2 John Lennons from Me

Jealous Guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd9d6aMKPFw

Across the Universe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8iMr9x4jr4

Is my thing of singing songs like these an octave higher annoying? lol

Good Job Grace. You tackle that high range without any problem!

Are you using Karaoke midi files for background? I'm not sure if Ableton can transpose them up to a girl's range, that would make them more in your middle range. Cakewalk has a Transpose button that transposes up or down by semi tones.

Not annoying at all, but if you're ever feeling squirrely, I'd love to hear you tackle Let It Be in a lower octave.

Your usual fine performance, Grace. But I have to ask: Are you feeling well? You look a little like...well, a cat. Have you been sleeping well?

Actually, this time I do have a very minor criticism: In Jealous Guy, the top note--the word cry in the chorus--is a little bit strained. Perhaps you should lower the key a half step?

Lmao@Jersey! Yes, I put unrelated pictures on my Youtube things. Lol. A cat this time. And yes, I am well though have been tired lately, heheh.

Hmm…”cry” was strained, eh? Yes, I think I vaguely recall noticing that it wasn’t the clearest sound ever. Mmm.

Ido, I just record the Youtube clips direct from the website by holding my mic up to the speakers as the clips play. No MIDI involved anywhere!

Onlyhopetenor, heheh, squirrely, eh? Let It Be, you say? How low? The original octave Paul sang it in, you mean?

Yeah, that would be my preference, however, I'm sure if you transposed it, it would also sound nice. Lower octave would be more of a challenge for you. Get on it!

Alright, well you asked for it. Here it is. It's bland bland BLAND I think. It's certainly no challenge, and it feels as if it's in the very middle of my range, but this is always my problem - the middle ranges are BORING for my voice, the way I know how to use it right now. I just don't know how to sing in that easiest range! This is partly why I tend to always instinctively go high...cause it's more interesting. (I couldn't help myself. I put a little bit at the end an octave higher as a background 'flavour'. LOL)

Anyway, here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXktuBAMQvk

Nice job on both of them! My favorite one was Jealous Guy. You handled those high notes very well I thought.

Um, a little actually (for me).

Aw, really? lol

It might help a little if you mixed the music a little louder, but yes, sorry.

You might find it blend, I find it very touching!

The octave higher near the end wasn't really neccesary for me, I adore the effortless way of singing the song!

Thanks man!

Yes - the vocal at the beginning of Jealous Guy is reminiscent of Mazzy Star which I think is good! I hope you take that as a compliment.

Good versatility in each song

Thank you! I've been told that I sound a tad like Mazzy before.

Presumably you have also been told that you are a near vocal ringer for Karen Carpenter as well?

Yes I have indeed. By about…8 different people over different time periods, songs and on different forums. Lol. I take it as a compliment. What I find kinda sad though (and this contributes to my feelings of inferiority with my voice) is that my partner, although she likes and is impressed by my voice…she has said (before she ever heard me sing) that she’d take Janis Joplin’s voice over Karen Carpenter’s any day. SIGH! Lol.

Check this out for a Karen Carpenter ringer...she's WAY more Karen than me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwqAftGgkW8&feature=related

Strange, I hadn't likened your voice to Karen Carpenter's. Maybe now it is in my mind it will be more apparent?

This style is back in vogue though as we see with the emergence of Rumer (who I assumed your youtube clip was of)

For me this is both good and bad. I find Karen Carpenter's voice to be very pure and sweet but I find her singing is pretty lifeless and dull.

Hmm. Yeah, I think maybe people are hearing that I sing lifeless and dull and that's what's reminding them of Karen Carpenter, not the actual good points about her voice. *sigh* Might back off the music for a while and go into my cave of crap again.

Who's Rumer, by the way? (The woman in my clip? I'd never heard of her before)

DO NOT GO INTO THAT CAVE OF CRAP!

Sorry, I meant that when you said here's a Karen carpenter ringer I thought it was going to be Rumer before I clicked on the link.

I assumed she was more well known...I don't follow charts or anything. Her album has just come out.

This is one of the few songs I've heard of hers...

How did you get that echo effect? I loved Jealous Guy, it really gives me a nostalgic feel. Good job, good job

Thank you! I just added some reverb to my recording when I sang it. I always record everything using Ableton Live, my recording software, and you just add various effects if you want to.