Big Band version of Single Life! (Are you ready Dan Hill and Michael Buble?)

OK, it's finally happened!  I have just finished writing and recording the Big Band version of "Single Life."  It all started as a challenge from Canadian songwriting and recording legend Dan Hill.  He heard my original pop version of Single Life and liked the lyrics, but not the pop style. He said, "I really hear this as a blues song," and did a quick rendition of the chorus accompanying himself on the piano.  After my initial shock and dismay, I took this on as a personal challenge.  I wanted to see what I could do to reinvent the song as Dan Hill imagined it.

The gutsy blues version is still waiting for its turn to be recorded, but as I was working it out, I kept imagining it being performed by Michael Buble with a big band.  So, I wrote the big band score in Finale, recorded it using Garritan Jazz & Big Band 3, overdubbed the vocals, tenor sax and trombone solos, added some piano licks for good measure, and adjusted the final mix.

You can hear the results at:
http://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Have fun listening!  (And next time you bump into Michael, please let him know I have a song for him!)
:-)

Geoff

Getting Out There

I just got back from my second visit to Market Collective.  Local musicians on stage, great coffee from Higher Ground, interesting original art, jewelry and clothing!

I talked with some animators from QuickDraw Animation Society about collaborating on a music video for "Single Life" and a photographer/artist about creating a CD cover for my current project, "Songs From the Edge."

I stopped by the CJSW booth to ask about getting some airplay. 

Wayne Gretsky says, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
Methodology asks, "What are you afraid of?"

Success! (Sort of ...)

Eighty songwriters hungry for feedback; Dan Hill the star on a panel of five members of the Canadian Music Industry.  Each songwriter got to drop a one-song demo CD with lyric sheets into the draw.  Mine came up third!

Most people heard the same advice, (me included!)  Move the chorus to come right after the first verse.  With attention spans getting shorter and more music to surf at the click of a button, you have to grab the listener RIGHT AWAY!  So, "Single Life" now has the first chorus right after the first verse.  Yes, it works better for this purpose.  You can hear the results at: https://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Dan Hill liked my lyrics, but suggested that I completely change the genre to a blues song. A BLUES song?  Really?  This definitely would radically alter the whole feeling and message!  But then, who am I to argue with Dan Hill, singer/songwriter extraordinaire for 30 years?  So, work has begun to re-imagine "Single Life" as a wailing blues song.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Call for Casting - Beautiful Baby Music Video!

Yes, you heard it here first!  I am currently recording a "Beautiful Baby" song to celebrate babies around the world!  When the song has been recorded, I plan to make a music video to post on YouTube.  This is the casting call for babies everywhere!

Parents will be asked to sign a consent form to allow their baby to be in the video.  All babies will remain anonymous. 

So, do you know a beautiful baby?  You can submit your own video clips (15 seconds or less) or we can arrange a short video shoot together if you're in Calgary.  It's best if there are no other people in the video, so the focus stays on the babies.

Want to hear samples of my songs?  Go to:
http://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Want to see a sample of one of my videos with music?  Go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3slYKTHovUw

When I am finished recording the song it will be added to my collection on NoiseTrade.  When the video is ready it will be added to my collection on YouTube.

Smile, and think happy baby thoughts!

Brand New Song on NoiseTrade

I just put a brand new song at https://noisetrade.com/geoffbell .  "Disbelief" is a departure from my recent acoustic trend.  The new song uses some Steampunk-ish sounds to give it a grittier texture than my acoustic songs. I'll be interested to hear what my 5 fans have to say!  (Yes, it's up to five now!)

You are invited to listen and download at:
https://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

New Songs on NoiseTrade

I've added some new songs to NoiseTrade, plus a few tracks from my 2005 CD "On Being Human."  I've been busy in the studio, recording some more songs that will be ready in the weeks ahead.  Click the link below  and have a listen!

http://noisetrade.com/geoffbell

Songs From the Edge

My last CD, "On Being Human," was released to a small audience of family and friends in 2005. Since then, life has continued to pull me away from writing and recording music. I have managed to sneak in a few moments here and there, and have many songs in various stages of formation. Three have been recorded for some time, and it's time I released them to the public.

You can find my new recordings at NoiseTrade.com, a great new forum for independent songwriters who want to share their music with the world. If you haven't explored NoiseTrade already, I'd suggest that you start with one of their sampler collections. There are lots of indie singer/songwriters who are worth hearing!

You can click the logo on the right to hear and download my latest songs. Listening is free; the "suggested donation" is for songs you decide to download. Happy listening!

Geoff