Who's Online
Invisible Members: 6 Visitors: 50
Past 7 Days
Song Uploads: 153
Song Votes: 373
Song Comments: 1489
Forum Posts: 320
New Members: 67
Participation Points: 6174.10
|
Get Flash to see this player.
Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:
 
Attribution-NoDerivs
|
|
|
|
|
Keywords:
velvet (3), underground (8), jeses (1), willie (2), Scarlett Johannsen (1)
|
|
Description:
Willywagga posted a really funny little track, Ruari Egans Car, a while back (you can listen to this on Willie's bio page). I really liked this, and thought the guitar was a bit like the Velvet Underground, and asked willie if i could do a Velvet-type version of his song ... and here it is.
This is the first track I've done post surgery, so the vocals are probably a bit nasal, and i've messed around with the mix but probably not done as good as i could've 'cause i wanted to get something posted.
Anyway, it's nice to do something fun as most of my stuff is kinda serious.
The lyric was inspired by a conversation I had with my nephew's 15 year-old girlfriend - we asked what sort of job she wants to get when she leaves school, and she said she wanted to sing and that 'i just want to be beautiful'.
The original lyric was a bit of a piss-take, but i left it in hospital (!) - this is more from her point of view, and I like it better.
Thanks to Willie for letting me play with this, and for the suggestions on improving the track.
Steve
Lyrics:
Sweet Jesus make me beautiful
I hope you'll help me though i know your hands are kinda full.
I Know I can make it 'cause Alex Heaven said
Celebrity's currency and we wanna get paid
All the stiffs wanna work 'til they drop dead but
He believes in me.
Sweet Jesus make me beautiful
The world's my lobster and I've had my fill of school.
I know I'm worth it like Scarlett Johanssen said
You wear your make-up to church and pray to wed
But I'm gonna get out and sing me a life instead
He believes in me.
Sweet Jesus make me beautiful
between the city and the star, i'm gonna show them all.
etc....
Hardware:
willies guitar and bass
shure mic
keystation keyboard
Software:
GB3, logic Pro, Addictive drums, my VU collection.
|
Excellent! &mdash 05/28/07 - 09:45:55 AM
I like the message of hope contained in this, I'd like to hear the sequel when the person hits 30 years of age, but seriosly really nice melody and as always great singing and production, I guess someone like Scarlett Johanssen is living the good life going from pre-teen actress to an adult star, good person to pick as far as being a young girls role model.
a well rounded rock tune, good job :) [ Reply to This ]
scarlett woman! &mdash 05/28/07 - 10:10:47 AM
Thanks Tom. I actually picked Scarlett 'cause she's currently flogging shampoo for Loreal in the UK, which has the tag-line 'Because i'm worth it'. It was a toss-up betwen her and Jennifer Aniston ... er, if you see what i mean.
It does seem kind of odd for a guy who's over 40 trying to get into the mind of a 15 year old ... best not to go there ...
Steve [ Reply to This ]
looking beautiful &mdash 05/28/07 - 09:52:22 AM
Lyrically and musically. Steve, the voice is sounding good. Liked everything. You guys rocked this one. [ Reply to This ]
Bootiful &mdash 05/28/07 - 10:13:21 AM
Thanks KTB - it's reeally nice to do an uncomplicated bit of rock for a change, 3 chords and all! thanks for checking this out
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Georgous &mdash 05/28/07 - 10:29:27 AM
Great song, terrific energy, I can see this being done live with lot's of UV and strobe lights pulsing all sexy with sweet Scarlett up on a big screen caressing her thighs and pouting. Oh sweet jesus I can. Great Lou Reed/Bowie Transformer era tone to it. I'm thing Andy's Chest/Vicious. Bravo on the mix Steve you've worked wonders with what I sent you. The keys really pump those balls.
If I could vote on it straight 10's all the way.
[ Reply to This ]
scarlett up in lights .. &mdash 05/28/07 - 10:40:24 AM
.... that's a great image - i think i need to go and have a cold shower. Yeah, it does have a Transformer vibe, though the track i mostly played when doing this was What Goes On. You were right about the ending though - I think this ones much better than the one i had for it. Ta again for letting me poke about with this!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Pin Ups &mdash 05/28/07 - 10:57:52 AM
Really good rock vibe to this one, I hear the VU influence on the rhythm guitars alright. The vox kinda remind me of Bowie...in fact the whole track is a kinda VU/Bowie/Roxy summit hehe
Great production!
Cheers
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Summit meeting! &mdash 05/28/07 - 11:32:04 AM
Hah - great thought, Steve. I nearly downloaded ozone to try that to master this song, but got too impatient. Having said that, i found on saturday the mastering tools in logic (like, i've only had it 9 months) and used them on this track. Problem with this one was that i had the entire track finished and virtually mixed without vocals, and when i put them on they sounded ... stuck on. Anyway, thanks for the comments ... hopefully the vibe is there.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
The inspiration... &mdash 05/28/07 - 12:30:10 PM
...for the lyrics is priceless. If only life could be so simple...or maybe it is?
Nice vocals...gets the "attitude" across very effectively. Rockin'... [ Reply to This ]
oh to be that young again! &mdash 05/28/07 - 01:24:58 PM
You know, we were in this restaurant, and when she (her real name is Alex heaven by the way, isn't that genius??) came out and said ' I just want to be beautiful' I was speechless ... we took the piss, but you know, it's kind of sweet , isn't it?
I'm really glad that I didn't write a condescending lyric ( i can't remember the original, but it had the line ' In a land where the blonde lead the blonde' in it), as i think this works much better, and its nice to to be my usual cynical self.
Thanks for listening Bob.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
pretty maids all in row &mdash 05/28/07 - 01:29:24 PM
wow sure kicks in after the guitar intro.
great up tempo rocker, really kicks some ass here.
sounds like your recovering pretty well here. vocals sound nice to me. probably does need to be nasally to cut through.
subject matter does ring true. every morning i have to drive by 2 high schools and i'm noticing the girls sure didn't look like that when i was in school. just shows you what media throws out as perfection and a standard of upkeep.
There is a spot or 2 where there is noticable hiss. but it doesn't distract from this cool tune!
Excellent work Steve and Willy [ Reply to This ]
Hissssss &mdash 05/28/07 - 01:35:28 PM
Hi Vic - yeah, there are a couple of hissy spots, but i was too lazy to gate them, to be honest .... typically impatient, i just wanted to get it done (or i lied to myself and pretended it made the track sound more authentic!).
i think that's an age thing ....which i totally get .... I'm sure when i was 15 girls in my school didn't look like they do now (Alex looks like Britney crossed with Xtina) .... i guess that's progress, or evolution, or something.
All guitars are Willies, i just tampered with them. Many thanks for taking the time to listen.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
-- &mdash 05/29/07 - 02:42:29 PM
on second thought and a third listen. the hiss is appropriate. i retract.
i did a song sometime back and the to quite bugged me, so i added some synth white noise. you where right.
---
now where's those car keys? [ Reply to This ]
i disagree &mdash 05/29/07 - 03:44:21 PM
,,, no, i was wrong, it was just laziness - but i bow to your superior guitar knowledge Vic! [ Reply to This ]
Rocker &mdash 05/28/07 - 01:34:13 PM
Loud and brash...just like a rock tune should be. Thanks for sharing. [ Reply to This ]
brash! &mdash 05/28/07 - 01:38:43 PM
Hey thanks Bill - i know its not at the level of artistry you perform at, but its a nice little 3 chord thrash. Brash is good - thank you!
steve [ Reply to This ]
schaweeeet &mdash 05/28/07 - 01:58:50 PM
i just love the way you sing, steve. you seem to understand the impact of drama - how much and how little of it to use vocally for maximum benefit. really cool groove you've got going guys, especially enjoyed the little organ (hey now!) solo. the attitude in this oozes through - nice job! anne [ Reply to This ]
Nicked! &mdash 05/28/07 - 02:30:26 PM
Thanks Anne - any compliment on my singing from you is a compliment indeed! Though I saw rufus wainwright last night - jeez that guy can really sing ... made me want to pack it in. Glad you like the organ (Carry on Macjams ... insert joke here). All the instruments are sounds from Velvets records... organ (what goes on), xylophone (sunday morning), stringd (Venus in furs). This was really fun to do. Glad you liked it.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Boy does THAT sound like Uncle Lou... &mdash 05/28/07 - 02:39:25 PM
Very Velvets, especially that rhythm guitar in the left channel...
Lyrically, it's somewhere between 'Sweet Jane' and 'Rock & Roll' on the one hand, and a whole lot of 'Hedwig' on the other... Or maybe those are different fingers on the same hand...
Anyway, I love the song, the lyric, the vocal, and the total package...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
But... &mdash 05/28/07 - 02:41:09 PM
...You really need to find that evocative graphic for this one...
NOT optional...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
No pictures &mdash 05/28/07 - 02:45:55 PM
... but I'm rubbish with stuff like this .. maybe 5 extra arms will help me out. Yeah Ed, it was the left channel guitar that made me ask Willie to 'velvet' his song up. I only hope Lou doesnt sue. Lyrically, dropping the ladies names seemed like a very Lou thing to do.
Great to hear from you again (especially your new track ... loong wait for that one!) and thanks for dropping by.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Great Title... &mdash 05/28/07 - 03:11:12 PM
Hi Mo &mdash 05/28/07 - 04:09:18 PM
Hey Maurice - thanks for stopping by and introducing yourself. Nice to ear your track tonight - your voice is lower than even I can reach!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Thank god for Do-It-Yourselfers! &mdash 05/28/07 - 06:46:51 PM
What does it say about the times when music this good could never have a chance in hell of getting on a major record label and it takes independent production and distrubution to get it heard? What a sad world indeed. [ Reply to This ]
Indie! &mdash 05/29/07 - 01:52:40 AM
thanks Aaron - maybe it's a good thing that this doesn't get released, as we'd probably get sued by Lou Reed! I'm just happy to post stuff here and let folks listen ... thanks for taking the time to spin this one.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
wow, this is... &mdash 05/28/07 - 07:00:31 PM
... just plain old-fashioned fun!
excellen collab. nice vocals add the perfect finishing touch.
yummy! [ Reply to This ]
Fun! Me?! &mdash 05/29/07 - 01:55:33 AM
Hi Jason - I tend to wrire kinda serious stuff, so this was really nice to just play about with this. the more I listen to this, the louder the vocals seem to me ... probably need tweaking .... but the feels there, so that's what counts here.
Many thanks for checking this out man
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Cool collab - I like it! &mdash 05/28/07 - 10:00:18 PM
Your voice reminds me of a blend of Iggy and Bowie when Bowie was producing Iggy. Great lyrics and all around recast of Willy's original - which I loved the first time I heard it. [ Reply to This ]
He crashed my Car! &mdash 05/29/07 - 01:59:14 AM
Heh - it's nice to do a track with no pretence of originality, or at least being openly able to show where you've nicked stuff from. It was really good of willie to let me borrow his car ... I don't think he minds the respray job ....
Steve [ Reply to This ]
This is great! &mdash 05/28/07 - 10:21:03 PM
(ButI I liked Ruari Egan's Car too; very practical )
Wow, what a great set of lyrics! Gives this tune more strength and it was pretty good to start. And the vocals are right on for the emotion. Love that hooky guitar too. Great collab, the combination of musical styles suits you both well. [ Reply to This ]
take it for a spin &mdash 05/29/07 - 02:02:37 AM
Hi Joe - I really loved the original (especially as my sister has a TT), and the rawness of it - I think that's what i liked about it. Willie's backing vocals were in up until the last minute, but I struggled with the vocal mix on this ( i think 'cause i left it to last) and I just couldn't get them to sit.
I suppose as it's a cover, all royalties will go to Willie ... so 100% of zero then!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Nice intro! &mdash 05/29/07 - 02:29:54 AM
You have a Bowie'esque vox going on as well. Excellent message and well put together. Nice collab. gents! I like it very much, kudos! [ Reply to This ]
Into intro &mdash 05/29/07 - 02:50:56 AM
Thanks Alvin - i put the intro stringd thru distortion to try and grain them up a bit, but it's not quite John cale! Thanks for stopping by bud,
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Sweet Jesus superstar &mdash 05/29/07 - 04:08:26 AM
You came to play Jesus for the lepers in my head, or what ? this little glockenspiel thing is great. and I like the organ, oscillating between church grandeur and pop arrangement. Another nice variation on celebrity culture which is, I think, one of your favorite topic, but with the point of view of the wanabee,and also a lighter variation on Arcade Fire's "Antichirst Television Blues" (or no ?) Fav'd and Dl'd.
[ Reply to This ]
jesus wept! &mdash 05/29/07 - 04:17:13 AM
thanks JC - you know, that's really sharp - I did think of the similarity of this and Anti Christ televison blues myself, but thought no-one would notice (I suppose in that respect, it's written from the point of view of the guys daughter in the song). I must admit, i haven't played Neon Bible nearly as much as Funeral ... just got The Nationals new album, and love that though.
nice to do a bit of rock for a change - glad you liked it ... and yeah, it's another take on my obsession with celebrity culture ... maybe i should go and work for Hello!
thanks for stopping by
Steve [ Reply to This ]
The National &mdash 05/29/07 - 04:30:27 AM
I listened to this as well. I did not know the band but I was attracted by the cover art, and I really like the album, not obvious but a grower. Interesting drummer, full of surprises, on the good side of homo-sapiens.
---
No redeeming qualities [ Reply to This ]
grower &mdash 05/29/07 - 04:57:40 AM
It's still growing on me ... not a bad track on it. Fake Empire is a great opener ... currently my new favourite band! Got tickets to see them in novemeber. [ Reply to This ]
Tuesday is Monday &mdash 05/29/07 - 07:06:56 AM
It's Tuesday morning, but it's really Monday because yesterday was Memorial Day over here and we had the day off. i leapt out of bed with my usual Monday morning joy (ahem) and sat down in front of the computer. Realized I had missed a new echoroom track (got to get round to setting those email notification settings...) and clicked to listen immediately. What a treat! And what a way to start the week. This is outstanding. Love the lyrics and the vocal peformance. Your voice is outstanding on this. Velvet Underground, Bowie, Lou Reed - Mott the Hoople, anyone? Guitar work is very cool. This is a nice collab. Very cool. Nice work. Peace. [ Reply to This ]
Missing a Day &mdash 05/29/07 - 09:47:55 AM
Hi David - we were the same, we had a days public holiday yesterday so my sense of time is all skewed - i'd done a mix of this Sunday, then sent it to Willie, then did a hasty remix Monday (yesterday, todays tuesday right?). Anyway, thanks for the kind words ... never really heard Mott the Hoople but all the other influences are present and correct .... maybe willie and i should form a tribute band!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
I Hear Lou Reed &mdash 05/29/07 - 01:54:30 PM
I can hear Lou Reed in here, but you sing much better than he does.
Good song. I like the keyboard mixed with the guitar, especially in the beginning. Drums are also well done and appropriate.
Real good song. [ Reply to This ]
here's loou &mdash 05/29/07 - 02:02:55 PM
hey thanks Tim - I guess Lou doesn't really sing, does he ... I don't think i have his gravitas! Drums are the first track I've done using Addictive Drums, which i think are great - the parts on this track are (Mo tucker) basic, but i really like the sounds.
Thanks for commenting, really appreciate it.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Fantastic stuff &mdash 05/29/07 - 01:57:58 PM
I like this alot Steve. I do remember Willywaggas song. I remember the guitar in the background. I like where you got your lyrics. Your vocals are great regardless of surgery (hope you are ok - you didnt get a nose job did you?? ;). The guitar sure does give that velvet underground sound. Nice and choppy.
I reckon the strings might come in a bit strong but besides that I think it works really well. The production is also very good and the backing singing is levelled quite well. Thumbs up from me! [ Reply to This ]
choppy! &mdash 05/29/07 - 02:08:23 PM
Hey gav - thanks for listening - it was a blast doing this (tonight Matthew i'm gonna be .... lou reed), and trying to write a lyric in a different style (whilst still maintaining the usual obsessions). I'm not massively happy with how the vocals sit on this, and have sent Willie an alternate version (which probably just sounds the same), and take your point about the strings but ... it's nice to just get something finished, I was getting really antsy. Surgery is healing, but the nose job didn't take ... i STILL don't look like Brad Pitt.
Keep in touch
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Man!!!!! &mdash 05/29/07 - 06:29:34 PM
To me I dont see no wrong with the mix... But that is me! Willys song is a great one And you done some real justice here!!!! Excellent collab [ Reply to This ]
Mixed up &mdash 05/30/07 - 01:58:30 AM
Thanks EB - I'm never happy with anything ... nothing's ever really finished!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Willywagga's orig is lots of fun... &mdash 05/29/07 - 06:38:26 PM
...but you've powered it up and it sounds great. Even when you're upbeat your songs always have loads attitude. Lyrics are real specific and memorable. Didn't know about your surgery but your voice sounds good and strong.
Great work.
Best,
Charlie
[ Reply to This ]
Post surgery &mdash 05/30/07 - 02:05:50 AM
Thanks charlie - it was great to remix Willies car! Actually, the lyrics are really cohesive for me, and I probably knocked them out in under an hour, so maybe there's a lesson for me there - it also helped I guess to have a very specific subject matter. Glad you liked it, and great to hear from you.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
less polish &mdash 05/30/07 - 12:15:35 AM
Hey Steve,
Like this one. Less polished than some of your others. The surgery agrees with you! Your vox sound a smooth as ever. The mix is definitiely LOUDER, good job! Glad you broke out the mastering tools. Logic has a great group of tools to do it. To my ears the track seems a little heavy on the treble, especially your vocals, I just discovered the de-esser plugin in Logic myself, it's pretty cool. Love the lyrics and the story about where they came from. The mouths of babes.....
Philip [ Reply to This ]
Ruff! &mdash 05/30/07 - 02:18:42 AM
Hi Phil - partly, this was intentionally made a bit more rough to give a kinda 'recorded in a garage ' feel, but partly I don't think I spent enough time (and my ears ain't too good at the moment). There's something not quite right on the vocals - the chorus vocal really bugged me - they are double tracked, and one track was going through guitar pro - I removed the second vocal yesterday and i think it sits better. I really think the issue is that I basically mixed this before recording the vocals, then struggled to sit them - lesson learnt.
I discovered the mastering template on saturday, including a Limiter I'd never even seen before, which made a lot of difference ... logic is just the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it??
Great to hear from you, hope to hear something new from you soon.
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Oh Yeah! &mdash 05/30/07 - 02:24:54 AM
Nice one gents! Hey Steve---your vox kicks my butt even when it's a tad post-nasal! Your VU approach sounds great...the guitars have such a funky and gritty feel. Killer tuneage!
Be well! [ Reply to This ]
Vu'd &mdash 05/30/07 - 02:29:02 AM
Thanks mike - lucky I did this saturday, as i couldn't even speak the next day. We appreciate the compliments from a guitar-man like yourself greatly.
cheers bud
steve [ Reply to This ]
Oh Yeah! &mdash 05/30/07 - 02:29:58 AM
Nice one gents! Hey Steve---your vox kicks my butt even when it's a tad post-nasal! Your VU approach sounds great...the guitars have such a funky and gritty feel. Killer tuneage!
Be well! [ Reply to This ]
Great &mdash 05/30/07 - 03:55:15 AM
Love that funky 'retro' rhythm guitar sound - and shades of 'Venus in Furs' too! Vocals sound OK to me (although I am listening of a portable at work - so not the greatest in hi-fi). Fab lyrics..! Thanks for sharing.
Peter [ Reply to This ]
retro &mdash 05/30/07 - 04:32:25 AM
Hi Pete - the guitars are all Willie's, and that's what appealed to me in the first place. If it sounds ok on your little work hi-fi then that's a good sign. I tend to do vocalists mixes as I mainly sing, so the vocals are always pushed up front.
I was gonna do a Bowie pastiche next, but then realised i've been doing that for the last two years here anyway ...
Thanks for dropping in
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Excellent Rock Song &mdash 05/30/07 - 04:25:17 AM
So much about rock is really about vanity.
I look forward to seeing Scarlett Johansson in the video. ;) [ Reply to This ]
Oh shhhiiit! &mdash 05/30/07 - 05:16:58 AM
Mungo, i just listened to your new track, went back to fav it, and fav'd my own song. WHAT A DICK!
Anyway, rock is all vanity - i actually sung this nakes, looking at myself in the mirror.
I think that's why Scarlett won't return my calls.
thanks for commenting - much appreciated.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Hey Steve, &mdash 05/30/07 - 08:03:09 AM
Don't worry about Scarlett, I did some work with her uncle a couple of years ago, we were both doing decorative artwork for Michael Flatleys house in Cork, he's married to Scarlett's dads sister, so I'm sure I could put in a good word for ya, though I'd have to do a bit of beta testing myself first. Funny I should be working with him sometime next month, yum yum.
By the way thanks for the copy, I know what you mean when you say your ears are tired, I feel that too after having the cans on for a few hours I can't really judge anything anymore, I can't even frickin' hear!! bloody old age, bugger it. [ Reply to This ]
Age &mdash 05/30/07 - 08:17:18 AM
What do you call it when you are attracted to girls half your age (I currently have a thing for Keira Knightly, except when she tries to shout, then sounds like an angry mouse on helium)?
Hmmm, I think it's called "sad".
Anyway, please get Scarletts uncles sisters father or whatever to give her a copy of the song .... you never know!!!
I always find after a while that the song stops making sense, but I think I prefer the version i sent last night - Phil is spot on, the vocals were too trebly, though maybe that's just my vocal chords.
good luck with the house!!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Still. &mdash 05/30/07 - 08:18:40 PM
This song is even better on repeated hearings. If this song has a weak link, I haven't found it. [ Reply to This ]
Back again &mdash 05/31/07 - 12:05:27 AM
Wow - thanks aaron - i thought once would be enough for most people! Really appreciate your interest.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
| |
a well rounded rock tune, good job :)
[ Reply to This ]