Hi All,
 
I was exposed to a lot of church music as a child, probably my first songs to learn were all hymns being part of the local and school choir. Amazing Grace was always one of my favourites, it just has that glorious melody which is simple but yet so powerful. After reading up on the situation of John Newton when sailing through a rough storm on a slave ship, the song suddenly rang a little deeper.
 
This version wont be to what you expect and I know there is plenty of christian musicians on this forum! instead of going the church route, I changed it up. It now has an RnB beat, funk arrangement, light orchestration and a tonne of vox layering.
 
Please let me know if you like or not and if possible some crits/improvemetns on what you didn't like, where did you get bored how did the mix sit
 
https://soundcloud.com/ci.../amazing-grace/s-B9YDm
 
Cian

This is also one I grew up with and I never grow tired of it. I think you've done an excellent job on it. A few gospel organ parts in the right places would give this a more soul feel..the synths are something new for me. I didn't dislike them, but I think an organ might bump it up a notch. JMO. 
I have come to expect a high caliber of recording from you Cian and this didn't disappoint I might have done a few things differently, but it's all subjective and I like what you did.

Thanks starrise.
 
I have a kind of electric gospel piano in there and I dont think I have synths there unless my orchestration sample choice sound crap!
 
Im actually thinking this is a bit "long" to be RnB and might cut out the 2nd/3rd last section.
 
Anyone else have any other thoughts?
 
Thanks,
 
Cian

Amazing Grace is the song of songs.
This is an outstanding version, and you have done it justice.
No crits on the mix. it sounds great here.

Love the up tempo spin on this. I thought the lead vocal stayed fairly constant throughout and maybe you could build this a bit more to match the build in instrumentation, backing vocals and key change, that I felt worked quite well.
It's a tough job to make this a new song. Good job.

Amazing cover. Well sung and played plus very nice, different style from the original.

Really like it. Out of interest what were your main sound sources...especially the brass falls?!

:-)

Awesome pipes as always, bro. Like this take a lot.
 
TO make it better, maybe do a telephone eq on one of  your background vox during the intro to make it not conflict with the other.
 
Maybe do a pitched kick for a verse to make it real hip hop, as it will give you bottom but a lot of room to do some vocalizing.

Well done Cian and nice take on this classic. The mix and vocals are very nicely done!! I agree with Rebel007 on the build up need.........(especially during the key change) would give this more of an emotional uplift.
 
Really enjoyed listening to this (x2).....good job!!! 
 
   

Yes... the classic song of classic songs.
 
I really loved the harmony work on this.  Not a fan of hip hop stuff.... but well done.