Evolution of a Song

[KingLouieLouie]

I honestly dont know how far this thread will go, however, it is a brainstorm of an idea that hasnt been yet posted.....

I am wondering who has samples of an earlier demo/version of any song (which one would post) along with the finished product so we could trace/compare all the developments......

I'll begin w/a Blur demo that eventually their singer, Damon Albarn. used when he created (along with Jamie Hewlett) the Gorillaz.....

Originally titled "I Got Law", it was released in 1999 as part of the Japanese compilation to their album "13"..... However, it wasnt officially released unti more than a year as "Tomorrow Comes Today", which was the Gorillaz first single and the 3rd track on their self-titled (2001) debut album.......

"I Got Law"
-Blur-
http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0UZ6SS5QTZLBJ3U3Z3FIJFOIQL

"Tomorrow Comes Today"
-Gorillaz-
http://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2QRFBDN9J9S4R2KRJD45SE248D



It's quite interesting how the basic foundation of the song evolved into something as complete and creative as it did... Just intriguing to listen to the creative process develop over time.....

Does anyone else have examples of an earlier demo of a song and the respective songs finished product to share w/everyone else?

 

[thirty-two]

This is a cool idea for a thread. I hope people contribute. It's always fun hearing new music, even if it's not something I would normally listen to.

As for the songs you posted, I definitely like the second version of the song better. It seems more full, more complete.

 

[thirty-two]

Hanson has a song called "Breaktown" that is yet to be released. When the song first came into being it was called "Insignificant Breaktown." The demo version is really plain and it lacks emotion. The final (as of now) version of the song is much more full and you can sense a passion behind the song, imo.

Insignificant Breaktown (demo)
http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0A0OJ4QYO3YXE223D8OIGZ2ILE

Breaktown
http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1QBW6EWBV0EFZ3VA6IPGPUNFJH

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Okay... I know many of you have gotten sick and tired of Blur (I admit I have overkilled on them), however, here's another instance of a song evolving....

This song, "Death of a Party" was originally recorded circa '91-'92 during the "Modern Life Is Rubbish" sessions, however, wasnt released in final form until their 1997 self-titled album (the one that contained "Song 2"... WOOOHOOO)..

In fact.. the earlier version wasnt released until 1999 on one of their fanclub only c.d.s.....

1992 Demo:
http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=175SCH1CBHA7X2K4NS8BJODLDJ

1997 Album Version:
http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1IYO66UXNGPB72B6XJ2O1Y9G0N


I preferred the earlier for some reason since it was more somber/ominous (which suited the song better), however, I like how they added an erray of instruments on the latter....

 

[vince56]

One thing to keep in mind is that any demo released is probably not the first draft. You're hearing an early version, but you're still not seeing where it comes from. You're not getting the big picture. You really can't unless you're in the writing process yourself.

When I write, for example, it usually starts with a melody or a certain riff or chord progression. That riff or chord progression becomes two riffs or progressions, then three, then four, and then before you know it I have enough material for a song.

From there, my bandmates and I get together, and we start messing with the riffs, making them better, coming up with melodies over top of the riffs for the guitar, bass, or vocals. Then we work on the arrangement, i.e. what sections go where. We usually start with between 6-7 minutes of music and whittle it down to about 4 and a half to 5 and a half minutes by the time we're done.

Once we have a basic idea of the song, I'll use my homestudio to record a songwriting demo. This is usually just a couple rough guitar tracks with some basic drum machine beats in the background. Just enough to make out the music for the song. From there, my singer comes in, we write the lyrics and vocals together, then record them. That recording is the finished songwriting demo.

Sometimes bands record to a drummer instead of a drum machine for the songwriting demo.

Somewhere along the line, something magical happens. It could be the insert of a certain theory, or a certain melody, or certain lyrics, or sounds, or a singer/instrumentalist does something above and beyond. Everytime I've written a song worth anything, something absolutely magical happened during the writing/recording process. It's one of those things where you realize you're a part of something larger than yourself, yet an integral cog. It's a great feeling, and just about every composer/songwriter gets it from time to time.

I'm at work and can't listen to the clip you posted, but that's probably the stage that demo was at, the songwriting demo stage. The production is usually not the best, and the song still isn't perfect. So, my point is, there's many levels to writing a song, and not just one point where something is called a demo.

We're recording our album right now, and when we get closer to completion, I'll post some demos vs. the finished tracks and you can see what I'm talking about.

 

[dogpoo32]

One thing to keep in mind is that any demo released is probably not the first draft. You're hearing an early version, but you're still not seeing where it comes from. You're not getting the big picture. You really can't unless you're in the writing process yourself.

When I write, for example, it usually starts with a melody or a certain riff or chord progression. That riff or chord progression becomes two riffs or progressions, then three, then four, and then before you know it I have enough material for a song.

From there, my bandmates and I get together, and we start messing with the riffs, making them better, coming up with melodies over top of the riffs for the guitar, bass, or vocals. Then we work on the arrangement, i.e. what sections go where. We usually start with between 6-7 minutes of music and whittle it down to about 4 and a half to 5 and a half minutes by the time we're done.

Once we have a basic idea of the song, I'll use my homestudio to record a songwriting demo. This is usually just a couple rough guitar tracks with some basic drum machine beats in the background. Just enough to make out the music for the song. From there, my singer comes in, we write the lyrics and vocals together, then record them. That recording is the finished songwriting demo.

Sometimes bands record to a drummer instead of a drum machine for the songwriting demo.

Somewhere along the line, something magical happens. It could be the insert of a certain theory, or a certain melody, or certain lyrics, or sounds, or a singer/instrumentalist does something above and beyond. Everytime I've written a song worth anything, something absolutely magical happened during the writing/recording process. It's one of those things where you realize you're a part of something larger than yourself, yet an integral cog. It's a great feeling, and just about every composer/songwriter gets it from time to time.

I'm at work and can't listen to the clip you posted, but that's probably the stage that demo was at, the songwriting demo stage. The production is usually not the best, and the song still isn't perfect. So, my point is, there's many levels to writing a song, and not just one point where something is called a demo.

We're recording our album right now, and when we get closer to completion, I'll post some demos vs. the finished tracks and you can see what I'm talking about.

That is a very structured way to go about it (which is good). I was in a band until a couple months ago and all we did was practice and let the song evolve in a live situation. It was always interesting to me to hear people say they would record and go from there because I always felt music as more of an emotional reaction rather than something that could be added onto via recordings. There were a few songs that came about with a recorded riff that was elaborated upon by the others. This was always fun and a good way to hear things from another perspective, but we never really got anything off the ground that way. Usually if we recorded an unfinished work, it was so we could remember what we had done.

Everytime I meet a musician, I ask them what their preferred methods are. It is really cool to see the differences in preference and production. Like you said, when we would write exclusively through live practice, it was easy to get caught up in your own thing. During recorded writing, it was easier to find cohesion musically, but not emotionally.

 

[vince56]

During recorded writing, it was easier to find cohesion musically, but not emotionally.

As a composer, I disagree. Just because you're not banging it out in a band situation doesn't mean there's no emotion involved.

 

[Rivercard]

As a composer, I disagree. Just because you're not banging it out in a band situation doesn't mean there's no emotion involved.

Agreed Vince. In many ways composing and "instrument sound development" is easier to accomplish when freed from the politics of a band situation. Some of the most emotional and musical songs were developed in the studio. Exibit A: Many of the great Beatles and XTC recordings. Exibit B: I would assume the classic Elton John/Bernie Taupin stuff was far removed from a band situation.

But then again, there is a certain magic in a band that is working together in prime form.