Who is Richgirl?

Every generation has it's boy band or female ensemble group.  From The Supremes to Destiny's Child, we have loved and grown with our favorite girl group; we've even watched a house burn down, a solo star be born and girls come and go in the same group.  

But we can always use a great girl group who has a fire and tenacity that is spunky, fun and powerful.  Women do rule the world.  And if any female group is worth taking the crown of En Vogue and TLC while remaining sophisticated ladies, it's RICHGIRL.  

Their harmonies and sheer vocal talent is amazing.  They can sing, no sang live and each girl is a good soloist. This girl's really know how to sing.

RICHGIRL is currently touring in Europe. I need this group to make it here next.  I love them and can't wait for their success.

Florence and the Machine

I really want to like this band but their performance on SNL makes it real hard.


It's like they were out of tune, like she couldn't hear the choir in the background.  She was so pitchy.  This normal when she performs.

It would be crazy not to mention that this band is coming to the annual Memphis in May concert weekend. I guess i should give them another try.

But I am a little nervous after that SNL performance.  I will say Florence has a knack for singing high notes and has an incredible range.  I just wonder if it's more studio magic.

Missing Whitney Houston

After watching the funeral and hearing all the coverage on the news, I am still trying to understand this loss.  Whitney Houston had the voice of an angel.

I mean, let's face it it is always okay to say you were a Whitney Houston fan.  And when you heard her sing it was hard to pretend it wasn't cool or great.

Great love songs and dance tracks will live on in our hearts.

I think it you are looking for any singing tips, you have to start with Whitney as the first lesson.

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KARMIN- if you hadn't heard, let me be the first to introduce you.

Karmin is that unique band that you will be recalling when you heard them first. And man does this chic have some pipes.

I mean I if you missed the incredible SNL performance this weekend, watch and learn how to debut.  They killed it.

What a performance.  Can anyone say Robyn?

They really made a stamp on this one.

Solange, more than a sista!!!

Solange

Can she be the most beautiful girl in the world

The many faces of a soul sista, Solange

The truth is I have loved Solange since her first song, Feelin' You.  I think she is a talent that is very underrated.  I am still jamming her latest CD- Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams.

Solange is more a soprano than her ultra famous sibling Beyonce.  And definitely a better writer and artist.  Beyonce is a great entertainer performer and has many talents; Beyonce appeals to the masses more.  

Solange is no less a talent but has a more narrow appeal.  As a soprano and live singer, you realize she has the ability to sing high notes that are harder for her sister. Listen to T.O.N.Y. on the last album.

In all actuality, both singers can hit the high notes but Solange voice is smoother on the high notes.  She is an example of how to sing high notes because her voice is truly soft and sweet and melodious. 

Solange is more than just a sister to Beyonce, she is a writer, director, DJ, performer and actress.  I for one can't wait to see her deliver more music and give us her beautiful voice.

Right now, Solange has been DJ to the stars all over the world.  But I can't wait til she sits back in the studio and make more magic. 

                                                                                 

Where is the BOSS? That's Ms. ROSS!!!

the definitive Ms. Ross

the beautiful icon

 Known for changing gowns throughout a show.  Ms. Ross is the Boss.

Diana Has not always been the best singer.  But she is a great performer.  In fact, she doesn't need singing tips, she just turns the microphone to the audience to sing if she forgets a word or it's too high of a high note for older voice.

 I got to see her about 2 years ago in a Live series.  She blew the crowd away with her timeless songs and extravagant looks,  

The question is will she or won't she have another album or tour.  Ross has accomplished so much that she doesn't have to do another thing but i can hope.

I look forward to the next Diana experience whatever might come to us.  

I 've always been a big fan.  

Love After War- Robin Thicke

I was so excited when I got this CD that I hadn't really listened to it when I made my first blog about Robin Thicke.  But if you haven't heard Love After War, you are missing out on something very special.

When Robin sings it's as if he is singing to you or about you.  It's like you get a special listen to a love letter.  It goes without saying any guy wanting to impress his lady should just pick a song and and dedicate it to his lady.   You will get major points, I promise.

If I were giving singing tips, I would suggest listen to Robin Thicke to find out where soul starts and ends.  He sings about what he knows so it is so authentic.

I bet he he gave singing tips, it would to start with this album. It's 20 songs worth every cent.

New Edition- classic and sanging

New Edition- Classic R&B, Just a Sanging

They are coming to town....

Can't wait to see if they still got it.  I am going whether I have to scalp tickets or not.  I wonder if Ralph Trezvant still has that great tenor voice.  We know Johnnie Gill can blow.   

But as a group can they still stand the rain? Inquiring minds want to know.

I had a dream with Beyonce

I Had a Dream with Beyonce....


Okay, It wasn't that kind of dream.  What had happened was....

I was the set of her new video.  As a model and background dancer for Beyonce, I was desperately trying to win favor with the illustrious Destiny's Child lead singer.

I worked my way into her inner circle, to find out she is a cool girl.  She just seemed like a bitch because she was like so many of us keeping people way by seeming more aloof and more evil so people would not all try to befriend her.

So at the end of the dream the video was a success.  Her voice was phenomenal of course. and yes, even in my dreams she seemed perfect.

I have to admit, she seemed a little too perfect.  I think my plan in the the dream was to infiltrate her inner circle and expose her for- .....  That's the problem ever time i have the dream i don't know what to expose her for.  She's to perfect. Great vocalist. Great performer. Great live singer. Pretty. Beautiful. (not so great actress, but she is a movie star, sort of.)

Oh well, Beyonce til next time. I will figure out your weakness.

Rihanna- do we really like her?

Rihanna- Do We Really Like Her?  

I know we enjoy her music mostly and we like to find who she's sleeping with or home wrecking lately, but what do we really think of her voice?

I really want to like Rihanna, but the truth is i have a hard time time enjoying her completely.  The songs come out and its hard not to sing along or listen to it loud. 

Rihanna has a great sense of style and song selection.  I typically like what i see and the songs are fun.

Her collaborations are bankable. Enimem, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj and Jay-Z are just a few of the talents that run to Rihanna first to sing the hook.  (Remember she is label mates and with most of the top collaborates, thus they have a vested interest in promoting her.)

So let's get into.  What do we really think of her voice,  the funky sounds that are primal and Caribbean, the artistry of her sound?  What do we really think of the live performances?

The truth is whether you like Rihanna or not as a person or star, which i don't, you can't help but recognize that she has talent vocally.  Not in the Madonna, I can sing along way, but in a way that takes a vocal coach and voice lessons.

Rihanna is not the best singer, but she does give her audience more than just a few notes, when she's not badly dancing she delivers a very near sound like her records. She knows how to sing.  And could give her friends' Katy Perry and gang singing tips.

I admit for the last time Rihanna maybe we do like her a tiny bit.

Sutton Foster- the Voice of Musical Theater

I am still stuck on watching the clip on youtube for Anything Goes.  It's so great, there are no words.  The funny thing is her rise to fame and success is nothing short of amazing.  She has originated roles on Broadway and more importantly won 2 Tonys and nominated several other times.

Anything Goes, Foster delivers her triple threat awesomeness more than any other. I mean its so amazing here breathing and singing.  She dances, taps, jumps around and still delivers an amazing voice.

It's no wonder Foster is the golden child of Broadway.

My only regret is I haven't gotten a chance to see her in person.  But the showcase on YouTube shows just how amazing her talent is.  Her singing and breathing and tapping are extraordinary.

Excited to see what she'll do next.

It's about time for a new Robin Thicke LP

Robin Thicke- Love After War

I just bought Robin Thicke's latest album.  So far the songs are growing on me, his voice is more mature and still so soulful.  this effort comes with the simultaneous release of his wife's, Paula Patton's, new movie Mission Impossible.

Watch the video, it's extra hot and they both are edging for best looking couple in America.

Back to the music.  If you think about Thicke has had quite a journey in music.  His first album was a rock/ Jimmy Hendrix-esque effort that produced a major hit, but his image and long hair and his race didn't move him into the hearts of the massive R&B audience.

With the Evolution of Robin Thicke, he struck gold with Lost Without You.  The album was a beautiful traditional R&B love album.  Now, on his fifth effort it is clear, Thicke is continuing to push both the classic R7B sound and the more rock/ harder edge sound.

What is also clear is the man has chops.  He does not need any singing tips.  He should be showing, no schooling us how to sing  and how to sing high notes and even how to sing falsetto.  He does it with such as ease.

By the way, I saw him live in the Beyonce tour.  His voice blew me away.  The man is seriously talented.

Not sure yet, how Love and War will stack up to his first two albums, but I am already craving a few tracks, All Tied Up, An Angel On Each Arm and especially Love After War.

til next time.

Maxwell-an underrated Marvin Gaye

Maxwell- an underrated Marvin Gaye

If Maxwell is to ever truly get the credit he deserves, he will be listed as one of the best vocalists in music history. He can do things with his voice only a vocal coach can to help with.

What makes Maxwell stand out is his ability to evoke emotion while singing. He makes you fell every word that is being said. It is magical because he is transferring you the listener to another place. You feel the singing with emotion as if you are there.

Songs like This Woman's Work and Pretty wings are great examples of both vocal talents and singing with emotion. Maxwell balances his strong falsetto and mmix voice with a deep baritone that resonates and makes you wish you culled sing like that.

If You really wanna know my opinion is Maxwell is the best male vocalist is music. He is able todo things with his voice that many men cannot. He is like Marvin Gaye because only Maxwell really sings from his soul and makes you wanna have sex, feel his longing and pains and makes you wanna make a difference all in one.

If you ever want to sound like a singer, Maxwell is where it starts.

Rocking Robyn

Did you see Robyn on SNL?

She was amazing, it was a tour-de-force.  Robyn did her thing on the show.  I have enjoyed Robyn's music for awhile now and have claimed that her voice is very special.  But now watching her perform it is clear why very vocals are so strong.

She is an emotive singer, she does not play around about being in the moment as she sings.  Okay, so her moves where like she was dancing in her living room or Napoleon Dynamite.  but, what ever the case it was thrilling, unique and all from the heart.

Like her music,  her performance was intoxicating.  Robyn is singing with feeling, she is singing with emotion and a sense that the music will set you free.  after all, isn't that why we listen to music.

If you don't have the essential latest effort from Robyn, run and get it.

Maroon 5

Maroon 5

Face it, I love Adam Levine. It's hard not too whether you are gay or straight. The dude is hot and he gets all the hottest women like Jagger. Funny that.

Also, a few weeks ago Maroon 5 was on SNL and they were great. Adam showed how well he could sing live. It's not every artist nowadays who can sing in a live venue.  Levine didn't have any signs that singing and breathing were a problem.  Even on the Victoria Secret Show, Maroon 5 were in great vocal shape.

Its great to see an artist breathing and singing and moving around, really entertaining the crowd and still sound not winded or off pitch.

if there is any indication why the band has kept going and kept moving forward, it is the talents of Adam Levine as his voice beautiful and has an ease about it that is not normal for most singers.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry- I love her, but she sing live not so much

Live performance is key to vocal authority. Does Katy Perry have the vocal authority to be both a great performer and singer?

Katy Perry is a force to be reckoned with.  As the music business is changing and sales are changing, Perry is crafting a success that is global and smart.  She stays under the radar by not being too controversial or too pop or too much of anything. She seems to be doing just enough.

She uses the media well without over saturation.  She just had 5 number ones from her last release, Teenage Dream.  Her videos and performances are so exciting and monumental. She is on the bark of becoming one the most influential artists in music.

Creativity and songwriting she has proven. however she has struggled on the live performance. The Victoria Secret show last year where she sang live was a great spectacles but lacked the vocal range of her recordings. At the debut of her album, Perry did a live concert on David Letterman.  Again, she could have used a few singing tips and work with a vocal coach to make sure she matched the record.

I have never seen a solid live performance from Katy.  I think she be served by voice lessons and vocal instruction.

When you listen to Perry on the radio or the computer, you are inclined to move, dance and sing along.  Her music is infectious and thoughtful because at it's core we can relate.  I just wish that emotion and skill were more evident in the live performance.

P.S. i just started following Katy Perry on twitter.  She is supercool.

Missing Shania Twain

Shania Twain is and was the best selling country music female star. She stormed onto the country music scene in the the late 90s and ushered country pop all around the world. She is a brilliant and gorgeous pop star but her depth as a singer songwriter is her true beauty. She has a once in a lifetime quality that makes her relevant today and tomorrow.

When you listen to her slow songs, you hear how to sing high and how to sing high notes.  She is just so smooth and sweet, it melts your heart. It's not just the singing with emotion, it's the feeling behind her voice.

She has a clever, naughty sex appeal in her voice that is both loving and sad.  You feel what she feels.  You are just as vulnerable, or just as in love.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SING WITH FEELING.

Songs like, Woman in Me, You're still the One, I'm Jealous, I Ain't Going Down are just a few examples of the singing with feeling that enters your soul and won't let go.

Her recent news in the headlines tells of her private journey that is sad and triumphant.  I hope there is so great music that will come from her past few tumultuous years.

I just looked up her fan page and was she is performing at Las Vegas this winter for the next two years.

I will be there Ms. Twain.

Chris Brown- dancer or singer

 

Chris Brown - dancer or singer

I have to say that I honestly enjoy Chris Brown. He's a fun kid that seems to have endless energy. In fact, the music is so contagious that I find myself giving everything he does a try.

But the question always remains is he a dancer or singer. I refuse to argue he might be both. Michael Jackson was both. But everyone else pales in comparison. So Brown is no different. He is either a dancer or a singer.

And judging by his live performances as a late, he is leaning to being a better dancer than singer.  He tends to record a lot of his live performances.  But I will say I was Chris Brown live is very good.  I was him on his first headline tour.  If i were to give a him a free singing tip I would suggest he continue the live spots he did in the first tour.

It was impressive and exciting to see a pop performer sing live.  If this tend does not continue, I am afraid Brown will never live up to his Michael Jackson wish.  He will simply be a a dancer.

Foster the People- My New Crush

Foster the People

I have a new band crush. And yes, they may end up as a fad. Normally, I would reject any notion of a fake pop indie band but this group is fun and delightful. Surprisingly I am moved by their latest effort and their singing with emotion.

On Saturday Night Live, Foster the People gave a noteworthy performance; their energy was electric. Their belief in the music made the audience more enthusiastic. There was singing with emotion and maracas playing and head bobbing that was infectious.


Their music is a mix of rock,alternative and dance/ euro electronica but they somehow make it more than just a odd blend of music.

After this performance my respect grew so I checked out YouTube and found several live performances. Foster the People is that unique band that is just fun to watch. My crush on this band is both because they are an attractive group but also they are so entertaining.  It's fun to have a musical crush every now and then.

This is definitely the band to watch. Check out their smash hit, Pumped Up Kicks.  I know this is not my normal singing with emotion type of artist, but emotional singing is not always slow music.

I just hope the crush on the music does not wear thin.  Til then I will enjoy the radio play and getting to know this band.
Thomas

DO NO PASS GO. GO STRAIGHT TO NINA SIMONE.

DO NOT PASS GO. GO STRAIGHT TO NINA SIMONE.

DJ Shuffle with my ITunes Library is sometimes on point. When he gets it right with my mood, i am surprised and delighted, and I am always in the mood for Nina Simone.  

And I have to tell you to run, leap, do whatever you have to to hear her voice.

Nina Simone is like a requirement for music listeners as they are of a certain level of development.  Like the converse tennis shoe is a staple for the male wardrobe, Nina is part of the fabric of your closet, the make of your identity.  And if like me you did not grow up listening to her the good news is she shows you how to sing and how to sing well in minutes.

When her anthology first was listed in GQ, I thought here's a descent album with maybe a few songs to help put me in the know.  I really thought i was sampling a wine that i might never acquire a taste for.  But I trusted the recommendation and played song after song. Singing with feeling does not even bring to  describe her methods.

Simone uses singing with feeling to charter new ground, she sings about black pride and revolution while delivering a soulful jazz that is unparalleled.

Simone is part of the American story, the landscape.  She is the ultimate musician singer songwriter.  And If you don't have her on your play list then you will never have DJ shuffle force you into singing with feeling and emotion.

DO NOT PASS GO. GO STRAIGHT TO NINA SIMONE.