That Time of Year
A song for Valentine's Day anniversaries. Or I guess any day of the year, really. I really couldn't find a harmonic arrangement I liked instrumental wise, I tried a piano, backing electric guitar, electric keyboard,, GarageBand mellotron, and finally just went back to piano, though I did end up using the mellotron for the intro. I also recorded lead guitar parts, but didn't like how it sounded, so I took them out and replaced them with a vibraphone. All of which to say, this simple little AABA song turned out to be a labor of love, literally. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy!
https://on.soundcloud.com/BcavZsuq9JdGLRr96
Music and lyrics by Tommy L. Day
(v1)
It’s that time of year, it’s that time of year again
The time to reflect on how far we’ve come, from where we were then
We’ll recall the vows of love we made, knowing in our hearts, they’ll never fade
When it’s that time of year, and it’s that time of year
(v2)
I’m holding you near, it’s that time of year again
The time for us to reminisce on how lovely it’s been
These vows of love remain ever true, as we dedicate our hearts anew
When it’s that time of year, and it’s that time of year
(Bridge)
After all this time, who'd think that I could fall in love again with each
glance in your direction, darlin' this is my confession
After all these years, why should it be, each time you call to me
My heart flies ten miles high, till we’re dancing beyond the sky
(v3)
Love will find us right here, when it’s that time of year again
The time to share all the little things that make us lovers and friends
You alone make my world stand still, I love you now, and I always will
It's it’s that time of year, it’s that time of year
(Coda)
It’s that time of year
Comments
-
Love your lyric @BeatlesFan64 ! Don't often see AABA so much anymore which is refreshing! Now, for that magical listen...I'm on the dance floor in my mind; just beautiful! And don't we all wish we had such a love? And the vibraphone works very well!
So happy you shared this one,
Renee
1 -
You have a great sense of song writing, probably the best I've heard on this forum, but I think you need to listen to the end result and make everything much more "serious". This song sounds like it's from a bad cocktail lounge. Listen to like Gerry and the Pacemakers or the Zombies (from the 1960's) and you can hear what I mean.
Please note this is my opinion only. The really good thing is you're writing, playing and recording your original music and that's all that really matters.
1 -
Love to hear a new song from you, Tommy!
I love the vibraphone runs! Not so sure about the mellotron in the intro, but the vocal harmonies are luscious!
I like how it's about Valentine's Day without ever specifically referencing it.
Good stuff!
1 -
Lovely song Tommy, all done in your usual incomparable style.
Flows smoothly and takes you along with it.
Some fantastic rhymes in there too, so unique and clever.
Thank you for sharing,
Sid
1 -
Thanks everyone for the comments!
@HummerWisdom Thanks for the kind words Renee, to hear that it evokes the dance floor magic…well that’s everything I could’ve asked for and more! And yeah, I wish I could say I wrote from experience, but alas. One day though :)
@robwills You know, I always used to think of myself as taking after John Lennon in my songwriting, but in recent years, I feel like I’m more like Paul, not the generational talent or anything, but just having that super sentimentalist side, and maybe I need a Lennon to keep me grounded and stop me from going too far. Anyway, I do see where you’re coming from. Thanks for the feedback!
@RainyDayMan Thanks for stopping by RDM, glad you liked it! If I’m being honest, I wasn’t really sure about the Mellotron either. Especially since I took it out of the rest of the song, so now it just sounds out of place. I might just replace it with the vibraphone since it sounds so good everywhere else. I’m glad you noticed that too about it not actually referencing Valentine’s Day but still evoking it. That’s exactly what I was hoping for :)
@sidshovel Hey Sid, thanks so much for that, I had a lot of fun writing these lyrics, especially the internal rhyming, that’s always satisfying. Glad you enjoyed!1 -
I have updated this song, please use this link instead of the one in the description.
https://on.soundcloud.com/9s7vZin8EjGDUNP1A
Changes made:
- re-recorded some vocals
- replaced mellotron with vibraphone, also added more vibraphone passages
- replaced piano with electric piano
Let me know what you guys think!
0 -
I still hear it the same. It's really good song writing. It reminds me of Gerry and the Pacemakers but at a far lower quality level. If you listen to something like "Girl on A Swing" you can hear just how far away you are. If you try to "tighten up" everything I think you can be in their quality range. By any standard, the level of popular songs by famous artists are very difficult to achieve for the almost anyone.
There are also professional music producers who charge reasonable rates to make a song sound like the pros. About 10 years ago I got a quote from a professional producer in Los Angeles for $500 a song but I believe there are others located throughout the world who will do it for at least half this price.
0 -
@BeatlesFan64 - there is nothing wrong with the production.. the harmonies could be a little tighter, but it's fine as it.. other than that I would leave it as is, if your happy with it., just my opinion.@robwills
0 -
@robwills trust me man, if it was the 60s right now, I’d do it, I’d go out and find my George Martin and pay whatever I needed to. I guess with this kind of retro music, you have to do it for fun cause it sure as heck won’t be for money or fame with the way pop music is now. I do appreciate your insights, I know I’m far away from the real pros, but I’m trying to inch closer every day. Thanks for listening and giving some thoughtful feedback!
@bhengen Thanks for listening, and I’m glad you liked it. My production definitely isn’t the best by any stretch, I’ll be the first to admit that, though I do like to think I’ve come a long way from where I started. I may come back to this at some point and tweak it further, but for the most part, I think I’m content with how it is for now.0 -
The truth of the matter is no one knows what music will become. Maybe your music with the 60's sound could be what it takes for that sound to come around again. Art and fashion historically have had cyclical properties. The "secret" I believe is to follow your passion without being told "what is" by anyone else.
Nirvana, the famous grunge band, before they changed the music world for the worst, were high school dropouts and were the only one or few bands doing their style of music. They were totally outsiders. I wouldn't let anyone, including myself, discourage me, from pursuing my style of music if I was really into it.
1 -
Tommy,
Your songs are your own, done in your own way and I personally love them, don't change a thing.
Sid
1 -
Producers , session players and studios are expensive . I would not go there as a hobby . The tracks sound fine to me as the artist .
1
Howdy, Stranger!