gno

Steve - Thanks for listening and it was great to talk yesterday.  You're right about the loneliness.  I could put more of that emotion into the performance.

you're right.  That was what Vannelli was trying to tell us.  The If the note is lower by even a very small amount, it can have an impact on the listener, even if the listener doesn't even know that it is flat.

Thanks Killer!  In his studio Gino Vannelli was using Digital Performer to record us.  And he would go in and show us our vibratos and could demonstrate both ways by just editing the wave.  And we had to agree with him when the crest of vibrato goes above it sounds sweeter.  But that's really subjective.  He said Frank Sinatra did this all the time except for like one album.

I don't know if my vibrato is consistently doing this on this track, as I think a lot of times it's not.  I didn't check, but I tried.  I try to do this when I practice and it is not easy.  My default is to go up to the pitch and not over it.  I think this is what most singers do by default.  

The problem with going up to the pitch and not above is if you are accidentally singing just a little flat, it really starts to sound bad. Whereas if you are shooting for a little above, and you go flat you're still good.

Ron - Thanks for your comments.  Yeah this song had a big affect on me too from way back.  And every time I hear it brings back those memories and emotions.  It is a fabulous song.  I don't know why it hits me like that.

Rob - Thanks a lot for listening and the kind words.  That means a lot to me

Mdew - Thanks for listening!

I never in a million years would have thought to do this song.   But a producer friend of mine emailed me his version - minus the vocals.  Actually one of my fav's when I was really young so I couldn't resist.

This is version 2 in which I take the last chorus an octave up.  ( he didn't like that version, so I did another for him.  That one is also on my page )  

I concentrated on a tip from Gino Vannelli, which he got from Frank Sinatra - Make sure the high part of your vibrato is higher than the pitch you're singing.  A lot of singers keep the high part of their vibrato AT the pitch which doesn't sound quite as good.

Let me know what you think.

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13243503

Wow he really did a number on it.   It looks like it was originally a sunburst color with a mahogany neck which was the same as mine.  Does it sound good?  Is the neck straight?

Cool.  You've got that style down.  Nice work

Excellent - great style and phrasing.  Keep on doing what you're doing.

Fabulous!  Very nice!

Cool.  Sounds good.  I agree with Mdew - you should record that with your own accompaniment.  

Nice tone and pitch.  Very relaxing to listen to.  I like the story about the guitar.  Sounds like it has a lot of character.  You should post a picture of it.  I had a 70's strat once - a 73.  The frets were really low that year.  Are the frets low on that one?  

Nice job on that.  Very different from from what we normally hear from you.  I like the tone you are getting in the low range - rich and bright.  It is kind of a haunting song.  Well done.

Excellent job.  Nice resonance.  I sing this song too - one of my favorites.  

The song sounds good - based on the small amount that you posted.  Your voice is good - a bit out of control with the pitch on the high parts.  It would be better if you had a more finished version without your friend freaking out about the next part.

Awesome job Felipe.  You really have developed some great control especially in the upper register.  That's not an easy song to sing.  I've got a question: How much more energy are you using when singing those higher notes?  From the video, it doesn't seem like you are exerting that much more.  

Love it!   Nicely mixed although I think your voice should be louder.  The guitar on the left side seems louder than the vocal which takes away from your fabulous voice.

Very nice song / production / performance.  Great mix.  Nice vocals.  I like the different textures you have going on.  Pink Floydish at times.

Cool rendition.  Both vocals nailed the spirit of the original.  I like the way the acoustic sounds.  Drums are nice and punchy.  That was enjoyable to listen to.

Great story Killer.  You can hear the passion in your performances.  The ability to convey emotion.  Music is a great medium to express emotion.  Glad it is bringing you happiness.

I think your limitations have got to be more lifestyle at this moment. If you have a family and all that hitting the road and making an outreach effort can be out of reach for some folks. I have a vague memory of a Journey cover that was a bit 'pressed' up there. It wasn't terrible, but you sound more relaxed and like you can use that range more freely.

 

Exactly.  2 kids and my "day job".  And you're right about Don't Stop Believin' it was my first Journey cover and I couldn't sing that high stuff without pressing.  I've been working the last couple years on a more balanced approach.  

How about you - you mentioned you are a drummer.  Is that how you first got into music?  Were you always a singer?

Thanks for your words of encouragement Killer.  Its fun to dream.  I have a producer friend that wants me to put out an album.  Maybe some day.

Fabulous.  Wow.  

Sounds really good.  I like the energy you put into your singing.  Lots of style and rhythmic phrasing.  And a range of dynamics - distortions.  Good stuff!

On the cruise I had to sing "here I go again" by whitesnake and "pride" for 80s night, if my placement wanted to work it'd be fine but sometimes it wwouldn't be spot on placement - wise and it would bug me. Especially singing "in the Naaaaaaame of love, whaaaat more in the name of love" all on a high b. That was always a fear of cracking on the b, so instead I'd sing a high e flat to hook in before the high b" I guess all I'm trying to say is that it was very vocally fatiguing and it forced me to reevaluate my technique all the time, and that I CAN'T sing any and every genre of music

Great voice Eugene.  Interesting to hear your experiences in that environment.  Seems like that could be pretty taxing.  

Not bad. Pitch is pretty good - this is not an easy song to keep perfect pitch. There are just a few spots in the earlier chorus's where I heard kind of a "swallowed" tone and losing the brightness. I heard some nasality in maybe one or two spots. Possibly losing the breath connection here and there. The last chorus was more consistent. Just keep on practicing and it will get more consistent. Smiling while you sing will keep the cheeks up which will help the brightness and keep you centered on the vowels.