[BYTE-Smasher]

So considering how well the first Renoise Challenge went (srsly? I dun believe u), I've decided to have ..........

.......... ANOTHER RENOISE CHALLENGE!!!!............. AKA TEH RENOISE NOT-A-COMPO-COMPO PART DEUX .......... AKA BYTE-SMASHER'S REVENGE ..... AKA THE CHALLENGE WITH TOO MANY NAMES......

Past Renoise Challenges

• The One-Note-Column Challenge

THE SECOND CHALLENGE!
... IS THE POP MUSIC COVER CHALLENGE!

Zomgrules are as follows:

• Make a cover version of your favorite (or not-so-favorite) pop song. The more recognizeable the song, the better... doing a cover of an obscure Beastie Boys song that only appeared on the japanese version of their album is pretty pointless. IT MUST BE POP (or pop-rock or mainstream rap or whatever MTV is playing these days) THOUGH!!! NO TRANCE!
  
• Make the cover as recognizeable as possible, BUT DON'T SAMPLE THE ORIGINAL
  
• As you can't sample the original track, you must also record your own vocals
  
• Extra points for copying the production style of the original track.... yes, that's right, I'm "discouraging creativity".... why is this? Because I think there's quite a bit to be learned from trying to rip off someone else's sound. That, and If you can manage to do a perfect clone of "Hit me baby one more time", I'll be absolutely blown away. (what's that? is he implying that producing pop music takes skill?)
  
• This is an all gear challenge, but Renoise must be the master sequencer (not that we'd know, but FOR THE LOVE OF TAKTIK)
  
• There are no prizes. If I get enough entries, I will make a lamely zipped OMFGCOMPILATION. If not, then I probably won't bother. This is just for fun guys. You might learn something too.
  
• Post a link to songs here (in this thread... please don't PM me), in MP3, OGG, or FLAC format... if you need hosting (please don't chose a lame host like megafilehost or rapidshare), check out the "song hosting that doesn't suck" thread that's pinned in the song forum.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND
...that "pop" is simply short for popular. I don't expect a bunch of britney spears and backstreet boys covers. If you want a GOOD idea of what I expect, check out these lists:
Billboard music's top 100 artists of all time
Billboard music's top 100 songs of all time <--- if this list doesn't inspire you, then nothing will.

This post has been edited by BYTE-Smasher: 23 April 2009 - 03:25 PM

[Suva]

Count me in.

[BotB]

Awesome awesome idea!! I hope I have enough free time on my hands to submit something. This challange is too cool to pass by!

Can it be a 'local' pop-hit? Or preferably an international smash-hit chart-topping buttcream track?

[BYTE-Smasher]

BotB, on Apr 23 2009, 08:23 AM, said:

Can it be a 'local' pop-hit? Or preferably an international smash-hit chart-topping buttcream track?

Well preferably an international smash hit... I'd like to be able to recognize it on first listen


Updated the rules... check out #4

[danoise]

Excellent idea for a challenge, even if tracne isn't allowed

[BYTE-Smasher]

About the vocals issue:

<@BYTE-Smasher> well keep in mind
<@BYTE-Smasher> there are alot of pop songs that have chanting
<@BYTE-Smasher> where you don't need to keep a note
<@BYTE-Smasher> "I get knocked down, but I get up again...."
<@BYTE-Smasher> "WE WILL WE WILL ROCK YOU..."
<@BYTE-Smasher> etc

[pilot7]

mmm interesting, should be fun to try

[BYTE-Smasher]

IT WILL INDEED BE FUN, SLAVE! *cracks the whip*

[BYTE-Smasher]

<p7> so uh pop music or classics ?
<bYtE> popular music
<bYtE> period
<bYtE> I don't care if it's elvis or flo rida
<bYtE> fiddy cen or madonna
<bYtE> eric clapton or devo
<p7> britney
<bYtE> aqua or the man in black
<bYtE> tool.... slipknot.... aphex twin... it's all pop
<bYtE> (yes aphex... if you chose one of the big singles)
<bYtE> you could even do chocolate rain for all I care
<bugonshoe> a song other people would know
<bugonshoe> pretty much
<bYtE> EXACTLY!
<bYtE> the point however, is to try to rip it off 1 for 1
<bugonshoe> oh
<bugonshoe> well there's the challenge

This post has been edited by BYTE-Smasher: 23 April 2009 - 03:40 PM

[twilek]

I do this kind of practices quiet often It is good for learning how other artists do when they record songs. I have for example made these two cover versions, where I try to imitate the original as close as I can

A cover of The Sisters Of Mercy's song Alice
A cover of VNV Nations's song Kingdom

The Sisters Of Mercy cover was recorded together with a friend. It is me singing, I also programmed the drums and my friend was playing guitar and bass on this track.

The VNV Nation song is a cover of the original version of their song Kingdom, I have not added any song to it though and it is not quiet finished. The song is made in Renoise with some extra VSTi:s, no real guitar or bass on this one.

Enjoy

[BYTE-Smasher]

Just finished listening to Alice... damn that was close to the original

Listening to the VNV Nation one... pretty damned close as well, though this one's not as polished sounding as the original.... the synths just don't sound as warm

And amazingly, I know both tracks well, and have listened to them many times over the years

[BotB]

Shit.. is Tom Waits considered popular..?
If not, I'm gonna go for Muddy Water's Hootchie Cootchie Man.

[ghostly]

Count me in! Is there a deadline?

[BYTE-Smasher]

Deadline = Whenever I get most of the tracks in?

It's a challenge, not a competition, so there really is no deadline.... but if you really need one, we'll say a month from the date of initial posting... so May 22nd? Worst case scenario, you might miss me making a compilation zip file

[twilek]

BYTE-Smasher, on Apr 23 2009, 09:47 PM, said:

the synths just don't sound as warm

VNV Nation uses a Virus B in their version, I have one myself but I decided that I would try to just use VSTi:s when I made my version, and it was actually pretty hard to even get this close to the original sound, I sat several hours tweaking thous sounds but I totally agree with you, the original sounds slightly warmer it took me about 3 evenings to make this cover where most of the time was spent tweaking synth sounds.

The Sisters of Mercy cover was all recorded and mixed within one day. The vocals are actually the first and second takes mixed together in a chorus effect, no retakes at all on the vocals iow, that is way I sing the wrong lyrics in some places

anyways... glad that you think my versions was pretty near the original versions, that mean that I've succeed in my task

[BYTE-Smasher]

With the VNV track, I think it might just be some post-processing is needed on the synths... I seem to remember the track having a bit more air on the synths... they may have used some expensive reverb

Either way, yah... the fact that you did the SOM so rapidly doesn't shock me... I've actually always thought they probably recorded their tracks pretty quickly myself... though who knows

[BYTE-Smasher]

Good job on both though =D

[Internet]

When I was a teen I tracked a cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. It had all sorts of dickery like rhythm guitar replaced by accordion and it featured a tuba solo. The thing sounded retarded and I wish I had it still with me.

[alexstrain]

funny, i was contemplating trying to remake a song this morning... this pushed me over the edge

working on one now

[Prickly_AI]

OMG!!! I feel this will be fun. AND YOUR WHIP IS INVULNERABLE FOR ME!!!

[BYTE-Smasher]

*COUGH*

[binaerpilot]

Sounds like fun, I'll help breathe some life into this.

[binaerpilot]

Human League - Don't You Want Me (Binärpilot Penguin Mix)

It's not a carbon copy of the original (to say the least), but I had a lot of fun. Thanks for the challenge!

Direct link

This post has been edited by binaerpilot: 16 May 2009 - 02:03 AM

[twilek]

BYTE-Smasher, on Apr 24 2009, 03:32 PM, said:

Good job on both though =D

thanks

[Petit Volcan]

hmm ... it looks like I've got to finish this Personal Jesus cover ...