When adding something, Loses something

[bobbydazzler]

I've spent the last couple of weeks demoing some new material, and one thing that has come through is; the songs which have a real meaning to them/ or rawness... ie coping with loss of a loved one often lose their way if I add too much instrumentation to them. Which got me to thinking... what songs make the hairs on your neck stand up... are they all very raw and based around very simple instrumentation... can anyone think of songs that really hit the spot that have a massive sound?Maybe its my lack of musical ability!!!

[ncc1701]

A lot of very emotionally memorable songs contain big contrasts in intensity between the verses and chorus. Off the top of my head, good old chestnuts like Melissa Manchester's "Don't Cry Out Loud" or Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." stand out because they're very personal and quiet in the verses, with minimal instrumentation, and then break into a huge orchestral anthem for the chorus.

[diogenes]

"The Scientist" by Coldplay. One of my favorite songs. And it has very minimal instrumentation.

[michaeldean]

I would tend to agree in general - the more "raw" and heartfelt the lyric, the less need for fancy instrumentation. I can think of some exceptions, though...For starters, pop and AC almost never have stripped down versions of songs. They're almost always heavily produced - but that's just the nature of those particular genres (the exception, I guess, would be when someone does an "unplugged" version of their own song).But some songs from those genres have certainly raised my neck hairs: Several Elton John/Bernie Taupin songs come to mind, as well as a couple by Dan Fogelberg (I'm going back a ways, here).My dad was a professional musician all his life, and for some of that time a band leader, so "Leader of the band" (Fogelberg) really got me the first time I ever heard it. "Another old lang syne" is another one that used to get me. I know some people think Fogelberg was a bit on the "sappy" side (sort of the musical Steven Speilberg), but he was an enormous influence on me as a young songwriter. His album "the innocent age" is, IMHO, one of the best pop albums ever produced.(I'm getting a little off topic, here)Anyway, you get my point... I generally agree - big production tends to detract from highly emotional lyric content & delivery, I think because it's percieved as a kind of "ornamentation", and it's inappropriate to put ornaments on something solemn. - sort of like using glitter on a condolence card.To finish answering your question; I know I have at least a dozen other examples of high-production songs that give me chills but, of course, when asked to name some... If I remember some others, I'll post them...

[elser]

Think about Sheryl Crow, she kinda does both, the vocals are very raw and uneffected and forward in the mix but the arrangements are usually very complicated with 3 or 4 distinct guitar parts, bass, drums, keys, strings, brass and beer bottles breaking in the background.

[dougstronach]

Just listened to The Gambler sung by Don Schlitz (on his myspace page) and absolutely loved it. Much better than Kenny R's version. Simple is powerful for sure but the song has to be great.doug s.