"Amazing" - Performance Guide

Because of the excessive amount of digital audio processing required to merely record this piece, Amazing will be at least a small challenge to perform live.

Obviously, a digital audio interface must run through a computer using a powerful audio processing program (likely either Max-MSP or Logic) that can both auto-tune a voice and distort it simultaneously. This is hard to do because the product of adding auto-tune live is that you can't necessarily control what pitch is produced. This makes a certain ability to sing around the desired note necessary and many hip hop artists struggle hearing pitch to begin with, which typically leads to extremely chromatic notes that stick out a lot more than in the recorded versions of songs. However, this is a risk that you must be willing to take for live performance so you can only do so much.

There are other measures that must be taken in order to ensure a good performance in other musical areas as well. I would recommend the use of genuine tribal drums and even a grand piano to add a level of dynamic reality that the listener doesn't get from the record. Once these things are appropriately miced, speakers with a good deal of bass response are required because, after all, this IS a hip hop song at its core. (but be careful not to add too much bass otherwise you run the risk of distorting the rest of the sound)

As far as the additional embellishments of the primate noises and the chorus, primates are probably not a great idea to have to rely on for a musical performance- the DJ can probably que the clips just fine on his/her own. However, it would be a nice touch to have a live choir to back up the chorus but could be a bit more of a logistical problem than it is worth if there are any space constraints. They can likely be substituted for with 4 or 5 backup singers.

The main vocalists should pay special attention to the flow of the artists on the record, noting specifically the syllabic emphasis in time with the beat and the easy-going rhythm that they carry throughout the piece without pushing forward too much. Let the music drive it, not the lyrics.