This week’s song challenge brought me face-to-face with a song I’d never heard before: Cat’s in the Cradle (Harry Chapin, 1974, album “Verities & Balderdash”). I chose to cover Ugly Kid Joe’s 1992 rock version instead of Harry Chapin’s original. Because the raw, driving energy of Ugly Kid Joe’s arrangement spoke to me. It gave me the space to explore my vocal range – playing with two-octave jumps – and to craft harmonies for the bridge and chorus that added depth to the song’s emotional core. (more…)
Here’s my cover of Any Major Dude Will Tell You by Steely Dan (Album Katy lied, 1973). My fellow vocal student Barbara picked the song this time. I didn’t know it before, but quickly came to appreciate. It’s beautifully crafted, with subtle harmonic richness and a laid-back groove that hides quite tricky phrasing. Getting the vocal flow right was a real challenge in itself. For my cover, I added some harmony in the chorus to try to give it the warmth and reassurance that the song carries. (more…)
My cover of Is This Love by Bob Marley (album Kaya,1978).
I performed this song as an assignment for Musora, as part of a collaboration bringing together different musical disciplines (piano, drums, guitar, and vocals). I did the vocals and I recorded this version over the original backing track with a vocal harmony over the main question.
The song is about pure, genuine love, the question of whether what you’re feeling is truly love. I really enjoyed singing it because of its warm, positive vibe. (more…)
Here’s my cover of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (album Various Positions, 1984), chosen by Richard for our Song Challenge. I already knew the song well from singing it with our choir, which made it especially meaningful to revisit.
I played the piano myself, supported by the chord progression in iReal Pro, and recorded three vocal verses, each with different harmonies. (more…)