Electronic/R&B track - "Smooth Steel" - worth it?

[zircon]

A few months ago, I provided a short (2:30) instrumental song for a little vocal contest on a community I visit. I only spent about 3 hours on it total, and did it in a sort of electronic R&B style. Entrants were supposed to write original vocal parts, lyrics, and then perform them and record over the instrumental track. Here is what someone came up with:http://www.soundtempest.net/9_Smooth_Steel.mp3I was really impressed. But here's the catch... some elements of the instrumental are arranged from an old video game, so if I wanted to commercialize the track I would have to rewrite some of the parts.Is this worth continuing? eg. Expanding to 3:30 or so, revamping the sounds and production, properly mixing/mastering it, adding some female backup vocals, that sort of thing? Or is this not really commercially viable? I don't listen to much R&B so it's hard for me to tell.Thanks in advance.

[mazz]

I think it's worth re-doing as a dance song. If you were to straighten out the swing and speed it up it would be a killer (dare I say) House music-type piece. I might be saying the wrong dance music style, there's so many it's hard to keep up with them all but this has potential in that market IMO.Always great sounding stuff!Mazz

[edteja]

I like it man. Definitely do what it takes to get it lengthened and street legal.

[johnnydean1]

Quote:A few months ago, I provided a short (2:30) instrumental song for a little vocal contest on a community I visit. I only spent about 3 hours on it total, and did it in a sort of electronic R&B style. Entrants were supposed to write original vocal parts, lyrics, and then perform them and record over the instrumental track. Here is what someone came up with:http://www.soundtempest.net/9_Smooth_Steel.mp3I was really impressed. But here's the catch... some elements of the instrumental are arranged from an old video game, so if I wanted to commercialize the track I would have to rewrite some of the parts.Is this worth continuing? eg. Expanding to 3:30 or so, revamping the sounds and production, properly mixing/mastering it, adding some female backup vocals, that sort of thing? Or is this not really commercially viable? I don't listen to much R&B so it's hard for me to tell.Thanks in advance.No!It's a sound not a song!Average..................Bland...........................Ordinary.........boringAny or all of the above.Sorry Zirc don't waste your time.

[zircon]

mazz; I'm not sure the tempo is fast enough to fit into a "four on the floor" groove as is common in house music. However, taking it further into the dance direction is an interesting idea. Maybe I will try that.Ed; I think I will end up doing that At least making it legit by removing the VGM elements (though there's not much of that left) so I can put it in a demo.johnny; Ouch. While more specific criticism would have been appreciated, I'll keep that in mind...

[sgs4u]

Well, one suggestion might be to find a way to insert a couple of bars of time in between a bunch of the verse lines. The singing isn't stellar, but if you set it up as more of a call and answer vibe, there'll be more breathing room in between the lines. On the other hand, there is a lot of talk these days about commercial music and songs getting back to less than 3 minutes. adding some chick singers might be good, if the lyric supports some kind of dialogue, but do you have to OK that with the guy that wrote the lyrics you have now?Just keep experimenting, you already know it'll be worth it. You do great work, Zirc! JD's comments lately are, let's say, provocative. steve

[johnnydean1]

Quote:mazz; I'm not sure the tempo is fast enough to fit into a "four on the floor" groove as is common in house music. However, taking it further into the dance direction is an interesting idea. Maybe I will try that.Ed; I think I will end up doing that At least making it legit by removing the VGM elements (though there's not much of that left) so I can put it in a demo.johnny; Ouch. While more specific criticism would have been appreciated, I'll keep that in mind...Sorry Zirc,but you will remember I have championed you and your material for a long time.Way back when you thought you were too young.!!!!This one just isn't up to your usual very high standard.

[johnnydean1]

Quote: JD's comments lately are, let's say, provocative. steveMon Dieu Steve,quoi moi !!!!!!!

[prez]

This is recorded well as your material usually is. However, as an R&B cut, this will not do in today's market. Overall, the song sounds dated. Circa 1989 or a little earlier. It really doesn't fit the genre.It's not bad but there's nothing in the song that really comes out and grabs me. It really is not worth doing over again bruh.God bless.

[zircon]

Ok. Maybe I will expand it and simply release it for free as a video game arrangement - which after all, is what it is Not to mention as I said I did all the production in a matter of hours, using only free FLStudio plugins and samples. So I can definitely improve it. No $ this way but I think people will get a kick out of it.