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Post by cam83 on Mar 25, 2005 13:40:23 GMT -5
Hi Guys, Now I am listening to IF I HAD YOU. I have shared my thoughts about this song many times. But i haven't listened to it for a long time. What is neat is all the counter background harmonies...all in tune, but all going different directions. It's neat to follow one harmony and see where it takes you. Then another time, listen to another different harmony. She really put a lot of work into this song and it shows. And RC thought this song could be a TOP 5 hit...as it was, when it came out...did it not crack the TOP 20 Adult Contemporary Charts...after all these years...
My thoughts, Cameron
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 25, 2005 13:49:04 GMT -5
Hi Guys, Now I am listening to IF I HAD YOU. I have shared my thoughts about this song many times. But i haven't listened to it for a long time. What is neat is all the counter background harmonies...all in tune, but all going different directions. It's neat to follow one harmony and see where it takes you. Then another time, listen to another different harmony. She really put a lot of work into this song and it shows. And RC thought this song could be a TOP 5 hit...as it was, when it came out...did it not crack the TOP 20 Adult Contemporary Charts...after all these years... My thoughts, Cameron I'm not sure on that one Cam. but I think you're right. I believe the song was a top 20 AC hit. Soon i will be able to let you know for sure as I on my list for upcoming purchases is the Billboard book of Adult Contemporary Hits.
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Post by enigma on Mar 26, 2005 7:48:23 GMT -5
Yes Cam I must agree I like the vocal acrobatics on this song Karens experimentation was really a breath of fresh air on this song. When Richard released this song it was kind of out of place with the popular music scene at the time and I never even heard the song once on the radio which may be why it had a disappointing showing. Had it been released in 1980 I think it would have had a much better showing on the charts. In any case I still like the song alot.
&^ *%
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 26, 2005 10:19:59 GMT -5
I never heard the song on the radio either. Although a friend of mine said it was played on several local (Southern California) radio stations for a little while. I just love this outstanding song. When I first heard it I just thought what an excellent song. I was completely taken by this song immediately. I thought it was so great I had to listen to it again and again. Especially the multitracked vocal at the end. I had to put my headphones on for that one I just did not want to miss one second of what is going on. I'm going to have to do what you've done Cam and listen to each vocal sperately. follow one voice and see where it goes and next time listen to another. This is such a wonderfully complex and timeless song. I feel it sounds just as good today as it did when I first heard it in 1989.
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 26, 2005 11:11:51 GMT -5
$% This is an excellent composition, and Karen executes it so well. I suppose I vascillate between this one and others, but this has always been a fave of Karen's solo project. I have listened to it a million times, and never tire of it. My only trouble is, I cannot get all the lyrics through the overdubbing at the end. I listen and listen, but I just don't catch them all. Nevertheless, I agree with everyone that it's definitely a work of art, and musically, a masterpiece in terms of that unbelievable stacked vocal. Just gotta love it..
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Post by Rick Henry on Mar 27, 2005 11:03:01 GMT -5
$% I did it Cam. I spent about half an hour this morning and listened to "If I Had You" about five times in a row with the headphones on. What an amazing listen. Karen uses all the fabulous aspects of her voice. Her higher voice, her lower voice (the basement), her dark and soulful voice, her upbeat bold voice. It's all here in this one song. she sings this one with all her might and puts every ounce of her energy into it. The vocal arrangement is especially outstanding on this song. I do have much more to say about this song. but before I do that I'm going to listen to it again and write my thoughts as I listen so I can transcribe my thoughts in detail. I also took a few listens to "If We Try". This is an often overlooked song. And although I call it jazz influenced, it does have a sense of disco to it. I like the term Jim used in a different post in another topic. He calls it jazz-pop. "If We Try" is just that jazz-pop with a disco leaning. somewhat like al Jarreau's 1983 song "Mornin'" - very jazz-pop but definitely has that discoish rhythm. I played "My Body Keeps Changing My Mind". A lot of times I skip this one. I don't know why maybe it's something with the lyric. But I listened to it all the way through twice. what a great song. I love the electric or synthesizer sounding "clap" in the background. This is a such a strong song and I think it most likely could have been a top 20 hit - maybe even top 5. It's very catchy and very well produced.
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