Karaoke Forums

Example:

Would you rather...

...hear an attempt at sounding as close to the original artist as possible?

OR

... hear someone do something completely different with a karaoke track?

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

Original for me personally.

On occasion hearing a different version is cool - SBI made a few track by Tool in an unplugged version and since are the ONLY versions of the songs in question out, people will suck it up to sing them just because there are no other alternatives at this time - however they do ask me to try to find the original album versions. In my experience, the higher majority of the singers want the song to sound like what they are used to.

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

That depends on the singer. Some singers were born to do covers and some were born to be original. Some were born to sound like nails on a chalk board.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I like both. Let's face it... Some people try to cover, can't and it's their "own" version.. I like the alternate versions of stuff I do. Metalica Turn the Page, Goo Goo Dolls Give a Little Bit, Several have done Eagle songs. Dixie Chicks Land Slide. Tantrics The Chain is kick (@$%&#!)..

I enjoy both, as a listener and as a performer.

I agree with SmoothEdge , though-it depends on the singer, and how they do their thing!

I love to try acoustic versions of songs. The only problem is the bar is usually too loud to be heard well by the folks at the bar. It's tough to make a song your own at karaoke because the music is exactly the same every time.

I would rather hear each singer's own personal interpretation. As Smooth said, for some that may be trying to do an exact copy, especially if their voice is already similar but I don't mind deviations, either. Especially when the song means something to the singer and they are putting themselves into it.

I like variety. I like singing songs people aren't familiar with including versions of songs that people don't recognize. The Richard Cheese version of "Baby Got Back" is a good example. I like the unplugged versions the DigiTrax put out early on as well. I have had a number of people ask me for cover versions of tracks because of the same reasoning.

I have never built out any karaoke tracks on my own but it looks like I have enough demand that I am going to start making them for people.

-Chris

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-Chris

I think that in most cases, trying to sound like the original doesn't work. What happens is that most people can get just close enough to be grotesquely off-model. If you try to make your voice sound like someone else, you'll probably fail, because it's not your voice. I prefer to hear and see people who are comfortable with their own voice and just use what they got. The same for musicians. If you're gonna cover a song, cover it. When we perform, we make very little effort to sound like the original. We sound like us, cause, that's who we are.

I prefer the singer do it their way- whichever way that is. Doing it their way makes them more comfortable, and a more comfortable singer does a better job.

I would add the following: I prefer a singer go with their heart above all, whether in singing style or emoting. I have heard singers do perfect covers- with absolutely no substance. Like a recording, exactly the same each time. Nice, but boring. Show me that you are feeling what you are singing, and I'm on your bandwagon. I think that's what singing- and music in general- is really all about.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Not positive, I believe the OP was referring to karaoke - would you rather hear a manu make the song as close to the original or their own variation (example - Karaoke Clouds own unplugged versions that don't exist by the original band). Not so much a band covering another band in their own style - this has happened since the dawn of music, most 50's music was old blues tunes redone in a rock/rockabilly type style. I don't think Elvis ever really wrote a song himself either.

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

Actually, I was thinking specifically of the singers at karaoke.

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

Ah.....Got it.

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

In all fairness, I phrased it poorly.

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

Ok. A new one, for the hosts here:

Would you rather...

...a bunch of fun, but terrible-to-maybe-passable singers who are having a good time and spending money?

OR

... a bunch of really great, technically proficient singers who aren't "divas," exactly, but are a bit stodgy and not spending much?

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

I will take fun, money spenders any day of the week.

-Chris

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-Chris

How about a combo of both, fun good to great sounding singers (musicians, vocalists, karaoke enthusiasts) who are having a good time and spending money. I get that alot of nights.
But if not, your bunch of fun group over less spender.

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

This one's a "gimme". Read my sig line.....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Had that tonight. Great singers, having fun, spending alot!. THAT is my ideal night!!!!

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

Yes, the OP was referring to a singer. My point on the various versions of songs is that it lends to a variation for the singer as well. It lends a brand new opportunity to create your own singing version to the song and it's backed by a variation of the song. Many times, I do not ever hear the new version. I've heard the Metalica version of turn the page one time. Your unplugged versions could be another example of what I am talking about.