She Remembered

[Eric Carmen]

You know, I hadn't listened to this song in years until Bernie put it on my myspace page, and, after listening to it twice, I have a couple observations that may, or may not, be meaningful for you. First of all, damn, I love this track! I mean, I really LOVE IT and I don't feel that way about too many of the things I've done. Let me tell you why. In order: 1) The basic track was a one take, piano and voice demo that I cut at Beachwood Studios right after I finished writing the song. In other words, I just went in sat down at the piano and sang it once. It was so fresh I hadn't had time to wear it out by playing it countless times in a studio, with a band. Just me and the piano. Straight through. No punches, no edits, no second take. Straight from the heart. Direct to tape. No producer. Just me and and engineer.

[The Kiwi Connection]

It's an awesome song, one of my favorites. It will sound terrific at Severance Hall.

[Eric Carmen]

In any case, his playing is not only so incredibly spot on with me that it's ridiculous, but it's also so perfectly "sympathetic" to my piano that I can't imagine how it could have ever been more perfect. It's as if he could read my mind and heard every nuance of the drum part I heard in my head, and then had the technical virtuosity to actually play it so perfectly that you can't imagine the two of us weren't playing at the same time. And he did this in FOUR TAKES. In other words, the first time he heard the song and played along was take one. The drum track you hear on the song came three takes later. The whole exercise probably took less than forty five minutes. As I listen to it, that's absolutely amazing.

[Tom]

Yes. A terrific, simple, fresh sounding composition. Your description Eric matches the vibe that comes across in the recording.

[Eric Carmen]

2) The late Jeff Porcaro's drumming was OVERDUBBED to my voice and piano. That means all Jeff heard in his headphones, and all he had to play to, was my voice and the piano. There was nothing else recorded at the time and Jeff and I had worked the same way on "Boats Against The Current." He played to piano and voice. For those of you who may not be musicians, it might be a bit hard to comprehend just what a superhuman feat this is. For most drummers, it would be literally impossible, because I never play to a "click" track, and my tempo may slow down or speed up a hair, from time to time in order to create the "feel" that I'm going for. In musical terms, that's called "rubato."

[Tom]

And we are all up late in Ohio this evening

Tom in Toledo

[Eric Carmen]

And finally 3) The bridge. It's just such an odd little time signature thing going on. But it was completely organic to the song. I just wrote it the way I felt it and the strangeness made it great. You can't plan stuff like that ( I wish I could). It just happens. I love how my vocal isn't perfect; it's a little vulnerable at times and then toward the end it's pure emotion that takes over. Ahh, Bernie. Thanks for puttin' this one up. It reminds me why I do what I do, and actually makes me think about doing it again.

Anyway, just thought I'd share my little" moment of elation" with you. ec

[Tom]

I bet this kind of syncronicity rarely happens. My understanding is that a metronome is typically used by the drummer to keep time. The rest of the band would then follow the drummer.

[ColoradoGal]

Eric - if you're still awake - I have wanted to tell you that my most favorite songs on the Definitive Collection are Desperate Fools and The way we used to be. Your voice is so perfect that type of song. Are they songs you like and do they have special meaning for you.

Carol

[Eric Carmen]

Syncronicity is exactly the right word for it. Jeff and I had that and it was truly "magical" for me. Jim Bonfanti's drumming on "Tonight" is like that as well. For some reason, I'm especially "tuned" to drummers. Always have been. On my songs, it's all about the voice, piano and drums. ec

[Eric Carmen]

Those are two more of my all time favorites. Along with "She Remembered" and 'Boats" and maybe "Nowhere To Hide". (On that one, the syncronicity is with David Wintours superlative bass playing.) ec

[The Kiwi Connection]

Eric, For over 30 years your music has been a significant part of my life, and now to have you give us insights into the way they were written and your thoughts about them truly is a great privilege. Never in my wildest dreams for one minute did I ever think that one day this would happen. Thank you so much for sharing so much of yourself with us.

Kiwi.

[Brian Mac]

I find it staggering that you never used a click track. That's the first thing the engineer demands, get it in tune and in time. I guess Jeff was just feeling you brother. In a way he drummed it the way you performed it. On raw emotion.

I think the bridge in "Nowhere To Hide" is one of your strongest ever. It's like a musical painting, and it always takes me straight back to my senior prom when I hear it...

Half-forgotten fragments

Of a high school dance

In the dead white hours of winter

When we loved so hard

That we thought it would never end

Tryin' to remember

How it used to feel

When a kiss was something special

And I wonder now

Will it ever be again

Maybe you should sit down at that piano again sometime soon. The world needs more songs like these.

MAC

[Paulie Mississippi]

She Remembered is a masterpiece, no doubt. And though I was not one to get to many "high school dances", I could understand and feel the passion of that young, lustful love revisited ten (or thirty?) years later...

[HT from Mo]

Eric, For over 30 years your music has been a significant part of my life, and now to have you give us insights into the way they were written and your thoughts about them truly is a great privilege. Never in my wildest dreams for one minute did I ever think that one day this would happen. Thank you so much for sharing so much of yourself with us.

Kiwi.

Kiwi,

I second that!

Eric,

Even though it's only been 20 yrs, your music has given me great joy through the years. I too thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this part of yourself with us.

HT

[Kirk]

I remember a quote from an ad early in your solo career. It proclaimed, "Eric Carmen will stun you!"

Well, the five or so aforementioned songs stun me every time I hear them. Every time.

When I first heard the demo for "She Remembered" I thought it was just perfect. So perfect, that I had to get out my Geffen album and lay the demo track right over it. It was a match, which I had attributed to your ability to recreate the sound you were going after in the studio. At the time I had no idea it was a one-take wonder. It was only later that I discovered it *was* the same track.

I hope that sometime in the future you will 'stun me' again. It's hopeful to know that you're thinking about it. Kirk.

[Raspbernie]

"She Remembered" is in my Top 3 as well. Funny thing is when Eric asked me add some new songs, he told me he had been getting requests for "Make Me Lose Control" and "Hungry Eyes." Well, it turns out MySpace only allows 4 tunes in its player, so which to choose? "Make Me Lose Control" was a no-brainer, and I knew I had to include "All By Myself" -- the long version with its magnificent piano solo, but "Hungry Eyes?" Hmmm. Don't get me wrong, I like the track, its just that I felt funny about including a song Eric didn't write. My initial thought was I should add a rocker, maybe something from Tonight You're Mine. But then it occurred to me, "What the Hell. I can always change it later if Eric doesn't like it. I'm adding 'She Rememebered,' 'cause it's one of my favorites." Haha! Glad it brought back such fond memories :-)

Bernie

[ira]

As I sit here reading this thread I'm sitting at my computer staring at one of my first e-bay purchases-a black and white record store-counter -top display for Eric's first album featuring a picture of Eric...The heading "First Reviews" on the side(with some first reviews-DUH)...and the headline...."ERIC CARMEN Will Stun You".

Hey...Clive was right about that!-Ira.

[Raspyrock]

I wondered if Hungry Eyes was precluded because

Eric didn't write it. It's really tough to come up w/ a top 3 or 4 faves.

May have to put a companion player on this web site's home page to compliment the MySpace one. "Change of Heart", "Marathon Man", "Hey Deanie" and "She Did It" would all be fine additions.

[Bessieboo]

I love the intimacy of She Remembered,

It is as if you were dancing close, having an conversion.

It draws me in, I always turn it up and lean in so I don't miss anything

I love the the breathy, almost spoken line...

"God it's just like it used to be

I wasn't sure if you'd remember"

*Sigh*

Eric, you really captured the moment

[LobsterLvr]

This whole thread makes me appreciate so many things: 'she remembered', eric's presense and insights, bernie's labor of love, and the internet. Thanks one and all.

Dave

[hollies65]

I will say this once again...Where in the hell are you gonna find a board where you get this type of first hand info on music from the artist themselves?!? This place is truly one of a kind!

[James]

Gosh...what a thread! And what a site! Thanks Eric Carmen and Bernie Hogya....this is just very cool.

Eric Carmen wrote: "It reminds me why I do what I do, and actually makes me think about doing it again."

Yes! Your music is beautiful...and the world needs more things of beauty!!

-James

[Raspyrock]

I, for one, want Eric to write tons more!

[blackhawkpat]

One of my absolute favorite songs of all time. It should have been a radio smash and I firmly believe it still would be if a country singer (you know, country is the new pop!) would re-do it today.