The Take You Hated is the One That Moved Me

Hey there,

Let me tell you something I’ve learned the hard way in the studio:

The take you hate is often the one that moves someone else.

It’s wild. You’re sitting there, listening back to a vocal, wincing at a phrase that cracked a bit, or a line where you didn’t quite land on the pitch you wanted. Meanwhile, the
person next to you—producer, musician, friend—says, “That one. That’s the one.”

And you’re thinking, "Are you kidding me? That one?!"

But they’re not necessarily wrong.

I know from my own experience that my first takes are usually where the bulk of my ‘final’ vocals come from. The ones that get released. Why? Because for me, when I start over thinking, over trying, over singing, the take loses a little bit of honesty, it loses spontaneity. When I do take, after take, after take… the vocals typically, on the whole, don’t improve. Even using the word ‘improve’ is a dangerous thing. Because, once I start analysing and ‘improving’…. I’ve killed the thing.

Why this matters (even outside the studio)

This isn’t just about recording vocals. It’s about our obsession with fixing things until they’re dead. It’s about control. Perfection. The fear of being seen before we’ve Photoshopped ourselves into someone we’re not.

I’ve seen singers chase a ‘flawless’ take for hours, only to end up with something technically fine but completely lifeless. We polish all the soul out of the thing.

The truth is, what people connect with isn’t your technical control. It’s your intention. Your feeling. The thing you were actually trying to say underneath all the vocal warmups and perfect mic technique.

When the mess really is the magic…

I once had a student text me after a performance saying, “I forgot a verse, went off pitch, and panicked halfway through. I thought it was a disaster. But three people came up to me crying and it wasn’t because they thought I’d done a horrible job.”

That’s it, right there.

The take you hated? It was real. It was alive. It wasn’t perfect, but it made people feel something.

So what do we do with this?

Here’s my take:

- Don’t delete your first takes right away. Some of your best stuff lives in the rawest takes. Save the takes and come back to listen tomorrow. When we record vocals, we are in creating mode. You can’t edit and create at the same time.
- Listen back with fresh ears. Not your “I’m-my-own-worst-critic” ears. Real ears. Human ones. 24 hours, 48 hours later ears.
- Trust your people. If someone tells you a take moved them, even if you hated it—pause before tossing it.
- Practice letting go. The more you can stop gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles, the more you’ll actually arrive.

Want to stop chasing perfect and sing with more freedom? Book a private voice lesson or check out my upcoming Vocal Freedom Workshop in Canberra (or online). https://lisarichardsmusic.com/private-voice-lessons

Working on a song and second-guessing yourself?  Book in for some one on one coaching or join my next Songwriting Course and learn how to write raw, real, and meaningful songs—even if they start messy.