| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: Oh, Isabelle by Curtis Cameron and Cindy Miller
by Curtis Cameron | 05/06/01 at 01:10:41
Hi Everybody,
Well, here is another deep dark lyric, with some light still left in it. We've been struggling with this for weeks and have posted on several other boards where we've gotten got all types of reactions.
Anyway, what we thought was done, has undergone an overhaul. Even so it may need another, but we wanted to post before we lose sight of some of the original spark it contains.
Please give your opinions on this extremely elusive lyrics. She's been a real slippery one to tie down. HELP!
Thanks,
Curtis and Cindy
P.S.
Please excuse the fact that I went ahead an posted complete choruses throughout the song. I wanted everyone to get a chance to actually hear/feel the "Isabelle's" so I can see whether we are beating you over the head with it. ;)
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Oh, Isabelle
© 2001 Cindy Miller/Curtis Cameron
V1
You play the judge and jury
Confess to unknown crimes
Hand down verdicts from your mirror
Then serve them in your mind
You wage a losing war
With hunger as your shield
Reflections lie, but in your eyes
The truth they tell is real
Chorus
ISABELLE, OH,ISABELLE
Why can’t I be enough?
Why can’t you trust me with the truth
When life becomes too tough?
Why can’t you share your pain?
Why can’t you turn to me?
ISABELLE, OH,ISABELLE
Share your misery
V2
ISABELLE what tortures you?
What’s trapped your tender soul?
What leads you through such sacrifice
With painful self control?
People look, and people see
The lovely ISABELLE
But deep inside, where tortures lie
You hide your secret well
Chorus
ISABELLE, OH,ISABELLE
Why can’t I be enough?
Why can’t you trust me with the truth
When life becomes too tough?
Why can’t you share your pain?
Why can’t you turn to me?
ISABELLE, OH,ISABELLE
Share your misery
Bridge
I’ve seen your light begin to fade
Your shadows grow too deep
You grapple with finalities
And secrets you can’t keep
Release your lonely self
Oh…let your captive free
ISABELLE, OH,ISABELLE
Share your pain with me
Chorus
ISABELLE, OH,ISABELLE
Why can’t I be enough?
Why can’t you trust me with the truth
When life becomes too tough?
Why can’t you share your pain?
Why can’t you turn to me?
ISABELLE, OH,ISABELLE
Share your misery
---- The first and second verses have been inverted so you may try reading the second as first, and the first as second. That is the way it was originally written. -----
Subject: Re: Oh, Isabelle by Curtis Cameron and Cindy Mille
by James B. Mitchell | 05/06/01 at 01:11:45
Great song, Curtis and Cindy. The images are powerful (at least to me), and the story holds together well. I like the "Oh, Isabelle" repetition in the chorus. I never do that kind of repetition and it works so well. Yet another thing to put down on my list of things to try.
I think the idea of moving verse 2 (as it appears here) to verse 1 would be a good idea. Although it doesn't have the same poetic touch to it that your current verse 1 has, it does set up the scene as a story about anorexia (that *is* what it's about, right?)
There are only two lines that stick out to me when I read through this.
The first is "Reflections lie, but in your eyes / The truth they tell is real". I get the idea, but somehow the thought seems turned around. It seems like the reflections *don't* lie, but in her eyes the lie she sees is real.
The second is the phrase "painful self-control". It just feels a little clunky. It seems a bit tricky to get it to fall off the tongue. I don't have any good suggestion for a replacement, but I think it might be worth a review.
Your current verse 1 is just tops in my book for writing. Very strong and so nicely constructed -- no extra syllables, full of imagery. Having had a friend who suffered from this disease, I immediately see her from your description. It's a tragic illness, and it certainly could use some coverage in songs.
Thanks for posting such a great song.
-- James
Subject: Re: Oh, Isabelle by Curtis Cameron and Cindy Mille
by Curtis Cameron | 05/06/01 at 01:13:17
Hi James,
Thanks for the positive response. Sorry I took song long to respond. By the time I posted this song here we were pretty worn out and were still fielding responses on another board.
Yes, the song IS about anorexia, but we tried to be pretty subtle in our approach. I've got music written for it and so far so good, it will be kind of a modern rock vibe.
We've already done another re-write, but probably won't post it until I've had a chance to see how it all works with music.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I do appreciate your comments and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond. This posting song/responding to critiques takes a lot out of a guy (and gal) especially if you take critiques seriously, which we do. There comes a point though where you have to go with your gut and say "here it is folks, take it or leave it".
Thanks again James for you good word.
Look for the soundtrack sometime in the next...year, LOL
Curtis
Subject: Re: Oh, Isabelle by Curtis Cameron and Cindy Mille
by Gary songs | 05/06/01 at 01:14:40
Hi
In the first verse you have this looking glass thing like reflections and mirrors and I'm thinking I wonder what that's about and no one ever tells me. and I never fid out Isabelles secrect or her pain I know she thinks you are inadequite for her needs but I don't know why. I think some mystery is good but for me there are too many questions and not enough answers.
Nice lyrics though. Just frustrating
Cheers
Gary
Subject: Re: Oh, Isabelle by Curtis Cameron and Cindy Mille
by Curtis Cameron | 05/06/01 at 01:17:04
LOL Hi Gary,
Yeah, it was pretty obscure, some people seemed to get it and others were left... wondering.
The next version is a bit clearer I think, but not too overt about it. Keep an eye out for a re-write before the music file. Comments of course will be doubly appreciated then. ;)
Thanks again,
Curtis
P.S. Like I said to James, sorry for the delay on the response. Also, "I Knew A Girl Named Mary" is coming along nicely musically and should be ready pretty soon ( I hope).
Subject: Re: Oh, Isabelle by Curtis Cameron and Cindy Mille
by Shannon | 05/06/01 at 01:21:16
Hey Curtis & Cindy
Great job! Not only love your subject matter, but love the treatment you give it! I don't have much to comment on except your disclaimer about the first and second verses being inverted. I like it the way you've posted it here. But only because I like suspense. IMHO, if this is going to be set to mid-tempo music (or faster) the suspense works really well. If it's going to be a ballad where the syllables are gonna be stretched a fair bit, then you might wanna cut to the chase and start off with "You wage a losing war..." Do I make any sense?
Cheers
Shanon
Subject: Re: Oh, Isabelle by Curtis Cameron and Cindy Mille
by Curtis | 05/06/01 at 01:27:59
Hi Shanon,
You make perfect sense! I think though that I didn't make as much sense. I meant that the song used to start with,
V1
Isabelle, Oh Isabelle,
What's trapped your tender soul
What leads you through such sacrifice
With painful self control?
People look and people see
The lovely Isabelle
But deep inside where tortures lie
You hide your secret well
Or something like that. That might be the updated version, but anyway, the song used to open with that, and we will probably go back to that in the version we are setting to music. For some reason it appeals to us a bit better.
THANK YOU for your kind words on the subject matter and the treatment of it. We were trying ot be subtle and kind and supporting, but keep some of the dark edge the sickness carries with it. It was a tight rope to walk.
Thanks again,
Curtis