Thoughts on Blue Bird?

There is a little confusion about who the people in a recording studio are. Allow me to explain, from my own personal experience in the business.

According to standard terms and their common usage by those they apply to, the following people can be defined as such.

Writer: A person who creates the lyrics (words) to a song.

Composer: A person who creates the main melody and some subsequent melodies/harmonies to a song, which correspond to the lyrics.

Because of terms like "singer-songwriter", and the failure of the English language to supply a common verb for what composers do, the word "writer" is often applied to composers, as well (although this aggravates some composers and writers). In English, one writes both lyrics and music. Japanese has the right idea: writers "sakushi suru" lyrics and composers "sakkyoku suru" music.

Writers are sometimes composers, and composers are sometimes writers. These people work closely with and offer ideas for further rhythms and melodies to the Arranger.

Arranger: A person who creates the actual instrumental track to back the lyrics and melody. They basically design the creative aspect of the music as a whole piece. For example, an arranger comes up with the drumline, the bassline, the guitar solo after the bridge, et cetera.

Mixer: A person who takes the recorded vocal track, the recorded instrumental track, and mixes them. They then play with the frequency levels; this process is called Mastering. They are like the arranger, except instead of being a creative designer, they are a technical designer, manipulating the potentially hundreds of tracks (in today's music being usually between 50 and 150) so that each one reaches the ear at a proper level. This is to ensure that the vocal track isn't too loud, and that the bells aren't too sharp and piercing, and that the bassline isn't lost behind all the strings, et cetera.

The arranger is sometimes the mixer, and vice versa, but this is considered poor skill. The mixer is usually preferred to be an un-biased, objective worker on a recording, so that his judgement of sound and levels is not blurred by hours and hours of arrangement and design. The arranger or mixer are also often the engineer (see below).

Other people include...

Producer: A producer in the music world is different from a producer in the film, television, and theatre world (whose main job is to gather resource money for the project). A music producer sort of oversees the entire project. Again, he is an objective worker, whose job it is to guide the song to follow the direction the artist is trying to go in. A producer is supposed to make sure the song turns out the way it was planned, and that it fits the album.

Director: A [vocal] director coaches the singer on the way they should sing and emote the song. They help the singer hone their style to get the best performance out of a song (for a recording - a live performance may sound best if the singer sings differently).

Engineer: An engineer is a techie who makes the arranger's work happen in a digital studio or synthesizer workstation. Now that costly live musicians are generally out of the picture for recording sessions, an engineer manipulates sounds to recreate those of actual instruments. Usually, the main engineer is the arranger himself, although he may have additional help.

Publisher: Links the writer/composer to the artist/producer/manager. They distribute songs to those in need of them.

All of these people work so closely together, and share many jobs. They swap ideas, and fuel one-another, so these job titles often become blurred. For example, a director may have the singer sustain a note, while the composer originally composed it as staccato. A composer may go to the arranger with ideas for a guitar solo melody, or a string arrangement already in hand. A publisher may hand a song to a female artist that was written and composed for a man; the arranger may take melodic liberties so the song can be sung by a woman, and the producer may change some of the lyrics so it suits a female situation better. Lines get blurred and crossed.

Also, "vibrato" is most simply put, the vibration in a person's voice when they sing (it happens when you talk, too, you just don't notice it, because you aren't freely holding out your syllables as in singing). It is natural, and considered very bad taste, style, and of poor skill to force vibrato. It should, however, in the eyes of most modern pop music and theatre circles, be controlled to properly emote a song. A lot of old-school opera circles feel the opposite: that vibrato should be left alone to do what it wants. Some people feel that vibrato is a sign of training and skill, and is therefore a positive thing. Others feel that too much is a distraction from the melody or rhythm of a song.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by evolusean

There is a little confusion about who the people in a recording studio are. Allow me to explain, from my own personal experience in the business.

According to standard terms and their common usage by those they apply to, the following people can be defined as such.

Writer: A person who creates the lyrics (words) to a song.

Composer: A person who creates the main melody and some subsequent melodies/harmonies to a song, which correspond to the lyrics.

Because of terms like "singer-songwriter", and the failure of the English language to supply a common verb for what composers do, the word "writer" is often applied to composers, as well (although this aggravates some composers and writers). In English, one writes both lyrics and music. Japanese has the right idea: writers "sakushi suru" lyrics and composers "sakkyoku suru" music.

Writers are sometimes composers, and composers are sometimes writers. These people work closely with and offer ideas for further rhythms and melodies to the Arranger.

Arranger: A person who creates the actual instrumental track to back the lyrics and melody. They basically design the creative aspect of the music as a whole piece. For example, an arranger comes up with the drumline, the bassline, the guitar solo after the bridge, et cetera.

Mixer: A person who takes the recorded vocal track, the recorded instrumental track, and mixes them. They then play with the frequency levels; this process is called Mastering. They are like the arranger, except instead of being a creative designer, they are a technical designer, manipulating the potentially hundreds of tracks (in today's music being usually between 50 and 150) so that each one reaches the ear at a proper level. This is to ensure that the vocal track isn't too loud, and that the bells aren't too sharp and piercing, and that the bassline isn't lost behind all the strings, et cetera.

The arranger is sometimes the mixer, and vice versa, but this is considered poor skill. The mixer is usually preferred to be an un-biased, objective worker on a recording, so that his judgement of sound and levels is not blurred by hours and hours of arrangement and design. The arranger or mixer are also often the engineer (see below).

Other people include...

Producer: A producer in the music world is different from a producer in the film, television, and theatre world (whose main job is to gather resource money for the project). A music producer sort of oversees the entire project. Again, he is an objective worker, whose job it is to guide the song to follow the direction the artist is trying to go in. A producer is supposed to make sure the song turns out the way it was planned, and that it fits the album.

Director: A [vocal] director coaches the singer on the way they should sing and emote the song. They help the singer hone their style to get the best performance out of a song (for a recording - a live performance may sound best if the singer sings differently).

Engineer: An engineer is a techie who makes the arranger's work happen in a digital studio or synthesizer workstation. Now that costly live musicians are generally out of the picture for recording sessions, an engineer manipulates sounds to recreate those of actual instruments. Usually, the main engineer is the arranger himself, although he may have additional help.

Publisher: Links the writer/composer to the artist/producer/manager. They distribute songs to those in need of them.

All of these people work so closely together, and share many jobs. They swap ideas, and fuel one-another, so these job titles often become blurred. For example, a director may have the singer sustain a note, while the composer originally composed it as staccato. A composer may go to the arranger with ideas for a guitar solo melody, or a string arrangement already in hand. A publisher may hand a song to a female artist that was written and composed for a man; the arranger may take melodic liberties so the song can be sung by a woman, and the producer may change some of the lyrics so it suits a female situation better. Lines get blurred and crossed.

Also, "vibrato" is most simply put, the vibration in a person's voice when they sing (it happens when you talk, too, you just don't notice it, because you aren't freely holding out your syllables as in singing). It is natural, and considered very bad taste, style, and of poor skill to force vibrato. It should, however, in the eyes of most modern pop music and theatre circles, be controlled to properly emote a song. A lot of old-school opera circles feel the opposite: that vibrato should be left alone to do what it wants. Some people feel that vibrato is a sign of training and skill, and is therefore a positive thing. Others feel that too much is a distraction from the melody or rhythm of a song.

Thank you for the info~ :]

[w_bum]

It's a sweet sweet song. I like it alot!

[PickleCookies]

Nothing special.

[boogieordie]

OK, seriously? What is the need people have to counter every negative opinion posted? Why do people have to try to explain why people have the opinions that they do? Could it possibly be that instead of people having some major brain malfunction that stop's them from seeing the music for what it is that they just don't like it because they just don't like it? If it was happening the other way around people would freak out. Honestly, show a little bit of self-restraint, step away from the computer, and let people post thier opinion without feeling the need to speak up every 2 minutes.

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by AyuRocks

OK, seriously? What is the need people have to counter every negative opinion posted? Why do people have to try to explain why people have the opinions that they do? Could it possibly be that instead of people having some major brain malfunction that stop's them from seeing the music for what it is that they just don't like it because they just don't like it? If it was happening the other way around people would freak out. Honestly, show a little bit of self-restraint, step away from the computer, and let people post thier opinion without feeling the need to speak up every 2 minutes.

That was kind of my point (last paragraph) also, but you got it better I guess. You don't have to explain why you like something, sometimes it's just the feeling or something that isen't there. It's not neccessarily about (or often) techinical musical features like arrangements etc. also these words are often misused, especially because f.ex in my language "arranger" would be used for both arranger and mixer, because they moslty have to cooperate so that the sounds blend etc.

Everyone thanks for clearing up about Koda Kumi! I diden't know. Does she write her own lyrics too?

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by *Petit*

Everyone thanks for clearing up about Koda Kumi! I diden't know. Does she write her own lyrics too?

lol. That's what we've been saying.

[PickleCookies]

Oh snap, girl.

[Dreamland]

I really really like the song especially the beginning I kinda wish she would have kept that beat though but its still a very good song

[truehappiness]

Yes she does.

[truehappiness]

Back to talking about BLUE BIRD, shall we? :]

Although the opening of the song is a bit less than memorable, I find that with time I'll grow to remember it xD I think with lyrics, it would be a lot easier to remember the song.. that's what happened with me and her other songs like this. The 'lalas' don't seem to get in the way that much... I think I'd rather have them instead of blank space during the song you know? I really can't wait for a translation! :]

The PV is probably going to be awesome~ With lots of movement and color :p

[immel]

^Yeah, I suspect there'll be tons of color, judging by the cover & expected summer theme .

Thank you evolusean for the extensive walkthrough on those terms!

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by immel

^Yeah, I suspect there'll be tons of color, judging by the cover & expected summer theme .

judging by the cover CAROLS was supposed to be all colorful and when the PV came out it was B&W eheheh

[Qt Mashi]

Originally Posted by ImpactBreaker

judging by the cover CAROLS was supposed to be all colorful and when the PV came out it was B&W eheheh

omg yeah >.<

hope Blue Bird is a colourful PV!

[darkswordz]

it's like better than July 1st, but better
thanks evolusean for the explanation

[immel]

^tsk tsk, promise breaker.

[darkswordz]

^OMG, u remembered it?

it's like $100,000 on the floor, could resist it
fell to temptation

[immel]

^haha

I'd never ever pick up $100,000 that was lying around on the floor *coughs*

[immel]

^True XD;;

[elepop]

I hope the PV isn't "tropical island-ish". LOL!