Andy, of the entertaining "The Vinyl Room," joins us again for our FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE continuing series, as we continue our romp through a legend's catalog! This time, a yearning, heartfelt ballad.
I listened again to the Swedish cover and I must say he did a very decent job. I love how confidently he sang it. If I'm not mistaken (going by ear here as I haven't checked the actual keys), it seems he took it down a couple of steps from the original, which is unusual but makes total sense considering his range. He was able to sing it very comfortably. Very strong sound throughout. The two gentlemen whose covers I analysed took it up, as is usually the case when guys cover girls, but considering the song in question, that bridge can't have been easy 🤣
CORRECTION: Christer took it slightly up, not down as originally thought (see my comment below).
Correction: I've checked the notes and Christer actually took it up, not down, but only two semitones. Of the three men, Jed sang it highest, then Daniel (three semitones down from Jed), and then Christer (two semitones down from Daniel). All the men sang it in a higher key than Whitney, but she sang it, of course, one octave up.
What a great honour to collaborate with you again, Brad. Thanks for the space, for beautifully crafting the story of the song, and for showcasing my swimming fantasy of maybe someday reincarnating Michael Phelps! 😆 (I should be so lucky!).
Certainly my pleasure, Andy! Always a fun dive into the swingin' swimming pool of song with you! Take note🎵: You'll be participating in the 3/4-meter🎼breaststroke in your next🏊♂️swim meat🥩!
Oh, yeah! As Andy pointed out, Thea, there are so many things the guys have to do to “make it presentable,” cover-wise! Pitch, key, etc!
I got a taste a decade ago, when I finally got bored, in karaoke, just singing “guys” songs! I wanted to sing “A Piece of Sky” from Streisand’s “Yentl.” I worked with the KJ, and he said to RAISE the song’s pitch a step. As I’d be singing the song an octave lower, anyway, her money note, then, would become MY money note, and while I’d be at the top of my range, it wouldn’t be out of reach!
In this Tuesday’s tune tag, you’ll hear Elaine Stritch from 1970, and her “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company. I did THAT song in karaoke, also!
It was a gas! Now, as all the gals were having fun singing the entire database, including the guys’ songs, now I had access to the OTHER half of the database!
Yeah! Gals were singing “Don’t Stop Believin’” til the cows came home….I’m thinkin’—why should MY nose be pressed against the glass?!?! I KNEW it could be done…I just needed to have the KJ teach me the mechanical ropes of his machinery!🎼
Aah, so it's you Andy... the new James Bond ? The beach pic was from your screen test ? 😁 My douze points go to Andy's choice of cover. If only for the more interesting arrangement
"Faking it" quite convincingly, if you ask me 😁 I would def send the pic to Barbara Broccoli ! "Hey Barb, fancy to start with a new "Casino Royale"? She hasn't a clue at the moment, that much is clear. Would be fun to see you play JB. With a bunch of sexy Bond boys in stead of the usual Bond girls 😂 After all JB confessed in Skyfall he's in for everything
Great discussion guys! I've always loved those early Whitney albums. "So Emotional" and "For the Love of You" are probably my two favorites from "Whitney." The latter was one Frank and I listened to a LOT in our first year together...! (I'm not sure why it didn't make my Top Ten that year though!)
Thank you, Dan! Just to correct Brad, HE does most of the work! I just play my humble part in giving my two cents. I'm really enjoying this series, particularly seeing all the pieces so nicely put together.
"So Emotional" and "For the Love of You" are so good. Another one I love from that album is "Love Will Save the Day". And, of course, her duet with her mother Cissy, their beautiful remake of "I Know Him So Well". Such a great record!
Thanks, Dan! Andy adds so much to this series! While I’ve always admired her talent, I really only ever heard her radio hits (they were inescapable!), and never bought or had any of her albums.
So, while this is a bit of a “stretch” for me, stylistically, I always love digging deeper into the talented, so I’m really enjoying tying together longtime writers like Masser and Jennings (who’s co-written so many of Manilow’s hits), and other players with whom I became familiar just from other artists!
That’s cool, too, to hear about a special song for the two of you, early on! Stay tuned for more!
Again, you're the one doing all of the work! It's an honour for me to contribute my two cents.
I love all of her records but I think you would enjoy her debut album best. Outside of the megahits, the album tracks are very strong contenders, and the overall production is just flawless.
I listened again to the Swedish cover and I must say he did a very decent job. I love how confidently he sang it. If I'm not mistaken (going by ear here as I haven't checked the actual keys), it seems he took it down a couple of steps from the original, which is unusual but makes total sense considering his range. He was able to sing it very comfortably. Very strong sound throughout. The two gentlemen whose covers I analysed took it up, as is usually the case when guys cover girls, but considering the song in question, that bridge can't have been easy 🤣
CORRECTION: Christer took it slightly up, not down as originally thought (see my comment below).
Correction: I've checked the notes and Christer actually took it up, not down, but only two semitones. Of the three men, Jed sang it highest, then Daniel (three semitones down from Jed), and then Christer (two semitones down from Daniel). All the men sang it in a higher key than Whitney, but she sang it, of course, one octave up.
What a great honour to collaborate with you again, Brad. Thanks for the space, for beautifully crafting the story of the song, and for showcasing my swimming fantasy of maybe someday reincarnating Michael Phelps! 😆 (I should be so lucky!).
Certainly my pleasure, Andy! Always a fun dive into the swingin' swimming pool of song with you! Take note🎵: You'll be participating in the 3/4-meter🎼breaststroke in your next🏊♂️swim meat🥩!
Thank you! I’d better get my lungs ready, then! 😉
Lungs. Yes, lungs.....definitely lungs!😁
Daniel Briones did it proud!
Oh, yeah! As Andy pointed out, Thea, there are so many things the guys have to do to “make it presentable,” cover-wise! Pitch, key, etc!
I got a taste a decade ago, when I finally got bored, in karaoke, just singing “guys” songs! I wanted to sing “A Piece of Sky” from Streisand’s “Yentl.” I worked with the KJ, and he said to RAISE the song’s pitch a step. As I’d be singing the song an octave lower, anyway, her money note, then, would become MY money note, and while I’d be at the top of my range, it wouldn’t be out of reach!
In this Tuesday’s tune tag, you’ll hear Elaine Stritch from 1970, and her “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company. I did THAT song in karaoke, also!
It was a gas! Now, as all the gals were having fun singing the entire database, including the guys’ songs, now I had access to the OTHER half of the database!
Good for you!! Women sing men’s songs all he time. Why not the other way around? I commend you for the commitment!
I’d introduce me singing Streisand by saying, “I think I’m having a Yentl breakdown!!!” Oh, the fun we had!!
Haha!😆
Yeah! Gals were singing “Don’t Stop Believin’” til the cows came home….I’m thinkin’—why should MY nose be pressed against the glass?!?! I KNEW it could be done…I just needed to have the KJ teach me the mechanical ropes of his machinery!🎼
Aah, so it's you Andy... the new James Bond ? The beach pic was from your screen test ? 😁 My douze points go to Andy's choice of cover. If only for the more interesting arrangement
You’re too kind, Pe! I wish! But I’m “faking it until I make it” 🤣🤣
Yes, the different arrangement gives it a whole new lease on life, I agree.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
"Faking it" quite convincingly, if you ask me 😁 I would def send the pic to Barbara Broccoli ! "Hey Barb, fancy to start with a new "Casino Royale"? She hasn't a clue at the moment, that much is clear. Would be fun to see you play JB. With a bunch of sexy Bond boys in stead of the usual Bond girls 😂 After all JB confessed in Skyfall he's in for everything
Thank you, Pe! I’ll hire you as the producer, no question! Bond Boys, did you say? Bring them on! The more, the merrier! 😉😅
Great discussion guys! I've always loved those early Whitney albums. "So Emotional" and "For the Love of You" are probably my two favorites from "Whitney." The latter was one Frank and I listened to a LOT in our first year together...! (I'm not sure why it didn't make my Top Ten that year though!)
Thank you, Dan! Just to correct Brad, HE does most of the work! I just play my humble part in giving my two cents. I'm really enjoying this series, particularly seeing all the pieces so nicely put together.
"So Emotional" and "For the Love of You" are so good. Another one I love from that album is "Love Will Save the Day". And, of course, her duet with her mother Cissy, their beautiful remake of "I Know Him So Well". Such a great record!
I'd love to dig into Whitney's album tracks, Andy....let's do our due diligence to her hits, first, and then see what we can find!
Count me in!
Thanks, Dan! Andy adds so much to this series! While I’ve always admired her talent, I really only ever heard her radio hits (they were inescapable!), and never bought or had any of her albums.
So, while this is a bit of a “stretch” for me, stylistically, I always love digging deeper into the talented, so I’m really enjoying tying together longtime writers like Masser and Jennings (who’s co-written so many of Manilow’s hits), and other players with whom I became familiar just from other artists!
That’s cool, too, to hear about a special song for the two of you, early on! Stay tuned for more!
Again, you're the one doing all of the work! It's an honour for me to contribute my two cents.
I love all of her records but I think you would enjoy her debut album best. Outside of the megahits, the album tracks are very strong contenders, and the overall production is just flawless.
Awesome! Crazy coincidence. I also wrote a thing about Whitney for today. Guess it's just in the ether. Great stuff, guys!
Thank you! Brad did a fantastic job putting it all together. Look forward to diving into your Whitney piece!
I just attached a link to it toward the bottom of our piece! What do we call that? Handy, Andy!😁👍
Happy to link to it, Dave....it's linked toward the bottom of mine'n'Andy's collab! Thanks for mentioning!