Epic trailer style covers

[helenrobertson]

I reworked a cover of "Here comes the sun" by my bandmate. Would love some feedback. I'm mostly unsure about the orchestral stuff when that comes in about halfway through.

https://soundcloud.com/helen-robertson- ... 894msjnk0T

Listing is:

EPIC, TRAILER-Style COVERS of Well-Known SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed by a hard-working Music Library that’s always landing placements in TV Shows, Film projects, and Movie Trailers!

They’re looking for renditions of well-known songs that could fit in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the references we got directly from them:

"Something In The Way" (Nirvana) Cover by Samuel Kim https://youtu.be/IHHQm4MeoV0

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana) Cover by Think Up Anger feat. Malia J. https://youtu.be/4-nkRX4FQEc

"The Final Countdown" (Europe) Cover by Damned Anthem https://youtu.be/k4BUm17ODkA

Please submit reimagined Covers of well-known Songs that fire on all cylinders from start to finish. Your submissions should evoke a similar epic vibe in the general ballpark of the references. We think adding some orchestral, rock, and electronic elements could amp up the larger-than-life sound of your Covers. Any and all software instruments or samples you use should sound current, fresh, and not dated, obviously quantized, or MIDI-Driven. Be sure to stay as close to the original lyrics and melodies as possible so the roots of the Songs are recognizable. Compelling vocal performances with strong, expressive deliveries are absolutely key for this request!

TAXI Tip: We think that some cool sound-design elements like crashes, bangs, risers, etc. might add to the "epic" factor of your submissions! You can also consider doing things like taking a song that was uptempo in its original form and slowing it down... or the opposite! Get creative and change it up!

Broadcast quality is needed.

This Library offers a NON-EXCLUSIVE, 50/50 Deal. You’ll get 50% of any sync fees and 100% of the Writer’s share. The Publisher will get 50% of sync fees and 100% of the Publisher’s Share. You’ll keep 100% of the original copyright and master recording. You must own or control the Master and Copyright to submit to this pitch. Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. Someone from the Publishing Company may screen some or all of the submissions. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Thursday, October 1st, 2020. TAXI # S201001CV

[cassmcentee]

Absolutely Wonderful!
To my ears this is an easy forward

If I was to change anything:
The opening line, I would extend the length (vocally) by dragging out "...Long Cold Winter..."
To "...Lonnnnnnng Coooooooold..." and hit it Hard and Heavy with a Bouncing Delay
That would help cover the non vocal spot between line 1 and 2 where the track lost a bit of momentum without the voice

Then I would keep using that delay from there on
I believe I heard you use it going into your Resolve where you could bring it up a couple of Db's because it sounds great!

I feel like the vocal staying pretty dry from line 2 on didn't bring it to a full-on modern production, but this is all just personal opinion as I believe it is a winner no matter what.
Way to Go!
Cheers,
Cass

[helenrobertson]

Great - thanks. I'll have a play with that opening. I pulled back the delay and removed it from most of the mix, because I worried it was too much, but will try putting it back in throughout. Modern production tends to be something I fall down on somewhat, so I definitely appreciate your suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to listen.

[Zaychi]

Wow, cool version indeed!

One thing, push the vocal way more to the front, especially in the beginning and ending sections.

What I'm MISSING in this track is the subtle chord change between the first and second "here comes the sun" lines... in your version, like around 1:15, this mood change between the lines is lost, both lines sound the same, and I feel that as a loss.

[hummingbird]

Very cool track. Neat take on the song.

Feels like the voice could be a bit a more "ambient" at the beginning and at the end (more reverb)
I'm sensitive to high frequencies, the riser at 1:53 made me wince, I'm afraid.

Other than that, I thought it was very well done!

[helenrobertson]

Ok, thanks, both. I will have a play with those suggestions too. Thanks for your feedback! Really appreciate it

[cosmicdolphin]

This is great...that's how you trailerize a song ! Good work.

Icing on the cake stuff...

Agree with the other posts about the vox at the start. It needs to make more of a statement either on a production level or a vocal level or maybe both ...a few ideas you could consider

More vocal ambience at the start ( have you got the free Valhalla Supermassive plugin ? Something like that )

A whisper vocal double.

Vocal techniques like crack, cry, sigh, whisper can help especially on the start and end of phrases..maybe give one of those a go and see if it helps. The word winter jumps out at me most as needing " something" to make it unique. Maybe take a full breathe and sigh that word out ?

I was hoping to the get your take on the " Doo-n-doo-doo " melody ..I felt like it was crying to be played on those strings as it's such a signature part of the original

Around 1:35 the hits and the strings seem out of time with each other, it might just be that one has a slower attack then the other so it needs moving slightly

Agree about the tinnitus inducing riser

Was dissappaointed there was no verse 2, can imagine done with a more intense vibe than the other one for some build.

Mark

[helenrobertson]

Thanks for listening and for the feedback. I'm not sure there's much I can do about the vocals before the listing closes, as it's not me singing. I took my bandmate's cover of the song and threw out most of her stems and replaced them with trailery stuff, but the rest of it is definitely stuff I'll look into. I'm intending to spend most of tomorrow working on it with the feedback all you fine folks have provided. Will upload an update once it's done.

[cosmicdolphin]

Thanks for listening and for the feedback. I'm not sure there's much I can do about the vocals before the listing closes, as it's not me singing. I took my bandmate's cover of the song and threw out most of her stems and replaced them with trailery stuff, but the rest of it is definitely stuff I'll look into. I'm intending to spend most of tomorrow working on it with the feedback all you fine folks have provided. Will upload an update once it's done.

Ahh I see...well you could probably add a whisper track and some production stuff...look forward to hearing the final product

[helenrobertson]

I have attempted to make the changes you fine folks have suggested. Jac only recorded the verses that are in here, so no real option of adding that extra one. I wonder if it might make it a bit too long anyway... Will potentially revisit when she's got some time to do stuff.

I'm torn as to whether I like the solo violin and synth for the bit of missing chorus melody. I tried it on the ensemble violins and it sounded stilted, so went with this.

I *think* I've got everything in time for the end bit now, but really not sure anymore. You know how that goes, I'm sure...

I put the painful riser down an octave. Hopefully that will make it more palatable.

Anyway, if anyone has time/inclination to have another listen and let me know if this works, I'd really appreciate it and, if not, I really appreciate your suggestions thus far nonetheless.

https://soundcloud.com/helen-robertson- ... QH43fjPe2T