翻唱的秘诀 [how to do a winning cover]

since we do many cover versions, we have to be good at it. btw, chinese music industry treat cover versions with disdain because they don't understand that many good singers can give a new lease of life to covers. on the other hand, western singers get credits for reviving oldies and doing good covers. examples are diana krall, michael buble, jamie callum and many others.

we are not ready to do an album with 100% original compositions yet. our standards are very highs; if we don't have good compositions to showcase, we rather sing other people's songs and sing them well.

there are 3 major things to bear in mind when doing covers:

[1] if you can't compete on singing (e.g. if the original version is already definitive and can't be surpassed), then re-arrange the song innovatively. when the arrangement is creatively different, people tend not to compare that harshly. a prime example is when singing cai qin's (chinese audiophile queen) songs - never never compete with her on singing because she is way way up there!

[2] inject personality into the song as if you are the original singer. when you sing as if you own the song, critics will shut up.

[3] if you can't compete on technique (against the original singer), enhance on the emotional delivery and vice versa. most singers are good in either technique or emotional delivery, seldom both at the same time.

now, some excellent videos on how to do a fabulous cover version...

[1] video #1 is a cover version by aska yang. this chap pours so much emotions into the song that everyone who hears the song for the first time (me inclusive) has wet eyes throughout. of course, some critics say aska is overbearing and too pretentious. but i personally think he is great and this is a definitive way of doing a cover version. btw, the judges gave aska full marks, 25/25!

[2] video #2 is by the real mccoy, stefanie sun. stefanie has a great tone and her rendition is beautiful, perhaps a bit understated in terms of emotional delivery, but very touching no less. stef is natural, without the overpouring of emotions of aska. i like this original version very much.



JZ8 and 2V1G projects are starting soon and i have to keep reminding myself and my arranger(s) to excel in doing covers. it is a daunting task to emulate the original version but if you can do it, the results are immensely satisfying!

我爱爵士乐 [jazz, jazz, jazz]

Yesterday was our 2v1g producer, Leslie's birthday. It is also the big day of my singer friend, Sim Yen (Zyan). Happy belated birthday, gemini buddies!

Stacey Kent's album is spinning in my player again. The jazz music fills up the room (it would be great if there's a glass of red wine in hand, haha), while I am sitting in front of my laptop. I'm wondering, when will I have a chance to sing with a real jazz band? If I were granted a chance to do an album again, I hope I can swing the album. I always hope that I can turn the Mandarin repertoires upside down and swing the tunes! Can you imagine how I would sound like? Oh ya, Leslie said in his 'birthday wishes' blog post - if budget allows, he will send us for a jazz vocal lessons. Oh, my lovely audience, please support this 2v1g album seriously so that the producer will send me for the lessons, yeah!!!!!

So, right after Stacey, I am now watching the Divas such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, Peggy Lee, Roberta Flack. You know what I found? My god, I found an amazing clip, 4 divas sang together on stage, a tribute to Duke Ellington. Check this out quickly! (I get goosebumps all around now.....)

PS: Folks, if you come across any fantastic Jazz vocal coach, please send me the contact. I seriously want to have some Jazz vocal lessons. Thanks a lot!


[winnie ho]