This is beta mix 3 of the song “Omnipotent,” which I am in the process of recording. First the song, then the lyrics, then the details for those interested. This is not the final version of the song, but I think it’s close. This is my version of a 70’s rock song, with 70’s sounding instruments and production.
Omnipotent – Richard MacLemale ©2014
Lyrics
I can tell by the look in your eyes that you think I’m almost over
But you can tell by the smile on my face that I got it all together
There comes a time when I think that you find that you gotta take the moment and do what you do
You can’t judge me even though you really want to
Cause the song that I’m singing I’m singing for you
It’s a matter of time, it’s a matter of faith
in the things I can do and the plans that I made
I can figure it out, take as long as it takes
Though it might take a while to make it work I don’t care
Quit telling me that I can’t do it
You think you know it all, omnipotent
Quit telling me that I won’t make it
And if you won’t shut up, at least get out of my way
You can quote all the facts that you want, you can drown me in statistics
But that won’t measure the size of my heart or the drive that I got in it
There comes a time when you step out of line and you stand and make your statement with nothing to lose
You can’t worry even though it’s human nature
It’s your one defining moment it’s the path that you choose
It’s a matter of time, it’s a matter of faith
in the things I can do and the plans that I’ve made
I can figure it out, take as long as it takes
Though it might take a while and it don’t rhyme I don’t care
Quit telling me that I can’t do it
You think you know it all, omnipotent
Quit telling me that I won’t make it
And if you won’t shut up, at least get out of my way
SOLO
CHORUS
Details
I started out writing this song about the NFL draft, of all things, but then I decided to broaden it up so anyone could better relate to it, including me. That’s where the line about stats came from. When I wrote the chorus it sounded real 70’s rock to me, so that informed the production. I chose the “Retro Rock” drums in Logic, which sound very retro, and I chose Logan as my drummer, because he’s got a retro drumming style. For non-Logic Pro X users, the software has built-in drummers of different ages and playing styles. So you can pick a drummer and a kit and a preset type of song and it’s a good starting point. I had to tweak Logan’s performance in a few places because he likes to insert fills when nothing else is happening.
There’s no reverb on this track. None, zero, because digital reverb hadn’t been invented yet. I doubled the vocals because that was a common trick. The guitar solo has a tape delay on it because that was another common trick. I did not master this song like a modern song, so it actually has dynamics to it. Turn it up louder and you’ll see.
The main guitar riff was done on a 2013 Gibson Les Paul 50’s Tribute, so those are P90 pickups, going into a Peavey ValveKing 20MH tube head, using the cabinet simulator from the amp head going into a Scarlett 2i2 AD converter box into my Mac running Logic Pro X. The amp was on the lead channel set to a gain level of 3.
The bass was a Squier P Bass with new D’Addario Super Bright strings. Logic has no built-in bass player. Yet. I’m sold on real bass, though. On my previous albums I’ve always used keyboard bass, but the difference is night and day.
The guitar solo was played on my newly hot-rodded Squier Jagmaster. The bridge pickup is a GFS Alnico 2 set close to the strings, and it was going through the Peavey head with the gain on 6 and the gain boost applied. Yeah, it’s a little high gain sounding, but the Alnico 2 is a old fashioned design pickup.
And finally the microphone was a AKG 214. I used a pop screen while tracking and stood about 6 inches from the mic. I had to roll off some of the low end because it was a little boomy.
I mixed this on Alesis Monitor One Speakers, which are old school 80’s technology but I know how they sound very well. I haven’t tested this mix anywhere – I’m sure once I hear it in the car all the glaring mistakes will jump out at me. But I just wanted to post this song so I could think about something else for a while.
