Daniel

[steve@baselines.com]

Here's my version of the great Elton John song form back in the 70's - the best time for music in my opinion....but then I am an old fart, so there's that.

https://baselines.com/?p=6790

 

 

 

Edited May 9, 2023 by steve@baselines.com
Link fix

[Keith Wilby]

I sincerely don't want to cause any offence, and I do appreciate the skill that has gone into creating this, but have you considered doing your own arrangement rather than cloning the original? I know that it can be a good learning experience to recreate what you hear on a record, and that night well have been your goal, but in my limited experience, it can be a real buzz to make an established song "your own". I think I pulled it off with the Beatles' "For No one" many years ago, so if I can do it then so can you.

Just my 2p worth ?

[steve@baselines.com]

3 hours ago, Keith Wilby said:

I sincerely don't want to cause any offence, and I do appreciate the skill that has gone into creating this, but have you considered doing your own arrangement rather than cloning the original? I know that it can be a good learning experience to recreate what you hear on a record, and that night well have been your goal, but in my limited experience, it can be a real buzz to make an established song "your own". I think I pulled it off with the Beatles' "For No one" many years ago, so if I can do it then so can you.

Just my 2p worth ?

Hi Keith - thanks for your feedback, and no offence taken!  I know there are two differing thoughts about covers, but I am firmly in the camp of respecting the original.  

I find that I get the most benefit by sticking to that strategy and saving the arrangement type of work for my own original material. 

Generally, when I hear a different arrangement of a classic song, I am usually disappointed by it.  Perhaps 'Blinded by the Light' is an exception to that.

Most of the interesting ideas I have (to me they are interesting) are because of some unique and difficult part of a classic song I've managed to figure out, with interplay between the instruments doing unique rhythms or melodic combinations.

It just comes down to getting more enjoyment out of figuring out exactly what is going on.

 

 

[jack c.]

sounds wonderful.jack cya sound like the prince elton

[Larry T.]

Very good job Steve. Faithful recreation of the original. Excellent production and mix.

I think there is value is both ways of doing covers. What you said about learning from the original and what Keith said about "making it your own" and creating a new sonic experience both are valid ways to learn and create music.

Personally I've learned that there are no rules in music. What really knocked me out musically was figuring out Paul Desmond's main motif on "Take Five". It follows no musical rules that I'm aware of as the sharps and flats between notes make complete sense when listening but are not any type of scale I know of????

[Bajan Blue]

Hi Steve - a good faithful cover, enjoyed the listen

I rarely do covers but when I do they are always different to the originals - but that's just me

Really enjoyed this, hadn't heard Daniel for years

Thanks for posting

Nigel

 

 

[steve@baselines.com]

On 5/10/2023 at 12:34 PM, Larry T. said:

Very good job Steve. Faithful recreation of the original. Excellent production and mix.

I think there is value is both ways of doing covers. What you said about learning from the original and what Keith said about "making it your own" and creating a new sonic experience both are valid ways to learn and create music.

Personally I've learned that there are no rules in music. What really knocked me out musically was figuring out Paul Desmond's main motif on "Take Five". It follows no musical rules that I'm aware of as the sharps and flats between notes make complete sense when listening but are not any type of scale I know of????

Thank you for your comments Larry!

 

[steve@baselines.com]

7 hours ago, Bajan Blue said:

Hi Steve - a good faithful cover, enjoyed the listen

I rarely do covers but when I do they are always different to the originals - but that's just me

Really enjoyed this, hadn't heard Daniel for years

Thanks for posting

Nigel

 

 

Thank you Nigel - great to hear from you and hope you are well.  

Steve

 

[Ross Smithe]

Really nice cover, great work!!

[David Rossi]

This is a really nice faithful recreation.  My only constructive suggestion is that the vocal cadence seemed maybe a little “straight” / robotic in a few places.  
 

That’s nitpicking tho cuz the notes are there and it was really nicely put together…

[FreeEarCandy]

You got pretty close to the original. I can agree with David Rossi. The vocals need more swing.  I would also suggest they need more bottom end and perhaps just a little more width for my ears. But overall you did a good job recreating the song.  

[bjornpdx]

Very nice job, Steve.
I get what you're saying about figuring out a unique or difficult part of a classic song. For a long time I tried to figure out how Klaus Schulz got some of his signature sounds out of his synths. I've come close but not quite there yet. Well, that isn't the same as doing a cover, but your explanation of why you do covers kind of resonates with me.
-Bjorn

[Lynn Wilson]

Nice one, Steve!

Having played in cover bands for years, I've gone in both directions, the faithful reproduction, and rearranging a song to put my own spin on it.  I like either way of doing a cover, just as long as it has soul.  Sometimes one can do a faithful reproduction and still own the song.  This version of Daniel made me nostalgic, for some reason, therefor it resonates with me.  I do agree that a little more beef on your vocal wouldn't hurt, but this is a winner for me.

[steve@baselines.com]

On 5/15/2023 at 11:29 AM, Ross Smithe said:

Really nice cover, great work!!

Thank you Ross.

[steve@baselines.com]

On 5/15/2023 at 5:01 PM, David Rossi said:

This is a really nice faithful recreation.  My only constructive suggestion is that the vocal cadence seemed maybe a little “straight” / robotic in a few places.  
 

That’s nitpicking tho cuz the notes are there and it was really nicely put together…

Hi David - thank you for listening.  I'm certainly not a vocalist, but I will use your suggestion to learn.

Steve

 

[steve@baselines.com]

On 5/15/2023 at 10:28 PM, FreeEarCandy said:

You got pretty close to the original. I can agree with David Rossi. The vocals need more swing.  I would also suggest they need more bottom end and perhaps just a little more width for my ears. But overall you did a good job recreating the song.  

Thanks for your suggestions - as always I will listen back with your thoughts in mind - usually people here know what they are talking about and are correct!

Steve

 

[steve@baselines.com]

On 5/16/2023 at 2:49 AM, bjornpdx said:

Very nice job, Steve.
I get what you're saying about figuring out a unique or difficult part of a classic song. For a long time I tried to figure out how Klaus Schulz got some of his signature sounds out of his synths. I've come close but not quite there yet. Well, that isn't the same as doing a cover, but your explanation of why you do covers kind of resonates with me.
-Bjorn

Hi Bjorn - I'm going to have to investigate Klaus Schultz - sounds like a good challenge.  I agree, getting synth sounds is sometimes an arduous chore of listening to a bunch of existing patches and the trying to meld them into shape!

I always come away with some new trick when I take the time to learn parts as exactly as I can.  There are some I give up on - I tried to do the Sherriff by ELP and was humbled!

Steve

 

[steve@baselines.com]

On 5/18/2023 at 2:19 PM, Lynn Wilson said:

Nice one, Steve!

Having played in cover bands for years, I've gone in both directions, the faithful reproduction, and rearranging a song to put my own spin on it.  I like either way of doing a cover, just as long as it has soul.  Sometimes one can do a faithful reproduction and still own the song.  This version of Daniel made me nostalgic, for some reason, therefor it resonates with me.  I do agree that a little more beef on your vocal wouldn't hurt, but this is a winner for me.

Hi Lynn!  Thanks for your comments. I'm checking out everyone' comments and using them to make things better in the future.

Steve

 

[Wookiee]

Sounds fine to me, like you when I hear a cover with a totally different arrangement it rarely works.

Mix is up to your usual standard, clear, crisp, each instrument voice identifiable.  

[jwnicholson78]

Nice cover.  I thought you did it justice.