SONG BITS: ALBUM # 8 - BLUE, FADED LIKE BLUEJEANS

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Blue, Faded Like Bluejeans

writer: J. Dandrea, music and lyrics

This song was a joy to write and to record.  I had just met someone really special, at a time when I had given up on trying to understand women.   Yet as suddenly as a bolt of lightning, it all happened so easily that I had no idea how  all the pieces were to just fall into place. For the title to the song, I focused on the type of  faded blue color that went with bluejeans -  relaxed, comfortable, durable.   This song is a very favorite of mine, and says a lot about the relationship. 
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lyrics page:   Lyrics   Info page:  Info

Didn't Apply To You

writer: J. Dandrea, music and lyrics

This is one of those songs that just come out of a bad experience.    We can all relate to having failed at some point in time.  I was thankful that very soon after, better times came along and took me far away from it. Not everyone understands the ending, but I wrote it like a music video - the irony of contrast between someone who walks into the bar with a very heavy heart, while inside there is laughter and the usual loud bar noise.  
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vocals:   Abigail Strickland
lyrics page:   Lyrics   Info page:  Info

FORWARD THROUGH THE STORM

WRITER: J. DANDREA, MUSIC and LYRICS

This song ia about a breakup, resulting in many losses on many levels.  Yet in spite of the storm, it eventually  subsided and the calm of a new dawn emerged.  Life does go on - if we allow it.  An example of keeping faith. The song uses one of my favorite instruments, the session acoustic fingerstyle guitar.  Add to that the lovely vocal work by Abigail and what started out as a painful ballad is just another warm reminder to never give up on one's dreams.   
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vocals:   Abigail Strickland
lyrics page:   Lyrics   Info page:  Info

Before I Go

WRITER: J. DANDREA, MUSIC and LYRICS

I tried to bring out some thoughts that were important to me.  As I grow older I'm looking at more global issues and realizing the time we spend with our most cherished family & friends, is always much too short.  Before we know it, it's too late to get that kind of precious time back. In my own life and as I've  thought along the lines of what I'd like to leave behind, I wanted to also give thanks to my own parents for raising an incredible family with five children, and giving us a strong spiritual foundation of faith and a Christian home full of love & warmth. 
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lyrics page:   Lyrics   Info page:  Info

Just A Bit Of Love

writer: J. Dandrea, music and lyrics

In "Just A Bit Of Love", I wrote a really happy,  joyous song about how being  in love  makes me feel.  The chorus part came to me first - "It's you and me, I must agree...I'm blessed to be in the middle of - just a bit of love".  I am so happy that Abigail  lent her vocal talents to this very special song.  Her voice is just beautiful, and I enjoy listening to this song often. Technical: For this song I used acoustic guitar loops from the folks at Big Fish Audio, as the main instruments. 
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vocals:   Abigail Strickland
lyrics page:   Lyrics    Info page:  Info

Walking Down That Road Once Again

writer: J. Dandrea, music and lyrics

This was originally created on guitar but I later redid it, as I preferred the piano for it. I used very minimal tracks and tried to keep a very acoustic feeling to it. I felt that the lyrics also go well with the piano. This song is more upbeat than most of the others,  and it was great fun to record.  I think it's a good fit here on this album.  Technical: the Piano is EZKeys from Toontrack, with modifying segments from both the Ballads and Ballads2  packages.   
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lyrics page:   Lyrics   Info page:  Info

To Be Near You Again

WRITER: J. DANDREA, MUSIC and LYRICS

This is a very meaningful song to me, as it is about the hundred-acre wood that my wife loves so  much, and the wonderful characters that reside there.  I used to think that  "burying one's head in the sand"  and not being aware of world events,  etc was bad - but at some point I realized that she had the right idea.  I now live with her there, and as we reach old age together, I will always long "to be near her again".  Technical: EZKeys Ballads2 & Singer-Songwriter packages, from the folks at Toontrack. 
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lyrics page:   Lyrics   Info page:  Info

One More Road

WRITER: J. DANDREA, MUSIC and LYRICS

This is a special tribute to all those who drive those big rigs and keep our country moving.  I was focusing on how lonely that long road must get, and how stressful it must be to encounter really bad weather and realize just how dangerous the job is.  This was one of those songs that kept me awake in the middle of the night, until I got up and wrote down the lyrics to the melody going on in my head.    
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lyrics page:   Lyrics   Info page:  Info