David and Rachel Radio 3.22.23: NEVER SAY_ELVIS

Hey Y'all,

So Rachel called me up yesterday for our weekly meeting and said:

“I have an opportunity. Can we write a love song that sounds like Elvis?”

This is 12 hours later and she is shipping it off. We collaborated intensively on it all.

NEVER SAY

https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/never-say

By Rachel Cintula and David Snyder
 
V1

I would never say it darling
That we are nothing more than pretend
And it would be a lie to say it my love
That we are nothing more than friends

CH

But I would say
That you were never wrong
For loving me too much
And loving me so long
Because I tremble at your touch
And I know our love is true
And I will never stop saying
That I
Love you
That I
love you

V2

So I would never say it darling
That our love has reached the end
For surely, I see it every night and every day
That on you my love of life depends

CH
 
So I would say
That you were never wrong
For loving me too much
And loving me so long
Because I tremble at your touch
And I know our love is true
And I will never stop saying
That I
Love you
I will never stop saying
That I
Love you
That I
Love you
Because
I do

David Snyder: Vocals, Instrumentation, Arrangement, Mixing and Mastering

All lyrics and music copyright 2023 by Rachel Cintula and David Snyder, ASCAP. All rights reserved.

Artist: David Snyder

David Snyder: Vocals, Instrumentation, Arrangement, Mixing and Mastering


RealTracks in style: 3122:Bass, Acoustic, PopHalfNotesPush Ev 120
RealTracks in style: 2870:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticAirDave Ev 085
SongwriterPumping8sDADGAD Ev 085
RealDrums in style:MalletsSlow16ths [Multi]
RealTracks in song: 3113:Guitar, Nylon, Fingerpicking Folk16thsBrent Ev16 060

Other links for the week and month:

https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/beer-and-a-bible
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/take-a-long-hard-look-at-me
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/if-we-can-make-it-through-midnight
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/penelope
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/big-wide-open-road
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/when-it-rains
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/thick-thighs
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/church-girls
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/one-more-whiskey-song
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/dirty-hands-clean-money
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/dire-straits
https://soundcloud.com/rachelanddavidworktapes/creek-day
https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs3/make-me-love-again

First of all....Good work on on this song in such a short time frame. Lyrically and melodically you are on target. I'm not a big Elvis fan but the melody is really close to one of his hits.... maybe someone else can put a title on it. Currently it escapes me but it is a very familiar melody.




So, before I comment further, I listened to your song on 4 different systems. My phone, with and without buds, my wife's computer, my office machine and my studio monitors. I even restarted my phone and reloaded PG Showcase forum initially. I couldn't be sure what I was hearing so I wanted to confirm, to be sure, and double check before proceeding.



Observations:

The vocal could stand to sit a bit higher in the mix so it's on top of the music. Elvis' vocals are always up front. The vocal could be sung with more heart and soul.

So I assume this is for a pitch, and has already "gone out the door" so to speak. "This is 12 hours later and she is shipping it off"

Personal opinion: I know time is of the essence, but even so, you have to have everything finished to the highest standards. I don't think this is quite there. Here's what I mean.

Your vocal track is full of digital pitch correction artifacts. Some are subtle but still obvious, and others are like autotune a-la T-Pain. Was that intentional or something you missed in the mix? I don't know, maybe that's what you were going for, but on a "sounds like Elvis kind of love song" I don't think AT is a good choice.

I'm curious if others also hear the artifacts (or do I just have a really bad internet connection today?) and what their opinions are on this overall mix. Like I said at the start, the song is a good write. It's off to a good start, but it's not finished, and still has a way to go in it's development before it's pitch ready.

And again.... this is simply my personal opinion.

Not exactly Elvis, but it's a nice love song that I like a lot.

As for the vocals, well, if your point was that a song sounds worse with Autotune™, you nailed it
Comp some vocal takes to address the issues and you've got a winner.

B.D.,

I replaced the file with a mix that has more of a "raw vocal" and maybe that will be less offensive to delicate ears.

For the project Rachel and I were working out it fit the bill, and we are happy with both Version 1 or Version 2 I just posted, because we know the facts and are not making assumptions. Behind the scenes, we have a lot of super cool stuff going on and are happy about it.

Thanks for the feedback.

David / Rachel,

This is great song... To me, this has that mid-70s Elvis sound. I think of albums like Elvis Today or Good Times.

Excellent job - you guys are killing it! Keep it going!

Bob

I agree with Bob. This does sound like a song Elvis would do in the mid 70s.

Although you are not an Elvis impersonator you did a real good job singing this song. Your phrasing was spot on.
Great backing band and mix.

You two are dynamite together.

Thanks Bob!

I appreciate your kind words brother!!

Mission accomplished! This is definitely an Elvis-sounding song. Well done.

Traditional Country Classic Very Nice

Thanks Mario!

I am glad you liked it, and you are a fine gentleman, with a sense of great taste.

Going back and listening, I suppose now that the vocals and the song were not quite as horrific as I had originally been led to believe.

Nice love song? Check.

The lyrics sound plausibly Elvis-like, but avoid being a pastiche of existing lyrics. Check.

Written, recorded and out to the client in 12 hours? Nice.

Well done, both of you. You two are a songwriting machine.

Yep, it has an Elvis vibe and we like the sparse arrangement.

The melody does bring back memories of several of his ballads.

Bud’s first album that he purchased with his hard earned money was an Elvis album and some of Janice’s earliest childhood memories are of dancing with her sister to Elvis records.

Good and quick work, you two!

J&B

David,

It's a gentle love song that reminds me of Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love".
It's rare to hear a song like this from you.
I'm really impressed with how many different types of songs you make.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Hi, David and Rachel !


I think this is a wonderful
tune as a result of a superb
collab ! The vocal is full
of emotion which takes it
even higher ! Great !


Cheers
Dani

Tear-ific. You guys are outstanding collab partners. You seem to be enriched, encouraged and highly motivated to produce quality. I'm used to how prolific you are, David, and it's easy to see the extra mile Rachel adds to your goals. I've said it before and I will say it again, and I will never stop saying that I love you guys and the music you bring to us.

Hey Dewey!

Thanks so much!

We appreciate kind words a lot man!

It's a good one.
BIAB can't recreate the tension the TKB studio Band would bring to this but it is a good blanket to put the picnic on.
Ignore the ants...

Another good one guys. I thought it sounded a little like "Can't Helping Falling in Love" by Elvis, but it was more of a feel than an actual sound, so it gave that Elvis feel without an attempt to make it an impersonation. I think it was just what you two set out to accomplish. Congratulations.

Brad

Thanks Elliott!

That means a lot.

Thanks David!

Thank you Janice and Bud!

We really appreciate the listen and the kind words!

Dear Shigeki,

Thank you so much!

I loved your last song very much!

Regardless of the Elvis angle, this is a STUNNING song, in its own right. Hats off to the both of you, you nailed it, in every way.

David & Rachel,
Yep, Elvesey love ballad. Just seen latest movie Seems like it is working out well for two of you! Good vocals & good mix. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Thank you Dani!

I appreciate that so much!

Thanks Marty!

I really appreciate that!!

Thanks Ray.

We really appreciate your kindness!

Hey thanks Brad,

That is very sweet. Thank you so much.

David and Rachel:

A lovely song that hits the mark you were shooting for. I listened to this back when you first posted it (sorry, didn’t have time to comment then). I like this version much better than what I first heard for the same reasons as mentioned by some above . . . I’m not a fan of auto-tune and I think it did a disservice to this song. This version is much more sincere and real. I wish you the best of luck with your opportunity—this is definitely deserving of consideration.

My best to you both,

Deej

Very nice David!!! It has a "Can't help..." vibe! I could see the King singing this one!! Nice work!!! Take care. Greg