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  • SingSnap’s latest cool feature… infinite duets!

    SingSnap’s latest cool feature… infinite duets!

    I’ve been having a great time with SingSnap’s latest cool feature… infinite duets!

    If you’ve read Pop Rock Nation since I started writing here in January, you may know that I am a karaoke enthusiast. These days, I do a lot of my karaoke online at SingSnap.com. Though it’s not quite the same as singing live for an appreciative crowd in a bar, online karaoke has its own advantages over live performances. Online karaoke gives you a lot of freedoms you don’t have in a bar. In fact, I was reminded of this on my recent trip to San Antonio, Texas, when my husband Bill and I happened to be in a bar that was hosting a karaoke show.

    It was about 10:00pm when the show started. A couple of women started playing music and invited an older gentleman to come up and sing. He got up, did a decent job, got some half-hearted applause, and then sat down. Then another older man got up and sang and wasn’t as good. He sat down and then the two karaoke jocks did a duet of George Benson’s 1981 hit song, “Turn Your Love Around”. The KJs were decent singers and harmonized with each other nicely. But then they said to the bar patrons, “We promise the show will get better. It’s not going to be like this all night.” I was pretty turned off by that comment. Karaoke isn’t necessarily about singers sounding good, though it’s great when someone who can sing does. Bill and I left quickly because I got the sense that these two karaoke jocks weren’t very nice.

    When we got back from Texas, I found out that SingSnap.com had added a new feature to their online karaoke service– “infinite duets”. In the past, you could record a song and then harmonize once to it, or offer it as an “open duet” so other singers could join you. I have done a few duets on SingSnap and have enjoyed the experience, bonding with perfect strangers from anywhere in the world. The infinite duet feature takes that capability a step further. It allows you to record as many harmony tracks as you want. Since you can also change the key of a song if you want (or need) to, online karaoke almost gives you a basic sense of what it feels like to be a music producer.

    This week, I’ve had a good time experimenting with infinite duets. I’d sing the melody. Then I’d record a harmony line. Then I’d record another one and perhaps another until I had all the harmonies I wanted. The end results have been very interesting. I have a few examples posted which I will share here.

    Here’s my harmonized version of “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”. I changed the key so it’s higher, then recorded three parts so the final product is in three part harmony.

    I got a little carried away with “Love Me Tender”, which I gave five parts to. That one was my first effort and I got a little carried away with it, but I was just experimenting.

    I posted these two recordings on my personal music blog and a reader asked me to sing “The Rose”, a song made popular by Bette Midler in 1980. I was never a big fan of that song. I probably got sick of it because it was on the radio too much when I was growing up. Also, while I love Bette Midler as an actress, I was never the biggest fan of her singing, even as I recognize her immense talent for music. But after recording “The Rose” yesterday, I have a new appreciation for it. I only harmonized parts of the song and was doing so during a rainstorm, so I was a bit challenged. It’s hard to get the recordings just right because of Internet speeds and such. Still, I think this turned out pretty decently.

    One thing to remember with these infinite duets is that if the recording already has backing singers, you can’t erase them. It’s best to pick songs that don’t have backing singers or they’re subtle. I also think the infinite duets work best when you use short, simple songs. The longer and more complicated the song, the harder it is to get it right.

    Just for kicks, here’s a duet I did of “Leather and Lace” with some guy on SingSnap. I was very impressed with him because he actually sounds a bit like Don Henley.

    Anyway, I think this new infinite duets feature is a lot of fun and allows singers a great chance to be creative and make the songs their own. I’m going to play with it as much as possible until it’s time to pack everything up and start the road trip to Texas.

    Have a great weekend everyone!

  • Rare Randy Travis clips…

    Rare Randy Travis clips…

    I found a couple of rare Randy Travis clips on YouTube featuring his audition on You Can Be A Star…

    Hi everyone. Today’s post is going to be short because I just got back from Texas and have had a lot to do today. This morning, one of my friends at Pop Rock Nation sent me an email asking about pictures of Randy Travis on Star Search. Though I was a big fan of Star Search back in the day, I wasn’t aware that he was ever on the 80s era talent show Star Search. Nevertheless, I went searching for pictures or a video clip… and I came up mostly empty except for one thing. Back in 1983, young Randy Travis auditioned for You Can Be A Star, a talent show for would be country stars. The show aired on the now defunct cable channel, The Nashville Network. I saw a couple of episodes, but back in those days, I wasn’t a fan of country music.

    Here’s a very young Randy being interviewed by Florence Henderson and singing on his audition tape. This was obviously done after he was discovered, since the audition tape is from when he was just a regular guy hoping to launch a music career.

    TNN featured Randy Travis a couple of times. Here’s a very early interview and performance from when he was a rising star.

    Sadly, it’s been reported that Randy Travis is very ill right now with viral cardiomyopathy, a serious illness that has affected his heart. I know I’m not alone in hoping that Randy Travis makes a complete and speedy recovery.

    Incidentally, I also found a video starring a very young Alan Jackson on You Can Be A Star. He looks different today, but that voice is still the same.

  • San Antonio bound…

    San Antonio bound…

    I will be San Antonio bound next week…

    We’re going to spend the entire week in San Antonio, visiting my mother-in-law, searching for a house, and celebrating my husband’s birthday and the Fourth of July. That means you won’t be hearing from me next week, because it’s too hard to blog on an iPad. I can’t believe it’s time for yet another move and hope this will be the last time for awhile.

    Despite being tired of the moving process, I do look forward to relocating to San Antonio at the end of next month. I think Texas is kind of exciting, even if it is hotter than four hells in the summer. I’ll miss North Carolina and I hate house hunting, but a fresh start somewhere else always means new experiences and perhaps even some new music. San Antonio is a festive city, military friendly, and the subject of some great songs!

    Patsy Cline “San Antonio Rose”

    Lots of people have sung “San Antonio Rose”, but I’m partial to Patsy Cline’s 1961 version because I am a fellow Virginian. As I listen to this song this morning, I am struck by Patsy Cline’s amazingly clear vocals. Her voice was like a bell. This song is probably the first one a lot of people think about when they think of songs about San Antonio. It was written by Bob Wills.

    Tanya Tucker “San Antonio Stroll”

    Here’s Tanya Tucker singing “San Antonio Stroll”, a song that was written by Peter Noah and recorded by Tucker in 1975. I wonder what Tanya Tucker is up to these days… Haven’t heard from her in awhile. This video is pretty much the way I remember her. Her voice is definitely distinctive, with its raspy quality. I also seem to remember her hot affair with Glen Campbell, who incidentally, is a distant relative of my husband’s. Six degrees of separation, I tell ya!

    Charley Pride “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?”

    Charley Pride is notable for many things. He’s one of the few black Americans who had great success singing country music and only the second to be inducted in the Grand Ol’ Opry. I will admit I’m not that familiar with his music. I remember hearing this particular song in ads for a compilation album he was selling in the 1980s. As I listen to this classic song, I’m thinking it might be time to listen to more of Charley Pride’s music. Back in 1994, I purchased a compilation album called Rhythm, Country, and Blues. After listening to that compilation, which married country singers with R&B singers on duets, I realize that country music has a lot in common with rhythm & blues, a genre where black singers are much more common.

    Lyle Lovett “San Antonio Girl”

    I loooooove me some Lyle Lovett. I also love me some Willie Nelson and Ray Price. I love this song, “San Antonio Girl”, too. One of my favorite concert experiences was in Stuttgart, Germany, when I saw Lyle Lovett perform. We had seats within spitting distance of the stage and he put on a fabulous show. The fact that he made a great song about my new city is gravy!

    Christopher Cross “Sailing”

    Huh? “Sailing” doesn’t mention San Antonio in the title! But it is sung by Christopher Cross, a singer-songwriter who has San Antonio roots. Since I am a child of the 80s, I am very familiar with Christopher Cross’s music and remember him when his career was red hot.

    Holly Dunn “Daddy’s Hands”

    Holly Dunn is another San Antonio singer who hit it big in the 80s. “Daddy’s Hands” is the song I always think of when I think of Holly Dunn. If you have anything to do with the US military, you’ve no doubt heard this song many times.

    Today’s post is mostly about country singers, but I am sure I will no doubt be exposed to some Mexican music as well. And Austin is not too far away, either. I look forward to the new digs and the new sounds of San Antonio! Have a great weekend, everybody. See y’all after next week!