Vocal Splicing in Shadow

[Applejack]

And Shadow is the only ITZ song where she shows off her vocal abilities. The ending particularly is wow. And y'all hating the vocal arrangements lol

[Stefani]

I always thought it sounded a little weird in that verse, but I assumed it was a side effect of her straining her voice too much during previous takes.

[---]

i hear it 100%

[MonaLisasDoll]

Oh yeah I totally hear it. 

[rik]

IM JUST GOING TO SAY IT  

This is a GREAT track, and the reason for why it might sound lazily arranged is because Britney herself is simply resinging what the Matrix laid out as an “I’m With You” Part 2. You will hear the similarities comparing these two tracks. the reason for why the Matrix didn’t stick as long as they could have was because they were selling everyone the same songs again and again. 

sing these lines to yourself:
 

I’m standing on the bridge I’m waiting in the dark 

—— I’m watching you disappear but you you were never here

 

im with yoiiuiuuuuuuuu

it’s only your shadow, never yourself 

 

They did the same thing with Complicated and So Yesterday

 

the production of shadow however, is far more aligned with in the zone. I don’t detect christy but I do think the producers picked Britney’s best takes and layered them into the leading vocal 

 

[DignifiedLove]

4 minutes ago, Rik said:

IM JUST GOING TO SAY IT  

This is a GREAT track, and the reason for why it might sound lazily arranged is because Britney herself is simply resinging what the Matrix laid out as an “I’m With You” Part 2. You will hear the similarities comparing these two tracks. the reason for why the Matrix didn’t stick as long as they could have was because they were selling everyone the same songs again and again. 

sing these lines to yourself:
 

I’m standing on the bridge I’m waiting in the dark 

—— I’m watching you disappear but you you were never here

 

im with yoiiuiuuuuuuuu

it’s only your shadow, never yourself 

 

They did the same thing with Complicated and So Yesterday

 

the production of shadow however, is far more aligned with in the zone. I don’t detect christy but I do think the producers picked Britney’s best takes and layered them into the leading vocal 

 

 

[DignifiedLove]

I ADORE this song and its concept but the vocals simply ruin it for me. She strains too much and her vocals are really shaky. Such a shame. The only time her vocals are exceptional in the song is when she’s in her head voice and towards the end.

[dran]

For some reason I have some memory of someone posting that Britney records each word at a time in all her songs, and then they combine everything.... I think Cyndi Lauper made a comment on it or something.... urg

[Circuit]

22 minutes ago, dran said:

For some reason I have some memory of someone posting that Britney records each word at a time in all her songs, and then they combine everything.... I think Cyndi Lauper made a comment on it or something.... urg

Yes, I remember that! Cyndi Lauper worked with Max Martin on an album and he tried to get her to sing every syllable at a time “like he made poor Britney Spears” I think were her words

[rik]

31 minutes ago, GODNA IS A QUEEN said:

 

[BoyDeChanel]

I like Shadow

19 hours ago, Isla said:

I mean you can clearly hear Karen Poole doing background vocals on Toxic too. 

Isn't that Cathy Dennis?

[Isla]

2 minutes ago, BoyDeChanel said:

I like Shadow

Isn't that Cathy Dennis?

Actually it might be, but I read Karen provided backing vocals. She's worked quite frequently with Cathy too. Or maybe I'm getting it mixed up with another song.

[OutofKontrol]

This is one of my favorite Britney ballads. The song sounds very similar to "Im with you"(the same producers) However, what the song needs to really pop out is a strong vocal on all fronts. Not that Britney cant do that, but I don't think she was pushed to give her all. Anyways, still a great song.  

[JackSProductions]

Honestly I love this song but I’ve studied so much of her vocal tracks and I agree with OP. Can’t say I’ve noticed it until now though.

[JackSProductions]

4 hours ago, Circuit said:

Yes, I remember that! Cyndi Lauper worked with Max Martin on an album and he tried to get her to sing every syllable at a time “like he made poor Britney Spears” I think were her words

He literally does this, listen to Not A Girl vocal tracks. BOMT isn’t comped too much but Oops is literally 100 different takes. 

[G-unit]

I don’t hear any actual proof.  Shadow could’ve been an incredible song had she sung it in a lower register (the chorus) - it’s not at all in her key.  Or maybe done it as a feature with another artist singing the “It’s only your shadow” part.  Britney sounds so forced and it isn’t pleasant.  Love the verses and pre-chorus tho.

[strongertomorrow]

[floopy22]

55 minutes ago, JackSProductions said:

He literally does this, listen to Not A Girl vocal tracks. BOMT isn’t comped too much but Oops is literally 100 different takes. 

He does not. It would sound weird as ****. The takes are recorded atleast line by line. Words and syllables can however be comped together from different takes, which is what is going on here in 'Shadow'. There are videos of Britney recording NAGNYAW and Crazy where she sings the whole parts.

[floopy22]

5 hours ago, Isla said:

Actually it might be, but I read Karen provided backing vocals. She's worked quite frequently with Cathy too. Or maybe I'm getting it mixed up with another song.

Probably. Toxic background vocals is afaik Cathy Dennis and that Swedish girl.

[Isla]

42 minutes ago, floopy22 said:

Probably. Toxic background vocals is afaik Cathy Dennis and that Swedish girl.

Robyn? But I didn’t think she was involved in this song. She has backing vocals on Piece Of Me though.