Singing classic rock, feeling vs. notes? Rockin Robby - 13 years old

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RockinRobby

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Singing is sometimes (most of the time) more about feeling and emotion (to me) than hitting the notes exact? I have many examples of this, the most recent posted at the top of my page "The Weight" It's classic rock, and the vocals are not "exact?" But they're not intended to be... They're supposed to convey feeling and emotion.

Oh 13 years old? That was the Scotch I was drinking when I tracked it!

Rockin'Robby | Doraville, GA | Pop / Country / Acoustic | Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos | ReverbNation

There will be a Remix 9 when I get my DAW back. It's currently in the shop, and if I don't have to re-install everything? The remix will come later this week, if I have to re-install everything? Then I'll get a new DAW, and it will be 2 months :-) People who do this will understand.
 
If it's live then I give the singer some leeway - especially rock singers who are usually drunk lol. But a studio recording should be pretty much on the mark as there's so much editting available to get it right. So I disagree respectfully as I respect your writing/singing/playing :D:D:D:D.
 
ido1957 said:
If it's live then I give the singer some leeway - especially rock singers who are usually drunk lol. But a studio recording should be pretty much on the mark as there's so much editting available to get it right. So I disagree respectfully
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I'm totally with Ido on this one.
When a singer is singing live, if they hit the odd wrong note, it's not a disaster because by the time you've registered it, they could be back onto right notes and flying.
In the studio however, "feeling" is often a load of bollocks, given that since the 1960s, vocals have so often been a composite of a number of vocal performances. I also think that 'feeling' is a term used when people aren't hitting notes. The reality is that a song with lyrics has a vocal melody that consists of notes. Different notes. If you're not going to attempt to hit the notes, why should the drummer bother to stay in time ? Why is it not acceptable to be slightly out with a fill or out of time but with 'great feeling' ? Or in the excitement of a piece, fluffing the notes of a guitar riff ?
Good controlled, accurate performances convey feeling, as much as feeling can be conveyed within a multitrack, overdubbing environment. I resent the notion that getting something right somehow implies you have no feeling in your music.
Quel merde !
 
T-Pain doesn't miss notes, however, I don't consider his recordings "singing." So it's at least partially subjective.

I'm "Still" DAWless... But I guess my main point was, that singing is not just about the notes, not just about the tone, it's about the overall presentation which means it must include, no no small degree emotion. You don't want that "fall on your knees guy on Youtube doing your Christmas music, but by token, music (to reach a chord inside) must be passionate, it must therefore convey emotion (IMO)
 
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Recording, 1) you can manual tune (with the autotune plugin) and get everything spot on, 2) you can comp a vocal from as many takes as it takes, 3) you can sing a hard part as many times as you need.

So there are ways to save a great emotional take without sacrificing the pitch. So I disagree about recording. But, if you absolutely must choose one over the other, I'll sacrifice a little accuracy for more feeling.
 
Feeling is a totally subjective thing that seems to mean different things to different people. For alot of people, as long as there is shouting, improvisations and melismas or 'over the topness', there's feeling. But when it comes down to it, you can't really say that someone has sung something with feeling because they might not have. Or they could have but it might sound bland and lifeless to someone else. It's totally subjective.
 
OK, I got my DAW back after a 6 week downtime... I spent some more time mixing this pig? This is like remix 9? I think it's about as good as I can make it?

And I think With Respect To (WRT) singing with feeling, vs. trying to hit every note? "This is the Shizzy..." This is what I'm talking about? It's at the top of my page.

"The Weight" You other singers? Take note... This is how it's done. (You're welcome.)
 
No doubt a good performance on a great classic. I don't hear any real pitch problems. Drink more scotch, you're good to go.

Not crazy about that piano patch you got there. I think a heavy dose of compression might help tame that player piano effect.
 
Emotion, in singing, in the studio, can be a lot about technique and not so much about actual emotion...

You might use emotion to get you somewhere but a good singer can usually get the same place without it. It can be artifice, and not art. Practice, technique, how to sound like your heart is breaking or you're in pain, over several hours and myriad takes... "Still hurting bro?" Yep, as long as it takes...

It's like the guy pulling guitar face whilst widdling away at a million miles an hour isn't conveying emotion in the notes he's playing, that's in the technique... getting into a emotional state, or pretending to, doesn't automatically improve the playing or embellish the sound.

This is not to say that your audience doesn't get an emotional connection with your music, and that the things you do that appear to be emotionally-based don't help them on the journey, just that it's not just emotion... you have to have the chops first.
 
"Still hurting bro?" Yep, as long as it takes..."

What's even harder than that is singing about a girl that gives you a huge ere©+!0n and having to do it “over and over and over…” It’s really tough to do without medical help. I once had to call a doctor because I was tracking for more than 4 hours…
 
grimtraveller said:
Feeling is a totally subjective thing that seems to mean different things to different people. For alot of people, as long as there is shouting, improvisations and melismas or 'over the topness', there's feeling. But when it comes down to it, you can't really say that someone has sung something with feeling because they might not have. Or they could have but it might sound bland and lifeless to someone else. It's totally subjective.
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You hit the nail on the head. I wish people will stop declaring their favorites to have the most feeling. IMO, I think that sometimes "feeling" is fancy talk for "I'm not as a good as you, but I will somehow add more worth to me by saying I have feeling. So therefor, I AM better than you. MUAHAHAHA."............

That's not to say there isn't feeling. But the artist does not necessarily have emotion just because you connected with the piece.
 
But what you are missing? And "the exact opposite of what you are saying (no disprespect)"

Is that people, and no small amount? NO small amount; are NOT singing with emotion/feeling?

I apologize for calling that lime green foot rest a "lime green foot rest." My calling it that is not an attack? It is what it is? If you like lime green foot rests? Well then GOOD! But the fact that I point out that it is "in fact!" a lime green foot rest? Should not be unsettling to anyone...

The fact remains, from the OP... It is important to sing with feeling, and emotion...

People may say that your feelings and emotions are not real? And your song is not moving? And your performance is fake? People may say that your nipples are not hard? Even though it is very VERY cold? You, AND I! may spit in their faces. Stand with our nipples erect! and say!? You want emotion!? YOU CAN'T HANDLE EMOTION! (of course with no disprespect)
 
RockinRobby said:
I apologize for calling that lime green foot rest a "lime green foot rest." My calling it that is not an attack? It is what it is? If you like lime green foot rests? Well then GOOD! But the fact that I point out that it is "in fact!" a lime green foot rest? Should not be unsettling to anyone...



People may say that your nipples are not hard? Even though it is very VERY cold? You, AND I! may spit in their faces. Stand with our nipples erect! and say!? You want emotion!? YOU CAN'T HANDLE EMOTION!
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You've totally lost me there ! I haven't got a clue what you're on about.

Armistice said:
Emotion, in singing, in the studio, can be a lot about technique and not so much about actual emotion...

it's not just emotion... you have to have the chops first.
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Bang !
The chops/ technique are all important. Often what we call great feeling or emotion are actually good technique, knowing when to peak, when to sound certain ways etc. Quite often those singers that don't hit the notes may well be singing with feeling but they are also displaying a certain lack. I think that in order to sing a song, you should know how the song goes and be able to convey whatever feeling is necesary within the confines of the notes that are part of the melody before going outside of them.
Of course, singing has more to it than that and part of what individual singers may bring to any piece is themselves and their expression which is important and can give a performance that "something else", that Je ne sais quois.
There are a number of things that can make up a vocal performance and don't forget, coldness and boredom are also feelings that might be just what the vocal needs to convey whatever it is conveying.
But the OP is essentially about which is more important ~ feelings or correct notes. In my opinion, they go hand in hand. I go back to the point I made earlier ~ would you accept an out of time drummer or off key bassist or trumpeter on the basis of them saying they played with great feeling ?
 
You have to try to keep up, I understand it's not easy. I was at an open mic night last week and it was touch and go there for a while? (I kept touching myself, and they kept asking me to go...)
 
It's pretty good? What I posted the OP about? I may have mixed it "too many times..." And it may be too bright as a result? I tend to mix things brighter, the farther down the road I get. I think it's pretty good.

It's what I was talking about, "singing with fealing..." There have been many comments, some well stated. However, what remains is the music that touches us... Music can touch us, as nothing else can. And music that really touches you? Well, it's special... And the only way to convey that (I don't care what anyone says about this...) The "only way" for music to really touch you deeply? Is for the singer to convey the message "with emotion" For the singer to "speak to you personally..." We all have songs that have done that? I have several that will make me tear up...

So the ultimate achivement, IMO as a singer? Is to "touch someone deeply..." With your performance? THAT is the ultimate/highest form of our art... To touch someone, to trigger a feeling, a memory, an emotion... With your performance, and or with your production/presentation. There is no higher praise (again IMO) as a musician/artist than when someone tells you how much your song, or your performance meant to them at a particular time in their life. THAT is what it is all about... If you can touch someone that deeply? If you can move them to tears? Then you have done your job as an artist...
 
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