Deja Vu Blues

[blujonny]

I think if you could take the singing style of "had a bad week but some pretty good years" or the part where you sing "I know it makes me feel kind of crazy and never worked out - cause if at first you don't succeed throw it all away" where the character of your voice really shines I think you could develop a classic here. If you could capitalize on the quirkiness or cartoonish aspect of your voice, and take it as far as necessary, you could have a real diamond and a fantastic career billg. The layers, drums, vibes, guitars, etc, are very polished. I think if you could add a couple of other quirky percussion instruments or sounds to the background it would really top it off nicely. Other than that billg I think you can get the perfect background vocals or harmonies going and bam! There you have it.

[marcblack30]

Bill, man I love this song and I think I like the vocals as is, I’m curious to hear the pitch corrected version. When I first listened to the second link you posted I was thinking it had been corrected… DOH!I love the vocal phrasings you use and the back up vox on the line “save a lot of time like that” is my fav.I also like the intro as is, and the bass drop out sounds perfectly normal to me. I think you’ve got a great tune on your hands and will surely find some success with this.Nice work!Marc

[billg]

Thanks blujonny. It would be easier io implement some of your suggestions if I actually knew what I was doing. I'm not trying to be funny, it's true.Marc, I'm glad to hear you say that. I was thinking it was cool & then started second guessing everything. Makes me nervous 'cause 90% of the time when I try to "fix" something things just start sliding downhill! - THANKS.

[jay10music]

BILL..BILL..BILL.... Do you know the meaning of ( GREATNESS.)....IT'S YOU BRO!!!!!! Don't let anybody make you think any different...you have it all!Your so talented...Your vocals...the sound of your voice is incredable..your lyrics, everything is just solid. You will make the big time soon !! And you can take that to the bank!!!!! Very CooooL Stuff....Jay...r-man

[mojobone]

A couple of notes before I listen to the improved version:I'll admit I was listening in my 'producer' hat. I'll put on my label hat before I listen again.By "resolution", I don't mean Hollywood Ending. For example, "Shotgun Blues" ends with the line,"...I'm gonna take a shotgun/ and disconnect my brain."I think blujonny's onto something; It's maybe not the pitch, but that the vocal doesn't "sit right" in the track. I do like the quality and timbre of the vocal; maybe a different mic or some compression?Oh, and I LOVE the bass thing in the intro. It pulls me in. *edit*Much better. For an artist submission, I'd say it's 95% there. (probably needs to be 99and44/100ths)You wanna pitch it to Mick Jagger, I'd say it's ready, but I doubt he could sing it as well as you. (but Steven Tyler could, too bad he's in rehab) You might try pulling the lead vocal down slightly, relative to everything else, maybe listen to some Robbie Robertson solo records to help you dial it in a little finer. Maybe speak the line, "....you save a lot of time like that" instead of singing it. I think some of the BG vocals could still use a pitch tweak. Autotune will probably remove any character whatsoever from your lead vocal and is probably wrong for the style, but wouldn't hurt the BGs a 'tall-And if I didn't mention this before, GOOD SHOW!

[blujonny]

I think the key billg is to know what we're focusing on or thinking about when we sing a certain way. Once we've done that we can usually replicate it fairly easy. I feel like your voice sounds best when it's more casual and sounds like you're talking to someone one on one. I know I'm throwing a lot of ideas out here but another thing I could suggest is having a blend of female/male voices singing "Deja Vu Blues" with less of the verse singing voice. More harmonious oohs and aahs would light up the song.

[squids]

That was something I was thinking about too, the male/female BGs would also play up the contrast, throw his main vox into the spotlight a bit more. You're also right that he does casual best, off the cuff stuff, or conversational singng is what it's called where you feel like he's singing directly to you personally, not the guy next to you, even though that guy's thinking the same thing too. It's a great quality to have, the great ones have that kinda intimacy in their voices.Bills' probably sittin at home readin this and goin "oh no, shut up squids!" hahahahahahah!!

[billg]

Oh no, shut up squids . . . just kiding! Thanks for the kind words. If I do something "right" I can promise it's an accident , so duplicating it or being able to capitalize on it just ain't gonna happen. I throw an awful lot of "smelly stuff" against the wall that doesn't stick!

[squids]

Wow. I wonder if I've heard any of that. I need a shower.

[heinsite]

bill--i really like the tune, your lyrics very well done man, the tongue and cheek mixed with the just plain "i'm not gunna say it the same old way, and if you don't get it, tough..." attitude, i really relate! and in the end it's the whole package. you're impressing the hellouttame. still like your chops, regardless--let petty buy the friggin tune and do it "better,"just wonderful,warren