otan said:

It's not that bad of a rip off, just a few notes. It's not like you're pulling a Vanilla Ice and just changing one note. It's not as bad as you all are making it out to be...

I like the new version. Dont mind the guitar as much now.

But yeah, the background harmonies should be more in the background, at first. Just like the guitar they should build up. Remember what you told me about dynamics?


[This message was edited Wed Oct 1 21:37:14 PDT 2003 by VinaBlue]

Sounds like an act that is imitating a soul artist, rather than having soul. Stop coying other acts i.e.

Thankyouforletmebemyself...
Nevergonnaletyoumakemehatemyselfagain'

I guess some things never change.
Seems like some of you guys judge a persons music by their popularity rather than by its own merit. It looks like you guys have a little club. Be Original ! Have we learned nothing from Prince. Dang...Play dat basss or in your case, pick it up.

Let me give you examples of a good sound...

http://artists.mp3s.com/a...music.html

http://artists.mp3s.com/a...snutt.html

http://artists.mp3s.com/a.../lilc.html

http://artists.mp3s.com/a...livia.html

Brobyn, this song is "work in progress" and nowhere near an endresult, especially concerning the mix. It's an mp3 converted to wav and then again converted to mp3. So yeah, the sound is not perfect, OK?

We've just put it up to let people listen to the first results of this intercontinental cooperation and get some feedback. It might not be the most original song of all times but I happen to like the results thus far. I'm sorry to hear that you think it's shite. But hey, everybody is entitled to his own opinion, so I have no problem with that.

And using the spelling of the songtitle to prove we are copycats without any soul of our own??? I mean, that would make prince a copycat too: remember the spelling of "superfunkycalifragisexy"?

C'mon...you know what i'm talking about. I think there is a difference between drawing inspriation from your mentor and straight biting...when "superfunkycalifragisexy" was released,eventually, Prince was already an established artist.
Oookay.do what you want..the future will tell...you can either be "Boys 2 men" or Nsyc..."Blackstreet" or " The backstreet boys, "Mary J Blige" or Britney, Luther Vandross or Michael Bolton, Otis Redding or Elvis, The Jazz Crusades or Kenny G, Louis Armstrong or Benny Goodman...we all know who made the most money...and we also know who gave us our money's worth and we also know who is and was copying and who was real. With your music I hear Vanilla Ice, not LL cool J

http://absolut.com/
[This message was edited Thu Oct 2 13:14:17 PDT 2003 by otan]

http://absolut.com/
[This message was edited Thu Oct 2 13:13:45 PDT 2003 by otan]

I thought it sounded great. I don't understand Bobryn, and he needs to sort his arguement out in his own head first, before he expects anyone else to understand it. Saying that, on first listen, I started singing "Ice Ice Baby..."

(...joke)

Both you guys have made something pretty fresh sounding. It doesn't remind me of Prince at all... it was only after reading one of the replies that I was like "Oh yeah" with the four notes of 17 Days (oh big deal... ). It does sound a bit 'poppy' (i.e. $/£/€), but Funkaholics groove, with the drums balance the whole thing out and to me prevents it from sounding too cheesy (and easy). As others have said your voice on this has reached new levels. The vocal melody is great, and I can't really imagine it allowing for something anymore funky than what you've already given.

Then again, it's all subjective, and I could have a secret stash of Vanilla Ice LP's hidden somewhere. Just take my word for it that I don't...I was a Hammer man.


["talking shit" flame removed ]
[This message was edited Thu Oct 2 7:17:41 PDT 2003 by MaggotBrain]

Thanks Maggot.

OH- by the way - that's the 3rd version up there now:

- original drums
- louder rhythm guitar
- BOTH lead vocal lines are in there now - the original is buried in the back almost to sound like an afterthought.

But to be original, I recorded it while taking a dump. Don't think anyone's done that.

To be fair, Brobyn has an opinion and has every right to voice it. He's right - by using that naming convention, I immediately draw comparisons to Sly Stone and the SOUND OF MUSIC, from which Prince got his title. Imagine that, PRINCE stealing something from the Whitest of White musicals!

But I digress. Yeah, I already declared the song "blue eyed soul" like Hall & Oates (who stole the "&" from Rufus & Chaka Khan), Paul Young, (who stole his name from Andrew Young) and with the new drums and that grooving bassline, it reminds me of Robert Palmer's "You are in my System" (which was a cover of The System's song).

Man. It's just a theivin world, aint it?
[This message was edited Thu Oct 2 7:42:02 PDT 2003 by otan]

brobyn said:

First of all there's no club here. Just people making music independently and sharing. Welcome.

Next, what you hear is just that, what YOU hear. It's not right or wrong, it's just what you hear and your opinion.

IMO, this song is so far from ripping people off, especially compared to a couple of other musicians here.

While I'm not defending the song posted, I think to slam it because it sounds too much like Prince is unfair because it doesn't. Artists sometimes sound similiar to people who have influenced them. Sometimes unconsciously and sometimes on purpose, neither do I hear in this song.

otan said:

I was busy writing this long rant about Brobyn's apparent (is that spelled correctly?) race issues, but I see you already have done the job far better in just four sentences!
[This message was edited Thu Oct 2 7:55:40 PDT 2003 by funkaholic1972]

Brobyn, feel free to blast my songs. I wear my Vanilla Ice and Kenny G influences like a cheap suit! Hehehee.

Anyway, I like Hall & Oates!

otan said:

Otan, I like the second version better, I really don't like the drum sound of this 3rd version. I also miss the cowbells very much! And you turned up the rhythm guitar too loud and the lead guitar too far to the back. And I don't like the orinal vocals in the background, that sounds like a badly timed delay to me.

Anyway, please send me the wav files of your guitar, drum and vocal parts, I wanna do my own mix!

funkaholic1972 said:

(a) rhythm guitar is NEVER too loud.
(b) the second lead vocal track DOES sound bad. it was an experiment.

So you dig the old school mix more. Okay. I spose at this point we should org note each other instead of publicly debating how white I am.

I'll get yer wavs to you tonight when I get home. I think this morning I pulled the lead guitar so far back to see what it would sound like WITHOUT the line at all... pressure from the PrinceWannabeHaters. oh. sorry. Prince. Wanna. Be. Haters. $##@!

I dig this second version...but what's happening...oh say 3/4 thru. There are 3 instances that I can hear (almost undetectable) where it sounds like a quick skip, almost like a split second beat off the mix?

And the title is rightthefuckon. Nevergonnaletyoumkaemehatemyselfagain is exactly how it's sung...and that's the hook.

I love your voice Otan and Funkaholic has definitely got it goin' on. I've heard some good tunes from y'all and U have all grown so much...but this might be the first tune that I've heard that has real, hate to say it, 'commercial' potentional to be shopped.

U guys are getting closer.

Red said:

:cosign:

yeah I forgot to mention that also.

Nice way to pull in the color card there, B. So, if I WAS a black man, and it's the exact same song, would ALL your comparisons be black vs. white?

Even if it's a lame song by a black person? You still gonna blame whitey for everything?[/quote]


Awww now you guys wanna be racial ? Im just talking about music man. Dude, if you can take the heat, then keep your hands off of the skillit. There are plenty of so called "white" acts like "Kid Rock, Dave Matthews band, Red Hot Chilli peppers that have soul. I have plenty of their stuff. The difference is, they found their own way to be original !!!. Sorry dude, I never mentioned race, you did, you are pulling the race card man and that has no place in the world of music. You are the one crying racism, thats way to prehistoric for me. The fact of the matter is, that if I wanted to create waltz music, then I would understand where it derived from, and I would try to find my own way of performing it. If your are gonna call yourself a funk act, as you do on soundclick, then you gots to bring it. I'm sorry dude, in my opinion, you are just imitating up this point and i'm sure most R & B acts(where this stuff is derived from) would agree. Now stop crying racism and playing the race card and play the bass...thats about all I have to say about race. That was a weak cop-out to draw attention away from your music.

funkaholic1972 said:

Wow, this is amazing. I'm suprised to see all of these responses regarding race. I'm trying to stick to the issue of music here, but you guys apparantly wanna divert attention away from your own music. I find it amusing that you guys are pulling the race card, dude, grow up. My comparisons are legit and honest. Okay, suggestion, post yur music on www.mp3.com and see how far it gets on the charts. Thats about as objective as I can get Bro.I could be wrong, prove me wrong. As far as race, man I dont know what to say or do, but just laugh. Its true, normally it the blacks folks pulling the race card, I guess I find it amusing to see others do it, which proves that we are all more alike then different given the same circumstances...C.mon now LOL lets stick to the issues.

http://absolut.com/
[This message was edited Thu Oct 2 13:14:44 PDT 2003 by otan]

http://absolut.com/
[This message was edited Thu Oct 2 13:14:56 PDT 2003 by otan]

artist08 said:

Okay man, I listened to Velvet Promise. Now see, thats what I'm talking about. I can hear your influences, but I also hear your originality. I'm kind of partial to songs with acoustic guitar and the bass interacting. I love your song. Its real and it works which equals = soul music.

By the way, kenny G my buuttt LOL I did'nt hear those influence. But I do love Hall and Oats, Fleetwood Mac and the doobee Brothers(excuse the spelling). I supposed I should have mentioned them to make them feel more comfortable.
Nevertheless..I likes a lot Bro...

cant we all just get along...

otan said:

LOL, wow..sorry dude, you cant make me out to be what you apparantly are. Need I say its obvious to most. You cant take a little heat about your song. You are putting words in my mouth then getting upset about those words as if I said it.. Thats just funny. Well hey, i'm listing to your live album and I like thus far. But dude. give up the race thing,,personal attacks, cursing etc.. really just shows what kind of person you are. No need to carry on like that. It still doesnt change the song, or my opinion. "cant we just all get along"..LOL

By the way, I agree with your points on Living Color, they should have never marketed themselves as such. I'm not familiar with Charlie Pride so I cant say much on that issue..We dont bump Charlie in Inglewood. LOL

groovement said:

LOL I love it !!!

brobyn said:

Okay..Im feeling "Super hot Lady Cop"...you have a unique sound...I like I Like ...Just record all your stff Live man...

The following statement...

"...you can either be "Boys 2 men" or Nsyc..."Blackstreet" or " The backstreet boys, "Mary J Blige" or Britney, Luther Vandross or Michael Bolton, Otis Redding or Elvis, The Jazz Crusades or Kenny G, Louis Armstrong or Benny Goodman...we all know who made the most money...and we also know who gave us our money's worth and we also know who is and was copying and who was real. With your music I hear Vanilla Ice, not LL cool J"

...and any CONSEQUENTLY RELATED discussion's got nothing to do with the whether this jam is good or not.

Let's squash those bugs, make peace and keep it real.

p.s i love you all
p.p.s i see dead people
p.p.p.s actually i don't. see dead people.

group-hug group-hug!!!

yeah. I pulled my ass off my shoulders. I'm good. I ASKED people to tell me the bad stuff, and B did just that, and I DO appreciate it.

I gotta work on dealing with criticism. Sorry I went "red ross" like that.

I DO like the song. I think it's got a solid groove with the keyboard bass - VERY 80's funk. And hell yeah, funky's gonna mix this thing RIGHT. I TOTALLY dig his mixes - that's probably one of my weakest areas in recording - figuring out the volumes for everythang.

So yeah. Peace to everybody and hugs all around - let me put down my bottle...

brobyn, what do you think of the songs of my band? Go to the http://www.mp3.com/Collar_Of_skin, at least with the fog. I wanna be blamed too! It's cool when we have someone here that is totally non biased and 100% sincere. I love to be criticized, when i am, i try to grow and show the motherfucker what i can do.

7salles said:

I love the bass playing on "with the fog, Kiss your star"..that bass playing is heckafied good. But Bro..Im feeling "Dander Damsel" You should let that be downloaded.
The Organ on "Never walk alone" I love...Thats what im talking about..in my humble opinon..when you experiment..it sounds awesome!!! Make more available...Man you know u r goooddd!!!LOL

hm i never noticed it couldn't be downloaded, now it can!