Roughly one year ago I was at a function known as NAMM. It’s a rather large convention where manufacturers of all things considered for making noise and music show off their latest warez. If you’re a musician who is also a gear slut it’s about as close to heaven as you can get here on earth. For a lot of my musician friends over the past couple of years, I’ve been their all access entry for getting in. I’ve got good connections to several companies who supply me with passes. It’s a great thing. Another great thing about it from a consumer point is that there are a multitude of famous and not-so-famous artists that are performing the entire four days.
Last year I was milling about the booth of one of my old endorsers, Emagic – they’re now Apple and Apple doesn’t endorse anyone. Oh well. I still know all the employees, so it’s good to catch up and see what is happening with my favorite recording software – Logic Pro. Plus as a producer and such it’s great to see how someone else works with the program and audio. As an audio example of some of the now current features, Apple was using this particular song for re-mixing purposes. They slowed down things, chopped them up re-arranged them, etc… all in a few minutes. Obviously when you’re doing a demonstration you’ve worked out everything you’re going to do so you can do it quick to impress your customers.
One of the features they showcased was a to re-time a song including the vocals. Usually manipulating the vocals becomes a dead give-a-way, but what they had going on was very impressive. But what got me even more than the tricks presenter Phil was using was the actual song itself. It was stuck in my head the moment I heard it. What took me off-guard was the harmonies of the chorus vocals. it was fresh despite the sickening pop production. Normally I’m not into songs of this nature. It wouldn’t be that they’re bad, but rather they don’t stick out to me and become a dime-a-dozen.
Vocally Natasha is mezmorizing on this song. I can’t put my finger on it specifically but the energy that oozes from this performance is overflowing. There’s a sexiness, a sultry, a playful, an originality of something latched right onto my psyché. I ended up asking Phil what the name of the song was so I could look it up. That night I found it on iTunes. I got a little confused because there was about 10 versions of it there. Apparently Natasha and her label have released a slew of re-mix versions. Most of them unfortunately suck the life out of her performance or just plain miss the beat of the vocal. However, this version is the one that speaks to me, and I’ve got the correct link for it in iTunes.
The fact that I purchased this song shows I’ve got a bit of normalcy compared with others. Obessions are human reality. Don’t believe you have one, a secret obsession? You might need a mirror to follow you around for a day or two to reflect what you are really attached to. Somethings we obsess over aren’t embarassing, others are. For me, I don’t portray a nature of loving sugar pop stuff like this. Its my exception to my rule. Bet it’s now yours too. BTW – bonus points if you can name another obvious obsession I’d have about Natasha herself, go ahead comment with your guess.
I have a lot of secret obsessions with movies too. I’ve got a collection of movies were most of them are great movies that make all kinds of lists for greatness in one way or another. Among that collection I have movies that would make you scratch your head and say “why”? Is there any way to explain it? No. Simply put, it’s a secret for me to know, and I don’t want to explain it any further. As a hint, one such movie is The Cutting Edge. If you haven’t seen it, don’t. If you have, then you know why I’d call it a secret since I have it and watch it at least a couple of times a year. Excuse me, I’m gonna go listen to the song again while I put in The Cutting Edge.
Share one of your obsessions here.
(** Disclaimer: Should Natasha’s label decide to expose me for all my secrets, I’ll have to bury the audio in the server graveyard. The post will remain to continue showing my undying obsession with Natasha and her song. **)
HHmmm, other than the fact she is very pretty, could it possibly be the fact that she is…..British?? or is that just a perk as opposed to an obesession? 🙂
As for “The Cutting Edge”…”tooooe pick”, and just remember.. “I said it first” 🙂
Of course I could obsess about the British thing. It’s possible.
I don’t downshift that fast.
Wow, BIG surprise there. You? British obsession? No!
You really must expand your horizons, my dear.
I should get out of my box. 🙂