France Gall is a popular french singer.
I listened to many songs by France Gall last week, and I realized that the songs are really interesting and appreciated by many other countries around the world. The success began in the 60′s with a popular song “Poupée de cire, poupée de son” composed by Serge Gainsbourg (Although I don’t really like this song), then later she had another high point on her career by meeting and marrying the great musician Michel Berger (who died in a tragic accident). He wrote and composed beautiful songs interpreted by France Gall. Often these songs have marked the 90′s in France, with good tone and a inimitable “groove” which belongs to the 90′s.
Beautiful songs, beautiful woman. Purely.
Bulerías is one of the most fascinating rhythms in Flamenco music and dance. Consisting of 12 beats per bar or “compas”. Complex and complicated rhythm, very used to improvising. It would be long to explain everything, so we can listen to one of the most famous flamenco guitarist playing “Bulerias” Paco de Lucia – Almoraima (Bulerias 1976)
I’m still trying to learn and practice more about flamenco guitar (and bulerías), but believe me it’s complicated and complex for me.
I’m not used to this rhythm, but I’m working on it … because I love it.
I’m back to make songs recording.
I have no particular experience or knowledge in the recording technique, but I try to do my best, to do what I like and what I feel right for me.
To begin the recordings, I have chosen a special song for me : “Mistake”
The story
This is the first song I wrote and composed with my band, more than 10 years before. It was during the teenage years with my first band “Darknight” and the first moments of excitement when we plugged the guitars. We composed this song naturally, at a time when our main influence was Nirvana, Silverchair, Pop-rock and Grunge … We created “Mistake” a simple song with two parts, short, simple and dirty melodies. I decided to record this song because this is my first song I composed and performed with a band. I can’t forget it and I don’t want to forget it
We never recorded this song because we were young, and we create more songs later, we thought the other songs were better and more mature. More than ten years after, I wanted to keep the melody and atmosphere of this song on this recording. I improved the structure and duration, to make it more energetic and pleasant (for exemple : I added a guitar solo, various guitar phrases …) I dedicate this recording to Xavier T. and Jonathan F. (picture ”Darknight” live performance june 2001)
The recording
It takes time to explain everything, but I will summarize.
For this recording, I used my computer iMac with the software Reason 6, a sound card (focusrite scarlett), a microphone (shure SM58), two guitars (Fender Mustang and a cheap guitar from WSL), monitoring speaker (and some headphones..)
I started with the recording of drums. I used a sound bank with drum kits and I created the drum parts, using velocity to make the drums natural and real. I did the same with bass guitar. (I wanted to record the bass with an electric bass but I loaned it to a friend). Then I drew the structure and created ghost tracks (guide tracks), so I can get ideas and inspiration.
I kept the first recordings, here is an example :
Then after only two days, I did the guitars recordings easily, it was not complicated, I manage to get good sound quickly. I mixed the guitars, and I was satisfied. (The solo was a bit complicated to be precise).
I kept the file of the first day of guitar recording :
The last recording part was the voice, and believe me that was pain in the ass … I recorded the voice in the room of my apartment, with a good mic and good recording system but the sound of my voice was terribly wrong. It was not easy to sing in these conditions … I didn’t know how to do, I tried to sing in various places even improbable places … between pillows, behind the door, I also try to sing in different tonality and then change the pitch of my voice (with vocoder). But finally, I recorded the vocal tracks under my desk. The time to mix the sound of the voice was difficult and took me at least a week. Even today, I’m not completely satisfied but enough for a demo, and my first recording.
Here is a sample of my voice without instruments (and slowed to 90bpm) :
I would like to have some opinions about the song and the recording, so please feel free to leave comment bellow.
I plan to make another recording session, later when I have time
