Skol303 Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 (edited) December Cover Song Challenge As is now tradition, we're doing something a bit different for December... so instead of composing to a photo, we’re running a covers competition. Basically, choose a song or instrumental that you like and write your own version of it. You can be faithful to the original or far flung and left of field; the choice is yours. All of the usual rules apply with a few additional caveats: It doesn’t have to be a Christmas song (bah humbug, in fact). You’re welcome to submit anything recorded this year (not just from December); so there’s no excuse for those of you in cover bands not to enter! Don’t go lifting any samples from whatever song you intend to cover, as that will breach the usual terms and conditions leading to extreme punitive measures. There will hopefully be prizes! I'll confirm that shortly. The deadline for entries is midnight on December 24th. So yeah, it's basically going to be exactly like this... Edited November 30, 2017 by Skol303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Think I’ll do a uke version of a Momats instrumental Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 1 hour ago, Chiliwailer said: Think I’ll do a uke version of a Momats instrumental What, Mornats and his Doom machine..? It's more like a nuke you'll be needing..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 45 minutes ago, Dad3353 said: What, Mornats and his Doom machine..? It's more like a nuke you'll be needing..! Could premier at the WOMaD festival? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 12 hours ago, Chiliwailer said: Think I’ll do a uke version of a Momats instrumental What, Stacking up Ukuleles? Please don't do a Boney M cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I'm really looking forward to the ukulele covers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Just when I need to be creative the computer decides otherwise ☹️ Something is fishy , fir the first time I have latency in only 1 project and while adding some vocal the project crashed , again first time ever !! I fear hours of investigation .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbass4k Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Question - Does the original have to be a song that the "average" person has likely heard of? Obviously not as a matter of the rules, but more the spirit of the competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I'm putting the finishing touches to mine, which I'm pretty certain no-one will have heard before; I'm not even sure it was ever recorded..! Those who saw The Alligators ( a group from the Chertsey/Weybridge region, early '70s...) might have a chance, but that's it. It's a song I've been toying with in my head for all these decades, and circumstances were that I did 'my' version (read: re-write...) this summer past, so here it is. Within the rules..? Dunno, but I'm an anarchist any way, so... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 (edited) Here we are, then; my 'cover' version of a song from my distant past... For those interested, here's the background story... Here is my contribution to the December 2017 Basschat Composition Challenge, for which the format was changed, to be a 'cover' version, composed and/or played during 2017. It's not been a particularly good year for me. It started badly with a bout of illness (then got worse, but that's another story...). I was recovering slowly from late Spring onwards, and was inspired, June/July, to remember a song played by a local band of my youth (mid-'70s...), The Alligators. It's just about possible that those in the Chertsey/Weybridge vicinity at that time may have seen 'em perform; they were very good, and quite popular on the pub/club circuit of the region. One song in particular has stayed in the back of my mind all these decades, and, although incapable of an exact rendition, I took the liberty of filling in the blanks of my memory with some 'home-grown' lyrics (reproduced at the end of this description...), and a rather softer arrangement than the original. I can't give total credit to the band members; I only remember their 'leader', Rob, and Chris Thomson. The bassist and drummer have, I regret to say, become anonymous. Old age, eh..? As for the 'making of', the drum tracks are two MDrummer tracks; one manual, the other triggered patterns. Most of the instruments are from BIAB, with a few sampled solo spots. The voices are a mix, with Vocaloids Big Al and Avanna doing the 'heavy lifting', with more of the same for the chorus, aided by Kontakt's Blue. My usual gaggle of EQ, compression, delays and reverbs, all native Cockos, a dose of Neutrino on most tracks and a final patina applied with AAMS, 'Easy Listening RMS' preset is the sum total of components used. Thanks for listening, if you already have; if you're about to, enjoy. Lyrics... It was pouring with rain I was looking for shelter The Paradise Circus would do The dance floor was empty Apart from one couple I was glad I was just passing through They swayed to a halt And came up to greet me I hardly could mumble my name How can we help you They said in a chorus In the end you'll be glad you came I said I'd love to learn to dance She said here's your chance They helped me to trip and to twirl It suddenly clicked and I gave it a whirl The Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz There she was at the bus stop the other night Sitting there all alone It took all my courage to sit down beside her We'd both missed the last bus home We sat for a moment in awkward silence Got chatting and after a while I offered a date at the Paradise Circus She said yes with a bashful smile She said I'd love to learn to dance I said here's your chance So we danced until well past four With Paradise Circus for a floor The Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Edited December 7, 2017 by Dad3353 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbass4k Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Thanks Dad, I look forward to listening to yours. Totally unrelated follow up question - Skol emphasized the sampling rule, but what if the stems have been freely released by the band? There's a song I've been wanting to do something with for ages, and the band released the stems for remixes (i just want to use the vocals), is that kosher? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Technically using the vocal stem and adding your own instruments makes it a remix rather than a cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted December 8, 2017 Author Share Posted December 8, 2017 (edited) Yeah I’d like us to avoid stems if possible and certainly any unlicensed samples. Doesn’t matter if the song is obscure though... just so long as it’s your take on it. That said, if you have some licensed/ copyright free stems that you’re desperate to use then go for it. This is meant to be fun after all! Just be sure to check the terms of use on the stems. Most bands only release them for a specific purpose and it usually precludes using the stems for your own music. Edited December 8, 2017 by Skol303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Here's my entry, I was hoping to do something new this month, but the band has been stopped dead for the month (at least) My guitarist has broken 2 fingers on his left hand, so this is something from earlier. It's another Robyn Hitchcock cover, Driving Aloud (Radio Storm). This is one of those recordings where something occurred that would be difficult to repeat. The quiet sitar-like drone was caused by the guitarist's cuff button catching the strings, didn't notice it until mixdown I'm quite pleased with my maracas playing, the backing vocals, not so much. What do you folks think of the recording, (rather than the performance)? Cheers MBA Driving Aloud (Radio Storm).mp3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingers211 Posted December 10, 2017 Share Posted December 10, 2017 We're in...and that's all I can say !! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 On 12/7/2017 at 02:26, Dad3353 said: Here we are, then; my 'cover' version of a song from my distant past... For those interested, here's the background story... Hide contents Here is my contribution to the December 2017 Basschat Composition Challenge, for which the format was changed, to be a 'cover' version, composed and/or played during 2017. It's not been a particularly good year for me. It started badly with a bout of illness (then got worse, but that's another story...). I was recovering slowly from late Spring onwards, and was inspired, June/July, to remember a song played by a local band of my youth (mid-'70s...), The Alligators. It's just about possible that those in the Chertsey/Weybridge vicinity at that time may have seen 'em perform; they were very good, and quite popular on the pub/club circuit of the region. One song in particular has stayed in the back of my mind all these decades, and, although incapable of an exact rendition, I took the liberty of filling in the blanks of my memory with some 'home-grown' lyrics (reproduced at the end of this description...), and a rather softer arrangement than the original. I can't give total credit to the band members; I only remember their 'leader', Rob, and Chris Thomson. The bassist and drummer have, I regret to say, become anonymous. Old age, eh..? As for the 'making of', the drum tracks are two MDrummer tracks; one manual, the other triggered patterns. Most of the instruments are from BIAB, with a few sampled solo spots. The voices are a mix, with Vocaloids Big Al and Avanna doing the 'heavy lifting', with more of the same for the chorus, aided by Kontakt's Blue. My usual gaggle of EQ, compression, delays and reverbs, all native Cockos, a dose of Neutrino on most tracks and a final patina applied with AAMS, 'Easy Listening RMS' preset is the sum total of components used. Thanks for listening, if you already have; if you're about to, enjoy. Lyrics... It was pouring with rain I was looking for shelter The Paradise Circus would do The dance floor was empty Apart from one couple I was glad I was just passing through They swayed to a halt And came up to greet me I hardly could mumble my name How can we help you They said in a chorus In the end you'll be glad you came I said I'd love to learn to dance She said here's your chance They helped me to trip and to twirl It suddenly clicked and I gave it a whirl The Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz There she was at the bus stop the other night Sitting there all alone It took all my courage to sit down beside her We'd both missed the last bus home We sat for a moment in awkward silence Got chatting and after a while I offered a date at the Paradise Circus She said yes with a bashful smile She said I'd love to learn to dance I said here's your chance So we danced until well past four With Paradise Circus for a floor The Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Paradise Circus waltz Very nice Dad , a sung vocal would have made it , but touching all the same ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 On 12/8/2017 at 15:10, MoonBassAlpha said: Here's my entry, I was hoping to do something new this month, but the band has been stopped dead for the month (at least) My guitarist has broken 2 fingers on his left hand, so this is something from earlier. It's another Robyn Hitchcock cover, Driving Aloud (Radio Storm). This is one of those recordings where something occurred that would be difficult to repeat. The quiet sitar-like drone was caused by the guitarist's cuff button catching the strings, didn't notice it until mixdown I'm quite pleased with my maracas playing, the backing vocals, not so much. What do you folks think of the recording, (rather than the performance)? Cheers MBA Driving Aloud (Radio Storm).mp3 Sounds good to me . Listening on a Bluetooth speaker it comes over very well ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Thanks for taking the time Lurkio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 20 hours ago, fingers211 said: We're in...and that's all I can say !! Is that 'in' or above ? A great take , I enjoyed that , well played sir ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted December 11, 2017 Author Share Posted December 11, 2017 I'm going to try and get something submitted this month, it being the festive season and all. I've missed I think all of the challenges in 2017... not through laziness I hasten to add; just having a busy work/home life and the limited time I have for writing music is spent elsewhere other than Basschat (yeah sorry guys, I'm such a tart). But I have very much enjoyed listening to everyone's work, which continues to develop in leaps and bounds. It's a great thing we have here! Not sure what song I'm going to cover. I did think of trying Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but thought that Blue may actually hunt me down with a vendetta if I did so. Then I considered something by Sixto Rodriguez, who I've been listening to a lot this year, but he's a very difficult act to copy. So I'm now thinking about something from one of my two favourite albums of 2017, so that would be something by Sleaford Mods (probably not family friendly!) or Thundercat (my bass chops are going to be strained). So we'll see... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 2 hours ago, lurksalot said: Very nice Dad , a sung vocal would have made it , but touching all the same ? You've obviously not heard my 'singing'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 Maybe Lurks didn't mean you singing? Just sayin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 29 minutes ago, MoonBassAlpha said: Maybe Lurks didn't mean you singing? Just sayin' Spot on I always thought my voice sounded awful, but then the 3 times I've won the vote have all been with my vocal on them* * But then so have another 40 of my entries that got no votes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurksalot Posted December 11, 2017 Share Posted December 11, 2017 In a similar vein I have recorded a vocal for this month. My lad is coming round on Saturday morning to collect the grandson who we have over on a Friday night, we have a 60minute window to get them to put a couple of tracks down . If that works I can remove my vocal and offer a festive treat for your ears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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