Karaoke Forums

I have been thinking about how close some karaoke renditions are to the original and how some are not.

I'm a big Geo Strait fan and have noticed that the Legends rendition of "All My Ex's Live In Texas" is the only version I have sung that has a vocal backup.  And that back up is right on.  However, the closest version to the original both instrumentally and as to tempo is Sound Choice.

As I consider the the matter, I realize that for me certain songs need to be really close to the original.  I guess I (and probably others) have found that the are certain songs that are etched in our minds more "strongly" than others.

Until we hear another artist remake a song and do it differently, most people can't hear it differently.  My point is, I believe the average karaoke singer expects a track will provide a backup they feel comfortable singing along with.  Meanwhile, as they focus on their vocal, they are unlikely to recognize just how different the karaoke rendition is from the original.

The singer just wants to be able to follow the musics and pull the song off in general.
Unless they sit around and critique such matters, as we do, they are probably happy with any rendition that they sound good with.  HOWEVER, A BAD RENDITION IS A BAD RENDITION BY ANY STANDARD.

Agreed.  I find that when I get rid of, say a Legends version or maybe even a Nutech; and replace it with a Soundchoice or maybe a Chartbuster; my regulars who have been singing the previous version will say, "That just doesn't sound right."  My answer is, "Sing a time or two more and then tell me what you think."  And every time they eventually come back and tell me that I was right and that the music is more accurate.  It all comes down to what they were used too.

Kelly

But, Kelly, why would you get rid of a version the people seemingly like and are used to?

I have always done what I thought was best in providing the best possible rendition.  Yes, it's in MY opinion.  BUT, I have as yet to have found any of my regulars who later admitted they liked the older version better.  I have found it best to have only one version of a song.  Been doing that for six years now and it has worked great for me.


Kelly

sound choice has always had the best strait backings as far as i'm concerned, but i do have a few discs that aren't bad from top hits monthly platinum

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All work and no play make Homer something something

As a Strait fan myself -- one of the few popular singers that fits my bass/baritone voice --  I like the Chartbuster stuff. The intstrumental is a bit more raw in some ways, but the tempo and background vocals are much better IMO. Of course I own the Chartbuster 3-disk of him, and have only a couple SC tracks.

And I agree, generally speaking, CB versions of Strait are the best.

I brought this up before.    The only version of a song that 99% of the singers remember is the way it was on the radio.    It's the one they sing to/with day after day.    So why would you buy or list versions that don't come close to the radio version?????   The only version of a song I list in my book is the closest to the radio version.  Unless I only have one version of a song.     Then it doesn't matter if it's good or bad...

I don't not say well this company does a lot of good versions so I'll just list this company's version.    I pick the one that sounds exactly like the radio.   I don't care which company did it.   None of the companies get every song right.

One radio version and the rest get listed in my master book so I can use another version if this one gets scratched or won't play.

I'm a big George Strait fan and I sing almost everything that's available on CDG's my #1 choice has always been Sound Choice as they are the most accurate.

My second choice is would be the platinum series of Top Hits. I believe that some Chartbuster versions have timing issues (my opinion)

I do tend to agree with BD that if a song does not sound like it would on the radio it will throw them off. Most of the time its hard to go wrong with SC as they tend to be the most accurate...there are exceptions to this but the seem to be the most consistent.

I have some customers that bring in their own cdgs that they sing with and many times their versions are really crappy in comparision to what I have and will not even try mine. I'm fine with this as it's whatever they are most comfortable with. After all it's all about them anyway.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Flipper, I agree that there are a CB versions of Strait material on which the tempo is off.  And in that regard, going back to my previous comment on "All My Ex's", the SC tempo is the only one I think that is correct, but that's a "feeling".  I have not made any actual comparison of recordings.  

BD makes an interesting point about prefering the version that most closely sounds like the radio.  While I think everyone would agree with that on the surface, here are reasons why I might not.
    1. Someone else may have a different opinion of what sounds most like the radio version.
    2. Someone who likes to sing a particular song (and regularly does so elsewhere) may prefer a version (simply because that is the one they are used to) which is different than the one you think is best.
    3. After time, some of us can't really remember exactly how the song went when it was regularly played on the radio.  If this were not true, we each would nail every song we sing, the first time!

Also, I have discussed the question of just listing the "best" version in a catalog with many singers and KJ's.  I was originially inclined to do so but have since changed my mind
    1.  To be done properly, one would require access to the original as a reference point.
    2.  The time needed to evaluate which version is best, especially if you have 3 or more tracks to compare, could become daunting.  And with my small collection I have some titles with 6 versions.
    3.  Then if you get another version from a future purchase, do you evaluate all over?

In my country we sing to the ORIGINAL music tracks. I still don't understand why the West are slow  in catching up.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I actually like some versions better that are not close to the
original. Of course I like to try and make the song my own to some
extent; the goal of "sounding just like the original" is not what I am
trying to get to.

The song "Cherry Bomb" is a good example. The Sound Choice version is
definitely most like the original on the surface. However, the mix that blends
that and the singer well is hard to achieve. I like the Legends version better
for singing, because it provides more instrumental support and makes it easier
for the singer to sound good.

This is why I tend to like DK tracks. They have a very full instrumentation,
which allows the singer to blend in easily.

I feel the same way, Mckyj57, about having enough lattitude to make a song my own.  Sometimes, though, I do like the "original".

Meanwhile, I can't sort through every version until I find the one(s) I like best.  On the other hand, I don't need the KJ limiting me to one choice if his/her library has more.  The version I prefer, if I should have a preference, may be among those eliminated.

I will generally list 1 version only & will usually stay with one brand.  If I hear a song that doesn't sound right, then I will note it & listen if I have a duplicate & then determine which one is better.  Rarely happens but on occasion.
As far as listing all versions - I won't for printing cost reasons & the fact that 9 out of 10 times the singer is going to ask which is the best version & go on my recommendation anyway, but I also buy carefully as to not have a bunch of dulicates to start with, I do have a note in the book if you don't see a version you are used to, just ask, I might have it.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

To edit a song book of the duplicates takes some time.   My master book has over 15,000 songs in it.   My customer song book has one good version of each.   9,500    That means I manually, one at a time, deleted 5,000 songs.    Just a small part of being a dedicated professional KJ.    

Nothing happens for free or by itself.   Where do you want your business to be??????

Me too, Most of my versions are better but these customers are usuall so much more comfortable with their version from Singing along at home or in the car cd player that it's fine with me and usually shows them off better in their performance. So I'm  all for someone bringing their own disks to shows.

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ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

I tend to always try SC first...as they are usually closest to the original.  But there are always exceptions to every rule.  Radio Starz puts out a heck of a backing too IMO.  But I have used them all...Sunfly, Legends, DK, etc...just depends on personal preference and a lot on how well my voice blends with the backing singers...

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[glow=violet] **Sing like nobody's listening...live like there's no tomorrow**[/glow]

So, Sinnamon, if you attend a show that offers just one version of a song that you don't like.  What would you do?
    - Would you ask the KJ if he/she has another versions of the same song?
    - Would you just not perform the song at that particular show ever again?
    - Would you look for another show, without speaking to the KJ about your disappointment/frustration?    
    - If you did inquire about and found a different version of a track that you liked much better than the one listed in the catalog, how would you keep a "record" that such a version existed and how would you identify it for the KJ when you wanted to sing it?

What would you do, and please consider the preceding questions in this regard, if you had just sung a song for the first time at a particular show and decided you didn't like that version.  You, furthermore, noticed that the catalog offers no alternative choices for any song?

because here in the West, the copyrights are more strictly enforced. I have no way of knowing how they do it in the East, but have seen some of the original ones you talk of with the videos, and the words on the screen!

To keep my customer song books small.   I only list the most musically correct version according to the one played on the radio.    My master books contain all of the different versions.   So if someone insists on playing another version, I can do that.     I have had many people bring in their own discs.   Most people will buy the cheapest disc they can.   Maybe they don't know about quality from company to company.   Maybe they are just cheap.    But I have heard much better versions on my discs, many times.     Some are so bad, I cringe.     Which is the reason I only list the version that is closest to the one EVERYONE has heard on the radio.    

It's like listening to copy-cat bands.   Do you want to pay to see one that sounds like the songs the way you remember them?   Or Like the way they want to play them?  

I have at least 5 versions of The Dance by Garth.   I list only 1.     The piano part in that song is the hook of the song.   I have one version that when the piano started playing I didn't even know it was The Dance.   So I'm not listing a crap sounding version hoping that someone without good hearing is going to want that version.  

I have a quality reputation to maintain.    Singers should respect the high quality.

I have spent many hours listening to/and picking out the best versions.      It's the reason I'll spend good money to buy from the best companies.    Anyone can buy a crappy version.    Not everyone is concerned about their show quality.