David R. Adler is a freelance critic, international news junkie and music journalist, with a particular interest in jazz. Visit www.adlermusic.com for more info.
"showing no signs of wackness whatsoever" -- hiphopmusic.com
Let me preface the video below by saying I'm not a real singer, but I don't let that stop me from investigating songs like the Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes," which Jane Krakowski tried to sing in a Michael McDonald voice the other night on "30 Rock." (McDonald actually co-wrote it with Kenny Loggins.) It made me want to hear the song stripped down a bit, so I entertained myself coming up with this. Nice modulations between Db and E, and some tricky syncopation — I had to isolate and loop the "her apology," "keeps sending him" and "someday, somewhere" phrases for a few minutes each before I could get them right. If I tried to play the song again today I'd have to brush up. I also mixed up a couple of she's and he's in the lyrics. Oh, well.
Anyway, here it is, part of my evolving '70s pop and R&B self-instruction curriculum for guitar and voice.
[PS - Thought I'd append my annotation for the YouTube clip:
Always thought of this as a peppy song, but the lyrics are so sad. The phrases flow together beautifully and there's some really subtle harmonic motion, very indicative of this particular era in pop.]
Good job! I'm a regular reader of your blog and was surprised and excited to see this post, becuase I did my own solo cover of the song at a gig last year (I changed the key to C for convenience's sake): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bOKAB-US6s
do you remember when sctv did a game show called "which doobie do you be?"
can you believe, i just passed up a chance to see michael mcdonald w/boz scaggs in boston. do you take requests-- can you do "lido shuffle?' or is that too up-tempo for you?
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8 comments:
Well done, Ler! This is one of the most well-written pop songs ever; the complexity of it is completely hidden by how easily it flows.
Have you heard Aretha's version of it? And my favorite, Self's cover on the Gizmodgery album, which was recorded exclusively with toy instruments.
I've got to check those out, then! Thanks for the feedback. More to come!
Good job! I'm a regular reader of your blog and was surprised and excited to see this post, becuase I did my own solo cover of the song at a gig last year (I changed the key to C for convenience's sake): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bOKAB-US6s
do you remember when sctv did a game show called "which doobie do you be?"
can you believe, i just passed up a chance to see michael mcdonald w/boz scaggs in boston. do you take requests-- can you do "lido shuffle?' or is that too up-tempo for you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s8l75Oxf1U
My favorite version is by Matt Glassmeyer's Marching Band:
http://www.meadownoise.com/Broadway_Lafayette/04%20What%20a%20Fool%20Believes.mp3
The best part is it was recorded in the Broadway/Lafayette subway station in the middle of the night.
Thanks, all, for the additional references. The Glassmeyer is pretty wild - I wonder if I could identify the F train based on the sound alone...
Ian Carey -- that's a great site. I like the "Aqualung Variations:"
http://www.meadownoise.com/The%20Aqualung%20Variations.mp3
have you seen "yacht rock"?
enjoy
http://www.channel101.com/shows/view.php?media_id=805
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