Michael Sarver’s New Single, “You Are”

His voice kind of reminds me of Garth Brooks. It’s nice. I agree the song tends to meander. Christian music seems to suit him more than country.

He has a very nice voice, and this seems very warm and heartfelt…
Wish him good luck!

Michael has been writing songs since he was 14

So is he starting in chronological order?

Wow, the song is so cheesy.

A little editing on the song lyrics, would allow the melody to flow and this could be a pretty song. It’s a bit of a mess right now.

Studio57
10/31/2009 at 4:30 pm

Michael has been writing songs since he was 14

So is he starting in chronological order?

*rimshot*

Michael dear, kerosene will not light your fire but it can fuel it.

He has a very nice voice but this song is too plodding and rambling. He would do well to work with someone to learn how to edit. It’s like a way too long letter that he doesn’t know how to end.

Other than that, I’m happy he’s found an outlet for his voice and ideas. I wish him well.

I think he has potential but I agree with mj that having a professional songwriter work with him would be a good thing. They’d be able to help him focus on telling the “story” or getting the point across without going too long or rambling within the lyrics.

I was hoping for a duet:

You are.
No, you are.
No, you.
You.
I said it first.
No, I said first.

Maybe that’s in the 14 yo version.

It was better than I thought it would be.
I didn’t have much in the way of expectations, but still… it doesn’t suck.

meh… it’s just aright for me, dawg.

when this was being discussed earlier in the Headlines thread, I thought it was Michael who had tweeted that he’d be recording with Dream Records. He did say he’d be going to LA and recording, but looks like it was Matthew Bennett with the Dream Center who was more specific.

MatthewBarnett: I was blown away by @michaelsarver1 song sang tonight.You won’t believe how incredible it was.Recording a single with Universal/dremrecords

Michael has a nice voice that has some power behind it and I like the vocals on this song but he does need someone to assist in polishing up the songs. This guy has potential to carve out a nice little career. I wish him all the best.

the lyrics are a bit cliche but his voice sounds great…very soothing…I liked it which for me was a pleasant surprise

I wonder how much Mr. Barnett is charging Mr. Sarver to make his dream of a “single” come true?

Idol also-rans are such easy marks.

Love his voice, love the melody, love the acoustic guitar. I agree that he could use some polishing up in the lyrics department. I do hope he will get together with some songwriters.

wow the first song i liked him singing.Great job i have to say never thought i would say that.

I kind of liked it. It wasn’t that bad at all. Need’s alittle polishing up thou. But very promising.

I totally agree he needs some pros to help him out, but now I actually think he deserves to get that shot. Still a bit pitchy dawg, but not bad.

It’s definitely pure Country/ Christian pop drivel, but at least he finally understands his audience.

It sounds a little off key to me, but he is trying thats what counts

I think his voice sounded great…and honestly though the song could use some tweaking it is better then a lot of the crap out there today…good job Michael…I think he deserves a shot!

I think Michael has a chance to have a pretty good career in music if he has a little more professional guidance. This song was a little too slow and soft for my taste–in the beginning. When he hit the part where he could put his power behind it, I liked it. I like his voice a lot. I hope he goes far since he loves entertaining so much and is such a nice guy.

I have posted on MJ’s before that Michael was my second favorite on Idol (behind Adam), then Anoop was my third favorite. Probably everyone has checked out his studio recordings of “You are not alone” and “Ain’t too proud to beg”. I like them, but am not a big fan of country music, so didn’t care for “Ain’t going down”. I bought the Season 8 CD and actually sometimes put the player on repeat for “You are not alone” when I am feeling it.

This is OT, but there is a clock counting down beside my Click to Edit, Request Deletion line in my post above. I never noticed this before. Someone mentioned this a couple of nights ago. Did we determine why this is there?

NVM about the clock. Late, but I got it!!!!

Ceddies, I liked Michael’s version of “You Are Not Alone” too. I bought at least one studio version from each of the kids, and that’s the one I picked from him. I like it and do play it sometimes. I think he has a very good voice, likeable personality and is a good looking guy.

I agree with others that the melody of this song is nice but it could use some work on the lyrics. I think it might help him to do a fairly extensive study of poetry, and really pay attention to how a poet uses words very precisely to create art in the reader’s mind as they experience it. When read out loud, the voice can add shadings of meaning to it. Song lyrics work exactly the same way, and it might help him to do this study and then look at his work in this context. Not that I am a songwriter by any means, but I think this would help.

Michael has a pleasant voice and with some tweeking this song could sound great. He definitely has some ability as a songwriter, but needs a little help like most.

Not bad at all!

Just went back up to take another listen, and get the message that “This video has been removed by user” I know it means it’s unavailable, but exactly who has removed it? Anyone know?

This one still works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfqW29Cr05g

I’m kind of meh about it. It’s not offensive, but there’s nothing about it that makes it stand out.

Thanks CathyMK

Listened again, still liking it pretty well. Live versions are not always my favorites anyway. This could clean up nicely in a studio.

Michael Sarver Signed With Dream Records/Universal Music Group

http://www.ainow.org/index.php/top-stories/1264-michael-sarver-signed-with-dream-recordsuniversal-music-group

AI Now has just got confirmation from Michael that he has signed a record deal! We are proud to announce that Michael has been signed to Dream Records/Universal Music Group! A formal announcement will be coming from the label “very soon.”

I have to admit, he really suprised me during the tour… He really did himself some good the way he performed. No doubt he was the biggest suprise. I’m a HUGE Adam fan… and I like Danny, Matt.. Anoop, but Michael will make it in Country.

I liked that. I’m a fan of alternative folk Christian music and I think he may fit in nicely in that genre. It didn’t have too much of a country twang. Dream Records may ramp up the production value, though. Their audience is youth and young adult mainly, so far.

Congrats Michael!

Ooh! I liked it. And his voice sounds really nice actually.

Idk I kind of assumed his songwriting would be crap but it’s not.

AI Now has just got confirmation from Michael that he has signed a record deal! We are proud to announce that Michael has been signed to Dream Records/Universal Music Group! A formal announcement will be coming from the label ‘very soon.’ 

Wow, I’m very happy for him. I really like Michael Sarver, he seems like such a great guy. I wasn’t feeling this song though at all. Some have mentioned that the recorded version may be better and I was thinking that earlier, as well as the fact that he was probably pretty nervous performing his own song for the first time. I do hope they have someone working with him on the writing aspect for the entire album.

His voice is beautiful, he should have sang like this on AI

I’m not totally positive it’s a deal for a full album release although that would be great for Michael if so. It may be for a single and some other tracks to see how it goes.
And I still kinda think this may not be the deal Michael was previously mentioning about a country music album. Dream Records has done well though with some other artists, so good for Michael in any event whether this is his primary direction or an alternate one to something else he had in mind that fell through.

I think its good. Just too many words at parts. It could use some editing for sure. On the other hand, you feel his connection to the song. Wish him the best.

I think it’s beautiful, and Michael has a nice voice for country, but I do think he loses pitch and that some more vocal lessons and practice will be well worth it in the long run for him and his career. Best of luck to Michael. Songwriting is a great gift.

I was not a Michael Sarver fan on Idol, but he is really sounding good here and it is obvious the song is heart felt. I think he will have a future in country music based on this. Some said it is too wordy, but isn’t that kind of the hallmark of country music? I mostly like rock and pop music, however I do like some country, but am not a true country fan. From what I know about country music Michael fits right into that genre. The fact that he can write songs (whether or not he needs help in this arena via collaboration with professional song writers I’ll leave to the experts) is a big, big plus. I hope he does well.

nice song!

I think it’s a little lengthy, it needs to be cut down a little, but I like it! I hope he has success with it.

It’s Ok but needs work. He still doesn’t have good stage presence. I was getting dizzy watching that mic go from hand to hand. He def. needs a vocal coach and a stylist to work with him. I really wasn’t that impressed. There are dozens out there that sound like him. Sorry…but that’s my opinion …..

I agree with mistyluv7… It is ok but needs work on song and delivery. His voice sounds nice but I don’t think he has the “IT-factor”. … I liked it better when I just listened to him and didn’t watch the video part. And the song is too long for radio…

While I can appreciate the effort that went into penning a simple, sweet love song (aww, Sarver’s a softie), he lost me at kerosene. Cuz technically, kerosene doesn’t light fires. You can have a whole gallon of kerosene sitting there and while it’s highly flammable, it will not burn without being ignited by a match or spark producing device, etc. “The kerosene that fuels my fire” would have been better, though personally, I don’t find being metaphorically likened to a noxious, stinky gas to be particularly romantic. Sorry dude, but I’m sure your lady knows it’s the thought that counts. ~humming~ you’re the toaster oven that warms my bread, the room service that makes my bed….you hold the charge, that jump starts my heart…

Needs a lil tweaking. Needs to stick country the whole way thru, he was throwing in some R&B vocals that kinda fell flat and didnt fit. Its got a nice vibe, and i like the simpleness of it. With the fixes i could hear this on a radio rotation.

This has potential – I do like his voice but the song needs some tweaking. I like the high parts.

There is potential there….someone pick him up & guide him!

AMAZING! I love hearing him sing and can not wait for his album!!!!

A wee bit long but very, very nice. I’m happy for you Michael.

I like it….very country feeling. I think he could do very well in that genre. The biggest problem with AI is everyone gets caught up in their favourite (in my case Adam) and close their minds to the competition….at least I do. Mike has a great voice. I missed that in the show. I hope he has the career that he wants because he is very talented.