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Hop On Pop
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12/8/2008 7:36:28 AM
---- Updated 12/8/2008 7:41:32 AM
Bringing in an outside SINGER?
Yeah, this thread was inspired, in part, by Susie's thread.
As most of you know, Hop On Pop is pretty much just me. So, of course, I have to do all the singing, right?
Well, I hope not. I have a couple of songs that I want to bring in other folks to do the lead vocal. That is, if I can convince them to get behind the mic.
For one song, I am trying to convince HoP drummer/keyboard player David Kling to perform a song solo just him on piano AND vocals. I won't be on it at all, in fact. You see, he isn't exactly a natural singer, but the song has a very Randy Newman feel and I think that he is perfect and a natural choice to take the lead. We'll see what I can do.
The other one, I already have pretty much convinced/fooled into doing it:
I wrote
"Happy Days"
specifically FOR my wife to sing – many moons ago, before we were even married.
I'm going in this week with the band to record the basic tracks and then with her later in the month, so that she can record her vocal. Again, she is not really a natural singer, but she has a very sweet little girl voice that is perfect. Of course, as the song was written for her.
Do any of you specifically those of you with more-traditional bands (I know that you do Scotti!) ever bring in somebody like this? Or use them outside of their traditional role?
How did it work?
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Richard Scotti
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12/8/2008 8:02:30 AM
---- Updated 12/8/2008 8:04:40 AM
Todd, GO FOR IT!!! Now you're thinking like a producer. When a songwriter uses other singers once and a while - other than him or her self - it broadens the scope of what can achieved artistically. I'm not a fan of the Eagles but isn't amazing that everyone in the group has a great voice and can sing lead? Regardless of who wrote the songs, they all sound unique because there is more than one singer doing all the singing. When I do my Dylan cover CD I'm going to have a woman singing a couple of the songs to really put a new spin on them. Now this next comment doesn't apply to you but I have a good friend who writes great songs but can't sing at all yet his ego forces him to sing his own songs and he his baffled by his lack of success.When I suggested that he get good singers to sing his songs he thought I was crazy. Denial and too much ego are two big obstacles to progress in music. The more you let go of the "rock star" dream, the closer you will get to the "real life" dream of writing and publishing a hit song that is performed as well as it can be.
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Hop On Pop
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12/8/2008 8:34:30 AM
---- Updated 12/8/2008 8:35:18 AM
I've said it on this site before, Richard, and I'll say it again:
I don't want to be famous; I just want my songs to be famous.
And I do think that I am starting to think more and more like a producer these days. My situation has kinda forced my hand in that way. And, to tell you the truth, I am really enjoying it!
I cannot wait to let you all hear the new material, once it is all complete. I'm pretty excited about it.
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Richard Scotti
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12/8/2008 9:03:33 AM
I know that about you, Todd. I was just giving examples of other people and speaking in general about ego but not about you in particular.
Sometimes the best things come from having your hand forced! Necessity is the
mother of invention. I turned to other singers because I wanted to write in styles that my voice was not suited for. Now I can write melodies with notes that I could never hit but others can in styles I never handle.
I'm excited about my new material too. 2009 will be a year of experimentation for me where my writing and production will be edgier and more alternative/modern.
I'll be using younger singers and players who are really excited about infusing my songs with new energy and rawness.
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12/8/2008 11:59:10 AM
OK ... I'll do it, stop begging already ! jeez
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kurtkurtley
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12/8/2008 3:32:57 PM
Many years ago we were getting ready to do some recording and I invited a friend to be my "voice" on the songs I was contributing. I'd made his acquaintance in school, become friends and found that he had a really smokin' Motown Revue type band. HIs name was Barry Neal, from CT, and he had a powerhouse voice. So I asked (begged, actually!) him to sing in my stead on a few songs.
He did, and I don't think I ever sounded better :>)
Unfortunately my old friend passed away a few years ago....
I'm going to dust off the reel-to-reel and dig thru the archives.
I'd like to post a couple of the songs he did as a tribute to a fine singer and a good friend.
So, hopefully, there will be a few new (old) tunes up on the Kurt Kurtley page featuring the fine vocal work of Barry Neal.
Thanks for the thread.
Kurt
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Hop On Pop
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1/16/2009 5:00:48 AM
So, I recorded vocals for a new song last week and... I just can't hit a lot of those notes. I thought that I'd be able to, but it's a no-go. It covers a full 2 octaves and, frankly, I just don't have the range.
So now, there's a third song on the record that I won't be singing. Hell, it's supposed to sound like a mixtape anyway, right?
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Conversation Suicide
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1/16/2009 5:13:30 AM
---- Updated 1/16/2009 5:30:16 AM
yup. This is a good decision. I'm with Kurt & Richard's wisdom on this one.
I gave up the LEAD Vocals, and only do the backups & such, on two songs from our latest trip to an actual recording studio:
TATTOO MY FIST
and
SHELL SHOCK
Obviously, my biased mind thinks that my little nuances & backup vocals help make them both shine, but he was the MAIN writer of these tunes lyrical verses, so it just made sense for D-LO to do the leads on these two.
I've had to grow a lot in the past few years, to keep the music goin' in a tough economy. A band has to be 2 or more people who work together, so sharin' singin' is a GREAT idea. The only thing you'll ever have to worry about is bein' sure you give credit where credit is due.
I'm currently in two side projects where I share a LOT of the writing, and only do BASS & backup vocals.
Shit, some of my favorite tunes have multiple voices....
YIKE-ERSS -!!!! This IAC bloggin' thing is just way too addictive.
I'm gonna have to be a better citizen of the little ARTFEST commune I live in, and fuckin' spend less time HERE and moRE time on finding a NEW day job. I'm LIGHT-YEARS away from music supporting itself! Thanks for lettin' me drop my attempt at pearls of wisdom up in this blog o' yours.
Lookin' forward to an even MORE diverse release from you TODD, than you've done previously! ROCK on with your eclectic self, my good man.
-yer pal, pHLeGm
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