So, Ben’s film and Brad’s live performance and other stuff gave me a really stupid but compelling idea… a musical/technological challenge for WAE:
Online collaboration.
Vocals: me, Brad, any other takers? (I volunteer Brad because I *know* he’ll do it.
“Hey, Brad, will you sing someth…” “Walk down that lonesome road…!”)
Music: WAE volunteers? I don’t know who plays what. The more disconnected and random the better. Accordion, anyone? Ocarina? Spoons?
Song: Suggestions?
Format: Audacity (it’s free)
Compilation and mixing: Steve
Video files: whatever. I’m sure Steve has a few things hanging around…
Thoughts?
I had actually been tossing around this idea! I’m in. And I note you didn’t nominate me for vocals. Excellent call.
The key to this is doing it in iTunes or a similar program and picking the same BPM (beats per minute). That way the file can get passed around and we can all keep the same tempo.
Suggestion: Akerman picks the song. He records the separate tracks and sends me the files. Just guitar or whatever string instrument he’s into this week.
He will need to send around a cheat sheet with the chords. Bancroft can come to Casa Safran for vocal overdubs. I can remix, add additional instruments and beats. I nominate Tim Hoyt to do the video, but we will all need to shoot clips. (Brad shoot clips on his end, we contribute from our “sessions,” etc.)
Of course, we’ll take anyone else into the process. I’m just thinking aloud here.
I say the backing group should be the Non-Fake-Kristins.
OK, let’s get going with the Worst Band Ever.
This is a very inspired idea. So much easier in person though. It would be fun to do The Lord Bless You and Keep You. THAT most of us choir folks should remember, eh?
And Deb, am I that much of a ham? I love how you summed me up. That description has stayed with me. Steve mentioned a few posts back that I tend to learn other harmonies in a song. I have never been outed like that before. Never. But, I love that you recognized that, Saf. That made me smile
As for how this would work, well that’s a great question. I would lean towards GarageBand. Is everyone on Macs yet? Otherwise, sure Audacity. We could also upload the files to my website as the file gets large.
Have you heard of this startup http://www.ejamming.com? They’re doing what we’re thinking, except in real time.
Keep it in GarageBand. I have it here, and if people have other systems the files will still work fine. As long as we’re on the same BPM, we’re fine.
I’d steer away from a concert choir song if we only have two singers, unless we want to try an adventurous modern take on it – it could work as a duet in a trance-y sort of way.
Best way to do this: Brad kicks it off and sends the files to me.
If you guys deliver me a song, I’ll be glad to add some video to it. I might need to drop in on Ben Hall and get him to do some running though….
I have a PC. Because John Hodgmen is my boyfriend, despite his little eccentricities. I know I can change him; I’m the only woman in the world who really understands him.
Anyway, I have Audacity and if I can run GarageBand files in Audacity on a PC, fine. If not, you are all meanie meanie bo beanies and I am not your best friend.
And no, Brad, I wasn’t thinking of your ham-like attributes, although now that you mention it… I was really thinking of your admirable lack of stage fright and equally admirable self confidence. Send some of that stuff over my way, wouldja? It’s been a long time.
(That was me, Deb, by the way. I’m just too lazy to log out. JH is not Chris’s boyfriend. At least as far as I know…)
There’s no reason we can’t work with both. Since my loops are in GB, the process is:
1. Brad records master tracks
2. I mix, add whatever
3. I export to a format acceptable to Audacity
4. Deb adds overdubs on new channel, exports to MP3
I have some other ideas too, Deb. We can discuss offline. But we can make both setups work.
I think I want all your autograph’s when this is done..I’m depressed, I have no talents whatsoever.
oh wait, I bet I can skate better than all of you..except for maybe Dave Shem. I don’t even do that so well anymore now that age has taken over. Damn, I’m just depressing myself even more
Stop it Muffy, you’re being a downer. You can join us Non-Fake-Kristins and lip sync in the background.
Excellent idea, Krissy!! i was wonderin’ how the less musically adept could participate – i could stand on my head, give a mean foot massage (not simultaniously)… or hostess the garage-recordings with petitfours, finger sandwiches, and brewskies, how’s that? By the way, i have only recently come to embrace our common name diminutive “krissy” – i finally embrace my krissy-ness!! shall we wear matching outfits???
I may have to change the segment name to “Spot the Fake Krissy.”
Snapping is always good. Also tambourine. Draping yourselves languidly over shabbily elegant vintage furniture in the V66 video. That sort ofthing.
Brad, you gotta come up with a song — I gotta work on my shabbily elegant vintage chops.
I like the idea of having the Non-Fake-Kristins send in video of themselves draped over furniture, perhaps with lace gloves on their hands and doilies on nearby scented lamps, a la Stevie Nicks.
Brad: Maybe an Akerman original composition, with alternating vocals – Traveling Wilbury style.
ok, ok, I can totally snap..Yaaay, I’m back in!
i’m not sure that i know how to “drape” over furniture – sounds like deflated plastic inanimate dolly work – how’s about some devo hats, mixed with stop-making-sense huge-shouldered suit jackets, trashcans of burning doilies, with vintage “suzie and the banshees” threads underneath? or just shooting pool in the background bar with castanets?
I’m not sure about the “draping” on furniture thing either. Sounds a little too Vanna White.
I may have to join my fellow friend Kris (who has recently embraced her Krissy-ness) in her brilliantly choreographed idea. Although I’m all for shooting pool in the background bar with castanets….
I haven’t forgotten about this “wacky” idea. Still mulling it over. FYI, gang.