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Question about Christmas/Holiday vocal songs

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:58 am
by Coffeeinthesink
Do you guys think it is more 'sync-able' to leave an instrumental break in the middle of a vocal Christmas cover, or just keep the song within the vocals?

PS - I just caught myself whistling Winter Wonderland in the stairwell at work in June. My coworkers definitely think I'm bananas. :D

Re: Question about Christmas/Holiday vocal songs

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:12 am
by funsongs
I'll offer an opinion - for what that's worth - whether a cover or an original, seems to me that Christmas songs that are gonna 'stick' tend to have the characteristic of a sing-along kind of song;
i.e. an easily learned and repeatable (rePete-able) Chorus. I'm working on a Christmas song, and have had that as one of the main goals; and I'm finding out that 'simple & easy'... aren't easily achieved.

So - to answer your question - better to leave out solo and instrument breaks; keep it compact and simple.
Hope that helps.

PS - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! :? :lol: So what if it's Summer?!

Re: Question about Christmas/Holiday vocal songs

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:09 am
by Coffeeinthesink
funsongs wrote:
Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:12 am
I'll offer an opinion - for what that's worth - whether a cover or an original, seems to me that Christmas songs that are gonna 'stick' tend to have the characteristic of a sing-along kind of song;
i.e. an easily learned and repeatable (rePete-able) Chorus. I'm working on a Christmas song, and have had that as one of the main goals; and I'm finding out that 'simple & easy'... aren't easily achieved.

So - to answer your question - better to leave out solo and instrument breaks; keep it compact and simple.
Hope that helps.

PS - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! :? :lol: So what if it's Summer?!
Thanks Peter! Always good to hear from you. I suppose they could also always use the instrumental version in sections where no vocals are needed. Happy holidays! :D

Re: Question about Christmas/Holiday vocal songs

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:08 pm
by sherrylynnlee
Coffeeinthesink wrote:
Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:58 am
Do you guys think it is more 'sync-able' to leave an instrumental break in the middle of a vocal Christmas cover, or just keep the song within the vocals?

PS - I just caught myself whistling Winter Wonderland in the stairwell at work in June. My coworkers definitely think I'm bananas. :D
If you mean an instrumental verse for example, I'd skip it. They can just use your instrumental version for that!
If you mean a solo... I'd also skip it. Solos are a bit passé these days, unless you're doing a straight up jazz piece.

Re: Question about Christmas/Holiday vocal songs

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 6:52 am
by Kolstad
I would try to find out what the others do, and then do something else. That strategy is tested through time. Compete in the blue ocean.