will take them to heart. Perhaps this would be a good song for an HRC collaboration project! It really could use the bhodran beat, a banjo, a mandolin, and a bunch of drunk people singing the chorus. And you're right, the tempo needs to be picked up.

Most of those songs on my Soundclick page are demos I did pre-HRC, meaning I had no clue what I was doing (now I have somewhat of a clue.) I plan on redoing some of them (the "good" ones!)

Jim

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Aug 05, 2004 10:05 am

Well just let me know GJ... if you're lookin' fer a drunk, I'm yer man! (hic) I'll even shober up for the bhodran biznesssss. Hats off to beer - now where's me hat???

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Aug 05, 2004 10:33 am

Aye..I can certainly help ya with drunk..sing..I do it all the..hic..time! hehhee!

If you want a big chorus, theres loadsa guys roond here who would be happy to help methinks...

Just yell!

Coco

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003

Aug 05, 2004 11:25 pm

I'm downloading now. Will give a review in the next couple days, but hell, I'd be happy to be a drunk with ye all, if you need another voice.

Ignorance Is Strength
Member
Since: Nov 10, 2002

Aug 10, 2004 12:26 am

mmmmmmmm.......beer, the cause of and the answer to all of life's problems

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Aug 10, 2004 05:21 am

Quote:
mmmmmmmm.......beer, the cause of and the answer to all of life's problems

The infamous words of Homer J Simpson :-)

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Aug 10, 2004 06:36 am

Homer J Simpson - A true legend.

Mmmmmmmm..beer.

Heres another "You tried. You failed. The morale of the story.....never try!".

Coco.

Ignorance Is Strength
Member
Since: Nov 10, 2002

Aug 11, 2004 09:40 am

Here's one from grandpa Simpson....
"I used to be 'with it', but they keep changing what 'it' is. Now whats 'it' seem weird and scary."

How true...

Contributor
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Aug 14, 2004 09:33 pm

haha great song. reminds me of some german drinking songs ive got. i think a chorus full of drunken singing would be great.

it could be like an hrc interactive event.

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