can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

We're putting YOU in the drivers seat!

Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff

User avatar
feaker66
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3623
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:58 am
Gender: Male
Location: Channing Michigan
Contact:

can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by feaker66 » Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:07 am

Just finished this track about lovers fall out over an affair. I had to sing the gal part (that ain't pretty) for now. They go back and forth with name calling. I can hear and understand both because I wrote it, but what about a first time listener. I know it is a strange topic. I have no excuses.

https://soundcloud.com/feaker66/cheater


Cheater

I had a suspicion sittin there at work …sneaked ..on..back to my place D C G D
Tip toed inside you were doin the dance …..moanin and rollin at a torrid pace
Hello sweetheart..don’t stop now.. looks like yur havin fun I’ll get otta this place

Yur a cheeta....you been sneakin… findin lovers yur a lousy cheater D F G D
lousy lover .. under covers..I found some lovers….you bet I cheated
Cheeter... no conscience…no regrets.. I’ve been so mistreated
…I had needs..you didn’t see em…I’d never plead….go ahead and hate me

It was a quicky quick wham bam thank you mam…..Yur lovin was a hit and run
Maybe good for you..not so good for me..I tell you it was anything but fun

I’m a cheet-a …yeah a cheeta..I’m a liar…I’m a…luvin..sur..viv.er D F G D
Feelin low..yur porno show.. still in my head.. kicked me real good down low
Cheater..I don’t need …ya..I’m a cheeta…I found guys to please me
Comes around…it goes around.. all over town…got a feelin you’ll be goin..down

The anger’s gone ..I finally moved on..too bad I didn’t know my lovin was so wrong…
I should have told him..I’m feeling real bad….we could have worked on us..it’s just so sad

It is my fault it is your fault it is our fault we have lost each other is this the end start again we were friends
Is it your fault it could be my fault maybe it’s our fault we’ve lost each other.I’m all alone I never wanted this
I do so miss you
Thankfully, while growing old is compulsory, growing up remains optional!

https://soundcloud.com/feaker66

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=883613

User avatar
irthlingz
Committed Musician
Committed Musician
Posts: 764
Joined: Tue May 26, 2020 5:22 pm
Location: Orcas Island, WA
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by irthlingz » Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:21 am

Most of it is more alternating than simultaneous, so that's not too difficult. But the part from around 1:26 to 1:45 is a bit difficult to process for me. Cool song though!

===
Michael

User avatar
feaker66
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3623
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:58 am
Gender: Male
Location: Channing Michigan
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by feaker66 » Sat Sep 25, 2021 11:33 am

irthlingz wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 9:21 am
Most of it is more alternating than simultaneous, so that's not too difficult. But the part from around 1:26 to 1:45 is a bit difficult to process for me. Cool song though!

===
Michael
Yeay Michael I just listened to that section and you are right. The first verse..you're a cheater/lousy lover has no clutter or over lapping. I have to say fewer words to make this work. I am always hung up on rhymes and that makes it even more difficult. I will go back now and cut that area up for more clarity. thanks for the time you took to help.
Thankfully, while growing old is compulsory, growing up remains optional!

https://soundcloud.com/feaker66

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=883613

User avatar
crashgates
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 364
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2020 5:35 am

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by crashgates » Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:56 pm

.
Last edited by crashgates on Sun Jan 09, 2022 4:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
feaker66
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3623
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:58 am
Gender: Male
Location: Channing Michigan
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by feaker66 » Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:17 pm

crashgates wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:56 pm
Hey Paul, cool track, sounds a bit like something Bon Jovi would do : )
Hey crash. Glad you liked it. I have much to do yet. I like it just so so now. Bon Jovi ha ha. A sassy gal vocal would help. Thanks for the listen
Thankfully, while growing old is compulsory, growing up remains optional!

https://soundcloud.com/feaker66

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=883613

User avatar
Zaychi
Committed Musician
Committed Musician
Posts: 518
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:09 am
Gender: Male
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by Zaychi » Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:40 am

It depends on the question... will they hear the lyrics? Probably not. But even then, there ARE two voices even if they (or one of them) only functions as instrument. You don't ask if a brain can process a bass when a guitar is playing as well, right?

User avatar
feaker66
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3623
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:58 am
Gender: Male
Location: Channing Michigan
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by feaker66 » Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:55 am

Zaychi wrote:
Sun Sep 26, 2021 10:40 am
It depends on the question... will they hear the lyrics? Probably not. But even then, there ARE two voices even if they (or one of them) only functions as instrument. You don't ask if a brain can process a bass when a guitar is playing as well, right?
Hey Mr Z thought I would try something different. Didn't work out like I hoped it would. It's the whole production for sure. thanks for the thoughts
Thankfully, while growing old is compulsory, growing up remains optional!

https://soundcloud.com/feaker66

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=883613

User avatar
GilOrms
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 1:55 pm
Gender: Male
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by GilOrms » Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:49 am

feaker66 wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:07 am
Just finished this track about lovers fall out over an affair. I had to sing the gal part (that ain't pretty) for now. They go back and forth with name calling. I can hear and understand both because I wrote it, but what about a first time listener. I know it is a strange topic. I have no excuses.
Shouldn't worry about intelligibility.

The speed of delivery today is why there's lyric videos.

Regards,

GO

User avatar
feaker66
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3623
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:58 am
Gender: Male
Location: Channing Michigan
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by feaker66 » Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:17 pm

GilOrms wrote:
Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:49 am
feaker66 wrote:
Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:07 am
Just finished this track about lovers fall out over an affair. I had to sing the gal part (that ain't pretty) for now. They go back and forth with name calling. I can hear and understand both because I wrote it, but what about a first time listener. I know it is a strange topic. I have no excuses.
Shouldn't worry about intelligibility.

The speed of delivery today is why there's lyric videos.

Regards,

GO
Nice to meet you Mr Gil. I hear what you are saying. Could be an interesting video. Out of my 6 grandkids, maybe they could do this. Thanks for bringing that up.
Thankfully, while growing old is compulsory, growing up remains optional!

https://soundcloud.com/feaker66

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=883613

User avatar
AlanHall
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 1148
Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2020 5:46 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Great Black Swamp, northwest Ohio
Contact:

Re: can the mind process two opposing vocals at one time?

Post by AlanHall » Sun Sep 26, 2021 1:49 pm

Will people process the two (different) lines on the first hearing? No.
Will it be a challenge that some people will rise to, to listen repeatedly in order to understand? Certainly.

The less overlap there is, and the more intelligible the delivery is, the quicker folks will understand the lyrical content. How much you can do before the listener 'tires of the game' is - of course - the target you as a composer want to identify; the sweet spot where the listener's heightened attention and enjoyment or satisfaction meet. To answer your question: people can process two opposing vocals at the same time, if the complexity of the vocal delivery is low enough, and the listener's attention is high enough. Anecdotally, I have - and I'm sure all of us have - heard a song that just had to be listened to over and over to understand the lyric. Even when, it turns out, the lyrical line wasn't as profound as expected :lol:

The pacing and delivery of the vocals can be tweaked to produce the exact effect that you, the composer, desires. Does every composer work that hard on their vocals? No. But it certainly benefits the composer (& song) when that level of detail is worked on, intentionally, to optimize the attraction the song has on the listener. Isn't that what songwriting is all about?

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 12 guests