Nine Billion Names of God (Billy/Bree/Donna)

[Donna]

Some months ago I re-read Arthur C. Clarke's short sci-fi story of the same name. The title immediately generated a series of personal images quite different from the story. The result was this 'dark night of the soul' piece. I love Billy's unique Latin treatment, and Bree's vocals are perfect. Hope you enjoy it.  

Music/arrangement/instrumentation: Billy Playle
Vocals: Bree Noble
Lyrics: Donna Devine


Nine Billion Names of God

(v1)
Hope of heaven
Slowly fading
Earthly whispers
All pervading

(v2)
Light grows fainter
Once so holy
Now the soul fights
Melancholy

Chorus
In the company of angels
Was I pushed or did I leap
Plunging through a human womb
Not landing on my feet
And if indeed I ever walked
On paths that angels trod
How could I have forgotten
The nine billion names of God

Instrumental

(v3)
Have my old friends
Left me stranded
Crawling homeward
Bloody-handed

Instrumental

Bridge
Whose idea was it then
For us to join the world of man
I have vague memories of a key
But heaven still feels closed to me

Chorus
In the company of angels
Was I pushed or did I leap
Plunging through a human womb
Not landing on my feet
And if indeed I ever walked
On paths that angels trod
How could I have forgotten
The nine billion names of God

� 2010 Donna Devine

[McLovin]

Another amazing lyric accompanied with spotless production and vocals.  Excellent ending.

Great job Donna, Billy and Bree!

[Paulo]

Yeh, love the samba feel, very hot 

[snowdoguk]

Love it Donna, Billy and Bree..... drools class .... brilliant

Mike

[AndyG6508]

Hi Donna,

An interesting sound I must admit..latin not my fav genre...but nothing can take away from the fact that the song sounds very slickly produced..it should be a hit!

Great lyrics..coupled with great singing and of course Billy never has a hair out of place has he:)

Cheers
Andy

[Studioplayer]

OK... that was amazing. Super nice song. WELL done!! 

[CosmicDolphin]

Where do you get all these different styles from Billy.

Sounds really authentic 

CD

[Paulo]

Where do you get all these different styles from Billy.

Sounds really authentic 

CD

Listening to music instead being all the time pushing the console faders 

[Billy]

Thanks for all the positive comments and feedback.

I can appreciate music like this isn't always popular but it's nice to know that some people are listening.

Paulo - actually, you're not that far wrong! I have opened my mind to a lot of World music over the past 20 years. I urge musicians/lyricists to do the same. It can be so uplifting for instance, when I first heard by Milton Nascimento, it blew me away. I thought it was the most beautiful song I'd ever heard. Being Brazilian (Nascimento) the lyrics were sung in portuguese and although I didn't understand what he was singing it was the melody and the way in which he sung it that left me stunned. I've never heard anything like it. I also like to listen to many different rhythms of the world.

OK, I don't want to bore you with my ramblings (but I will). You don't know this but this started out as a rock tune (yeah, what was I thinking) Donna's excellent lyrics gave me all the vision I needed to start composing music. I just realised it was the wrong genre that's all. I was determined to have another crack at it and came up with this.

I'll get my coat!

Billy.

[Donna]

Jay, Paulo, Mike, Andy, Dave, and CD, I appreciate you coming by and commenting so kindly on this somewhat unusual song.    Billy really outdid himself! I absolutely adore the music, but when I first heard the soundtrack, I practically fell off my chair laughing. Next thing I knew, I was samba-ing around the living room to a 'dark-night-of-the-soul' piece. 
And somehow it all felt perfectly natural. 

Billy, others have sent kudos your way as well. I'll pop a few in here.

Donna

Rich rich music and fabulous vocals do full justice to this very imaginative lyric! Well done all of you!  Diane
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Wow!!!
This is _great_!!!
So many great things about this song, from the violins to the whole ambience, from the rhythm to the guitar and...
...have I said "Wow" to the vocals???
I'm on my second listen.
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spectacular on every level, luxurious music, spellbinding vocals, and lyrics "Divine"
rittmo'
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Really well done, kudos to all involved, very nice!  RJC
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Oh so nice and refreshingly done. Love it. Great vocals and music excellent lyrics.
James
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Wow!! I can't come up with an original comment, everything I think has already been said, but I agree with all of it!! This is a new favorite of yours for me. Bree's vocals are just perfect and the music is amazing. I just absolutely love it. Wish there was something better than favorite that I could give it, but since there isn't I'm just gonna press that little button now!!!
Sheila
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Hey Donna, very fine song. Well written and the arrangement is spectacular. Excellent!!
OD
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way dig'n the push in the arrangement tempered with the violin/strings backing. love the colorful deep lyric. I guess the 1st God we encounter is mom then dad and the doctor! 'nine billion' yikes. now that's gonna make for a busy Sunday morn!!!! way dig'n the provocative creative sonic sermon. thanks and great job by all.  Rard
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Well written lyrics and exquisite music. A very nice collaboration and the vocal is nice. Loved the entire package. Kudos.  Dave

[Paulo]

I know that you're opened to every style, Billy... I've heard enough from you to know that you listen to all the stuff.

[r4m]

Nothing less than AWESOME!! Love the progression! So professional!! 
The acoustic guitar solo is SWEET!

[Donna]

Thank you, Bill.  There's no doubting Billy's talent. 

A few more kudos, Billy.

Donna
_______

Just beautiful on all levels. Kudos to all involved. Much enjoyed!  AS
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Highly creative and original lyrics vocal and music - the nine billon names of God to me says that many paths lead to the truth - love the ending - great work - enjoyed! cheers!  Shakey
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Great write Donna! A very clever work of art! Your thoughtful lyrics. Billy's superb arrangement and mix. Bree's awsome vocals. Simply fantastic!  All the best, Robin
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Once again you give us an outstanding Lyric where all that follows does perfect justice to your words. It is so wonderful how your work attracts such great artists who put their spark into your thoughts and the result raise the song even higher. This is a great collaboration, Kudos for the teamwork. Annie
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Wow this is so good. Wonderfully performed with shots of words entering the subconcious mind. Great sounding too with a toutch of mysterious ambience.
What a great production.  Ken
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Beautiful song, good work !!!!!!!!!!!!   Daniel
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Dark and somber in places! Excellent combination of words, music and striking vocal. Superb work by all! Rusty
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WOW! WOW! oh my goodness - this is outstanding! Truly fabulous! Beautiful, gorgeous! Love it!
Diane

[AndyG6508]

Great going Donna et al....congratulations.

Good see that your material is being well received beyond MCS.

Cheers
Andy

[Albino]

Absolutley fantastic 

I so enjoyed this tune and so did my wife (she is a spanish teacher). it was so very refreshing.

And what professional sounding production.

A great job by all involved.
 
Steve.