[Ariah`]

NEWS: I recorded my audition video to send in.
You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5O8TBqNR-c
I think the improvement is pretty big and I want to thank everybody for their input! It was really helpful!! <3

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Hey guys!

It's that time of year. Avex Star Search 2009! They've updated their website and sign ups have begun. It looks like it's a little different this year, too. There is a required video submission in the sign up form, which was not there last year. In fact, I didn't have to send in any singing before I was selected last year to actually audition. But this time, I do, in the form of a video!

I decided to take on a VERY difficult song this time around, because I think it's just perfect for my voice. It's Trust You by Yuna Ito. And, I'm sure anybody who listens to and/or attempts to record Yuna Ito songs knows that they are crazy hard! x_____x

I worked on this for 6 hours today, recorded the entire song. This was my first time going through the song, so please be as harsh as you'd like when you are critiquing it. Especially since it's for the Avex Star Search.

Trust You~

I recorded the entire song, like I said. The video length requirement is a max of 1:30, so I'll probably just pick out the best spot from the entire song.

Thanks!!

EDIT: I already know that the biggest thing I have to work on is that crazy high note in the chorus. I had to do it a billion times before I got it. I know I can hit, it's just really tough to hit because it is such a jump. So I need to work on that.

[szechuanie]

hahah i dunno if i'll be much help since i don't know much about critiquing but going on what I hear I'll try my best..

The first verse seems like you get jumbled up in the words. There are a lot of syllables and sometimes you lag behind the music. I don't know if its because of the mixing though. It could be.

You run out of breath pretty frequently causing your higher notes to sound strained Also it causes your ends of phrases to get cut off and slightly go out of tune.. mostly in the verses.

ah, well it just sounds like your voice was stressed out from a lot of over-practicing. Was this after a lot of takes?

The chorus parts sound very harsh for the instrumental. It could also be because your voice is strained so it doesn't flow as smoothly as it usually sounds.

naze hito ~tsureruno I love this part... it had the perfect soft and smooth sound and it flowed beautifully.

[Ariah`]

That's alright! xD Anything with help, really! (:

Yeah, I do feel like I'm not quite used to the lyrics as much as I SHOULD be, so despite how much I practiced the lyrics, I was still stumbling over them a bit. I don't think it's the mixing, since I usually do my recording in Garageband directly on top of the instrumental so that it's perfectly in line with the instrumental. But, you know, sometimes it does this weird lag thing and every once in awhile will be a TINY bit off. xDD

I agree, that there was a lot of strain, especially during the choruses. But I did do a lot of takes, and I can say that it just got harder and harder and none of the takes I used for this are from my first run-through of the song. My first few run-throughs were much smoother and less strained than this.

After I really get the lyrics down, I'm definitely going to go through this again, maybe record it again, in one full take after a quick warmup, and see if it sounds better.
Right now, it's just a matter of strengthening my high register, too. That will make the choruses a whole lot easier to get through without...you know, dying. xD

Thankyou so much for you input!! (:

[nx_kiiwii74]

indeeeed yuna ito songs are difficult ;___;
anyway i basically agree with ceci... for the chorus perhaps you could go into head voice for those really high notes?
i really like the second verse tho, sounds very nice~ i really commend you for auditioning with a yuna ito song! im trying the avex thing too, so good luck to the both of us ^^V

[Nihonjin_berryz]

Wow, That was good, I was going to pick the song too, but it is dangerously hard. But you did good. I dont know if you are nerovus or to much vibrato at the end of your notes but it kind of distracting.

[fantasiimaker]

I think you did a really good job =) Your voice is so powerful! And you hit all the notes pretty well, even those crazy highs in the chorus. One thing I'd suggest working on is feeling the song a little more - while technically I think you're pretty much there, I'd love to hear more of the longing and love that the lyrics are trying to convey - like, imagine yourself as a lone songstress in the middle of a huge stage, and the emotion and power all emanating from your spot under the light... =) haha sorry for my weird comment! Wishing you best of luck for the audition!

[*k-freak*]

I think you did a really good job. I just started to listen to this song not too long ago, but your voice is wonderful. Go for the auditions!

[oreoo]

Wow, you are a great! :] Nice song choice for your audition too, Yuna Ito is difficult for sure.

Same, the verse seems jumbled but for the 2nd verse, I like it, it has support from your voice. For the beginning of the chorus, it sounded strained but nothing to worry about I think... because I actually think your chorus kicks major booty (def. a good part to send to them!) Give a bit more support the the end of your words because at times it feels as if you drift (I trust you~ then the you just kind of fades)
But this is great :] Good luck, I think you'll do well

[Ariah`]

nx_kiiwii74: I actually try to avoid my head voice, because it's very weak and not so pretty. xD But I guess this would be a good chance to work on strengthening it, right?
Don't worry, I'm not offended at all. I did come here looking for real critique, so I don't mind at all. =D Thanks!!

Nihonjin_berryz: No, I know I have to work on my vibrato. I have a very distinct vibrato and sometimes I have trouble controlling it. So that's definitely something to work on. Thanks!

fantasiimaker: Hey, it's not weird at all! When I was recording this, I was still in the stage of getting the lyrics down, so I wasn't focusing so much on emotion. I'll be rerecording it soon, though, and I'll definitely work on that. Thankyou!

*k-freak*: Thankyou so much! (:

oreoo: rofl, you mean INSANELY HARD song choice, right? xDD Yuna never fails to pull out crazy hard ballads.
I guess it makes sense that the first verse would be more jumbled. The second verse seemed a lot of harder, actually, and I worked on it longer when recording this. xD So I'll spend more time on the first verse. It should be easier now, though. Now that I'm more familiar with the lyrics.
Thankyou for pointing out the drifting! I didn't even notice it until now. I'll definitely remember that when practicing.
Thankyou!!

[Annyon]

That was pretty good... But everyone has already listed what I wanted to critique you on... o.o

So... Yeah just work on reaching the notes. I think it's a pretty good clip. (:

btw I loved the bridge... haha sounded almost like the original version haha

[Ariah`]

Thankyou, Annyon!! I did practice quite a bit between now and when this was first recorded.

Today, I recorded my actual audition clip. I think there's a huge improvement, especially that high note. And I LOVE the smoothness in the transition into the chorus. I think it sounds so much better than before.
High note should still use a LITTLE bit of work. I played around with my head voice, and it's just so ugly. xD So I went for the note. Now I just need to sweeten it a bit more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5O8TBqNR-c

That's the video if you want to watch. Thankyou for all of your input, everyone!