"Sympathy"- Original

[Johnbee]

This might qualify for a mimic, but I originally wrote and recorded it in 2016, so it's not new but "refurbished".  It's not my usual style but I tried an experiment with some good ol' R&B.   You might say it mimics Percy Sledge or maybe even Wilson Pickett or some James Brown.  I used upright piano and organ along with a horn section of tenor sax and trumpet.  My fear is that the horns are too hot.  Please let me know if they sound balanced to you.  It's called "Sympathy" and I hope you enjoy.
  John B

So many  heartaches. So many memories
Built up before my eyes. Frozen in time.
You say you feel for me, but not romantically
So like it or not, I must survive without your love

Don't want your sympathy
I don't need your empathy
I'll carry on.  I just need time to deal with the emptiness
Don't need your well wishes
They only hurt me more
I must forget.  I need to be strong
Accept reality

So long I lived with my sad delusions
Thinking you loved me just as much as I loved you
It's hard to believe that I have been such a fool in love
Living a hopeless lie.  Dreaming you needed me

Don't want your sympathy.
I don't need your empathy
I will survive.  I'll find the grace to hold my head up high
Maybe we were both wrong to think that our love would last
I must stand tall.  Life will go on.  I will be strong again

You've taught me many things about my emotions
How to respect myself.  The meaning of true love
Lessons of life you gave to my heart only

Don't want your sympathy
I don't need your empathy
I'll carry on.  I just need time to deal with the emptiness
Don't need your well wishes
They only hurt me more
I must forget.  I need to be strong
Accept reality

Don't want your sympathy.
I don't need your empathy
I will survive.  I'll find the grace to hold my head up high
Maybe we were both wrong to think that our love would last
I must stand tall.  Life will go on.  I will be strong again

c 2016 John Bowen

[Groundy]

I certainly did enjoy it, John, well done.... Alex

[Zoltan]

This sounds good! I don't think the horns are too hot sounding. Overall it's a very balanced mix with an open sound. For this type of thing i'd personally use a bit of saturation and compression to glue the sounds together a bit more. But it's a stylistic choice and a matter of opinion It works perfectly as is!

[Ferryman_1957]

Nice change of style John, I really like how you handled that. The keys and rhythm sound great, the organ works so well and I don't think the horns are too hot in ay way at all. It all sounds great and I really enjoyed this one. No idea if it's a mimic or not, but it's a great song in its own right.

[StephenM]

oh yes...a song about the classic one loves and the other doesn't...it's a common tragedy in life and well documented in song and novel...but there is always room for another about it...
the mix sounds good as is...of course there are 50 ways to mix something like this as there is so much going on...
it's a great sound and another good song John....

[DarrenG / The Devil's Toupee]

It's a great love song. I like the R nB style. Those organs, piano and horns sound great I think. The drums sound great too, it's all balanced well to me. I love that rhythm in the chorus.
Really nice singing and lyrics too.

[guitarron]

Good all around mix I thought. Good song and arrangement.

[BerryPatch]

Great track, really like the added horn arrangement hear,. I picked up on the R&B thing pretty quickly, very cool to hear with your signature songwriting still in tact.

[Johnbee]

Hi, Berry, guitarron, WarrenG, SteveM,Ferryman, Zoltan & Groundy-
Thanks so much for the input, guys.

  John B

[Mike_S]

Great song John, It might be in the R&B style, but it's really got that John B stamp especially in the vocal styling and melody. Enjoyed that a lot.

Mike