Crystal Waters - 'Gypsy Woman' Deconstruction with Ski Oakenfull in Ableton Live 11 & Push 3

[@pointblankmusicschool]

What track would you like to see Ski deconstruct next?

[@michaeld4868]

Crazy Bald Heads - First Born

[@FuranGameplays]

Pump up the jam

[@Keithoconnellsongwriter]

Maybe something from Madness, Baggy Trousers or Our House?

[@pointblankmusicschool]

@@FuranGameplays Tune!

[@Scheffan]

jamiroquai will be a nice challenge

[@brunocpimenta]

People can say wathever they want.... that chord progression is pure fire.

[@profilercms]

Absolutely. Well put.

[@FuranGameplays]

Oh boy, I would pay monthly to see this man reconstruct some tracks

[@Keithoconnellsongwriter]

That'd be great, I'd sign up for that aswell. Ski is amazing 👏

[@melloww007]

Me too 😍😍😍

Me either, but let's not tell him 🤫

[@Yeebok]

Bthelick does similar, he actually has a good video on this classic song as well.

[@DJCrisisUK]

Just hearing that piano is enough to put a smile on my face, a timeless clasic 🔥

[@TayWoode]

For anyone who bothers to read this since no one ever reads my comments, some of the rhythm on the original that starts at 13:26 is a sample from the start of Talking heads - “Seen and not seen” that’s sped up, there’s also another drum loop with a finger snap and the 808 cowbell

[@skioakenfull]

I’m reading this and thanks!! Amazing insight.. I’ll definitely check that out 😊

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks Tay! We're reading too,

[@josepholajubu2434]

@@skioakenfull I had a go at recreating this a year ago - but i couldn't properly figure out the M1 Organ cords until I saw your video - thanks! Would be interested to see wht you think of my version - it was done in Cubase 12 Pro with Roland Cloud VSTs and the Korg M1 VST

[@AutPen38]

The Talking Heads sample was mentioned on the WhoSampled page for the Crystal Waters song years ago, but the link was mysteriously was removed. Ironically, David Byrne actually released a cover version of 'Gypsy Woman' in about '94 and it's as bonkers as you'd expect.

[@-Fumiken-]

I came here to see how that sound was made!! Thanks a lot!!

[@Danjin22]

I never noticed how cool that baseline is until this video.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Cool, but complex!

[@AutPen38]

The bass is really low in the mix on the original. This song is all about the vocals and that screaming organ with its crazy octave jump that still grabs my attention 30 years later.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

@@AutPen38 You can hear with the stem separation that the AI struggled to separate/isolate the bass for that very reason.

[@profilercms]

Wow 🤩 ❤

[@artisticboundaries]

Neal is a very good friend of mine. Just before the song was about to be released he used to play it at a local college campus club he DJed for. It was an instant hit!!! I often tell him that this song is the gift that keeps on giving.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks for sharing!

[@PA-Freak98513RY]

Crystal Waters is a Queen of 90's danceble Vocal House Music. Great,Amazing&Unbelievable Female Singer.🙂👍

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Yup! Hugely underrated.

[@CTLR99]

That bassline is mind blowing, never noticed the complexity of it until this video!

[@chrisliddiard725]

Its almost as if it was the bassline for something else, but happened to be the right key so they used it. ;0)

[@matijarubinic9680]

I really adore this guy. His reconstructions are the best thing on KZbin ❤

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks Matija!

[@williecunningham3725]

I get Chills hearing this track! This should have went #1 in the USA! The message was so powerful in the lyrics!!!!!!!

[@Luca-Sisto]

Amazing deconstruction!

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks for watching.

[@DarrenMcMaster-Smith-vk5si]

90’s awesome times,great alternative rock and fantastic electronic music.

[@williecunningham3725]

Absolutely!!!!😊😊😊😊

[@Yngdady]

These chords are such a vibe

[@alobosk]

Listening to these tracks make me imagine myself sitting in a bedroom-sized studio with a rack full of early romplers (Proteus I and II!), a good sampler in the corner, a MOTU MTP flashing along, loads of diskettes with samples in neatly tucked drawers, a nice analog 32-chan mixer, some open-reel 1/4 inch 2-track recorder, possibly a Tascam MS8 or 16, a Tascam 122 mk2 cassette recorder, two boxes of UX tapes (one unopened), and as the centerpiece of the studio a beautiful and cute Macintosh IIci or a IIfx running MOTU Performer 6 displaying on it's tiny 14-inch Apple Monitor. I so much want a setup like that. Hearing early 90s music brings me back to that era. I can smell it (early 90s smell like a brand-new box of 3.5 diskettes being opened).

[@skioakenfull]

That is a beautiful image. My early setup was an Atari ST, Akai S3000, Mackie 32 channel 8 Bus, Quadraverb, Korg 01/W, SH-101 etc.. amazing times ❤

[@alobosk]

@@skioakenfull I loved the Mackie 32-8!!! I’ve got pictures! I actually was an Amiga user (Bars & Pipes Pro), but I always wanted a Mac. I couldn’t afford it then. I can’t complain about a nice Mac now with Logic or Luna.

[@GlassyB]

Point Blank with the banger videos back it again❤️

[@pointblankmusicschool]

WOOP WOOP

[@itsdrawkcab5899]

You're the goat of tutorials!

[@pointblankmusicschool]

🐐

[@eldjswett]

All this years. Played and played and played and it still flows straight to my heart

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Brilliant as always

[@JamesBermingham]

My favourite Ableton man, Ski Oakenfol. I’ve learned so much from his videos here on Pointblank. Top tut.

[@MeerkatMuzic]

Superb recreation again from the Master. Cheers Ski.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks for watching!

[@tommythecat4961]

06:15 you're 100% right, I was literally thinking "how is THAT gonna fit in?"

[@kingsarverjr502]

I thought the same thing! But didn't it fit, though!? That was NICE!

[@FraserBernstein]

Phenomenal breakdown - I'm not a producer at all, just a keys player and I LOVE this song for all of its production and sophisticated music theory. The way Ski goes into detail on all aspects of the song is brilliant, and the way the video is edited together is genuinely top class. Really enjoyed this!

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks so much for the feedback. As you can probably imagine, it's as fun for us making these with Ski as it is for our viewers.

[@chekichen]

Do you have any tips as a key player how to accompany with piano, as I am always struggling with that as an amateur player 😢

[@real.demesure]

Started produced 10 years back watching point blank videos, and here I am getting inspired 🥳

[@huntrrams]

Always love your reconstruction of classic house songs!

[@universalvibe72]

It’s so rewarding Ski LOVES house music.

[@muschimiau]

Great job, Ski. I love your deconstructions

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Cheers!

[@dinfluence30]

What a genius workflow. Ski a very good teacher...

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks for watching!

[@ud2hb4]

Just Wow.

[@Pixieshtix_9_]

I am literally so in love wth this song and you made me 100X more obsessed with this vid

[@sisyphusvasilias3943]

Thanks Ski

[@SamFocused]

It feels almost like therapy to watch this Amazing deconstructions. So calming and interesting. Great Content 💯💯💯

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks Sam!

[@Scheffan]

love your material!! im adict to this videos in ableton!!

[@stevie9028]

This track is brilliant. Especially for the time it came out and the album too

[@twoscoops2]

Wonderful job, LOVE your deconstructions!

[@pointblankmusicschool]

We LOVE these sorts of comments!

[@dollop6213]

Really enjoyed this breakdown.

[@michaeld4868]

Great break down! Thanks

[@dariusblake7339]

awesome breakdown!

[@the20thcenturyboy9]

It would be wonderful if the Ableton Live session were available to download

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Will get back to you on this!

[@AzdT93]

😊

[@johnmccormick5721]

Such inspiration from all these deconstructions. Always the best tunes perfectly done. Thank you!

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks John!

[@maxvicmusic]

Great track and super interesting deconstruction, great work, thanks!

[@sunlounger29]

I like how you're vibing to the final reconstruction! Great job!

[@bar8393gm]

Fantastic! Thanks so much for including the chords too. Such good jazz in that little riff.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Agreed!

[@user-or3ce4gt2r]

Classic infinitely 🎉

[@InternetThe]

This version sounds great, almost like a remaster. Super crisp

[@jamesaita]

This might be the best one. The OG of house tunes. Amazing deconstruction.

[@BenCaesar]

Ooh I missed these

[@colinfaherty8805]

4:59 I really love the swing that he uses here. Could anyone explain how to achieve this in Ableton without the midi controller? Is this one of the swing settings? Does anyone know which swing setting is being set to 40%?

[@skioakenfull]

Good question! I have found the most similar swing in the Ableton Live DAW is achieved by first quantizing the part to straight 16ths, then applying the 'Swing 16ths 73.agr' Groove from the Groove Pool to the clip, and set the Global Groove amount to taste (i.e. 40% in this case). This is actually a great way to set the whole track to the same swing if you apply the same groove to all clips. I covered this topic in a previous deconstruction kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6vGnWynfKuKpMUsi=sJro2mhk-yLthZNT&t=1069 . Hope that helps!

[@gustavp]

Thanks!!!!! 👽 Saw her perform this last summer and still can't believe it #djpygar will play some tomorrow in Santa Fe!

[@DjWarp79]

Wow Sir. I have just discovered your channel. I am frustrated long ago to finish just even one track and i gave up. Now after watching you, you inspire me to continue my dream. I subscribe so i can learn more. Thank you Sir.

[@AKAtAGG]

Korg m1 was my first synth. Everyone who was anyone had one back in the day.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Still got it?

[@extereem1260]

Just wonderfull

[@markjhorsley]

Superb as always

[@setaylw]

I had my band learn this song a few months ago and it took me forever to figure out the bass line. I was close but this is exactly it. Thanks so much for this video!

[@djrafa1]

Very Nice

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thank you!

[@issac1074]

Ski always makes it look so easy! legend! love these deconstructions

[@Philmad]

Love this track and this video, such great clear and easy to understand way of explaining 👏👏

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Yup! Ski is the man!!!

[@TrekStar11]

Glad I finally got around to watching this, instant sub. It would be nice to see the deconstruction and transcribing process more in depth too

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks for subscribing. We tend to try and give a flavour of the PB curriculum within these videos.

[@PharaohLawLess1]

That song is the greatest house/dance song EVER known to man kind!!!!!

[@LucvanVliet]

There's also a sample from Snap - I got the power: the shakers + bells looped and speed up. And finger snaps. Great break down!

[@DuckAlertBeats]

That's from Mantronix - King of the Beats. Snap stole it lol

[@FluxTrax]

The beat is taken from Tyree "Hardcore Hiphouse" both the swung 909 groove and the 808 toms

[@popcycles]

​@FluxTrax but where is the break that he's using in the video sampled from. He never said.

[@popcycles]

Another poster mention it's from Talking Heads Seen Not Seen.

[@popcycles]

​@FluxTrax which version of hardcore hiphouse?

[@TonyLeva]

What a great song! Great reconstruction too

[@doublehaven]

Astonishing !

[@TheDrummagurl]

You sir are amazing.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

We think he is too!

[@mecdj]

Great work !

[@realmcoy4696]

One of the most addictive songs by far!! Im fukin love this song

[@djmatteo5378]

Wow...thanks so much Ski for this De-Reconstruction!!! So cool and well done!!! :D

[@donaldkennedy1701]

That nueral mix plugin looks incredibly useful

[@fredericdicrasto5826]

Great as usual !

[@CPowerslave]

Amazing

[@oliw3664]

He's back! Yes, Ski!

[@technikmonstertm]

Nice Video 😉👍

[@alifnaufal]

what a timeless classic.

[@Dagardmusic]

groove is in the heart

[@VestanPance2007]

Fantastic 💯💯💯

[@utr2-h6u]

This is awesome deconstruction

[@christhescientist]

This was a great breakdown! Thanks for this video

[@OfficialTravvyTrav]

13:30 there’s still something missing

[@peetey249]

Simply brilliant.

[@hollyboop5631]

Amazing job!

[@PaulVideos-g3w]

This was fantastic!!!

[@Gravensteiner]

Very cool job

[@henrysilkysmooth]

Lovvvve this so much

[@grime_garage]

Mixing Gypsy woman with Alison Limerick "getting it right" is a joy for me

[@carloskale6596]

Ficou quase perfeito com a original, Show!!

[@FuranGameplays]

Ski, make a twitch channel. It would be the only channel I would pay to see

[@Moolanescu]

I did a remake using a Korg EMX 1, a Korg X5 and a Digitakt. The most difficult part for me was the bass line, but you absolutely nailed it! 👌 😍

[@pointblankmusicschool]

We'd love to hear it!

[@Moolanescu]

@@pointblankmusicschool, here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/laSqZp2ta5dqarssi=izNlcNGfhDJqj6-C Thanks for replying! 😊

[@Moolanescu]

​, btw I was literally watching your Late Night Ambient sounds w/ Sonic Charge's Synplant while you replied to my comment? How crazy is that? 🤯

[@onis]

Is there a reason you did the bass an octave higher? Just so it's easier to hear? With it lower it fills up a bunch of the bottom end and gives it that nice pulse. Also there is a constant bell chime in the original version mixed with some other percussion. I understand it's hard to get all of that, but it really adds a lot to the space in the song.

[@Sinnersainthuman]

haven’t seen Ski since my BA with pointblank.

[@edwardtoal]

my favourite new KZbin discovery!

[@meninodg]

thanks for sharing your knowledge, man! And that jam at the end 🤯

[@MrNarcan]

Really well done, man. Bravo!

[@fancycicada7274]

2:20 One mistake in the main theme. On the part 4/8 It should be G1-G1-C2-C2-C2 not G1-G1-C2-C2-C#2

[@macdaddybender]

That's such a fantastic track. Quite honestly, I could sit here at listen to you remix this in realtime all day long.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Please check out some of our other deconstructions if you haven't already.

[@frusio]

What a brilliant Maestro!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@efx4u]

Awesome deconstruction video, awesome song ! 🤩

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks for watching.

[@unclemick-synths]

Great video 👍

[@carlix1112]

Can't go wrong with the classics really.

[@steviefn2typer]

Class song and talented guy! Love it

[@adriansmithmusic]

That macbook has seen better days! Surprised the screen still works with it missing a corner! Excellent recreation as always.

[@skioakenfull]

Haha - that's actually a protective plastic case for my pristine M1 MacBook Pro 😀It's been taking the hits!

[@edwardacki7122]

Anthem, good work !!!

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Tunnnne!