Hey Hey My My - Neil Young

[ronws]

For Olem and MDEW

"Hey Hey My My" by Neil Young

https://app.box.com/s/2j5qjmyusya14xicm7mm

[Olem]

Sounds great, Ron. Well done!

[Adolph Namlik]

Very Well Done, Ron !!! :cool:

[MDEW]

:) Sounds great Thanks.

[ronws]

Thanks, guys. I don't mind taking suggestions from others, especially if I agree that my voice is a match for it and I think my voice matches this song, pretty well. Sounds believable, like I could have written it. I wish I had.

[Adolph Namlik]

Thanks, guys. I don't mind taking suggestions from others, especially if I agree that my voice is a match for it and I think my voice matches this song, pretty well. Sounds believable, like I could have written it. I wish I had.

Your voice is a match for sure with this one ! In fact, I listened more than once which is unusual for me...

And as always, the guitar plying is very well done as usual

I also have to add that you always seem to put a unique "touch" on the endings as well.

Ron S. "Unplugged" :cool:

[MDEW]

I like your voice in these slower songs. :cool:

[ronws]

Thanks, guys. And the things you mention that you think are right are things I think about, too. Not just a good sonic match for my voice but what sounds right in the way that I express or phrase. For we are all a little different.

That being said, I have not thought of Neil Young and "great singer" in the same breath but I am not scared of singing a song. But "songwriter"? One of the best, and if I ever write at least one as strong as the several Neil has written, it would be awesome. Kind of reminds me of Dan Fogelberg. They all have several successful songs and if they could only write one, which would it be?

I also notice, for myself, my voice seems to sit better on ballads, moreso than, say, more jazzy numbers.

There's a video from some years ago where Neil is performing this song and just pounding on his guitar. Older, closer to "retirement" and still won't stop rocking and rolling. I wish I could make a video like that.

[MDEW]

After listening to you I revisited Neil for a few hours. He has a lot of really good songs. "Cowgirl in the Sand", "Ohio", "Old Man", "Down By the River" , "Hurricane" , "After the Gold Rush" ........ He may not be the greatest singer out there but some of these songs just wouldn't be the same without that unique sound of his.

[serstickman]

Heartfelt performance. Singing sounded effortless.

[slstone]

I have always thought he wasn't very good at singing or guitar. As has been said, it's his songwriting that drags you in.

[ronws]

I have always thought he wasn't very good at singing or guitar. As has been said, it's his songwriting that drags you in.

Just had a thought about Bob Dylan. A few other singers would cover his songs and make huge-o-mongous hits out of them. And I think a few big names have covered some NY songs.

[gno]

Nice job Ron. You did the song justice. Nice to hear that song again....I forgot how much I liked Neil's writing.

[ronws]

Thanks, Geno. Initially I did this at the request of MDEW and Olem but it is a valid song in its own right. I've not always had luck with song requests but this worked out okay. Maybe, as my brother is saying, that most anyone is technical capable of singing a Neil song but the meaning of the song is important.

[MDEW]

If no one has covered Neil Young someone should. With the right treatment, they would be top sellers.

The mark of a great song is how it sounds with just one instrument and the words/melody.

Any song is as technically demanding as the singers input.

Look at Leanard Cohens' "Hallelujah". Leanards' Rendition was not that demanding and it was more or less a sexual commentary. Covering from other singers is what made it technically demanding and iconic.

Dolly Pardons "I will Always Love You" was not technically demanding to cover. However, Whitney Houghston made it something to compare the skill of other female singers to.

Neil himself may not be the best singer to emulate but his songs are certainly worthy of any singer to cover or to express him or herself through.

[slstone]

Type O Negative did a cover of Cinnamon Girl, that's pretty good:

[ronws]

That's pretty cool, Scott. Perhaps others should share links of others who have covered NY songs in styles that appeal to them. I know someone did a really neat version of "Hey Hey My My" but I cannot remember who that was.

[MDEW]

I've just finished a quick search for bands who have covered Neil Young. Maybe my taste is a little twisted but I was highly disappointed with what I did find. I did not think it was possible to butcher Neil Young yet it was done over and over again.

So Kudos to you again Ronws for taking a simple song and not trying to embellish it to the point of loosing the very soul of the song.

Evidently the simplicity of the song is what makes it technically challenging.

[ronws]

Thank you MDEW, very much, for the compliment and the recognition.

To others, it may not seem like much or they think it does not take much effort and my first impulsive response to thoughts and statements like that is, fine, prove it, do it yourself. Not one person has ever answered that challenge. Ever. And if I could challenge someone, they would have to perform it as I or you would. Do this while playing a guitar. but, even, just sing it and tell me how easy it is. NY is not a technical singer, he is an emotional singer. The feeling is more important than being to sing it like an opera star today, and a heavy metal growler tomorrow.