This post is killing two birds with one stone.The MOST exciting is that my long-awaited duet with Loralee Christensen is finished and uploaded at the bottom of this post. At last!
Also, this is week three of February’s Self Portrait Challenge. The theme is “Black and White”.
I have wanted to do a series like this for a long time. I prefer a strong contrast in black and white shots and I have prominent features that can pull it off. True, the color on the IPOD and the heavy contrast is akin to those prints you used to hang in your room in Junior High, you know, where the woman has a tear running down her face and her either her lips or a rose has a hint of red to it?
So, forgive the cliche, but I like these.
I picked a secondary theme of music for this series.
WHY, you ask?
Brace yourself. This is long, but it represents six MONTHS of planning and work, so it should be.
Last June, I received a very lengthy, very amusing fan email from a vocalist in California. Her name was also “Loralee”. She was even a “Loralee C.”! She was Googling herself in the middle of the night and found my blog. Just from THAT information, I knew we were going to click, and we have. She calls me “LL” and I call her “Thing Two” or “Thingy” for short. It is just too WEIRD to call another person “Loralee”.
I heard her CD’s and raved. She saw my dorky youtube videos and was very complementary.
About 6 months ago, we started discussing the possibility of recording a duet together. This is no small consideration, since I live in Utah and she lives in California. One day, though, we just decided to DO it.The next issue was what on earth to sing?! Thingy is all rock and roll and I am classically trained.
Hmm…A quandary.
She came up with such a great suggestion, I am ashamed I didn’t think of it myself. I love the song, “For Good” from the Broadway musical, “Wicked”, a story about how the witches of OZ became who they ended up. This song has such a sweet melody and the words are so emotional and meaningful to me.
She wanted to record it and asked if it would be a good idea. The answer was, “HELL yes!”
Once we decided that the project was a GO, we began the very long process of recording and mixing. Loralee 2 laid down her tracks in California and then sent it to me. My parents got me studio time for my birthday and I laid my vocals down in 70 minutes.
There were some concerns on my part. I have never recorded solo in a studio, and this was a stretch for me vocally. To quote my brother, “Where did your opera voice go?”. I love singing like this, but to be honest, I am usually not allowed or asked because a lot more people can sound like this than when I sing opera, if you get my drift. Liken it to being Dark Karo Syrup your whole life and then switching to being Light Karo Syrup in an hour.
People ask how we managed to “Blend”. This would be the almost 25 YEARS of choir I have participated in. You get good at matching people if you do it enough.
Besides being much less experienced than Loralee 2 at studio recording I had another fear about this project. This song is just about as emotional as it gets for me. I don’t need to go into it, but I was worried how I would do. I had to book my session 2 months in advance and it fell just a couple of days after a huge, horrible fiasco in my life. The day of my session I felt like a humiliated, despised, guilt-wracked heap of pathetic.
I didn’t think I would be able to eek anything out during my session. Is it was, I came of lighter and more nasally then I would have liked but this might have something to do with the tears and the mucous that came as I snotted all over the microphone at times. The sound guy was very understanding and he had plenty of water and tissues on hand for me to use.
In the end, I just grasped the lyrics for what they were: Take hard things (And the snot-drenched) , and try to get by by remembering what good came from it.
So, I did.
I sent back my vocals to California and then “Narren the Amazing” stepped in and worked his magic.Narren is the dad of Loralee’s son. He has a studio in his house and he is the one that recorded Loralee2 and mixed EVERYTHING for us. He put in all the instruments you hear and blended us together. He is so talented. Every time I listen I hear some tiny detail that I cannot believe he thought to add. What an ear.
I think the end result is that we sound really good together. It was a stretch for both of us, but it was so worth it. This has been one of the highlights of my life. It is just a perfect story, a perfect song and a perfect experience for very imperfect people.
The moral of our fairy tale?
Never underestimate what a bit of rampant narcissism at 2 am can garner you!
Enjoy it. WE did.
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(I need to mention that if Jonathan had not left my three boxes of vocal memorabilia on my driveway in the RAIN while we were renovating our basement, there would probably be more photos of me actually singing n’ stuff…)
That is such a cool story. And a striking SPC.
WOW! What a total lark that sounds like. I am sooo jealous.
Love the photos too – very sexy.
I agree with girlfriday, the shots are really striking, not at all clicheed.
LL, my heart is so full. You did such a GREAT job on the video montage. I still can’t believe that we pulled the whole thing off.
I hope that everyone enjoys hearing it as much as we did putting it all together. I can’t wait for the next song. Also, I LOVE your SPC photos. You’re such a photogenic little person! You go girl. Love you. xxxooo
We CAN sing, can’t we?? Tee, hee!
Oh my word! You both sound amazing and what a fantastic song to choose. You guys had me crying over my laptop! Beautiful lyrics and incredibly beautiful voices. BRAVO!!
Oh…my…gosh… That was SO beautiful! Your voices blend like honey! I can’t believe that you did this living so far apart!!!!
Thank you for sharing!
I thought this was sooo beautiful. I loved your voices. My daughter Maggie, 2, kept asking which princess is sing that song!
Wow that is amazing! Great song and I love the SPC pictures. Awesome post.
Love the pictures! Can’t listen to the recording here at work, but I’ll try another time.
Gorgeous. Even my little one stopped crying when it started and turned to watch and listen. So nice. Thanks for sharing it!
What music does for us all- especially the little ones… Hali has never heard the song before, yet was singing along like she knew the words! We have cultivated a love of music in her and she does love music, especially beautiful music from beautiful people!
my gosh! i loved that! so pretty. i’m impressed. and the photos are great. i’m so jealous. you take such good photos.
Bravo to both of you!
iPod + Hot Babe = Great photography.
Barry . . . why you little dickens!
THANK YOU for your support and posting our song on your blog.
You went up and beyond! xxxooo
Amazing.
linny
just one word, loralee ladies:
SENSATIONAL!
Vx
Loved your comment on my blog. Too funny. Your photos are drop dead beautiful. So smoky. Take Care-
great pics…look like the work of bridgy… are they?
haven’t listened to the song yet. i am waiting for american idol to be over. HA HA HA.
xoxo
~jess
Oh man…your song is beautiful, made me cry. I can only imagine the past and the emotions you must have associated with this song; I’ve never heard it before tonight, but I think so many of us have a story like the one the two of you sing.
and your photography is awesome, and you are too photogenic. (read i’m jealous–in fine print)
Have I scrolled down far enough yet? Is the song somewhere down here, or should I keep going.
Nah, just busting your proverbial balls about the Tolstoy-sized novel I had to skip over-
I mean read attentively! before getting to the music.
Great job, la-la-ladies! I really liked it.
Oh, and if you’re taking requests, could you do something from Avenue Q next?
(Although, honestly, I think CLL’s rocker voice would be absolutely awesome for “Find Your Grail” from Spamalot.)
Oh, and just because I enjoy musical theater it does not mean I’m gay. I just, umm… realize it’s an easier score after the date, compared to taking her to an action movie.
Yeah, that’s the ticket!
That was awesome. Thanks for sharing.
That was beautiful. I’m so glad you guys were able to do this. I really hope you are able to do another one in the future.
I LOVED IT!
Aha! Another Utahn! Fun blog, too. My son is graduating this May with a degree in Music Composition. Sounds like you are doing well and having a good time at it!
Just leaving a comment to let you know I’ve been by and read all that I’ve missed in the last while shame on me.
Oh, also? I am interested in joining a walk/run thingy….where do you find these and how do you join up? I am getting in better shape myself lately….I’d like to do a run or something.
Phew!!! This Blogger won’t let me comment! I just wrote a book on how much I LOVED this duet!!! +your gorgeous SP’s! but I LOVED the ending of you two witches, hehehehe and what a GREAT job Narren did, but how could he not with what he worked with!!! Your voices are Beauty Full!!! EXCITING stuff, I’m sooooo GLAD you 2 Loralees found each other and shared this beautiful SONGBIRD moment!!! xoxoxoxo, Cinda
This is fantastic can you send me a download because my internet kept buffering? Beautiful voice and B&W’s ;)
tammyndavid@frontiernet.net
Whoaa, that is so extremely great…I miss your voice when you would just sing out of the blue sometimes at get together…You all did really, really, really good…..and the pics were great….I want more, more more you too, you guys should make a album or something that would be really cool…take care.
damn, ms l., i saw your comment at kathleen’s and it made me blush. *blush*
you don’t know how much i wish i had a computer with a soundboard…what do you call a desktop that is older than a dinosaur? wheezie? that’s my computer. but i bet your voice is just lovely….and in a perfect world, i’d get to hear you sing the messiah, too (i sang that once…i used to do the international choral thing…before i became a badass. or…when i was better at being undercover. ;) )
and since when is gorgeousity a cliche? (is that a made-up word?) because there’s nothing cliche about these shots…just something breathtaking.
mwah.
SO when are we gonna see what picture you sold, already?!?!?!
loralee, would you please pass me the box of kleenex? because now i’m crying too! this is absolutely, positively the most beautiful thing i have ever heard. ah geez, you never cease to amaze me…but that’s why i love you.
your voices were meant for each other!
Great post and love the soft photos, especailly the middle one.
what did those two birds ever do to you?
for shame!
Alrighty, Ms. Tunes.
As gorgeous as you are, and as awesome as the song was that you and Thing Two did, get your white heiny back on this blog.
I’m getting board and I looking at your cute IPOD can only last for so long.
The natives are getting restless…
one of us!
one of us!
Rubik….what can I say….
I just ((heart)) you!!!!
Great photos, and what a cool song project!
Your voice is just as beautiful as you. I love the duet! Thank you for sharing your gift with all those who read your blog. It is nice to finally but a voice with a face.
Rock on, woman. That’s awesome. I am ashamed (ashamed, I say!) to realize that I don’t know the musical Wicked at all. Tragic. But I’d love an mp3 of this.
I know you think I died, Loralee, but I am still here, just lurking for the last while. I could never abandon my favorite read.
I loved this so much. Truly a remarkable accomplishment for you and the other Loralee. Could you send me a copy as well?
I cried. Some of your best work. I would love a copy of it. I am and always will be your biggest fan.
Mr. E
I just wanted to say it was beautiful, just like you both. I would like a copy as well, if that is alright to ask? Please take care.
Wow.
After hearing this song in it’s various rough stages (but still good), and you picking it apart and dying at all the things you wanted to change, and knowing how I feel about most of the music you appreciate, I cannot believe what a beautiful thing the three of you (must include the producer) created.
I am floored by your talent.
Can we see more boob next time?
Alex, YOU are a boob! = )
its your friend, Sgt. Sam saying a big hello from the sandbox. i’m doing fine, and get to go home on leave soon. i can’t wait to have a cold one on my poarch. it has taken me awhile to figure out this damn switcharoo that blogger did to my account, but i had to swing by to say hello. it’s a nice break from sand, camels and my buddies to be greeted by a beautiful girl with a beautiful voice. the other guys that you wrote to want me to say hello as well. i’d let them write ya but most of them are jackasses. kiddin.
hope you are well and talk to you later.
Sam
Just a suggestion…how about putting the song on your sidebar so we can play it any time we want.
Your pics are awesome. One of them looks like it could be a print ad for Ipod. Nicely done.
So I’m very late to the party, but wonderfully done. You both have such great voices. More!
Loralees – The song is absolutely beautiful. I have no idea how many times I have listened to it today. Thank you for making it!
I love the photos!!!