All of Me - ronws

[ronws]

I don't have to win anything. I just really like this song, even if I don't sound like the original.

 

And, so far, I like Elvis' version the best.

 

"All of Me" by John Legend

 

https://app.box.com/s/ldlvnj4wdil0a2outndn8xcwki1g7w6a

 

[MDEW]

   It is that blasted 2nd ALL in the chorus..   the note is the 4th of the chord. The piano does not play that note or it passes by quickly so the Chord of E#m sus4  is made by the voice adding that note.  The rushed part is only at "my rhythm and Blues"

  It is a pretty good start.  You and I learn a song in a few hours and post it. Others study the song for a few weeks before even trying it. Then they pick it apart for a few more days and work on those weak spots. All in all a pretty good starting point.

[ronws]

Actually, I practiced for a week but it was not enough. But thanks, guys, for your help. Others might think this is a simple song. And maybe it is. So, back to the drawing board ...

[ronws]

I know what you mean, Bzean. I worked on "Jaded" for a while and it just didn't get where I wanted it to be. So, I have not shared that one with anyone but MDEW in an email. And he was kind to me.

[MDEW]

 Steven Tyler is a tuff act to follow.   and this song is not an easy song. John makes it look easy but I am sure he spent weeks in the studio. Plus the way some of the words overlap proves that he made a few tracks and dubbed them together. We could sound that good too if we could record each word or phrase separately and pick the best tracks to edit together.

  The magic of mixing. 

[MDEW]

   If you listen closely, The part at the end where he sings the covered "Give you all of Me" and "Cards on the Table".... they overlap. Both of those where recorded separately.

 Even if we were to sing each verse and chorus at a different recording session it would not be cheating.

   I have not listened to a live recording of this yet but I would not be surprised if he plays and sings  it different live.

[ronws]

   If you listen closely, The part at the end where he sings the covered "Give you all of Me" and "Cards on the Table".... they overlap. Both of those where recorded separately.

 Even if we were to sing each verse and chorus at a different recording session it would not be cheating.

   I have not listened to a live recording of this yet but I would not be surprised if he plays and sings  it different live.

Yes, I think you are right. Where one is almost harmony to another, and certainly the whole thing is autotuned. But Bzean said I was pretty much flat throughout. Must have seemed like I was singing in a different key for those who were unlucky enough to sit through. So, something went wrong.

[edited by request of Bzean, evidently I misunderstood what he meant by wheelhouse]

 

So, it looks as though I have more work to do.

[Pekka]

Very good effort Ron, this is a very hard song.

[MDEW]

     I think it has to do with the RnB stylistic thing. Most of those words are on a sliding note. More energy would help. As I mentioned before that 2nd All in the chous is on a note that is not sounded by the piano. Timing is also crucial because he is playing a piano and the chords are stretched in runs or fills and not sounded fully. The timing must match so the notes line up to harmonize, the voice with the piano runs....being a little fast or slow and you miss the sweet spot. Even a note that is on pitch will sound off.

     I downloaded Felipes Mp3 and had to play my guitar along with the piano to get the timing right. It also helped me to get a comfortable groove going. I also have the same issue with those sliding notes and that dreaded 2nd All in the chorus.

[KillerKu]

I listened to this because Ronws truly loves this song and since his love for this song is true I can listen to it.

 

You can do this, Ronws. Learn the melody on the guitar, sing along to it very slowly to a metronome, vowel by vowel, sustain and milk every single vowel. You can possibly even record the melody on guitar and sing to this.

 

Since this song hit a problem area for you, it's the perfect opporunity to work even harder, not give up. Of the white guys here, I'm probably more suited than many in singing the R & B thing, but you don't need to sound like a black guy to pull this off.

 

You sounded heartfelt and I will prefer your version over many. Don't give up.

[ronws]

All the replies are really good, guys. And yes, I had different phrasing. As well as a different intention. Legend sings with what seems like more urgency than I had. I sang it the way that I felt it. Which was not good enough. I think MDEW made a good point. One can consider this an r&b song though it is more balladic, to me. And I am not an r&b singer and have nothing against it.

 

My tone of voice is certainly different than his and I do not wish to sound like him, though I think he (Legend) has a beautiful sound. For example, I like the deep sound he gets on "I'm breathing fine." It's not really a low note but he makes it sound low. And because my tone of voice is different, this song is out of my wheelhouse and perhaps foolish for me to cover.

 

So, I could probably be better off if I figured out a guitar cover instead of the backing track but I was wanting to try that because Felipe was so generous to provide it.

 

I think Bzean was right. Maybe I stretched a note and the accompaniment changed, placing me off-pitch with where the line had moved to. Granted, it's only the 6th day of April but I predict Elvis is going to win this thing. And I am flat in the first part of the first chorus, an affliction I always seem to have. And I don't think anyone caught that.

 

And Killer is right. I really do like this song and I am telling the truth when I say I wish I had written it. Not just because of the money that can be made as a songwriter but because it is a really good song. That is, take away the commercial success, all the pro tricks done to the tracks, it is still a great love story and I am kind of sap for that stuff. 

 

And MDEW is right, that 4th sneaks up on you.

 

So, maybe I will try this again as a guitar cover. If we can get past the hurdle that I did not sound like the original and any further changes will likely not help me to sound like Legend.

[Real]

The "For Brenda" adds authenticity

I can tell that all of the notes are in your "easy zone" from the consistency and relaxed quality of your tone, which is great, because that gives you the room to do your own thing. I think it's good you didn't try to mimic John's approach, because that would take away from what the Ronws has to offer with his interpretation of the song. Also, I agree with you saying that the rigidity of the backing track takes away from us, in comparison to what we could do with our own instruments.

 

All in all, Good work Ronws, and if you record another version I'll be glad to listen to that one as well.

[ronws]

The "For Brenda" adds authenticity

I can tell that all of the notes are in your "easy zone" from the consistency and relaxed quality of your tone, which is great, because that gives you the room to do your own thing. I think it's good you didn't try to mimic John's approach, because that would take away from what the Ronws has to offer with his interpretation of the song. Also, I agree with you saying that the rigidity of the backing track takes away from us, in comparison to what we could do with our own instruments.

 

All in all, Good work Ronws, and if you record another version I'll be glad to listen to that one as well.

Thanks, I have been thinking about re-doing it and thanks to Bzean's mention in MDEW's thread about doing a southern rock version, now I have a Molly Hatchet idea running in my head. Which is kind of at odds. Because having the feeling of "Flirting with Disaster" may not exactly fit with the slightly more serious material of "All of Me."

 

Maybe slow it down and make it a Lynrd Skynrd version, minus the 9 minute guitar solo.

 

In any case, as MDEW and Bzean have pointed out, I have few pitchy spots to fix, one of them so bad, even I noticed it.

[Artist Anthony Flake]

Ron I love the pure clear singing vocals on this tune..sounds super great to me!

[ronws]

Ron I love the pure clear singing vocals on this tune..sounds super great to me!

Thanks a bunch, Anthony. I have been working on another version of this, making my own instrumental. But thank you for the compliment.

[Gsoul82]

Looks like I forgot to reply to this one for some reason. I just played it and I know I heard this one already. Smooth. This is cool. Maybe we should get into the habit of choosing one song each month and everybody will try to sing it. Not necessarily a monthly contest where a winner is chosen, but something where everybody just does their own take on the song. And it should change genres every month. Like, this is considered an R&B song. Maybe next month it could be a rock song. Or maybe a country song? Maybe I'll make a topic about it.

[ronws]

Thanks, G.

 

And that sounds like a good idea. Go to a place you don't normally go, even if only for a visit.

[Gsoul82]

Yeah, I think we can all get something out of doing that.