On Recording – A Cover Song
I had received a note from my friend Caitlin a few weeks back. She was working on a super secret project for her man Zack for Valentine’s Day. She wanted to get several covers done of their song, “I Can Change” by LCD Soundsystem.
I was honoured and delighted that she asked me to be apart of her gift to Zack.
I had heard the song several times before and saw LCD Soundsystem at ACL in 2010. But there is nothing like recording a song to find what James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem went through to capture that moment.
Recording a cover song is always interesting.
As an artist, you want to have your own interpretation of the track. But when you record a track that you respect or love, you find out a number of things about the artist.
As a listener, I took for granted a number of things in this song.
- James Murphy only uses 2 chords. The entire song is in the key of G# and uses a G# and a C#. That is it. The entire song is carried by that beautiful keyboard melody to separate the verse and the chorus.
- James Murphy has an amazing voice. He effortlessly lands falsetto notes easily and does it repeatedly. My voice isn’t like that at all. Thus the need to improvise.
- James Murphy sells you on 2 chords for 6 minutes. He does this with very for changes and you take it. Willingly. When your dancing to the beat, do you even notice?
- James Murphy gives you singable simple lyrics. I always feel like I am making thing far to complicated lyrically. He give you an easy story and you want to sing along.
- James Murphy gave me a lesson in how a simple song could be captivating.
With that, I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. More than anything, share love and grace!
Tags: 2 Chords, 6 minute song, Austin Writs Music, Caitlin Witliff, Cover Song, falsetto, Festival Crashers, Gift, I Can Change, Improvise, James Murphy, Key of G#, LCD Soundsystem, Love and Grace, Recording, Rock Love Austin, simple lyrics, Valentine's Day, Zack Teibloom
