Wonderwall - SOTW #8

Hop in the time machine all the way back to 1995 as I bring my newly-learned for week 8!

Here's my acoustic cover of this well-covered tune from Oasis. This song broke them into the American market and reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped charts in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, while reaching number 2 in the band's native UK. It is considered one the best songs of the 90's and was nominated for Grammy awards in 1997. It was included on their album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Oasis' signature song is one of the most covered songs, with artists like Ryan Adams, Radiohead, Paul Anka, Rihanna, and Straigh No Chaser offering their own versions over the years.

My cover is seen here in my living room, captured by my trusty Droid X smartphone. I'm still working on it, especially the guitar part, but it's getting there. Kick up the video quality on the Youtube machine to 720HD and sing along with my rabbit-eared frog!

Bel isi,
-kyle

Heartache Tonight - SOTW #7

It's about that time again! New week, new song. Take 7!

This week I started with a Michael Bublé cover from his Crazy Love album. Bublé recently did a remake of this Eagles tune from 1979, written by the standard lineup of Eagles writers, AND Bob Seger (who also provides uncredited BGV's to the tune). The song was included on their album The Long Run which was the last studio project from the band before their breakup in 1980. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November of '79 and earned the band a Grammy for best rock performance w/ vocal.

Along with Bublé, Conway Twitty also recorded a notable cover of the song in 1983 with the Osmond Brothers providing backing vocals.

For my cover I kicked up the tempo a bit and added my own stylistic nuggets. Droid X recording, as usual, so bump the quality up to 720HD for best results. Enjoy!

Bel isi,
-kyle

Song-of-the-Week cover #6

Back again for week 6!

This week I'm singing at the bottom of the staircase, playing my trusty Taylor. I only went back as far as 1986 (I was one year old!) with this Cyndi Lauper tune.  It was written by Steinberg and Kelly for Lauper's second album, titled after this song, which went doubled platinum.

This song has been covered by many artists, including Phil Collins, Kacey Chambers, and of course Eva Cassidy, the main influence for my cover.

I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, and I hope ya'll like it, too.  Droid X recording, so bump it up to 720 HD

Bel isi,
-kyle

Song-of-the-Week cover #5

Many of you are already aware of my goal to learn a new song every week in 2011, but for those of you who aren't, here I am at week 5! Still going.

This week I'm singing for my turtle as I bring you the old African American spiritual "Wade in the Water". I love these old spirituals for their music and message. This one in particular depicts the Exodus from the Old Testament. It was first published in 1901 by John Wesley Work II and his brother Fredericka J. Work in for the Fisk Jubilee Singers, an a cappella group from the historically-black Fisk University in Nashville, TN.

The song has been covered numerous times as both a vocal and an instrumental piece by artists such as Bob Dylan, the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Mary Mary, and Patty Griffin. My version takes it's inspiration from Eva Cassidy, who's recordings of it are featured on her albums Eva By Heart and Songbird, both of which were released posthumously, in 1997 and 1998, respectively.

I'm not 100% happy with my recording, but I felt it was good enough to share and get some feedback. Some of the interludes between verses need some polish, but I think you'll get the general idea of what I'm going for.
As always, this Droid X recording is what it is. Bump the quality up to 720 for best results.
Also say "Hi" to Rasputin (my turtle). And sorry about the view at the very end...

Bel isi,
-kyle