Dressed For Success (male cover - Roxette original key)
INFJ
2.0 PRO Posts: 164
I have always posted in the newbies section, so not sure what belongs in here. Anyway I am bold so this one goes in this category.
I did some changes in training from late October and onwards. I almost exclusively worked the Bb4 - D5 chest connected section and attempting to bring up as much power as I could.
It seems the change has paid off. The song starts with a C5 and the top notes are mostly Bb4 or C5 throughout (a couple of D5s also). I don't think it sounds particularly weak on the C. Compared to the 2023 me (first year) it sounds very powerful.
No effects except delay and compression.
Some consonant slamming, but appears to be within my safety limits (no voice breaks).
F major, the original key for this song. Probably more of a female key (original vocalist listed as mezzo-soprano).
YouTube audio only:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kler3sNcHB4
Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/nick-burganowich/dressed-for-success-roxette-male-vocal-cover-original-key
@Terence Does this seem to have improved compared to 2023? Back then things were weak, small, nasal.
I did some changes in training from late October and onwards. I almost exclusively worked the Bb4 - D5 chest connected section and attempting to bring up as much power as I could.
It seems the change has paid off. The song starts with a C5 and the top notes are mostly Bb4 or C5 throughout (a couple of D5s also). I don't think it sounds particularly weak on the C. Compared to the 2023 me (first year) it sounds very powerful.
No effects except delay and compression.
Some consonant slamming, but appears to be within my safety limits (no voice breaks).
F major, the original key for this song. Probably more of a female key (original vocalist listed as mezzo-soprano).
YouTube audio only:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kler3sNcHB4Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/nick-burganowich/dressed-for-success-roxette-male-vocal-cover-original-key
@Terence Does this seem to have improved compared to 2023? Back then things were weak, small, nasal.
Comments
Help me out one last time please. Click something and let me know how it sounded (no need to give technical details just how it sounded in general). I am on the verge of quitting this completely, because there is no interest on any platform despite having 100+ covers out there on different sites.
With correct guidance you can learn how to do a vocal. But having people listen to your content is probably 100 times more difficult.
I struggle to get 10 bloody views on most things. Spanish songs have done better for some strange reason.
Three things stand out:
1. Pitch. I've listened to both tracks multiple times. The amount you're off on pitch is actually only a little, but it's off consistently enough that it stands out. It takes a lot of work to record these things and you might not be hearing this. There are two things that might work: 1. Use another track and double your own voice on one of the choruses.
2. Play your best take against another take that is pitch-corrected (a $30 plug-in, i think.) You'll only use the plug-in to make a comparison track to play back.
2. The target pitch for the melody is not always on the beat. When there's a mis-match on the chorus or a high-note that tends to stand out.
3. The overuse of glissando. Nothing wrong with glissando but you're over-using that technique. When it's on-purpose it can be great, but not always.
You do have your recording process down, I hear. The vocal/track mix is just right now.
BTW, I notice you choose very demanding tracks. I admire that and use demanding material in workout sessions. But they present dozens of challenges that have to be mastered. The ones I actually sing are rarely more than 90% of my actual capability. That's because the general listener is quite harsh. One wrong note and they shrink in horror. So few people can sing, and even fewer actually try. And yet, those who do neither seem to think of themselves as connoisseurs, ironically.
1. Do you think direct monitoring could help to correct the small but persistent pitch issues? It does not work on my system. Everything is recorded without me hearing myself in the mix. I check pitch monitoring software afterwards, but usually only for the highest notes.
2. The beat mismatch is actually something that I have heard myself. More practise on the actual song is that the most reasonable strategy to fix it? I think I probably hurry too much. I usually do 1,2 or 3 takes and then publish whichever sounded the best to my ears.
3. Glissando - I am not 100% sure - is that the siren/slider thing that Steven Tyler is famous/infamous for doing? I did some trial and error and I think it helps me with not slamming the consonants as hard. If I grab a note a bit lower, like G4, and then bring it up by sliding it is easier to maintain high chestvoice presence and more open throat than if I hit it right on.
I think this was common in the female songs. It might be less if I sing in the normal tenor register.
This is a new one I just did and it sits lower, in my natural zone, a well-worked area. While the Roxette songs contain many C5s and some D5s this is mostly A4/Bb4 and an occasional C5. Slower tempo, lower resting notes. It felt smoother than the Roxette songs. You can check it out and say if you think it is smoother or not. I tried not to useruse glissando. There is some of it, hopefully less than the others.
Europe (Superstitious - original key)
Yes, those "connoisseurs" are quite annoying. But I do not have that amount of views so that they show up. They dont seem to enjoy giving their "expert opinion" if the comment section isnt full of people. If you average thousands of views they will show up for sure.