PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase The Best Thing I Do For Me - Featuring Di On Vocals

This is one we did back in late 2011 on BIAB 11.5. This is one of the songs that was in the computer folder that got corrupted so, unfortunately, I don't have the tracks for you. There's a problem on the mix ... we accidentally posted the wrong cut. By the time we realized that, the computer file we had it in was corrupted and we no longer have the tracks, including Di's vocal. We hope to redo it sometime soon, depending on Di's health. As many of you know, she's having serious health issues due to a major stroke she had a couple of years back. It really stinks getting old. We're both a stone's throw away from 70. In case you're wondering, the avatar we use is about 2 years old ... we're both 66 years old in the avatar.

The problem is three-fold: 1. Di's voice is about a quarter second ahead of the music. It's painfully obvious between 2:23 and 2:27. 2. Di's voice is a bit too loud. 3. No final mix and master. So please keep all that in mind as you listen. I decided to post it anyway as several folks have PM'd me, asking me to post something with Di singing. This is the only BIAB cut, with Di singing, we've not yet posted. We have dozens of songs with her vocals, but they weren't created on BIAB, so can't post them here. Open to any and all comments. Thanks!

We did a couple of songs back at the end of last year on an online karaoke site we belong to. But that's it for her singing since then. here's a link to it if anyone is interested. It's a video of Di and me singing in December of 2013. It's not a BIAB track, so we'll pull the link down if anyone objects. I just thought you might like a dose of Di, plus see her in a video!

Directly below is a video of Di and me, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. It's one of the last recordings she has done. The song for this post is below the line of dashes.

http://www.singsnap.com/karaoke/r/ae5f6669a


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CLICK HERE TO HEAR "THE BEST THING I DO FOR ME" ------> http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11161520


Spending Time With You (Eb)
© 2011 Alan D. David, BMI / Diana Bowers, BMI - All Rights Reserved

(v1)
I like champagne in a crystal glass
And I sure do like my bubble bath
And then I like to paint my toes
Maybe put a little bit of powder on my nose
I like my steaks medium rare
Enjoying life without a care
I like a man in a stylish hat
But there’s one thing I like more than that

CHORUS
I love being pampered
We both know that’s true
But it’s all second best
To the day we said “I do”
The best thing I do for me
Is spending time with you

(v2)
I like shopping, buying new clothes
And I like ribbons, buttons and bows
It’s hard to beat a night on the town
Or sitting and reading when there ain’t no one else around
Daydreaming in the afternoon
Or talking to myself in a quiet room
Those things are nice, yes it’s a fact
But there’s one thing I like more than that

CHORUS
I love being pampered
We both know that’s true
But it’s all second best
To the day we said “I do”
The best thing I do for me
Is spending time with you

TAG
Ooooh…ooooh…ooooh
Best thing I do for me is, spending time with you

Al and Di, a very enjoyable listen, great feel, Di's superb vocals, tastily delivered, smooth and silky.

I think you're over critical on the timing. It sounded very natural. Just take Blossom Dearie with 'Peel Me A Grape". In the cracks, in the cracks, yeah. Nothin' wrong with that.

Wishing Di all the very best, it would be wonderful to hear more like that.

Trevor

There was nothing to give me pause from enjoying a wonderful voice and performance here. Enjoyed this from start to finish. Thanks for posting.

Charlie

Hello Al and Di,

So very nice to hear Di's voice this time!
She's got a very nice jazzy sound.
We think the recording is very good,we didn't really hear any serious syncing problems (nor any striking volume differences).
Besides that, we think in this genre you have room to play with timing.
We realize her health problems are very serious, still we hope that in the future she will be able to sing now and then...
We wish her all the best (and we're also glad you're back on the forum).

Best regards,
Rob and Anne-Marie

AL and Di,

I too hear no timing problems like you warned us about at the beginning, this genre of music allows "syncopation" (I cannot think of another word to describe it)
Nice to hear her voice!

A good friend of mine has had 3 strokes, one after another, recently and the rest of the old band are his "carers" as we take him out to give his wife a break so I fully understand your problems and I wish you both all the best.

Enjoyed the song and try to take it easy yourself Al!

Alyn

Hi Trevor ...

Thanks for the listen and for the very nice comments. And yes, Di has a wonderful voice for this style of music. Hopefully she'll get her voice back fully in the not-too-distant future. I have a wonderful voice for imitating a cement mixer in the process of stripping its gears!

The the problem with the vocal mix wouldn't be so noticeable except it really stands out in that are of 2:23 - 2;27. She was synchopating her voice to the music riff there.

Anyway, thanks so much! Oh, BTW ... I've not heard Blossom Dearie's version of "Peel Me A Grape" ... just the Diana Krall version, which I really like. I'll check out the other version later today.

Our favorite contemporary vocalists are Diana Krall for female and Steve Tyrell for male.

Best to ya!

Alan & Di

Hi Charlie ...

Thank you so much! We really appreciate those warm comments. It's been a real struggle for Di ... she wants to sing so badly but just can't do it right now. Thanks again for the kind visit.

Alan & Di

Al & Di,

I love it. One of my favs y'all have done.

Josie

Rob & Anne-Marie ...

Thank you for that very nice post. We appreciate the nice words you had for our songs. Even more, we appreciate your well wishes for Di. She is determined to sing again before the year is over. If she does, I'll make sure it gets posted real fast! Thank you again!

Alan & Di

HI Alyn,

Thank you very much! And yes, "syncopation" might best describe what you are referring to. We know exactly what you mean. The way Di describes her singing is "Free-style". She never sings the same song the same way twice. She somewhat varies the melody, timing, vocal inflection, etc. We appreciate all the nice words you had for us! Best to you ...

Alan & Di

Hi Josie ..

Awww... thank thank you so much. Sometimes those short comments are just as wonderful as the paragraphs. This is one of those times. Thank you again! Wishing you well ...

Alan & Di

Di & Alan...

This is marvelous. A very well-written song. Beautifully sung.

I think this is my favorite of yours that I've heard. You guys do this style so very well.

Y'all take care, get healthy, you've got to do a BUNCH of these!!!

A great listen!

floyd

Hi Floyd ...

Thank ya so much! We really enjoy this genre ... I guess Lounge Jazz is the best description. We think this and Smooth R&B are our best genres. We plan on doing a few more of them as soon as Di is up to singing again. we appreciate your constant support and kind comments. Wishing you well ...

Alan & Di

hi al and di great job guys just as smooth as silk thanks eric

Thank you, Eric. We sure do enjoy hearing such kind words. We sincerely appreciate the listen and the nice comments! best to you ...

Alan & Di

Superb!! Loved everything about it, especially the nostalgic feeling it elicits from what was probably the best period of American song writing!! Classy and elegant! My favorite of yours so far, and Di killed it on the vocal!! Beautiful!! Take care. Greg

Di really swings it beautifully here. Thanks for getting this up on the forum for us. All the best to you. -Patrick

Oh my goodness Di and Al.
I really loved this. I also loved seeing the karaoke video of you both singing. Enjoyed them both very much!

Hi Greg ...

So glad you enjoyed your listen! And yeah, I wish I had one-tenth of Di's vocal ability and quality! But, I have something even better than that ... I have her heart and loyalty! We love doing this genre and it's such a wonderful gift in return when others enjoy it, too. And we agree, the era of the 40's and 50's was a special time in the music biz ... especially for lyricists. Those Old Standards are unequaled. There won't be many of them written again like they back then. We're doing our best to fill a very tiny spot in that void. Thanks for the encouragement! Best to ya ...

Alan & Di

HI Patrick ...

You are much too kind. But we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Your words are most encouraging and appreciated. Best to ya!

Alan & Di