Audition - big oppertunity

almost

Hiya,

new here, looking for suggestion or comment on the following.
I am atending an audition with a record label in a few weeks time. I need to sing 2 tracks accapella.

I am kinda soul / r'n'b/ style but can manage all types as im classically trained and doing operatic pieces of late - so my range is quite good.

I have chosen 2 pieces
1) Summertime by George Gershwin (more the style of Leona Lewis version without all the extra warbeling/ added high bits the way she does)

2) If you love me by Brownstone

Now, i can manage both vocally. Just wondering if they would be considered good pieces for a solo accapella? what would you think? or suggest?
Seriously apreciate any comments....

PaulBrewer

almost wrote: »

Hiya,

new here, looking for suggestion or comment on the following.
I am atending an audition with a record label in a few weeks time. I need to sing 2 tracks accapella.

I am kinda soul / r'n'b/ style but can manage all types as im classically trained and doing operatic pieces of late - so my range is quite good.

I have chosen 2 pieces
1) Summertime by George Gershwin (more the style of Leona Lewis version without all the extra warbeling/ added high bits the way she does)

2) If you love me by Brownstone

Now, i can manage both vocally. Just wondering if they would be considered good pieces for a solo accapella? what would you think? or suggest?
Seriously apreciate any comments....

Speaking as an old Music Biz Hack -

Songs like Summertime are great for the Christening Party etc. but not for singing to anyone in the biz in my opinion.

It's like making someone who works in Cadburys eat chocolate!

Not that it isn't a great song, but why risk alienating the panel? You want them to listen to you, not remind them they've heard this song a zillion times.

Similarly the Brownstone song has a call and response Chorus not well suited to solo Acapella .

Dig a little deeper, find a couple of tunes that were hits that aren't beaten to death.
How many times have you heard that Titanic song on X-Factor etc. before they've sung a note they've lost. Summertime is one of those songs.

They'll be more interested in you than the songs you sing - provided they suit you and you're not raising hackles by singing something everyone else does.

Lastly get your self a tuning fork or something that you have a key reference from. Nerves can make you start singing in an inappropriate key which will also kill your chances.

Good Luck.

nellie24

Hi,

first of all that is great you have an audition, they are very hard to get.

I would suggest you do not get to hung up on the song choice, as you will just keep changing your mind. I personally like the brownstone song, I used to sing that myself, and I do like the other one.

if you still have some time, why don't you go on to you tube, and look up some artist you like, and listen to their version and other people versions of it. I heard a really good version of "dance with my father again" it was sung by a young girl who was just signed called Esmee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXVrnv7gnVQ. And also how about Alicia Keyes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDDbJPzEFpM.
I think these are good as you have to sing accapela, as they are not big production songs.

Also you could ask somebody to listen to you singing those songs, and give you some feedback...maybe not family, as they are not always honest, well in my case anyway. I have a good friend who helps me out with these things, when I was singing in a comp, she helped me pick the song, and was 100% honest with me....you definetly need that.

Anyway best of luck with it, and just be yourself, and have you own sytle. :):)

almost

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Speaking as an old Music Biz Hack -

Songs like Summertime are great for the Christening Party etc. but not for singing to anyone in the biz in my opinion.

It's like making someone who works in Cadburys eat chocolate!

Not that it isn't a great song, but why risk alienating the panel? You want them to listen to you, not remind them they've heard this song a zillion times.

Similarly the Brownstone song has a call and response Chorus not well suited to solo Acapella .

Dig a little deeper, find a couple of tunes that were hits that aren't beaten to death.
How many times have you heard that Titanic song on X-Factor etc. before they've sung a note they've lost. Summertime is one of those songs.

They'll be more interested in you than the songs you sing - provided they suit you and you're not raising hackles by singing something everyone else does.

Lastly get your self a tuning fork or something that you have a key reference from. Nerves can make you start singing in an inappropriate key which will also kill your chances.

Good Luck.

Thanks apreciate the response -
I guess i picked those 2 songs as i know everyone else would pick sometrhing like Christina Aguilera and i dont want to do that - i could but i dont want to be compared...
so i picked Summertime coz while they know the song, there is no preconception with it, coz anyone who does it, does it in their own style.... and i thought that would be a good thing, plus i can show off the technicla training & stuff...

as for Brownstone, i just think its a nice contrast...
i mean, if you were sitting there, what would you love to hear?

Plus, this is on the the start of next month so i want to know what im doing inside out...

almost

nellie24 wrote: »

Hi,

first of all that is great you have an audition, they are very hard to get.

I would suggest you do not get to hung up on the song choice, as you will just keep changing your mind. I personally like the brownstone song, I used to sing that myself, and I do like the other one.

if you still have some time, why don't you go on to you tube, and look up some artist you like, and listen to their version and other people versions of it. I heard a really good version of "dance with my father again" it was sung by a young girl who was just signed called Esmee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXVrnv7gnVQ. And also how about Alicia Keyes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDDbJPzEFpM.
I think these are good as you have to sing accapela, as they are not big production songs.

Also you could ask somebody to listen to you singing those songs, and give you some feedback...maybe not family, as they are not always honest, well in my case anyway. I have a good friend who helps me out with these things, when I was singing in a comp, she helped me pick the song, and was 100% honest with me....you definetly need that.

Anyway best of luck with it, and just be yourself, and have you own sytle. :):)

I actually really like Esmee Denters - last time i was at an audition i did her version of Alicia Keys, and it wasn't really, understood... as her version is differant..

And the "never felt this way" is actually something i had given lots of thought to, and is on my list, but i wasn't sure....
I really wanna floor them... so, im not sure if thats maybe the best song? really dunno...

PaulBrewer

almost wrote: »

so i picked Summertime coz while they know the song, there is no preconception with it, coz anyone who does it, does it in their own style.... and i thought that would be a good thing, plus i can show off the technicla training & stuff...

as for Brownstone, i just think its a nice contrast...
i mean, if you were sitting there, what would you love to hear?

Whatever you think! Do you disagree with my points?

NoQuarter

go for this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtK_yXhzSzU

ah go on!

PaulBrewer

Something like that is a good idea, I'd say.

A regular format gospel song, but not something played to death.

almost

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Whatever you think! Do you disagree with my points?

No not at all...
While Summertime is one of those songs - so is anything by Whitney, Christina, any of that stuff....
I think i will do Summertime, as i know i can really do it well - and i know they have heard it 1000 times, but they haven't heard me do it.

The second song is what im having trouble picking, Had thought about the Alicia "never felt this way" (link above) but not sure. It might be a good one.?
Could do Beyonce? or Amerie (not "1 thing" something else)?
Once again, open to suggestion. apreciate any comments...

nellie24

Hi, you poor thing, I know it is hard.

But I think you are on the right track alright, I think stay away from whitney, christina...unless you are 100% sure. I hate the x factor show, but I always seem to agree with simon when he asks people not to do these big diva songs, their voices sound weak in comparision.

I love the alicia song, I won a comp singin fallin, so I would have to say one of hers would be my choice.

would you consider doing a male song? and making it your own, there wont be any comparison then!!!! I am sure you heard Esmee version of justins song??

I have to agree with the other lad, in relation to the brownestone song, there is so much harmony in it, so it may not be the best choice for accapela. But sure listen just pick the songs you really feel that you do best, and don't think of any more songs, and get practicing.

nellie24

how about Amazin grace? or killing me softly?

PaulBrewer

nellie24 wrote: »

how about Amazin grace? or killing me softly?

You're just killing me, in a regular fashion! Think of who your singing for! Don't force feed the Tayto worker crisps!!!!

almost

Apreciate the ideas - have no issue singing male voclas - guess at this point im thinking about tracks i already know, im not sure i wanna begin learning something completely new as i need to be completely comfortable...



Paul :

Im with you on Amazing grace, wouldn't be one i'd pick..
any chance of a suggestion of song choice?

PaulBrewer

almost wrote: »

Apreciate the ideas - have no issue singing male voclas - guess at this point im thinking about tracks i already know, im not sure i wanna begin learning something completely new as i need to be completely comfortable...



Paul :

Im with you on Amazing grace, wouldn't be one i'd pick..
any chance of a suggestion of song choice?

It's not my area of musical interest I'm afraid, but -

Not something you'd hear at a wedding, not something in the charts this year and not something you hear on X-Factor etc and not something that's over the top technically.

There are a zillion great songs, just pick one.

Give yourself a chance by not have the panel go 'Oh Jaysus' to themselves when they hear the song title!

almost

Thanks Paul,

God its so hard.
If they just said "sing x" and "y" i would be completely grand... im just really stressed that i need to do something that sounds great, and isn't what they'd hear everyday. ( i know your thinking Summertime falls in here but, that one is gettin done)

Best sit down with the CD collection and go thru em...


So, points to maybe consider when going thru:
Its a cool-pop/ r'n'b/motownish/soulish label.
They release excellent chart hits....
They release slighty left of centre type tracks... not the regular pop rubbish.

nellie24

Hey Paul, stop slagging my songs choices:eek:...hahahahaha..:p:p:pyour probably right though, was just trying to think of songs, I was on youtube and looked up accapela songs and they came up...

Lovin the puns by the way.....always food related.....:rolleyes::rolleyes:

PaulBrewer wrote: »

You're just killing me, in a regular fashion! Think of who your singing for! Don't force feed the Tayto worker crisps!!!!

PaulBrewer

almost wrote: »

( i know your thinking Summertime falls in here but, that one is gettin done)

I can hear the 'Oh Jaysus' already!

getz

i know may sound old hat.--but most popular songs have now been sung to death - do something differently that you can make your own-and they cannot compare you with any other singer--- if you have the voice range i think you have-take a look at--ONLY YOU[and you alone] or the broadway hit --- THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER--wish you all the best -please let us all know how you get on

almost

PaulBrewer wrote: »

I can hear the 'Oh Jaysus' already!

thats just not fair.
My head is now fried.

almost

getz wrote: »

do something differently that you can make your own-and they cannot compare you with any other singer--- if you have the voice range i think you have-take a look at--ONLY YOU[and you alone] or the broadway hit --- THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER--wish you all the best -please let us all know how you get on

thats why i picked summertime...:) Coz i can really really do that...

PaulBrewer

almost wrote: »

thats just not fair.
My head is now fried.

That's just my opinion ... that would be my reaction.

PaulBrewer

What about something by Adele? Most of her stuff would work solo. Daydreamer perhaps?

Hasn't been trampled to death, yet would be familiar to most and it's a singers song.

PaulBrewer

This is what can happen if you pick the wrong song!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-EuyEsYTE

manfist

here u must be really good looking and with a decent voice if a label are giving you an audition singing other peoples work?

almost

PaulBrewer wrote: »

This is what can happen if you pick the wrong song!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-EuyEsYTE

hahahaha

so, thats why i wont be singing the oh so mediocre Adele :P

almost

manfist wrote: »

here u must be really good looking and with a decent voice if a label are giving you an audition singing other peoples work?

Or lucky.. or informed... :pac:

JimiTime

'A change is gonna come' by Sam Cooke. Classic, and great for showin off a soulful vocal.