Character Vocal Song....very quirky

Deby Cedars

I'm not sure where to post this. I'm contimplating what I should do with this. Should it be a work in progress, or is it just too goofy? For instance the bad singing at the end is for comedic effect should I try to take that up a notch?

I realize I also need to do a serious vocal that shows my range. I was thinking of Whitney's I Will Always Love You for that.

I was going for a wacky, quirky, young, silly, cartoon vocal. I only did one take cause it's 2 am and I don't want to keep Roger up.

Feedback more than welcome Shocked

Scott Greenia · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007, 10:23 (GMT) Post subject:

I like it Deby.

Maybe your pronunciation is a little too good for a kid though? Laughing

Maybe a lisp...or "U" your tongue to fake a missing toof?

Deby Cedars · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007, 03:03 (GMT) Post subject:

Ok 39 people have read this......I need feedback.....I have a thick skin, and I realize this is not a demo. How do I make this a demo???

My inspiration for this was a song titled Cheeseburger on a Veggie Tales video.

Listen to this!

Scott Greenia · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007, 03:50 (GMT) Post subject:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGG!

Oh... um sorry. .... DVD player.... trip to FL..... Kids.... Veggie Tales (twitch).... over and over... (twitch).

Wink

Deby Cedars · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007, 05:50 (GMT) Post subject:

Well I liked your comments! I was just wanting more people to chime in on this one. The song is a song I learned in girl scouts when I was in 3rd grade. I have no idea who wrote it. It was so goofy and wacky that it stuck in my head.

Everyone....ask your kids to listen to it and get feedback from them. If anyone knows of a better kids song let me know. What was your favorite song when YOU were in 3rd grade???

Question

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007, 17:16 (GMT) Post subject:

It may be that other people, like me, didn't really know what you were asking. If you're asking whether you should use this on a demo somewhere, I would say no. You have a technically good singing voice, of course, and with the high pitch of your natural voice it follows that you could get hired to do character vocals for a child. Maybe.

But your snippet here doesn't show abandon. You're too focused on your singing and not enough on the "acting". And by that I mean becoming and being the character in such a way that your acting is not noticed and the singing is an extension of the character's expressed motivation. This snippet does not show that. It shows a technically correct soprano singing a camp song.

Julie-Ann Dean · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007, 21:07 (GMT) Post subject: Sweet

Hi Deby,

I think its a lovely little piece and shows how good you are at a young voice! Perhaps if you are creating an animation demo you could use a little bit of it on there, not the whole thing though, just a couple of lines. And I think it sounds as though the character you are playing here is concentrating on what she is singing which is a sweet characteristic that you could maybe play more with. Plus the comments that Scott made about pronunciating less are spot on.

Good luck with it - whatever you decide to do!

Julie

Deby Cedars · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007, 12:22 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks girls Very Happy

BACKUP SINGERS WANTED FOR HOOP SONG!!!

The snaps can be any percussion you want.

I'm creating this for a Disney show and perhaps a commercial. It's all speculation on my part. If I can sell it there will be pay. Very Happy

David Bosco · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007, 16:41 (GMT) Post subject: Kid's song / Cheeseburger

Deb,

I liked both the kid's song (somehow I could tell it was a Girl Scout campfire song before I scrolled down to see you revealed that) and the Cheeseburger thing.

First the campfire song: It's a fine example of a pre-teen/early teen and if you want to feature your voice for this type of delivery, it's probably best to not do much more with it, maybe add an acoustic guitar track, but keep it simple.

His Cheeseburger: Too bad it's not 30 or 40 years ago. This would have been a great shot at a novelty record. Is that your voice? Electronically enhanced? You mentioned this is a takeoff on something from Veggie Tales. Who wrote the lyrics? Was this your vocal track over the Veggie Tales recording or a totally new production? With a cleaner recording and animation added, this might do well on the internet, where the novelty records concept (save for Weird Al) went in their reincarnation.

Cute stuff!

David

Deby Cedars · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007, 05:52 (GMT) Post subject:

David, I wish I could claim the Veggie Tale song! error

I have it on a Wow compilation CD, and it's also featured in the morally correct yet fun Veggie Tales animation. My voice is not on it.

I'm just trying to create something in the same wacky way....yet different. I'm not sure how the old the character should be, I'm thinking 6 years old. I don't want her to be singing this at a camp fire. I want her to be walking down the street. If she did sing it at a campfire, it would be because she saw it earlier in the day. (not that she learned the song). I'm thinking her name might be Daphnie or Gina. I'm toying with the idea of giving her a southern accent.....

I think the hoop song, when completed, will be more commercial so I'm asking for that simple drum rhythm on that. If anyone wants to help me with the "guitar" stuff on this instead that's fine with me. I would be overjoyed. I really think this character could go places once I flesh her out a bit better and get some help with the "guitar".

Very Happy

Claire Dodin · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007, 18:55 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Deby,

Maybe you're not getting many answers because we don't really know what a good singing demo for animations should be (I don't).
I liked your song, it's cute but I also found it a bit annoying after a while because it's not the kind of song I enjoy listening to. I think it needs to be shorter and then have different styles of songs next to it, maybe with a piano playing, maybe an Alan Menken/Stephen Schwartz song.
I think using Whitney's I Will Always Love You is a bad idea. I personally would never want to hear that song in a demo, it's over done and a signature song by Whitney, I'd always resent you for not being her.

I'd love to hear the demo of voice artists who book jobs with it. Because what ever is in their demo, is the right thing! Very Happy

Deby Cedars · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007, 19:43 (GMT) Post subject:

Well I wanted a drummer to give me a beat for the hula hoop song two or 3 bars worth. Anthony???? Allen???? Scott????? Sid???? Anyone?

Scott Pollak · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007, 20:42 (GMT) Post subject:

Cameron Thomas · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007, 20:45 (GMT) Post subject:

Deby Cedars · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007, 08:48 (GMT) Post subject:

Well Anthony sent a PM about the drums. I would like your vocals on the hula hoop back ups. I realize that you may need to drop it an octive. I'll send you Anthony's stuff so you can sing to it.

As for the song I Will Alway Love You, It was written and sung by Dolly Parton, before finding even greater fame with Whitney. I don't think of it as "her" song. Perhaps it's over done. I suppose I could do "I Drove All Night" (Roy Orbison, Cindy Lauper, & Celine Dion). It shows range as well .
Since I want the children's vocal to be quicker paced though I was thinking of a slower song to show my range. I could do something by Barbara Streisand....which is no longer overdone, but would probably sound dated........Clair, which Alan/Stephen song were you thinking of?