The Wagtunes Corner (Featuring My Best Yet)

[Halonmusic]

who is downvoting all the time? dont like Stevens music!? Then get out!

[wagtunes]

but they are the kind of thing you might notice, working on your own pieces longer, or putting them away for a day or two then returning fresh.
you notice more details missing, and you add a little here n there to fill out the basic song.

youve got the writing part sorted, you can do that in your sleep. but just taking a little extra time with each production, as youve noticed here, will give you less songs, but better songs for sure.

The results speak for themselves so I have no choice but to agree with you 100%. I will never go about my songwriting process the same way again. I think I may have taken that last turn of the corner.

[wagtunes]

who is downvoting all the time? dont like Stevens music!? Then get out!

I don't even look at the up and down votes but I have noticed 32 people think I should give up music altogether.

It used to bother me. Not anymore.

[jancivil]

No, you see 32 people voted for that option, which since you didn't offer any kind of FISH on the menu...
I do doubt the proportions in this voting means anything. It's a snapshot of the sentiments - or not, taking the piss - of a small slice of people here, first of all that would vote on such a thing.

I think you reveal original thinking in that one disco number, and in the production music or whatever that was called, so I would encourage original music ie., not based in something else. That said, modeling something from the beginning on something else is something Stravinsky taught.
But you been there and done that, for sure.

[Bansaw]

Cheers
Ah, this brings back memories from my childhood. This was my family's favourite. When it came on the TV, my Mom would call me from upstairs, "Cheers is on.." and we'd all watch it together.
Instrumentation is good, especially the build into the chorus.
Are those the original lyrics?

[Halonmusic]

who is downvoting all the time? dont like Stevens music!? Then get out!

I don't even look at the up and down votes but I have noticed 32 people think I should give up music altogether.

It used to bother me. Not anymore.

Well its great that you dont care I think it would bother me although it really shouldnt

[jancivil]

But covers, we're at covers here. Sorry. But still, twist those suckers, pervert them, make them more than they were if you can.

[wagtunes]

No, you see 32 people voted for that option, which since you didn't offer any kind of FISH on the menu...
I do doubt the proportions in this voting means anything. It's a snapshot of the sentiments - or not, taking the piss - of a small slice of people here, first of all that would vote on such a thing.

I think you reveal original thinking in that one disco number, and in the production music or whatever that was called, so I would encourage original music ie., not based in something else. That said, modeling something from the beginning on something else is something Stravinsky taught.
But you been there and done that, for sure.

Like I said, doesn't really bother me and I don't read that much into it. I've developed enough self confidence since I know I've improved greatly over the past few years that criticism doesn't bother me anymore. In fact, I welcome it. If there is something I'm doing "wrong" or can do "better' let me know. Give me something to focus on. I'm not against to rolling up my sleeves and doing hard work anymore. If you saw what I had to do to get some of these songs to sound like they do, you'd be amazed at my patience, especially doing 6 vocal takes of "Wild Wild Life" and then taking bits and pieces of each one. That is something I would have never done just a few years ago.

My only regret is that it took me this long to develop this work ethic. But you know what they say, better late than never.

[wagtunes]

Cheers
Ah, this brings back memories from my childhood. This was my family's favourite. When it came on the TV, my Mom would call me from upstairs, "Cheers is on.." and we'd all watch it together.
Instrumentation is good, especially the build into the chorus.
Are those the original lyrics?

That is actually the entire song. Gary Portnoy released a version for the radio that had additional lyrics. I didn't really like the production of that version so I took the whole song but did it more like the TV show theme, though I did add a lot to it. A good part of the arrangement is original.

[wagtunes]

who is downvoting all the time? dont like Stevens music!? Then get out!

I don't even look at the up and down votes but I have noticed 32 people think I should give up music altogether.

It used to bother me. Not anymore.

Well its great that you dont care I think it would bother me although it really shouldnt

Believe me, it used to bother me a ton and I'd get very defensive. But now, unless it's constructive criticism that I can use to improve, I just ignore the negativity. Oddly, those people who detest my music don't seem to come around anymore. Maybe they got bored tearing me apart.

Either way, like I said, it just doesn't matter anymore.

Self confidence will do that.

[wagtunes]

But covers, we're at covers here. Sorry. But still, twist those suckers, pervert them, make them more than they were if you can.

This has been my conflict since starting this project. Do I do these songs completely different from the originals? (which is really easy to do) or do I stay faithful to the originals?

If I do the former, I'm going to get people who will be like, "That doesn't sound anything like the original song". If I do the latter, you're going to get people who will be like, "Anybody can copy what somebody else has done. How about bringing something unique to the song?"

Personally, with few exceptions, I want to see how close I can come to the original because, in many cases, these songs are very difficult to do. If I do my own thing, well, then I can just take the easy way out and avoid the difficult parts, whatever they may be.

Vocal too high? Change the melody.
Lead guitar or synth too hard to play? Play a simple version.
Mix too difficult to copy? Mix it anyway you like.

And so on. It's easy to cop out and avoid doing something that's difficult. I didn't want to do that here. I wanted to make this like a school assignment where the professor expects to hear something as close to the original as possible. That's why i worked so hard on getting the vocals as close to the original singers, which trust me, was no easy.

Ultimately, this project in general won't please everybody. Hell, some people hate listening to covers period. I hate listening to covers. I admit it. But doing them? This has been the most fun I've had in a long time.

Go figure.

[Halonmusic]

who is downvoting all the time? dont like Stevens music!? Then get out!

I don't even look at the up and down votes but I have noticed 32 people think I should give up music altogether.

It used to bother me. Not anymore.

Well its great that you dont care I think it would bother me although it really shouldnt

Believe me, it used to bother me a ton and I'd get very defensive. But now, unless it's constructive criticism that I can use to improve, I just ignore the negativity. Oddly, those people who detest my music don't seem to come around anymore. Maybe they got bored tearing me apart.

Either way, like I said, it just doesn't matter anymore.

Self confidence will do that.

Its sad how some people behave though. Most of the members here on KVR seems like great people nonetheless but some seems to to just like to be 'negative* just for the sake of it. Keep ignoring the naysayers Steven because your music is grreat

[wagtunes]

9th track from my upcoming CD "Killer Kovers"

From 1979, Dangerous Type by The Cars

Overall, not too difficult. Hardest parts were the guitar solo and getting that end to build. They must have done a lot of layering in the studio because it's only 5 guys and I needed 13 tracks to pull this off.

In 1985 I did a tribute album to The Cars. It was all original stuff in their style. It wasn't very good (obviously) but it did sound like them. They were my favorite group at the time and I always had a feel for their music. I think I nailed this one, not that I'm surprised.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim/dangerous-type

[Allomerus]

Dangerous Type by The Cars
Sounds good Wags, maybe the vocals could be a tad louder. I always remember the cars having up front vocals. Am I right?
Music is great and the solo cool.
Well done!

By the way, do what you like with covers. My favourite covers are usually altered covers with the same energy. If you haven't try "Dread Zeppelin"

[wagtunes]

Dangerous Type by The Cars
Sounds good Wags, maybe the vocals could be a tad louder. I always remember the cars having up front vocals. Am I right?
Music is great and the solo cool.
Well done!

By the way, do what you like with covers. My favourite covers are usually altered covers with the same energy. If you haven't try "Dread Zeppelin"

Thanks for the listen and the feedback. I'll definitely check them out, though I doubt I could pull of Led Zep. LOL