Martin K

Daily Blues International Song Contest

Friday, 6. November 2009, 20:21:05

song contest, home made music, mental health

In my quest for new sounds and noices
to use when composing music on my computer,
I have finally found adequat vocal samples.

However, putting music to vocals is not easy.

I decided to test the temporary results in puplic.

So, I bring you

The Daily Blues International Song Contest

I've made it easy for you.

We have only two contestants:
a female and a male vocal.

Listen to the songs
and give your vote.

You have only one vote.

The contest runs exactly one week,
and the result will be revealed at
20.00 hours on Friday the 13. of November.

Enjoy!

Number One

Number Two

PS: You are, of course,
welcome to leave any sort of comments.

If you have trouble with watching embedded objects,
you can find the YouTube link
in the right hand side bar.
The songs are the last two videos posted there.

Millenium ForestIn Lack of Profundity

Comments

Bob Findlay # 6. November 2009, 22:13

Lyrically I can't separate the two songs.

My personal preference is 'I Belong 2U' purely because I prefer the slightly heavier guitar sound which remains tight and clean. The musical dynamics of this song are also more pronounced which, to me, add to its' overall effect.

As mentioned, the lyrics are inseparable in quality and delivery and both tracks are very professionally engineered.

Good luck to both. Excellent work.

Phantom2 # 7. November 2009, 04:13

I got to agree with scotstbob, I Belong2U is my slight favorite of the two. Very nice work, Martin!

I assume this is further work for the "Rock Opera"?

Darko # 7. November 2009, 07:06

I like Here4U more. Maybe this is a morning thing, I like that kind of music while I am sipping my coffee

Kittylicious # 7. November 2009, 08:25

Song-wise I prefer the first one, but the female sings better than the male - I think she's technically much better than he is.

Martin K # 7. November 2009, 09:39

Thanks all.

The Rock Opera is temporarily in the desk drawer, since inspiration has run dry. I am considering how to make some visuals to accompany the songs - a film or something. This means involving other people which is complicated these days, because people seem to have no time for fun anymore.

The two songs above are supposed to be more like the songs you hear in The European Song Contest - straight up pop music. However, I guess I could include the two songs in Gungadin.

Glad you like them, and thanks for the compliments.

As to the lyrics, I am not responsible. The two samples are from a collection where the lyrics are supposed to be pretty much the same boy-meets-girl or the other way around concept. It is pretty hard to find suitable royalty-free vocal samples in the first place, and finding vocal samples with substancial lyrics is almost impossible.

And I am still not ready to record live music or vocals. I'd have to get better equipment, at least a good microphone, and I might just do that when I get around to it.

Edward Piercy # 7. November 2009, 23:10

Martin I don't know what context this is going to be applied in but if you are talking about very short samples/snippets then I think the girl in No. 2's voice would be more memorable. The Kings of Arf vocalist has a very clean voice but I think it is undistinctive.

On the other hand I like the background vocals on the Kings of Arf. Those might have some uses too.

So...I'll go with No. 2 at this point.

Hope that helps.

Martin K # 9. November 2009, 23:33

I'm not sure I will apply this in any context, Ed. It's just a sort of test. I guess I'll have to wait until I get better equipment - if I ever get better equipment.

Edward Piercy # 10. November 2009, 01:23

You will. I "feel it in my gut" as the P.I.s sometimes say.

Akamu # 11. November 2009, 08:37

My vote's for the female vocalist. Also I dislike the content of the first song, even if the musicians seem a bit more skilled. Oh well. I need to catch up on the rock opera and stuff, I've been away for a while. How is everything, incidentally?

I'd put waiting for better equipment aside, though. I do the equivalent of that excuse with writing (waiting for better mental tools) and painting-and when I purchased top notch painting equipment, I hardly ever used it. It's my favorite excuse for procrastination, waiting for better conditions. Better probably to just make oodles of stuff with the bad equipment. That's probably the advise you'd throw at me if I said the same thing to you :P

Martin K # 11. November 2009, 08:49

@Akamu

Welcome back. Was wondering what you where up to, since I haven't heard or seen anything from you in quite a while. You are perfectly right about the excuses for procrastination (God, I hate that word). I know, that we are not the only artists with problemns in that area. At the moment I am engaged in a local project with some 9 or 10 artists. The concept is to make an alternative city guide for tourists with focus on cultural stuff. Deadline has already been pushed five times, because nobody seems to have had the time or the inspiration to get their stuff ready. It's a nightmare. But then again, you can't upspeed creativity. Just can't be done.

I am by the way back in the writing business, and I am experiencing slight success in the area. However, it is not like riding the bike. You have to start with the first little steps everytime.

Mina # 30. November 2009, 01:11

So who won?

Yes yes *hangs head* I'm terribly late... things get a bit crazy from time to time for me, but I always save the new posts and catch up when I have a quiet day.

The woman has the more acoustically interesting voice.