December 2015 Lover's Challenge

[Gsoul82]

The voters have it! This is the Lover's challenge! The cool thing about this challenge is that there's only one constant here; and it's that the subject matter needs to be about love. Besides that, you can choose to sing any song you desire. Let's run this challenge until January 17th.

 

Looking for instrumentals to sing over? Check out the link below.

 

If, for any reason, you feel this challenge isn't for you, don't worry. There will be more, on the way, before this one has run it's course.

Let's get singing.

[Gsoul82]

Anybody get started yet? I'm trying to decide between about 3 songs. I kind of want it to be something fresh, that I haven't tried to sing at all before, but there is also this pretty difficult song I've been trying to do since I started. I think I might be at the point now where I can just about pull the thing off. We'll see.

[Rosa]

Aren't you going to tell us the songs so we can choose?

 

Just joking.  I don't know how to record or anything, but this sure looks like big fun!

[Rosa]

I am training this song when I go for a walk, but won't be ready for the challenge

 

[ronws]

Rosa, you can record on anything and we will take that into account as best as possible. There are times when some of our mods, possessing very good recording equipment will record something quick on their phone. Even the older, cheapie flip phones will record sound files.

In fact, good singing always trumps equipment.

[Rosa]

Thank you for the encouragement, rowns.

[Gsoul82]

34 minutes ago, Rosa said:

Thank you for the encouragement, rowns.

He's right, Rosa. It doesn't have to be a polished, studio-quality recording. There were a couple of times where I ended up running low on time and I submitted something that didn't even have an instrumental track behind it. It's not about competing with everybody else, it's about challenging yourself.

[Rosa]

Thank you, Gsoul82.  And when is someone going to start singing something here??? I had voted for "Musical" but "Love" is even better.

[Rosa]

Felipe, you have a crooner's voice. Aren't you going to sing something here???

[Gsoul82]

On 1/1/2016 at 0:18 PM, Rosa said:

Thank you, Gsoul82.  And when is someone going to start singing something here??? I had voted for "Musical" but "Love" is even better.

This is a world forum, but maybe a bunch of the voters were celebrating Christmas or enjoying the time off.

I think I may have just chose my song: hint, it may be one of the songs by that guy I posted in your thread

[Rosa]

Good, Gsoul82. Do it your own! You were right, I liked more the live version, because I liked more the voices and their style than the accompaniment.  

 

I am training one as well! Not the one I posted above though; that's too much of a challenge for me yet. 

[Gsoul82]

Here's my challenge to myself. I took a shot at Don't Change by Musiq Soulchild.

 

 

 

[ronws]

I liked it a lot. The whole thing had that 70's r&b feel, like Ashford and Simpson. I think you could do a bunch of this and not be wrong, ever. 

I like the feeling of this song, and I can hear that is you in full control of your voice, totally in your element. Like Brian McKnight with a wider range. And who knows, maybe you have a sense of humor like R Kelly.

[Rosa]

Yeah! One brave person to take the challenge! Bravo! 

As I can't speak in the Review Section (nor do I have any interest in  ) I'll give you my opinion here: I've liked your song much more since minute 1, like you were a bit nervous at first and gained confidence as you went on. It looks like an extremely difficult song to me because the singing goes on NON-STOP, with lots of changes in pitch (or however that is called that you have to do modulating your voice). It must be fantastic training for breathing, or you are already an expert at it, because your breathing didn't fail at any point. Just great.

 

[Gsoul82]

2 hours ago, ronws said:

I liked it a lot. The whole thing had that 70's r&b feel, like Ashford and Simpson. I think you could do a bunch of this and not be wrong, ever. 

I like the feeling of this song, and I can hear that is you in full control of your voice, totally in your element. Like Brian McKnight with a wider range. And who knows, maybe you have a sense of humor like R Kelly.

I was going to do Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder, but the instrumental was the original key, so it was too high. I also realized, while I can sing my higher notes without much trouble, they happen more prone to pitch error.

This is probably Musiq's hardest song for me. Not quite sure why. Might be the emotion he puts into it. The original: 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Rosa said:

Yeah! One brave person to take the challenge! Bravo! 

As I can't speak in the Review Section (nor do I have any interest in  ) I'll give you my opinion here: I've liked your song much more since minute 1, like you were a bit nervous at first and gained confidence as you went on. It looks like an extremely difficult song to me because the singing goes on NON-STOP, with lots of changes in pitch (or however that is called that you have to do modulating your voice). It must be fantastic training for breathing, or you are already an expert at it, because your breathing didn't fail at any point. Just great.

 

 

Yup. I can't ask other people to challenge themselves if I don't do it too

I wasn't really nervous there. I just heard wrong, so the pitch was off. I'll agree that I think it got better as I went on. Musiq's songs can be tricky, especially if you try to do them the way he does them, because he's almost constantly singing, and when there are no lyrics, he's usually filling in the space with improvisations. Posted the original song above your quote.

[Slow Start]

Uh oh I'm a little late but I've got a couple I recorded recently. Sharing just for the sake of sharing the music.

I like your timbre, GSoul82! So rich! haha Some good melisma too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rosa]

1 hour ago, Slow Start said:

Sharing just for the sake of sharing the music.

 

 

Yeah!  Fantastic, Slow Start! I love your Music, and you are playing the guitar yourself, aren't you? Don't tell me the songs are also yours...

[Slow Start]

Thanks, Rosa! I am definitely playing the guitar part myself. I wish the songs were my own! The first one is a cover of The Waterboys (re-released by Ellie Goulding in the last few years) and the second is a cover of an unreleased Keaton Henson song. I tend to pick songs that resonate with me

[Javastorm]

I'm pretty late [last day of challenge lol] but I did Kiss From a Rose by Seal. Couldn't find a backing track that didn't have backup vox so I did it a cappella.

https://app.box.com/s/24nttrom5mqewn4k0ab747k0x1pmytxg

 

Re: Gsoul - I never heard this song before but you definitely emoted well, and got the theme of unconditional love across really well in my opinion. I like the phrasing and riffs after the 2:00 mark- they sounded the most controlled and like ron said, something from the 70s, slow and sensual.

Re; Slow Start - I wish I had the ability to play and sing at the same time, if that's what you're doing! "How Long Will I Love You" sat in a nice part of your range and definitely fit the lover's theme both lyrically and in your smooth delivery. Really nice. My sentiments are the same about the second song also.

 

[Slow Start]

Great job on that Seal, Javastorm! Strong a capella work too, must've taken a minute to figure out how to arrange. Do you have a low-ish speaking voice?

[Javastorm]

Thanks! The hardest part to figure out was the bridge because it's a ridiculous (but amazing) amount of layers in the original, and I don't think I nailed it but I tried. My speaking voice is "low-ish" I guess I found this thing I recorded of me speaking, explaining some harmonies in a song to a friend. The first 40 seconds are speaking anyway https://app.box.com/s/smwseqmuj0j0w6ouu5sqe5abdajy83sv

I guess that would give you a better idea than just saying "low-ish" lol

[Gsoul82]

On January 16, 2016 at 3:57 PM, Slow Start said:

Uh oh I'm a little late but I've got a couple I recorded recently. Sharing just for the sake of sharing the music.

I like your timbre, GSoul82! So rich! haha Some good melisma too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You were on time, Slow. Challenge ended on the 17th, so you made the cut

This is cool. We don't have too many people  who take a folk approach to the challenge. MDew is the only other one, I believe.

 

 

 

 

[Gsoul82]

16 hours ago, Javastorm said:

I'm pretty late [last day of challenge lol] but I did Kiss From a Rose by Seal. Couldn't find a backing track that didn't have backup vox so I did it a cappella.

https://app.box.com/s/24nttrom5mqewn4k0ab747k0x1pmytxg

 

Re: Gsoul - I never heard this song before but you definitely emoted well, and got the theme of unconditional love across really well in my opinion. I like the phrasing and riffs after the 2:00 mark- they sounded the most controlled and like ron said, something from the 70s, slow and sensual.

Re; Slow Start - I wish I had the ability to play and sing at the same time, if that's what you're doing! "How Long Will I Love You" sat in a nice part of your range and definitely fit the lover's theme both lyrically and in your smooth delivery. Really nice. My sentiments are the same about the second song also.

 

 

Great to see you in here, Java. I really like this. Is this song originally by Seal? Your voice has this alternative vibe about it. I don't think you'd have much trouble approaching songs from different genres, like Folk or Rock.

 

 

[Javastorm]

Thanks Gsoul! Yeah as far as I know it was written by Seal, at least that's what the internet is telling me. I've started a few rock/metal songs in the past but never finished them. Will certainly post if I do!

[ronws]

On 1/18/2016 at 7:49 PM, Javastorm said:

I'm pretty late [last day of challenge lol] but I did Kiss From a Rose by Seal. Couldn't find a backing track that didn't have backup vox so I did it a cappella.

https://app.box.com/s/24nttrom5mqewn4k0ab747k0x1pmytxg

 

Re: Gsoul - I never heard this song before but you definitely emoted well, and got the theme of unconditional love across really well in my opinion. I like the phrasing and riffs after the 2:00 mark- they sounded the most controlled and like ron said, something from the 70s, slow and sensual.

Re; Slow Start - I wish I had the ability to play and sing at the same time, if that's what you're doing! "How Long Will I Love You" sat in a nice part of your range and definitely fit the lover's theme both lyrically and in your smooth delivery. Really nice. My sentiments are the same about the second song also.

 

I just now saw this and listened, Java. I got chills. Even more proof that you have a lot of Seal's sound and this is definitely your thing.