Yep... it is what it is. And that's the way it's going to be for a very long while in pop music.

Doing what they (Dan + Shay) are doing is relatively easy.

1. Sing the main track relatively close to the melody
2. Use pitch correction software to fix the track
3. Use pitch correction software to create one or more "harmony tracks" by cloning.
4. Edit the notes that don't work with the major 3rd/major 5th harmony to something that does work.

Back in the old days when the Beatles were recording, they would spend sometimes as much as several days working on the vocal doubling track to get it perfect. They didn't have the convenience of digital editing and correction software. Listening to their work in that context makes it even that much more amazing....and that it was done mostly with 4 tracks on tape.... at least in the early days.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.