What Mary’s Got – ©1999 – 90s Alt Rock – Gin Blossoms - (13–1–1)

13 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 1 Gtr Lead from original

Style Prompt - Alternative Rock, power pop, southern rock, include electric 12 string guitar, acoustic guitar and Hammond organ

Origin

About 30 years ago, when I worked at the Jon Stewart show on MTV, I was friends with the Stage Manager, Gena, who was dating Robin Wilson, the singer for Gin Blossoms. He used to come to the show, and during show tapings, I would sit in the wardrobe room with the stylist and Robin, and we would chat while the show was taping. Cut to a year or so later, after Jon Stewart ended... it's morning in Manhattan and I'm getting dressed, and I hear the song "Follow You Down" played on the radio the day it dropped and think to myself, "Damn, Robin has such a great voice he could sing Mary had a little lamb and it would sound awesome." I wonder how he would sing it.

Then the melody for the chorus was born and I was walking to work down 7th Ave singing Mary had a little lamb at the top of my lungs using this melody. Eventually realizing what was going on (a grown man shouting Mary had a little lamb is just weird) after receiving several strange stares, I changed the words a bit to have some syllables, and hopefully, to make it sound less crazy. That's where angel's face and great big heart came in. Originally the third line was "And I'm giving her this diamond ring," because Robin and Gena had gotten engaged and I couldn't think of anything else... and the phrasing fit.

I put the chorus in a notebook with other unfinished songs and wouldn't open it again for 5 years. When I did finally decide to finish the song, I thought I should try to write a love song that was not a "You and me, oh can't you see" love song. I hate those. So, this is what I came up with.

Lyrics

Yeah I still get turned around whenever Mary walks in the room

When she whispers in my ear, “I’ve been thinking about you.”

And I always knew from the very first moment I saw her

She was the one that I’d been waiting for... she’s got a

Voice like a song

A smile like home

Eyes that just make a mess of me

A laugh that’s warm

She shines like the sun

My Mary, Mary she’s got the best of me

Now Mary has an angel’s face

And Mary has a great big heart

And I hope she’ll always be with me

Cause I, want the things that Mary’s got

Yes I want the things that Mary’s got

When I’m with Mary, the whole world suddenly makes sense

She sees in me what no one else understands

She gives the best of everything that she’s got to give

Yeah I know that she believes in me, and it’s incredible, She’s got a…

Word that's kind

A will that’s strong

She makes me feel like I can do anything

She got her hands in the stars

She floats like the moon

My Mary, Mary she’s got the best of me, yeah

Now Mary has an angel’s face

And Mary has a great big heart

And I hope she’ll always be with me

Cause I, want the things that Mary’s got

Yes I want the things that Mary’s got

I don’t know what I’m gonna do with the rest of me

It’s no secret, Mary, Mary she got the best of me

Now Mary kisses me and says

That everything's gonna be alright

And I hope she’ll always be with me

Cause I, want the things that Mary’s got

Yes I want the things that Mary’s got

Yes I, want the things that Mary’s got

Yes I want the things that Mary’s got

Yes I want the things that Mary, Mary’s got

Original Demo

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Pretty Sad Girl – ©1999 – 90s Alt Rock – matchbox20 - (166-1-3)

166 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 3 tracks 2 BV Layers and 1 Gtr Lead

Style Prompt - Alternative pop, male singer with attitude

Origin

For a period of about 10 years it seemed like every girl I knew, no matter how awesome their lives were, always had something to complain about… real 1st world problems too. It was pretty exhausting for me so it must have been super exhausting for them.

Lyrics

You’ve got it but now you want something else

You see it and it’s boring you to tears

You know it and it’s already yesterday’s news (and I lose)

You’re winning, and you don’t even care that you’re first

You’re fine but you tell everybody right where it hurts

That’s better, but you say it can only get worse (no way)

And I don’t doubt that it’s about

To fall apart and come tumbling down on you

But I gave up when you checked out

You’re always one breath away from being impossible

You are my friend, but you’re driving me insane

I’ll never get, why you’re so unhappy

You hold it up, and show it to the world

Look at me, I’m the

Pretty pretty sad girl

You always find a reason to complain

I don’t think you, will ever be content

You wave your flag and you let yourself be heard

Look over here, I’m the

Pretty pretty sad girl

It’s getting there, but it’s not quite right yet

You’d wear that, but you really want your favorite shirt

He’s perfect, but he may be just a little too tall (that’s all)

You’re here but you would, rather be someplace far away

You’re talking but you, really don’t have anything to say

You’re waiting, but is it ever worth all the wait (too late)

And I don’t doubt that it’s about

To fall apart and come tumbling down on you

And I gave up when you checked out

And left you floating in the middle of your own universe

Chorus

Life looks better when you’re watching it on color TV

Perfect endings and everything in between

It all fits together

It ends in an hour and there’s always next week

Chorus

Original Demo

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A Game of Faith – ©1990 – 90s Alt Rock – 3rd Eye Blind - (157-1-3)

157 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 3 tracks 3 BV me from original

Style Prompt - Driving Pop Rock

Origin

This was a cut from an EP I put together called “In the Blink of A Child’s Eye” where every song had some element of a children’s game or poem (Tumbling After, the Silver Needle etc.) This song is nothing more than a musing on a trust fall. I always liked the song, but I never loved the full band version... so I did an unplugged version… and I didn’t like that either. I do like this version though. It brings an energy to the song that my versions lacked.

Lyrics

when i'm weary, when i'm weak

when the ground is crumbling at my feet

and my world is dizzy spinning

i spread my arms to balance out

that's when i need your steady hand

to hold me up and help me understand

the war is still worth winning

you tell me move ahead just don't look down

and if i slip from the high wire

or when I'm jumping from the fire

will you catch me

when I'm falling

or will you leave me when I'm down

are you standing

behind me

will you save me in your arms

will you catch me

when I'm falling

i gotta know what you would do

would you make me whole

or let me break in two

my life's a mountain i must climb

it's getting steeper and I'm losing precious time

still I hope to rise up one day

above the clouds and all the pain

and if I reach the highest ledge

and my fingertips are clinging to the edge

i'll fight to keep from slipping

and speeding back to earth again

but if my parachute won't fill

or if my way loses the will to go on

-chorus

-solo

when i was young i played a game of faith

i believed, i was naive, and i was blind

i stretched my arms out open wide

tipped and gazed into the sky

and knew that i would be all right

as I felt arms slide under mine

someone always held on

and gently eased me down

Original Demo

Full band version

Unplugged version

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She Feels Beautiful – ©1996 – Glam Rock Funk Pop – Lenny Kravitz - (30-1-1)

30 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 1 track - 1 Clap track

Style Prompt - Glam Rock Funk Pop

Origin

This song was never supposed to sound like this. It was originally a straight up rock song... and kind of a throwaway. When I was asking the AI to cover it, I thought it might be cool to do a glam rock version. The renders then started sounding a little funkier, so then I asked for a Glam Rock Funk Pop version. It gave me 20 or so just OK versions and then this anomaly popped out. And I loved it. I tried a few more renders but nothing like it popped out again. The song went from being meh to one of my faves. Anyway I wrote this when I was young and looking back I probably didn't quite get the message across that I was hoping to... I was still relatively new at songwriting, so no big surprise. I was trying to convey the idea that it is the feeling of being loved that makes us truly feel good about ourselves, not all of the superficial things we do to make ourselves feel good. Also, the act of loving someone is just as rewarding as being loved. So really, both the singer and object of the song are both better for being in the relationship. They are getting something vital from opposite ends of the equation, whether they realize it or not.

Lyrics

it’s not the diamonds in her ears,

the silk the suede or rings of gold

it’s not the way she wears her hair oh no

it's not the shade she paints her lips

the foreign perfume on her skin

that makes her feel the way she does

and she feels beautiful the world is at her feet

and she feels beautiful and everything's a dream (all the bitter's sweet)

and yeah she's beautiful but will she ever see

what makes her feel so beautiful is me

it's not the strings of fancy pearls

the way her body moves and curves

or how the people stand and stare at her

it's not her picture perfect face

the way the praise and kisses taste

when she smiles and hugs herself

chorus

and the reason that she glows

is that she knows that she is loved

though i don't think she really knows

what that means

Original Demo

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Get Up – ©1991 – 90s Alt Ska Rock / New Wave – No Doubt - (46-5-0)

46 renders / 5 versions used in Pro Tools / 0 added

Style Prompt - Pop punk with male vocals

Origin

I wrote this rather quickly and always considered it a kind of throw away song. I had been dealing with a few people who were completely full of it and by that point had enough. Simple premise, simple song, but I do like this version... and after listening to it a bunch of times I feel like it could end up being a No Doubt song.

Lyrics

i can't believe

the tales that your telling me

did you make them up yourself

did you think

that i'd be fooled so easily

this time i've had more than enough

so get up and get out

get up and get out

get up and get out

get up and get out of here

i'm tired of your voice

and i don't want to hear it anymore

i don't want to hear it anymore

you try to hide

what are you afraid i'll find

don't change the subject it won't help

you tell me lies

and give me your excuses

why don't you try somebody else

so get up and get out

get up and get out

get up and get out

get up and get out of here

i'm tired of your voice

and i don't want to hear you anymore

i don't want to hear you anymore

solo

one day the truth

will finally catch up to you

if no one's there who will you blame

you'll make mistakes

but you won't say i'm sorry

it's really such a simple thing

so get up and get out

get up and get out

get up and get out

get up and get out of here

i'm tired of your voice

and i don't want to hear another word

Original Demo

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A House Divided – ©1991 – 90's Dance Rock – INXS - (128-7-9)

128 renders / 7 versions used in Pro Tools / added 9 tracks - 5BV layer 3Me V Layer, 1Gtr Layer

Style Prompt - pop rock, new wave, dance rock with a male vocal that is a dynamic, sensual, and flexible baritone voice that effortlessly blended rock power with R&B groove and a seductive sing-talk lower register that pivot on a dime into gritty, impassioned belting, perfectly capturing the edgy yet vulnerable energy

Origin

This song was originally about race relations and had more of a rock feel. I never loved the lyrics I wrote because they felt a bit forced. It sounded more to me like a kid trying to write a song about race rather than just a song about race. Recently, I rewrote the words to reflect the political division in the country now... and the song finally rang true. After hearing a few renders from the AI, I thought that maybe I would go for more of an INXS feel. The combo of the 2 fixes really gave the song a new life.

Lyrics

Strained relations

And politics

Divide the nation

Into hate

Pulling in all directions

Waiting for the rope to break

You see we're all the problem

But who's to blame

Got people pointing fingers

Got people calling names

Violence gets all attention

And the fire fuels the flames

Hey now, we are brothers

Why can't we live with one another

A house divided never stands the night

But, maybe together we can get it right

(I) Daily condemnations

(Hear) Cancelled with no debate

(You) Proud of ignorance

(Please) And keeping separate

(Hear) No need for understanding

(Me) And Truth’s a casualty

(No) Goodbye moderation

(Side) Just one side to see

(Is) Extremes and accusations

(Right) Disowning family

(Show) Each side convinced that they know

(Grace) What’s best for everybody

Hey now, we are brothers

Why can't we live with one another

A house divided never stands the night

Maybe together we can get it right

Solo

Is your mind made up

Cause it’s your decision

To stand up for what's right

Or kneel and give in

Will you give all your heart

Or just your best intentions?

Hey now, we are brothers

Why can't we live with one another

A house divided never stands the night

Maybe together we can get it right

Original Demo

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Candlelight Serenade – ©1990 – 80's Pop / New Wave – Starship / Kenny Loggins - (20-1-1)

20 renders / 1 versions used in Pro Tools / added 1 tracks - 1BV layer

Style Prompt - 80's new wave ballad

Origin

I liked the idea of a candlelight being your own personal little star keeping and tracking time... and being a beacon to navigate home. My original full band version never really grabbed me and the unplugged version, I liked a little bit better... but my singing is definitely the weakest link in the chain. I wanted the AI to do an 80’s cover. My feeling was that if you couldn’t hear Starship doing the song or Kenny Loggins singing it in a Top Gun Movie then I had failed miserably. This is one of my favorite transformation songs of this project. This is probably the genre the song always should have been in from the start... and I love the BIG 80's chorus where Suno kept my harmonies but jacked them up an octave. (there is not a universe that exists where I could ever sing that high). It feels like the song is finally where it needs to be.

Lyrics

my little angel

it's been such a long time i've been gone

my precious darling

i have missed you ever since we've been apart

i sit here thinking

as i watch a dancing candle flame

i hear me whisper go and get her

let your heart fire lead the way

and as the sunlight guides the time

like stars lead sailors through the night

i'll meet you by the candlelight

and there we'll be together

just remember i love you and it won't be long

before i'm on my way back home

i had to understand

you could not go, not come along with me

i know you understand

i'm out here wondering just what my life means

see i found the answer

when i could not find anything at all

the journey's over now i'm smarter

it was you right from the start

chorus

solo

candle glow

your heart leads me home

chorus

Original Demo

Full band version

Unplugged version

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The Silver Needle – ©1991 – Synth Pop – Depeche Mode - (136-2-0)

136 renders / 2 versions used in Pro Tools / added 0 tracks

Style Prompt - synth-pop, electronic rock, new wave

Origin

Another “In the Blink of A Child’s Eye” cut based on the "Cross my heart and hope to die" childhood oath. I liked the idea of using children’s words to govern the adult world and how most of us don’t practice what we preach... And how much easier life would be if we just lived this simpler life. The original demo was done with a guitar and multi-tap delay, but I always felt like this was a synth pop song. It works better in this genre.

Lyrics

life was so much easier

when we were young and we knew only of

ourselves and nothing else at all

i could tell you everything

and we were strong and that meant so much more

than anything that i recall

when we were children we would sing

innocent and sweet

without deceit

an oath to one another

cross my heart and hope that i would die

stick the silver needle in my eye

swear i'll never tell, i'll never lie

promise you until the end of time

now our world is bigger complicated

and so many people

using one another

to do what they must do

alliances to back their causes

here today and gone tomorrow

in fine print and in clauses

if there's anything to lose

and we dangle by a string

above the hot concrete

of a nameless street

it seems that we've forgotten how to sing

-chorus

-solo

nothing is as simple as

as beautiful as precious as

the ones we know

we can depend upon

promises were meant to keep

and truth is not a question but the truth

is all we have and we have nothing if there's none

we teach our children how to sing

but we're not listening

and they learn everything

we show them, do we still believe?

chorus

Original Demo

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The Breakup Song (Dance Remix) – ©1999 – Synth Pop – Pet Shop Boys - (45-1-0)

45 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 0 tracks

Style Prompt - synth pop, edm, ‑punk, ‑altrenative, ‑rock

Origin

Let’s face it, people are bad a breaking up and the tropes are pretty funny... and sad. So I thought using the tropes to tell the story of how most breakups go would be a good idea. The original version was more rock/punk, but I never really liked the arrangement. When I started the project of covering all of these songs, I decided I would make at least 1 dance remix. I tried it on this one and I loved the result. As much as I thought the original wasn’t exactly right, the song still made a list of one of the 100 best breakup songs of all time when it first came out. I don’t know how they found us, because we were just a local band, but hey, I’ll take it. Another side note, the title of this song is also a nod to the Greg Kihn band. The Breakup Song was the first song I ever learned by listening to the radio and trying to figure out the notes on the guitar on my own.

Lyrics

We need to talk

This is something I don’t think can wait

We’ve grown apart

And I think we could use a little space

So what am I supposed to do?

What’s left to say?

Sometimes stories just turn out that way

It’s not you, it’s me

I guess I just need a little time

To find myself

You don’t know how bad I feel right now

So now what do I do?

I really don’t know what to say

Sometimes stories just turn out that way

You’re nice, I’m sorry

And I hope we can still be best of friends

You’re right, and I’m all wrong

This is best for both of us I think

I don’t know what to do

Really nothing left to say

Sometimes people just turn out that way

Then I say that I don’t think

We should see each other any more but

After a few more drinks I forget

What I came here for

And things are slowly looking better

I can’t remember what was ever the matter

Next thing I know

The 2 of us are laying here in bed

See, I thought we broke up

You say shut up just go back to sleep

So I am I supposed to do?

Is there something I should say?

Sometimes people just end up that way

Sometimes stories just turn out that way

Original Demo

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Make It With You – ©1991 – 90's Boy Band – N'Sync / Backstreet Boys - (23-1-1)

23 renders / 1 version used in Pro Tools / added 1 track hand claps

Style Prompt - Pop boy band

Origin

I was in my 20’s driving home alone from a trip with friends and I had this melody in my head. As usual, I kind of had these nonsense words as filler just to have something to sing. But I liked them so I kept them. When I got home I wrote the rest of lyrics in like 10 minutes and recorded it to remember the music idea and melody. This was not my style of music so it was a total throwaway for me at the time, but... if I had this AI Cover version I would have tried to sell it to a boy band of the day. In my opinion, this scenario is where the AI shines. It took a simple drum, guitar, bass and vocal… kept all the same notes… and completely changed the genre. That was lucky for me because I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around this kind of song if I had to arrange it myself, it’s just not what I do. A funny side story. I went to college in Boston and about 2 weeks after my roommate and I settled in our dorm, we got a call in the middle of the night from some girls from France thinking we were the Backstreet Boys. You see, his name was listed in the phone book as J. McIntyre, and after talking to them for a bit and trying to convince the girls he wasn't in the band, he made the mistake of turning to me and in his Maine accent saying "Hey Donny, you speak French, come over here and talk to these girls." The girls shrieked so loud I could hear them through the phone earpiece from the other side of the room.

Lyrics

making something out of nothing

that's all we can do

gotta stir a little dream in

and pray it comes true

and i think that we should try it

and i know that we'll get through

girl we're gonna make it

i'm gonna make it with you

they'll say that we're crazy

but we don't care

'cause we got each other

and we're always there

so i think that we should do it

do you think so too?

girl we're gonna make it

i'm gonna make it with you

cause i love you

and i need you babe

and i want you

every, every, every, every day

cause i love you

and i need you babe

and i want you

over and over and over again

if life gives us troubles

we'll find better times

and we'll break down laughing

so we don't start crying

babe i got a feeling

let's push it on through

cause girl we're gonna make it

i'm gonna make it with you

cause i love you

and i need you babe

and i want you

every, every, every, every day

cause i love you

and i need you babe

and i want you

over and over and over yeah

solo

oh, just tell me that you love me

if that's what you feel

and we'll be forever

and we'll be what's real

and i know that we can do this

we're tried and we're true

girl we're gonna make it

i'm gonna make it with you

gonna try to make you happy

in everything i do

girl we're gonna make it

i'm gonna make it with you

Original Demo

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Beautiful – ©1991 – Indie Folk – ?sounds like?? - (40-9-4)

40 renders / 9 version used in Pro Tools / added 4 tracks / 3 BV Orig Demo / 1 Verb GTR Orig Demo

Style Prompt - Indie folk-rock ballad characterized by a lush, atmospheric production with male falsetto voice

Origin

I don’t really write moment in time songs... and this may be the only one I’ve ever done. Growing up, my family had a boat, so I spent a lot of time at the beach and in the water... and as I got a little older, a lot of nights. I wanted to do a song that captured the vibe of a night... and then eventual morning on the beach. I used a piece of gear called a Quad GT to add thick reverb to my guitar sound, to mimic the waves coming in and out. When I was writing the song, I actually took the girl I was seeing at the time to the beach to time the wave intervals with a stop watch, so I could try and match the song tempo and chord rhythm to the surf. She thought I was insane. Fair enough. I used the piano because I thought it sounded a bit like droplets of water. I added almost a heartbeat-like bass drum and felt like I had captured the idea pretty well.

Lyrics

i watch the waves roll in

and wash back out to sea

my finger moves the sand

to the ease of the quiet beach

the night wind whispers something

slow across my cheek

the moon and stars light up the sky

and all the world is lost inside a dream

and everything is beautiful

i hold you near me

and i feel your gentle breath

the warmth of smooth skin pressing

soft against my neck

your long dark hair falls down like

silk upon my chest

i close my eyes. . . and wonder if i'm

as close to heaven as i'll ever get

and everything is beautiful

and everything is beautiful, beautiful right now

i watch the sun rise

paint the colors of the day

i feel you twist and turn

as you begin to wake

i hear the breath of life go

crashing in the waves

and everything around me looks like it

should be surrounded by a picture frame

and everything is beautiful

and everything is beautiful, beautiful right now

and everything is beautiful

and everything is beautiful, beautiful right now

Original Demo

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