Friday (Rebecca Black) Doo-wop cover, by jimlapbap

Teen pop idols singing 4-chord songs about teen life? Why, that sounds like the 1950s!

Facebook (previews/content that didn't make it to YouTube): http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/jimlapbap/139216746090187

Twitter (whatever random thing pops into my head, and sometimes baseball): http://twitter.com/#!/jimlapbap

VIDEO INFO:

Since the chord progression is the typical "doo-wop" chord progression (I - vi - IV - V), and no one has posted a doo wop version (that I could find), I felt obligated to throw my musical hat into the "Friday" cover bandwagon. (Mixed metaphors are awesome!) This is generally in the style of "In the Still of the Night" by the Five Satins.

Effects/Ideas Used:

1. Pitch correction - I'm a composer/arranger, not a singer. The point is that I can listen to this stuff and reproduce it (with ideal singing conditions. I think of it as "human MIDI").

2. Meter change - the original is in 4/4, this is in 12/8, a la "In the Still of the Night." This led to some interesting rhythms ;-).

3. Notes and lyrics - I took liberty on some of the notes to make it sound a little more 50s-ish. Also the bass "rap" section I had to summarize, and I used some 50s lingo, because, quite frankly, I am a cool kat.

4. EQ and balance - I tried to make it sound like an older recording be narrowing the high and low ends.

Software:

Logic Express 9 to record and mix.
Kontakt 3 and Garritan Personal Orchestra for MIDI instruments
Melodyne Uno for pitch correction.
Final Cut Express for video editing
MPEG Streamclip for video conversion for YouTube.

PHOTOS:

Vinyl modified from: http://underdesign.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/soundpatterns45.jpg

Diner is Route 66 Museum photo: http://trailsandtreasures.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/route-66-museum...

ORIGINAL SONG INFO:

"Friday" by Rebecca Black. Written by Clarence Hay and Patrice Wilson
©2011 Ark Music Factory

If my haircut interferes with the music, just close your eyes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• friday
• rebecca
• black
• cover
• doo
• wop
• droop
• 1950s
• 50s
• still of the night
• five
• satins
• jimlapbap
• humor
• humour
• harmony
• chord
• progression
• arrangement

[tashpointoh]

how does this not have more views?! this is awesome!

[jimlapbap]

@tashpointoh Thanks! Start spreading it then, it's not going to viral all by itself ;-). Unlike actual viruses.

[weirdnessofthem]

Could you make a Chord Tutorial for this please?

[jimlapbap]

@weirdnessofthem Bb - Gm - Eb - F, repeat until keychange, C - Am - F - G. (Exceptions: before chorus, Gm - F, after first verse Bb Eb - Bb F, end C F - C).

[melman]

I still don't understand why the internet won't shut up about this song.

[jimlapbap]

@melman I think it's like a guilty pleasure? Or a "so bad it's hilarious" thing?

[SethHisoka]

A girl named Rebecca Black made a terrible cover of this golden oldie.

[bradbro09]

It takes an enormous amount of talent to make this song not make people's ears bleed. I am beyond impressed.

[MrMultiGilligan]

this is AMAZING!! *brain almost implodes from coolness, but doesn't*

[Vintageart1994]

Great job! Better than the original. :)

[kieranblacker]

@jimlapbap second one

[midiwarlord]

this is fucking awesome, how do we get the mp3?

[SeanyB1982]

Why is there the lame "Rebbeca Black made a terrible cover of this" joke on every cover version of this song?

[fotosinet]

I live in a country where doo-wop is very unknown but I love it! And this is amazing!

[Muzikman127]

the rap was amazing.

[007JackBourne]

much better than the original