Tracks during live performance
Haven’t posted in a while. And they posts are very infrequent. I’ve definitely slowed down a bit!
I’m really enjoying Coldplay’s new CD Viva La Vida (or Death and All His Friends). Studio-wise, I think it’s one of the best CD’s I’ve listened to and it really evidences itself when the songs (Viva La Vida and Violet Hill) come on the radio and I really remember and sing along.
Coldplay has deliberately written songs that they want crowds to sing along to…. “belt it to the rafters” or something like that. However, many of the songs contain strings and tracks that aren’t really replicable on stage! A good example is Viva La Vida, which is driven by a pulsing string track rhythm. There are no drum kit sounds, so they instead pull out the tympany and church bell out for the song during their performances (as seen live on videos on youtube). But it’s a bit unbelievable when Chris Martin and the guitarist Jonny Buckland play their keyboards for a short while before leaving them for the mic or the electric guitar, and the strings play on. Obviously they have a running string track in the background.
I don’t know about you, but when I go to a performance, I want to see an original performance, for the most part. I don’t want to see a guy up there singing to a track. That’s karaoke. Of course there will be some things that you will track sometimes, like a basic drum synth or netherworldly sounds, but I’m not big on using the sounds that are a main component of the song. It’s kind of like using a track for the bass sounds instead of Guy Berryman (the bassist).
What do you think? It kind of lessens the performance in my book.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
that’s a good point silas but in practicality they can’t bring a string orchestra everywhere they go. so it’s either, don’t release the (great) song for the public or do so and go with the alternative strings track to supplement instead. no one will question the issue of live musicianship because Coldplay has already proved themselves there.. the issue i guess is, how to please a crowd with the best Plan B.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Not that I’m an expert at rock or pop or any type of concert, but I think it depends on how they present it. In principle, I don’t think it’s necessarily bad to use a pre-recorded track. Especially if it’s to provide something that you otherwise couldn’t do, although it needs to add to the quality of the performance. As well as the authenticity. Authenticity when you’re using a pre-recorded track at a live concert, you ask? Well, what if you’re going for creating a unique musical experience as part of your live performance? Then maybe you’re still keeping it “real” while using a pre-recorded track.
Then again, if it’s obvious that they’re just substituting a pre-recording for the real thing (e.g. ordinary orchestral music) when they perform the whole thing live, then that hurts authenticity.
I think I just gave an almost non-answer.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:04 am
(I’m back)
BUT, for example, let’s say a group decided to use a pre-recorded track to achieve something people otherwise couldn’t really achieve. Like, for example, if they were bring a, umm… “dead person” on to the stage to perform with them (like Frank Sinatra) through the use of a pre-recorded track. Then that would be pretty cool, wouldn’t it?
July 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Ya, i agree with Steph on the practicality issue. I guess using strings is a risk in a sense, knowing that you probably won’t be able to reproduce the same sound in most of your live performances. I’m always a fan of the pared down performance — do you think the song would’ve worked without the backing strings track?
Also, I have to say that I don’t actually appreciate it when artists sound exactly like their albums in their live performances. I appreciate when they change things up a little bit because that’s the fun of a live performance — it’s unique to that moment.
And as for singing using the track of a dead person, I have to say, I’m not a fan. I know everyone thinks it’s sweet when Natalie Cole sings a “duet” with a recording from her dad Nat King Cole, but I think it’s weird.