Honky Tonk Rap Star

We didn't take any pictures yesterday, so I'll just use one from the other day - you'll never know. ;-) Don't worry, there's *plenty* of video that was taken.

I had an original list of 12 songs I was going to record, but for some reason, I didn't know I needed to get the copyrights for them - I thought the studio handled that. I should have known better, and at least, I should have asked sooner, but I was busy, and that's really my only excuse.

As a result, I had to change out 6 of my songs at the last minute. I did a quick copyright search online, and 6 of the songs were clearly easy to get copyrights for and the other 6 had hoops to jump through, and I was worried I'd record the songs and then not be able to use them.

I rushed the selection of the 6 replacement songs, and that's unfortunate, but oh well. I had one song I was going to record to a performance track since we didn't have time to record the track with the musicians on Monday, but I couldn't find the performance track online.

Darcy reminded me how much I wanted to do a Christian rap song by DC Talk from waaaay back in the day - the first rap song I ever learned, and probably the song that made me the rap star I am today. ;-) I couldn't find any contact information for them, as they don't appear to be a group anymore, but I finally tracked down the lead singer's office info, and I got in touch with his assistant.

She told me there wasn't a performance track (most likely) for the song I wanted, but she gave me the number for the label and their manager to check with just in case - very helpful, and supportive. We tried, but didn't have immediate luck, so Mark, my producer, got on the horn and summoned a drummer, pianist and electric guitar player almost immediately.

I got the copyright info from the contact at the lead singer's office, so I knew we would be okay on that front. I downloaded a copy of the song from Rhapsody, and Mark burned the CD and played it for the musicians. They loved it!

It was a hoot - we had George Clinton (engineer/record producer- not funk legend - has engineered and produced dozens of # 1 hits for Reba, Martina McBride, Hank Williams, Isaac Hayes, Shania - and has more platinum album sales awards than he has wall space for), as well as 3 other country musicians. The listed to the track, and I didn't know WHAT they would possibly say after hearing a Christian rap song.

They all loved it!

While we were recording the track, at each break, the musicians were telling me that they just loved the song, and it sounded so good, and they were asking me how I could rap like that...I was wondering how on earth they were playing like that - to a song they had most definitely just heard for the first time in their lives 30 seconds before.

At the intro to each song recorded, you count off to get everyone on the same page. You can imagine how unusual it was to hear "ah wohan, tayew, thareee, foaher" right before going into the rap track. I loved it, and I wouldn't have wanted my first rap recording to be any other way.

The drummer really enjoyed it so much, he told me he has a ton of loops and stuff on his computer at home, so the next time we do this, he'll have it with him. Mark, my producer, liked it so much - he told me we should have done about 5 or 6 rap songs on the CD. LOL

I had no idea Nashville was so rap-friendly. I've learned that this town is extremely open minded, unbelievably gifted, and filled with the nicest people you could ever meet. I have fallen in love, yes I have. Nashville has all the charm of a sweet southern town, but with the talent and energy and innovation of a big city.

After the track was cut, I recorded my part. I foolishly thought it would be pretty straight forward, and that Mark wouldn't have much to add. I know he does a lot of country and gospel, and I'm sure he's done his fair share of rock, but I couldn't imagine he would take on changing up a rap song.

Was I ever wrong! He had awesome ideas about how to thicken it up, and make it my own. After I rapped the whole song in my own rap voice, he had me rap the whole thing all over again in a lower rap voice, so it sounds like there's more of us - and it sounds like a *real* rap song. LOL - he made a bunch of changes to it, and he did so much more with it than I ever would have even thought of.

I can't tell you how much awe and respect I have for Mark's talent. I can't imagine there's a better producer out there, and everyone I've met who has worked with him will tell you the same thing. He is a genius, and so humble, fun to be around and just a genuinely nice guy. I'm actually sad my recording time is coming to an end because I'm going to miss him!

It's okay - I have a feeling I'll be back sooner than anticipated. I have so many ideas for my next CD, and I've already started writing the first song.

At the end of the rap, he had me ad lib some lines, and I gave a shout out to Nashville, TN. I'm so glad that popped out of my mouth.

************

I had a BLAST recording _Oh Happy Day_ yesterday. I shed my NH skin, and I dug deep into my southern roots. (After all, my sister was born in TN - that counts for something, right??)

There's one or two points in the song where I sound like Elvis. I think during the ad lib part, I shouted something out like "You know my Jesus washed" in a big throat gurgling way, as well as who knows what else. It was FUN.

I did too many slow songs on this CD. I had a reason for picking all of the songs that I did, and I have no regrets, but next time, I probably will shy away from the slow songs. They just aren't fun for me to sing, and I'll never have the gift like a Josh Groban has or even Clay Aiken, so why try to compete with something out of my league when I don't even have fun doing it.

I've learned now which things I'm good at, and coincidentally, they are also the ones I LOVE doing, so it all works out quite well.

All in all, yesterday went about one million times better than the day before. My voice was better, my energy was higher, and I had a blast. We got 6 songs done. We would have finished them all if we hadn't had the impromptu rap recording session.

I just have 2 left to wrap up today. One of them is completely out of my range, so I'm really not looking forward to it. My throat is sore, and once again, I didn't speak last night once we got home. I communicated to Darcy through notes. I think she likes me quiet more than the talking version...but I'm just so pathetic...oh well...

Last day of recording!!

(Ahhh - now what???!!!)