The Patterico Music Project: The Original Version of “Was It Really You?”
I am blogging the second of three songs that I wrote in the 1990s, and that Northern Pikes legend Jay Semko recorded for me this year. I posted the first one last week (song; lyrics; original version). I posted the second one Monday (Jay’s version and lyrics).
This is my version of the second song: “Was It Really You?”
Be kind. My recording resources in 1992 were sparse. Details about how I did these recordings are here.
You will note some differences between this version and Jay’s. Mine has some harmonies and background vocals. There is a faux-bass line, which I played by playing the top string on my little nylon-string acoustic guitar, and turning up the bass on my TASCAM all the way for that track. The guitar-playing style is a bit different. And the singing is poor, unlike Jay’s masterful vocals. Here it is:
And here is Jay’s version, for comparison purposes.
Ding.
Patterico (9c670f) — 2/11/2015 @ 7:46 amThe musicality of the Grapes’ version rings out via the moving parts. It’s appealing to the ear and it makes the listener care about the tortured young soul who wrote the words because it evokes youth and innocence. This version is the clear winner in the head to head with Jay’s dirge-y and morbid poor me sounding version. He has a great voice but it’s not right for covering this particular song, at least to my ear.
elissa (1486dc) — 2/11/2015 @ 8:08 amYou can’t really go by me — Sunday I thought there was something wrong with my car’s transmission and it was a Pink Floyd song coming on on the radio — but I agree with elissa and my daughter. You sing well, Patterico.
nk (dbc370) — 2/11/2015 @ 8:21 ami threw away my speakers they didn’t work plus they said “gateway 2000” on them and they weighed 17 pounds each
happyfeet (a037ad) — 2/11/2015 @ 8:24 amTo me, his voice is right for any song. But I appreciate the compliment. It’s funny to hear me referred to as “The Grapes” when that is what my friends and I called The Grapes of Wrath — another Canadian band that helped inspire the name, as I explained in a previous post.
Patterico (9c670f) — 2/11/2015 @ 7:35 pmThanks to you and your daughter and Elissa.
Which Pink Floyd song?
Patterico (9c670f) — 2/11/2015 @ 7:36 pmWelcome to the Machine, I think. Definitely one from Wish You Were Here.
nk (dbc370) — 2/11/2015 @ 7:43 pm