Original Song: The Hammer & The Nail

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faith101music

Guest
#1
#1
Hello,

I've just started a Christian music project called Faith 101. I'm looking at trying to broaden the emotional range of Christian music. I should say, I've only been a Christian for 4 years, and it seems to me that the emotional range of Sunday morning music doesn't really compare to the Psalms, which to me are much more intimate, and have more emotional integrity. That's just my take. As I say, I'm new and in need of educating! (If you haven't seen it, there's actually an interview of Bono and Eugene Peterson, where they say similar things)

So, here's a song I've written. Would love any feedback.

NOTE: If you search my other songs (of which there are only 2 at the moment!), the song "Not Noah" has the s-word in it. Just so no one stumbles upon it and is surprised.

Anyhow, The Hammer & The Nail:

[video=youtube;N4baJ9rOODk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4baJ9rOODk[/video]
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#2
Aug 13, 2014
24,913
8,167
113
#2
I recommend applying a CC (Creative Commons, not Christian Chat) license to your work before posting it. A Creative Commons license costs nothing, it protects you from people stealing your work and applying a CC license is as simple as mentioning in this thread that the song is licensed under a certain CC code.

A CC license is not for restricting others from using your work, it is to protect your rights to your own work. Someone could take your song, claim it as their own and legally restrict you from using your own work. Don't laugh, it happens a lot.
 
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Ultimatum77

Guest
#4
#4
faith101music said:
Hello,

I've just started a Christian music project called Faith 101. I'm looking at trying to broaden the emotional range of Christian music. I should say, I've only been a Christian for 4 years, and it seems to me that the emotional range of Sunday morning music doesn't really compare to the Psalms, which to me are much more intimate, and have more emotional integrity. That's just my take. As I say, I'm new and in need of educating! (If you haven't seen it, there's actually an interview of Bono and Eugene Peterson, where they say similar things)

So, here's a song I've written. Would love any feedback.

NOTE: If you search my other songs (of which there are only 2 at the moment!), the song "Not Noah" has the s-word in it. Just so no one stumbles upon it and is surprised.

Anyhow, The Hammer & The Nail:

[video=youtube;N4baJ9rOODk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4baJ9rOODk[/video]
Click to expand...
Good stuff, I agree most CCm music is boring b/c it just about grace all the time and not the human side of failing, sin, etc.... nice to you see you embracing these things that CCm refuses to touch.... :)
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#5
Aug 13, 2014
24,913
8,167
113
#5
Here's an easy way to choose which CC license you want to apply to your work.

https://creativecommons.org/choose/

Basically a CC license will be something like "you are free to use this as long as you don't make any changes to it and don't make any money from it." Or a more wide-open CC license would be "You are free to use this, change it, and make money from it as long as you don't restrict anybody else's right to do the same."


Nice song by the way. Subject matter reminds me of a Ray Boltz song, "The Hammer."

"And I cried who nailed him there?
This child of peace and mercy
Who nailed him there?
Come and face me like a man
Who nailed him there?
As the crowd began to mock me
I cried oh my God, I just don't understand
Then I turned and saw the hammer in my hand"


For your song, the phrasing of the second verse could use a bit of work. Taking a breath comes at awkward times for the word spacing. Nice presentation - the visuals don't detract from the song itself and add to the contemplative atmosphere.

Also nice lead trade-off between singing and violin. When the violin started I was afraid you would play it through the subsequent singing - which could be good or bad, as the violin might compete with vocals for dominance - but you handled it just about right. :cool:
 
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faith101music

Guest
#6
#6
Lynx, thanks for the feedback, and thanks for the License advice. I had a quick look at the types, just to get one up quickly. Yet another thing about which I know very little, so your wisdom is much appreciated!

The second verse is a funny one. I kind of wanted that going back and forth between syncopation (I fled that hillside) and very on the beat (got myself drunk). I'll be performing it live in a few days. That's always the best way of knowing in terms of "does this sit with my breathing?". Thanks again.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#7
Aug 13, 2014
24,913
8,167
113
#7
Hmm, live show... will you be presenting it the same as in the video? Maybe the two of you already seated on stage when the lights come up or the curtain rises? Or will you just sing the song without the visual presentation?
 
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faith101music

Guest
#8
#8
It's a pre-worship thing. We're sort of dropping it into soundcheck without telling anyone. :)
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#9
Aug 13, 2014
24,913
8,167
113
#9
If y'all do pre-service prayer it might play well as a segue into the prayer time. Then keep the guitar background playing during prayer (depending on the durability of the player's hands of course.)
 
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faith101music

Guest
#10
#10
Lynx said:
If y'all do pre-service prayer it might play well as a segue into the prayer time. Then keep the guitar background playing during prayer (depending on the durability of the player's hands of course.)
Click to expand...
I used to be in a mariachi band and a punk band! I can play for quite a while...
 
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faith101music

Guest
#11
#11
Thanks, Ultimatum77. Nice to hear that what I'm saying/singing resonates.
 
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