Everybody seems to be doing beautiful covers of Creep right now from homeless men to Ukrainian woman's' choirs and The Crowd Surfers are no exception. The Crowd Surfers cover will take Creep out of the rock club and into the orchestral hall, preserving the simple four chord structure but presenting it as done by a small chamber ensemble. Strings, brass and, woodwinds compliment a singer accompanied by choirs for the refrain.
What we have:
A talented female lead singer.
What we need:
Everything else. Most importantly classically trained or other non rock musicians to delicately carry the melody and bass line. We're aiming for the sound of a string/brass/woodwind/piano quartet or small chamber orchestra although we'll consider anyone's submission who can bring something heartbreaking to the table. We also need people to sing in the chorus to sing the refrain and all of verse two.
What's the angle:
Creep can be a very beautiful song and an arrangement with string/brass/woodwind/piano has not to my knowledge been done yet. Let's make the trolls sob in their browser windows!
What's the template:
The album version of Creep (linked above) will be used for tempo, general arrangement, and key. When you make your recording please play along with this version of the song or we won't be able to use your recording.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Song 2: Drop it Like it's Hot by Snoop Dogg (Hip Hop Hoedown Version)
The Crowd Surfers cover of Drop it Like it's Hot is a Hip Hop bluegrass mash up so pull out that mandolin, fiddle and 808s and get your beatbox on.
What we have:
Basic percussion provided by a a very talented frame drum player from the University of Washington.
What we need:
Everything else. This includes additional percussion such as a beatboxer, possibly backup singers for the chorus, any additional instrumentation we can muster (I'd love to work a banjo into this) and most importantly some talented MCs to do the parts of Snoop and Pharrell.
What's the angle:
The song is simple fun and shouldn't take too many participants to nail. It also has very open areas musically that a creative musician could fill in. Hipsters can participate because a bluegrass version of the song is sooo ironic, everyone else can bob to the chorus and make believe they are as cool as Snoop Dogg.
What's the template:
The album version of Drop it Like it's Hot (linked above) will be used for tempo, general arrangement, and key. When you make your recording please play along with this version of the song or we won't be able to use your recording.
What we have:
Basic percussion provided by a a very talented frame drum player from the University of Washington.
What we need:
Everything else. This includes additional percussion such as a beatboxer, possibly backup singers for the chorus, any additional instrumentation we can muster (I'd love to work a banjo into this) and most importantly some talented MCs to do the parts of Snoop and Pharrell.
What's the angle:
The song is simple fun and shouldn't take too many participants to nail. It also has very open areas musically that a creative musician could fill in. Hipsters can participate because a bluegrass version of the song is sooo ironic, everyone else can bob to the chorus and make believe they are as cool as Snoop Dogg.
What's the template:
The album version of Drop it Like it's Hot (linked above) will be used for tempo, general arrangement, and key. When you make your recording please play along with this version of the song or we won't be able to use your recording.
Song 1: I'm a Believer by Neil Diamond (Casio Toy Army Version)
Submissions are now being accepted for Neil Diamond's I'm a Believer, Casio Toy Army Version, so pick up a kazoo, ukulele, or knock the dust off your kid sister's Fisher Price xylophone and play along with this hit song made popular by the Monkeys and more recently revitalized by Smash Mouth.
What we have:
Nothing, this song is starting from scratch.
What we need:
Everything. This includes percussion, lead, and rhythm instrumentation, a lead, and possibly backup vocals, the whole 9 yards.
What's the angle:
Everybody plays! You don't have to own a fancy instrument to participate! (Although we won't automatically exclude you if you do.) Pick up your favorite cheapo toy instrument, bang on a pot with a spoon, or take a stab at singing the words. Being enthusiastic and energetic is the most important part of this cover.
What's the template:
Smashmouth's 2001 cover from the movie Shrek (linked above) will be used for tempo, general arrangement, and key. When you make your recording please play along with this version of the song or we won't be able to use your recording.
What we have:
Nothing, this song is starting from scratch.
What we need:
Everything. This includes percussion, lead, and rhythm instrumentation, a lead, and possibly backup vocals, the whole 9 yards.
What's the angle:
Everybody plays! You don't have to own a fancy instrument to participate! (Although we won't automatically exclude you if you do.) Pick up your favorite cheapo toy instrument, bang on a pot with a spoon, or take a stab at singing the words. Being enthusiastic and energetic is the most important part of this cover.
What's the template:
Smashmouth's 2001 cover from the movie Shrek (linked above) will be used for tempo, general arrangement, and key. When you make your recording please play along with this version of the song or we won't be able to use your recording.
Crowd Surfers Launch
Hi there, my name is Sean. I'm a game producer and electronic musician from Seattle who recently began using my iPhone to record myself playing songs I'm learning on a new acoustic instrument. As I kluged these songs together it occurred to me that the bar for acceptable recording quality has gotten so low that almost everyone has access to a device to record with. Furthermore, the social space of the internet is so very rich that there is little reason that musical collaboration between strangers, and friends on the net not to happen. It was only after watching several covers of Snoop Dogg's "Drop it Like it's Hot" that the idea coalesced, and the seed for The Crowd Surfers was born.
The Plan:
1. Work on 3 songs at a time in various styles and genres.
2. Begin accepting user created recordings of people playing one of the 3 songs.
3. Once the song has reached minimum spec (the simplest recognizable mix of the song) post it online and continue to accept submissions and iterate until the song is finalized.
4. Once the song is final a stubbed video will be created and we'll start accepting video submissions until we have the footage needed.
5. Video will be edited together and posted on a video sharing site for all the world to see and appreciate.
Who we need:
Musicians, singers, videographers, recording engineers/mixers, graphic designers, creative types with good ideas.
Yes this is very ambitious but can be successful and lots of fun with YOUR help. It doesn't matter if you don't have a high level of musical talent and you can contribute a little or a lot. Over the next few days I'll be posting information about the first 3 songs as well as details about how to get involved. In the meantime please send any questions to sean_fear@hotmail.com
Hope to hear from all of you really soon!
The Plan:
1. Work on 3 songs at a time in various styles and genres.
2. Begin accepting user created recordings of people playing one of the 3 songs.
3. Once the song has reached minimum spec (the simplest recognizable mix of the song) post it online and continue to accept submissions and iterate until the song is finalized.
4. Once the song is final a stubbed video will be created and we'll start accepting video submissions until we have the footage needed.
5. Video will be edited together and posted on a video sharing site for all the world to see and appreciate.
Who we need:
Musicians, singers, videographers, recording engineers/mixers, graphic designers, creative types with good ideas.
Yes this is very ambitious but can be successful and lots of fun with YOUR help. It doesn't matter if you don't have a high level of musical talent and you can contribute a little or a lot. Over the next few days I'll be posting information about the first 3 songs as well as details about how to get involved. In the meantime please send any questions to sean_fear@hotmail.com
Hope to hear from all of you really soon!
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