recording regrets.

[sadie]

i recorded this song called "back to new orleans" the other night for my husband's uncle. the cd was in the door about an hour ago, and i know i should listen to it, but i don't want to. i'm quite unhappy about the whole thing.

we recorded in this guy's basement who said he'd been in recording for like twenty years, but the mic was set up all wrong, and i didn't say anything. and it was so hot in the soundproof room-turned bedroom that there were pools of sweat on my lower back.
and the guy who wrote the song and played rhythm guitar (whom i really do like) was all anal about phrasing and shit the night before, cramping my style (=O), and then after i recorded the lead vocals with him in mind, said "just do whatever you want with it. i have complete faith. you're awesome."
but it was late and i had to get my son home and i have no more free nights for weeks and he wants to get it out ASAP, so he can send it out to oprah and shit. and he was ecstatic about what i'd done.

but i wasn't. i wanted it to be more than just a thrown-together, tragedy-profiteering scheme. i wanted it to be my something in the name of this horrible tragedy. i know it sounds corny, but it's true. i wanted to really feel what i was singing, to channel from somewhere the hurt and anguish and engulfing grief and supplanted belonging that these people have been forced to endure. i wanted the harmonies to be just right. i guess i just know it could've been so, so much better.

okay. i feel better now. i'll let you know how it sounds 'cause i know you're just-dying to know.