Black-eyed Susan – Video

23 Replies

The other day I posted a video of an orchestrated Art Song/Lieder from the period when I was composing contemporary classical music. I actually did two posts on this before (see here for the one with the most details). Don’t let “classical”, “art song” or Trent’s awful voice drive you away – take listen:

(Click here if you don’t see the video below)

One year I saw far more Black-eyed Susans (flowers) than ever – they were everywhere. Until I went Northern Maine for a week. When I returned, there were no more flowers. A little later, when hiking, I saw some remnants. I wrote this song based on that.

But I decided to make a song cycle about flowers with seasons being an obvious theme, but in reality it would be the phases of life, from birth to death. This song would be death, the last flower dying before winter. I hated all of the other lyrics I wrote, so this was the only one that I set to music.

About three years after I wrote and recorded the song there was an early season snow storm. When I saw the frozen Black-eyed Susans, I knew I had to get some photos in case I ever made a video. And now I have ;)

Here are the lyrics:

Everywhere I go
You greet me
Staring
With your flame-rimmed eye
A little sun
Come to warm me
All summer,
Cares washed away

I look for you
This morning
I look for you
In ice-rimmed leaves
I look for you
Round fields and houses
I look for you
In vain

By the path
A patch of brown
Memories
Of summer heat
I see
Your burnt-out core
The fire’s gone
From your eye

Everywhere I’d go
You’d greet me
Staring
With your flame-rimmed eye
Your little sun
No longer warms me
Fall has come
Winter, nigh

I hope you enjoyed!

**

A Question

Slightly related, but mostly unrealted:

A couple of weeks ago I posted a pop song, I’m Still Here. I liked the song, but hated my voice, so I did an instrumental version.

Over the weekend I rerecorded the vocals and they were better. I practiced a little more and did a third take. Even better. I am guessing that if I practiced more they would be even better. But still not great.

So the question is – at this point, is it worth it? Should I go ahead and try to get a better recording out there? I mean, I can do it for myself, but should I post a new video with improved vocals, particularly since they will never sound as good as something you’ll hear on the radio (or Spotify, or Pandora, or however you listen to music)? yeah, with future songs I should learn to sing before I record and post, but for an old one?

23 thoughts on “Black-eyed Susan – Video”

    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, Marina!
      At the very least I need to practice sing a lot more! For the question here I wasn’t thinking “Black-eyed Susan” but the song “I’m Still Here” that I posted a few weeks back – I am very out of tune on it! The more I practice it, the closer I get, but not sure if it is worth putting up a new video on YouTube…

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Well, there is that…
          Truth (and what I do far, far too often!): I wrote the song and recorded it immediately with no practice. OK, on that song I did spend a little time getting the piano part right (it was harder than it sounds). I put down a quick vocal take to use as reference for my “final vocal track”. You know, the track I’d do after I practiced, etc. I did the rough mix down, moved it to a different computer to check. And then I said, “What the heck, it sounds good enough. I’ll just put this up.” Of course, it goes live on YouTube the same day that put down the first track… and then the next day I listen again. Oh my goodness, why did I post this!? lol, yep, happens all of the time.

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          1. marina kanavaki

            I know what you mean. I’ve got a different sort of problem. I almost always record before even practicing… prima vista. My nightmare starts the moment I want to correct or change something. I’m the ultimate copycat of myself. Once sung one way, always sung carbon copy! 😱🤣

            Liked by 1 person

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  4. Rebecca Cuningham

    I agree with Annette! I like your voice. Sometimes it sounds like you need a little more diaphragm support to project. You might put your hand on your upper abdomen so you know you’re breathing from there. You are weaving together such wonderful talents of verse, composing and musicality with instruments and voice!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, Rebecca! Yeah, breath control and pitch control are two things I am working on. This piece is going to stay as is (for now), but the other I was a bit farther out of tune than I’d like, but…

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Chel Owens

    You know, an English professor of mine used to say we were “releasing” our writing because it’s never ‘finished,’ as we traditionally call it. You could work on this piece over and over -so I say to only re-record if *you’re* still not satisfied.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      You do have a point – a work of art is never really completed, there is always something more we can do. I don’t like the voice on the video I was talking about (not this one) and I know I can improve it. But do I need to put up a new YouTube video and discount those 100+ views and half a dozen comments or move on to the next thing? Hmmm….

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I most likely will rerecord, but creating a new video? That’s the part I’m not sure about :) The more practice the better, and each take is an improvement, but… Thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

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