The first Magnetic Fields song I ever heard was I Don’t Want to Get Over You. Lisa Whiteman put it on a mix CD for me way back in 2003, I think. I remember loving the song and loving Stephin Merritt’s super deep voice.
Fast forward to last week. I’ve been doing a bunch of recording lately, mostly songs written by other people but some of my own stuff, too. But I’ve been having a problem with my voice. I’m not a singer. In the absence of a real singer I do what I can to make my stuff sound complete. Lately I’ve been tackling projects that require vocal ranges way out of my own range, like Interpol’s PDA. It’s a great damn song and I really loved recording the instrumental parts of it but fuck if the vocals don’t bring the whole thing down. So I started thinking of other songs that are more in my range. I was listening to that old mix CD from Lisa Whiteman the other day and lo and behold there it was, a song that I could sing without sounding like I was being tortured.
And so here it is: I Don’t Want to Get Over You.
6 responses so far ↓
1 John // Sep 6, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Gee, Michael, lovely version. I’m gonna add that to my iPod!
My intro to Magnetic Fields was during a weekend letterpress workshop a few years back at Chax Press here in Tucson. Charles Alexander played the entire “69 Love Songs” one afternoon. (The same workshop introduced me to Beth Orton, for which I’ll be forever grateful.)
A woman I now work with knows Stephin Merritt from seeing him so often in small clubs in NY.
2 michaelbrown // Sep 6, 2008 at 8:53 pm
That sounds like it would have been my kind of letterpress workshop, and not just because of all the letterpressing. I love the song How Fucking Romantic off 69 Love Songs. “Don’t forget to feed your bear or it’ll die.” Great line.
Thanks for adding it to your iPod!
3 Kevin // Sep 9, 2008 at 7:18 am
Awesome! It’s a nice take on the song that’s different from the original, and your voice sounds really good on “tape” (you know, recorded, but not ACTUALLY on tape). Record more, the interwebs demand it!
4 James // Sep 9, 2008 at 8:10 am
Awesome. Are you sure this wasn’t on one of my compilations for SXSW? Oh well, Lisa and I both have good taste. I remember picking up 69 Love Songs without ever hearing Magnetic Fields before just because I thought the concept was so audacious. He covers so many different styles and moods that there’s always something that fits what I want to hear. Keep recording, Michael!!
5 michaelbrown // Sep 9, 2008 at 9:02 am
Thanks, Kevin!
James, you may have put it on one of your compilations, but the one in my iTunes library is from Lisa Whiteman’s mix. Also, thanks!
I might be tackling another cover here real soon. A friend of mine is a singer and I’m hoping I can twist her arm into singing with me on it.
6 wix // Sep 15, 2008 at 9:52 am
a friend of mine (well, friendly acquaintance) is trying to convince me to take some voice lessons. if i do, i will gladly pass along any and all helpful advice!
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