dasilvasings Supertramp's Just a Normal Day

[dasilvasings]

OK, I was also working on this one, and I was expecting to get a new microphone to record the double bass. But since it was going to take time, I decided to use the take I already recorded, with my  Behringer XM8500, a would be SM58. Not the best mic for double bass, but it works with a bit of compression and EQ.

So... regarding this song. Not really the most well known song from Crisis What Crisis, but i always liked it.

Typical Rick Davies song, in his epical way to say "my baby doesn't love me anymore" or similar.

The song itself is a bit repetitive and it works due to duet between Rick and Roger. I had to do it somehow, and I gave my best to reach Roger's register. I obviously failed and when I used the vocoder to try to save my vocal take, I had the idea to turn the song like this.

The song basic structure is using a synth from Korg Gadget 3, named Kiev. It is clearly a synth, but brings some reminiscence of an organ. It is good to lay the basic chords.

Then Rick parts are standard jazz swing with the double bass doing a walking line. I found the drums as a wav in the internet. All credits to an unknown drummer, "dafunkydrummer110" who recorded and shared it online.

Roger's parts... well... I decided to exaggerate on the vocoder to Justin Bieber level, and the drums... I searched for tutorials on how to lay a trap beat and it is a mix of prerecorded midi and some patterns done by me. It is a bit anecdotal how Rick and Roger parts differ but that was exactly the point.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST - the only good reason to listen to this is the original sax solo from John Helliwell which I sampled from the album and blatantly copy-pasted to this cover. The solo is a piece of beauty and I couldn't possibly recreate the song without it. I hope he forgives me, but I did it for love. Really beautiful solo, and you can still hear part of the mind blowing string orchestration of the studio version.

I really advise you to hear the original, because it is a great song, and my cover doesn't do any justice. It is just a personal take, to be heard with a pinch of humour.

So... nevermind the bollocks, here's dasilvasings...

[Jean Pierre]

In my opinion...great performance DSS

I like this effect on the voice 'obviously it should not be abused

How do you do it, Vocoder, autotune?

It's true that the sax solo is mythical, a bit like David Bowie's sax solo in Walk on the Wild Side.

[Ted]

Nope. Not going to seek out the original. I like the mystery of not knowing the source. Not always, but this time that's how I want to leave it.

Your version has a fascinating collage feel to it – as if these parts weren't designed to go together – every track has a wildly different recording quality: The muffled bass, the one vocal in an uncomfortably low range, the pop vocoder vocal, two drum parts - one human; one harshly robotic, the sampled sax solo that somehow brought along a string section, all weakly glued together by the jazzy organ. But it holds together with an uneasy tension. And that unease fits the lyrics: a "normal day" of two people, together but disconnected.

[the physics teacher]

Nice experiment with the vocoder.

[Pete C]

Seems that there's a bit of a craze for Supertramp in the 1975 Fest !
Again it's a song I've not heard before but I'll stick to your version..interesting to hear how you put this together, sounds challenging but I like what I hear  !

Pete

[StephenM]

I was very late to the table with this band as in I never really knew them until 1979 when "Breakfast in America" came out.  I didn't really go back to before until my younger sister started talking so much about them... I came around and "Crisis What Crisis" is in fact a really super offering imo.

maybe next time or some time you would let me have a crack at the drums for you.

it is nice for you to do this song you loved the band so much... I can tell from your writing above.  I find the "vocoder" interesting.  Your keyboards make this cover a bit more "intriquing" almost like a intense movie scene.  I think it fits considering the subject matter, which lets face it, relationships can be that way. 
I like your vocals.  Band lab has some really good free "auto tune stuff" also... i like playing with those.

I think the section that starts at 2:30 is really super good.

[TPB]

Creative use of the vocoder never really found a song it would fit but you have pulled it off and yes love the sax
Tim