Smile At You

DownOnRodeo · #1 02-15-2003, 06:50 AM

I guess it's part and parecl of listening to demos and getting familiar with them, but I'm a bit anxious about how they do Smile At You.

I'm really hoping for the 'space' that the demo has - ie something raw like Songbird, with Cathedral level reverb! Nothing too 'clean' and 'perfect' like the Thrown Down we got.

I can't wait to hear Stevie on this!

SmthngOfADreamr · #2 02-15-2003, 08:13 AM

If the truth be told I'm actually a little nervous about Smile at You and the other two old songs (Running Through The Garden and The Tower.) I just worry that Stevie's limited range and her less powerful pipes will take away some of the best parts of these songs (as in modern performances of Dreams and Rhiannon). Especially the Tower - I really love that demo because it emphasizes the clarity of her voice and the extent of her range (very similar to the way Dreams demonstrates the very same aspects of her voice on Rumours), and now I'm afraid that since time has faded some those aspects of her singing, that the songs won't be as good. But then again there's always the possibility that she and Lindsey could put some new interesting spin on them, so we'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully the outcome will be positive.

ejof17 · #3 02-15-2003, 10:02 AM

I must admit that I too am a bit worried about this.

I think that she should have cut loose a bit more on "Thrown Down" as usual with her newer songs, she cuts loose at the end and just when it gets really good, they cut it off! (i.e. "Planets")

I wouldn't underestimate her power to take a lyric and make it
fantastic though. What she has lost in range, she has gained in
her ability to phrase! "The Tower" will be dramatically different than the demo, I am sure, but it can still work quite well.
"Smile At You" may even be better now with her gravely rockin'
voice.

strandinthewind · #4 02-15-2003, 03:43 PM

I know exactly what you mean. All we really have to look at is Silver Springs - I have heard the demo, the 1975 (?) live recording, and then the 1997 Dance recording. The Dance recording is clearly first class all of the way, but her voice is not as clear in it as in the 70's. Another example is the demo No light and TISL's POTU. From a musical production aspect, they sound like two different songs, but vocally on TISL she more than adequately handled it; in fact I rather like the stronger, lower vocal on TISL. Conversely, I do like the way her current voice handles Dream (just my opinion and regardless, I’d pay to hear it again live!!)

ERigby818 · #5 02-15-2003, 05:02 PM

I'm a little worried too...about her voice not being able to handle the note ranges in those songs...I don't want her to change the melodies. I think Lindsey can do no wrong as far as her songs are concerned, so i'm not worried about his infuence at all. In fact, as someone recently pointed out either in this forum or Stevie's, many of the demos we hear her do solo and then with him definitely are more rock and edgier with his presence. I do hope Smile At You has a more raw and rough around the edges sound than Thrown Down which is totally polished.

The other day I was thinking about this, in fact, and while I was in the shower I was belting out Smile At You (it's usually either that or the "dreams unwind" verse in live Rhiannon), I tried singing it in a much lower key....and it worked (try it)!!! See if you can imagine her singing it in a kind of low, bluesy way (think At Last). But if it's gonna work, she still has to belt out the "FLAAAAAAMIN', FLAAAAAAMIN" part. I think she can do it- she did a great job on the TISL tour belting out "just to make sure you SurVIIIIIIIIIVE."

I hope there is killer reverb and a FLAMIN' electric guitar solo in Smile At You

-Sonia

BBALLGYPSY17 · #6 02-15-2003, 06:22 PM

"SMILE AT YOU" You can't beat the original and I'm struggling trying to contemplate how a new version would even fly

And OOOoooOOOooo YEAH, Flamin' ANGRY guitar solo- BRING THAT ON!!!

~alex~*

sodascouts · #7 02-15-2003, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by strandinthewind
All we really have to look at is Silver Springs - I have heard the demo, the 1975 (?) live recording, and then the 1997 Dance recording. The Dance recording is clearly first class all of the way, but her voice is not as clear in it as in the 70's.

You know, I actually prefer the Dance version of this. The emotion in it is so raw that the less polished version suits it. Of course, part of it could be because I heard it on The Dance first. Still, this is also true for Dance Landslide. I think it is definitely better than the studio version. There's one part - "'Cause, I....I spent my life around you" - the extra "I" actually is more of a vocal stretch than is on the original, where it just repeats.

seteca · #8 02-15-2003, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thewhitewingedd
I think The Dance version of Silver Springs is by far the best version there is. The studio version is somewhat boreing to me and always sounded like it sound be louder or something. The Dance version is so powerful. Nothing beats Stevie singing so strong that shes almost spitting the words out...Its just great!

Absolutely, I totally agree. And watching it on The Dance video just makes the song perfectly complete.

Mad4stevie · #9 02-15-2003, 11:04 PM

I agree that the Dance version of Silver Springs is awesome (especially coupled with the video), but I also really like the long outtake version.

I have four versions - the "original" Rumours recording, a very early piano demo, a long outtake version, and the Dance version. Are there any others? The early piano demo that I have is pretty poor quality, but her voice does sound strong just like it does on the No Light demo. Also has different lyrics . . . . "You'll never get away from the woman that wanted you . . ."

EnchantedStorms · #10 02-16-2003, 03:01 PM

I *prefer* to hear the Dance version of Silver Springs...but I love the original just as much as the Dance version, if that makes sense.

To me, it's almost like they're two different songs. They sound a lot different...the vocals, etc., and the lyrics...it's almost as if they have two different sets of meaning. Gotta love the history behind the song. lol, As much as it pi$$ed me off that Mick wouldn't give Stevie her own song, in the end, I'm glad he didn't.

Oh, and lol...I'm really, really hoping that they do Smile At You live. It had better be the angry version, too.

She did do a great job on FFG live...she can handle the Flamin' part!

~Angela~

strandinthewind · #11 02-16-2003, 05:47 PM

I, too, have the "original" (?) piano demo where she clearly and somewhat, if possible humbly intones "I'll cast a spell on you - [so] you won't forget me." That alone gives me chills and wrenches my heart something fierce. The live version circa 1975(?) is also spellbinding in the high-pitched and shrieking nature of her voice a la the early, early Rhiannon performances. I used to think she actually screamed "I'll cast on spell on you Linds - you won't for get me" toward the end of the song, but now that I am older and have better musical equipment, I do not think she is actually saying that. But, hey, at least I got the "pleasure" (

) of thinking she kept the original line in for awhile at least!!!!

The only thing I do not really care for on The Dance version is the produced nature of the live recording of the actual music. But, even with my perhaps misplaced idiosyncrasy about that, I LOVE The Dance version.