Alright folks.
I've been off work bored today and fiddling with my new keyboard, and I have a little something to show for it.
For quite a while I've been tinkering with jazzy arrangements of Queen songs, but up until today I couldn't settle on one to work on. I've no idea why this particular song came to me as something to try, because it's one of the least jazzy things Queen ever did, but as soon as I started toying with it I saw that it worked.
I doubt there's too many of you on here that are into this kind of thing, but I certainly found this little project of mine interesting, as I've yet to really hear too many interpretations of Queen songs like this (certainly not with regards to fan covers).
You'll notice I haven't told you what the song in questions is. That's because the first person to tell me gets a pint. A whole pint.
Anyway, excuse the lame drum pattern that just repeats ad nauseam. It came courtesy of the default rhythms on my spangly new keyboard. But it did a job. And please be so kind as to turn a blind eye (ear?) to any glitches in my piano playing too. I just wanted to quickly hammer this out while I had the idea fresh.
For your enjoyment: link
Sounds great Bohardy :-)
Is this the sound coming out of your keyboard? Or did you use virtual instruments?
You should check out Richard Cheese, he also does jazz arrangements of well known rock songs. It's so much fun
Thanks for the kind words guys.
The fact that I put the song title in the ID-tag of the mp3 (numpty...) means that I have to withdraw my offer of a pint to the first person that spotted the song. But Zeni, you still get one on the basis that you used the word 'Ha', and in upper-case, followed by an exclamation mark to boot.
You get a pint Lester, for your apposite use of the word 'dig'.
The prophet's song: Thanks. Not at the moment, but perhaps in the not too distant future.
Niek: Yeah, it's all from my keyboard. Some of the sounds on there are awesome. You'd have to listen to it a good few times I reckon before you realise that the double-bass was played by me on a keyboard. And I do know and love Richard Cheese. I've always played around doing lounge type covers of popular songs, so he's right up my street.
Author:
You should have a listen to some modal jazz (I suggest Olé Coltrane and My Favorite Things, both by John Coltrane, to start with) for some inspiration. I think you could do even better if you were to experiment with exotic keys and modal instead of chordal improv.
Contributor:
I do listen to some modal jazz and already own My Favourite Things. Obviously this was just meant to be a simple swing interpretation of Dear Friends, but I may get more experimental in future, if I do do another one.
If you like this type of stuff.....
Get your hands on Paul Anka's "Rock Swings" CD. Unlike Richard Cheese, who takes the piss out of songs, Anka nails damn near every song on the disc. Plus, the dude can still belt.
Killer stuff for anyone who digs that vibe.
Barb: I will do, and thanks. I just wanted to put this up ASAP. And after listening to it with a different setup I wanna make a couple of adjustments to the mix.
Haystacks: Thanks too.
bigV: Of course, be my guest. And thanks for the compliments.
Are you taking requests yet? I'd love to hear every overwrought Queen "sad song," like WWTLF or All Dead, All Dead, jazzed up a bit more.
And I agree with Haystacks on the Paul Anka CD. It's great to hear him sing "my libido" in Smells Like Teen Spirit.
MANDATORY capital LETTERS followed by exclamation points!!
Mother Love's actually one I've been playing with for a bit Lester. But I've been doing it more in a Thierry Lang solo piano style.
Next on the list might just be a funked up version of Funny How Love Is.