Welcome to Your Second Challenge: True Colors

Hello, lovely singers, and welcome to your second challenge!

Song Background

So this next song is True Colors, originally recorded by Cyndi Lauper and featuring a beautiful version by Eva Cassidy. I encourage you to listen to various renditions on Spotify and YouTube and see which versions appeal to you.

Note on Versions

• The Eva Cassidy version is a bit more challenging, as it offers a unique interpretation of the original song.
• We'll be focusing on a hybrid of both versions, primarily sticking to the Cyndi Lauper rendition, which I find a little easier.

Getting Familiar with the Song

We are joined by Cara, who will sing through it for us. To familiarize yourself, I recommend checking out as many versions as you can.

• If you want to download the backing track, I've provided a link. It's a Rock School backing track that aligns more with the Eva Cassidy version. However, you can still sing the Cyndi Lauper version over it, and we'll cover the differences in timing as we progress.

Difficulty Level

True Colors is a beautiful song and is more challenging to sing than Make You Feel My Love. It features a larger vocal range and includes three distinct sections, unlike the two sections in Make You Feel My Love.

Let's Walk Through the Song

We'll walk through the song, identifying any challenging parts and covering some basics to look out for.

Starting From the Top

The song starts after three beats. Here are the first lines:

1. You with the sad eyes.
2. Don't be discouraged
3. Though I realize it's hard to take courage

Great!

Cara, could you demonstrate the first verse for us?

1. • You with the sad eyes.
   • Don't be discouraged.
   • Though I realize it's hard to take courage.

First Impressions

That sounded really nice!

• How does that feel to sing?
• Cara: "Very easy! It rolls off the tongue."

For most female voices, those first three lines should feel quite easy, closely resembling our natural speech.

Increasing Dynamics

As we build through the song, the dynamics will increase, especially at the beginning of the chorus.

Next section:

In a world full of people, you can feel the percussion of the phrases increase.

• Phrase: "In a world FULL of people."
• You get a rest there:

1. • In a world full of people, you can lose sight of it all.
   • In the darkness inside you, it can make you feel so small.

Consonants and Phrasing

There's more space between the phrasing and the consonants. It's essential to energize those consonants.

Cara, could you demonstrate starting from "in a world" after four?

• In a world full of people, you can lose sight of it all.
• In the darkness inside you, makes you feel so small.

Moving to the Chorus

Shall we go straight to the chorus? Here it is:

1. • But I see your true colors shining through.

Lovely! Cara does such a beautiful riff on that line.

• Feel free to add any individual styling once you're used to the song.
• Just remember not to slide up to that first note; you want to really hit it clearly.

Repeating the Key Lines

Let's try that again:

1. • But I see your true colors shining through.
   • And I see your true colors, and that's why I love you.

Important Melody Variations

• Note: The second time Cara did slide, but once you've established a melody, slight variations are fine.
• Focus on nailing that first jump in the melody.

Melody Differences:

• First chorus: "Don't be afraid to let them show."
• Second chorus: "Don't be afraid to let them show."

If you're comfortable doing the lower melody, it's totally fine to maintain that both times.

Dynamic Approaches

Several approaches for the chorus are possible:

• Sing it lightly: "But I see your true colors shining through."
• Add energy: "But I see your true colors."

Timing and Instrumentation

As the song builds, especially in the Eva Cassidy version, instrumentation increases as Cara adjusts her dynamics accordingly.

Transitioning to the Chorus

Take note of the timing transitions from the end of the first verse into the chorus:

1. "In the darkness inside you, can make you feel so small..."
2. • But I see your true colors shining through.

Key Differences in Interpretation

Eva Cassidy sings the melody differently:

• Eva: "True colors"
• Cyndi: "True colors shining through"

Both interpretations are valid.

Demonstrating the Chorus

Now, Cara will sing through the first chorus for us. Notice how this particular chorus builds at the beginning and then comes back down, giving it a different arc compared to most songs.

1. But I see your true colors shining through.
2. I see your true colors and that's why I love you.
3. So don't be afraid to let them show.
4. Your true colors, your true colors are beautiful...

Conclusion and Recap

To recap, here are some critical points to remember while singing True Colors:

• Building dynamics: Start softly and gradually add volume.
• Phrasing: Keep space for breaths as required.
• Melody: Nail the first jump in the chorus and notice the variations in the lyrics.

Remember, this song offers room for interpretation, so feel free to explore different dynamics and styles! Enjoy practicing!