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.

George Michael- a great voice

George Michael- a great voice

I caught an old Wham! song on the radio yesterday and was so excited because it made me think a a more youthful time for myself.  But better, it made me think of how spectacular hearing his voice is. I mean, he just has one of those voices.  Remember Everything She Wants or Careless Whisper.  Those were classic displays of vocal charm and talent.

From the beginning, it was clear that George Michael would leave Wham! for a solo career.  It was also clear that his charm wasn't just the pop music and sex symbol status that he acquired but it was the talent both as a songwriter and better his talent as a singer that will be his mark to music.

His debut solo album was smash hit worldwide. Faith was a strong debut.  It was filled with I Want Your Sex, Faith, and Monkey which were solid hits.  The latter two went to No. 1 on the charts.  The commercial success and great pop vocals were definitely there on those songs, but its One More Try and Father Figure where you hear his voice lessons and singing with emotion come alive.

The ballads show his real vocal chops.  He is a master at emotional singing and his artistry with vocal savvy phrasing.  Its hard to know how to improve singing with practice but Michael sure makes it's seem effortless. His does not look like he has to practice, but as an true vocal artist you can tell he must.

He has the ability to capture all the soul and life experience as he sings on those tracks.  It was so awesome to hear him on the radio last week belting a familiar tune.  It made met think of the latter years where George Michael really laid a great vocal list of tracks.

His 2nd effort was a cry to be viewed as an artist and the pop tracks definitely get under your skin and continue to showcase his voice.  Songs like Freedom '90 and Too Funky and Waiting for that Day were hits, but Michael lost a portion of the fanfare he gathered from the early years.

As Michael continued to seek artist validation Older  LP were released with led track Jesus to a Child.  It was a melancholy tribute that is nearly 7 minutes long and beautifully song; it invokes a time when singers sing with emotion and the definition of how to sing high notes.

Through his long career and many controversy, my favorite album and tracks are on the Patience LP.  Here George Michael finally has an album where the blend of pop and ballad is less obvious.  It has the vocal talents of an experienced professional.  And it does not disappoint with the same emotion and sentiment that makes Michael unique.

If you listen to Amazing, Cars and Trains and Round Here, you find Michael at he very best.

Now if you want to hear Michael you can get information and free downloads from his website.

Cheers to George Michael who is a pop vocalist and not a pop star.  Cheers showing male vocalist how to improve your singing by not letting the fame and fortune go to your head, by continuing the practice of artistry.


T

Little known fact... Wham! was the first Western artist to embark on a China explosion tour that was documented by the film Foreign Skies: Wham! in China.

What happened to the Stereophonics?

What happened to the Stereophonics?

Where did they go?  In the fall of 2001, one the bands to watch was the Stereophonics.  They had a minor hit on rock stations with Mr Writer and then a heavy rotation with Have a Nice Day.  MTV and VH1 amply named them artist to watch for.  There was a promise of something good with this band.

There was hope and promise that they might continue to usher in the new way of rock music.  They were blending rock, soul and in small chunks country music sentiment.

They seemed to have a great future in America and with a few well made videos that seemed to understand the marketing strategy of music.  But most importantly, the lead singer Kelly Jones has the rock voice.

It's not loud and rambunctious.  It is actually soft and smooth.  There is  raspy or critics have said "whisky" voice that is very soothing and ease to listen and absorb.

Face it, the voice defines the band and this band a a rapsy soulful sound that is both interesting and engaging.

As a welsh band with strong roots in blues and soul, Stereophonics seemed to blend musical genres in a cool and different way.  They had much more success in the UK than America.

Their third LP Just Enough Education to Perform is definitely a triumph.  It's a great piece of work with great rock vocals.  Lead singer Kelly Jones has a raspy voice that seems to sooth your soul.  It's hard to sing with that raspy voice and have control as well.

He seems to be able to balance both the raspy and the well sung.  The tough thing is that he allows his voice to move in and out of that raspy rock sound to a more controlled smooth voice.

In their most successful single Dakota, Kelly demonstrates his vocal talent the most. What's so good about this song is his ability to deliver the sentiment.  Really that is the other great trait of his voice.  He has a unique soft sentiment that lingers and holds the attention while telling the story and conjuring a sadness that is thoughtful, sweet and remorseful.

Kelly Jones is definitely a good vocalist that is underrated in rock music. He is not given credit for his vocal talents for being able to move in and out of raspy voice and controlled sound and make it seem so effortless.

Only time will tell if the story for the Stereophonics is over in America.  It only takes the one song and the right package at the right time to bring a resurgence in interest.  I think if it does happen as it has for other bands, America will be able to embrace the soulful talents of a rock band worth it's weight.

Thomas

Famous for Four Notes- Madonna endures despite her vocal challenges...

Madonna in Sex Book

Famous for Four Notes- Madonna endures despite her vocal challenges 

It has been argued over time that Madonna is not so much a singer but a phenomenon. She is a force that has changed the face of music and reinvented marketing strategies for business in general.  She used her voice as an advocate rather than focus her time with achieving notes and great singing.  

She entertains and challenges our beliefs while defying the expectations set for women, singers or a whatever label you try to put on her.

It has been joked and proven true that Madonna sings at about an octave, her songs live in the four notes area.  (Test this theory!!! Sing any Madonna song and listen. There will only be the same four notes for any phrase from any song she has sang.)

Madonna is not a perfect voice, but not every star has to be a great singer.  

Looking back at her career, in 1982 when Madonna released her Burning Up Lp which was an instant sensation on MTV.   Madonna was sassy and full of life; she even showed some promise as a singer. In fact, her "Everybody" rack was released without a picture so that black radio would play the track.  Many people thought Madonna was black since she had an urban sound.

From the early days, Madonna sang with a true grit and sensual nature that can be likened to an R&B soul singer.  Her backing vocals are typically done by N'dea Davenport, Nikki and  Donna in the early days.  These ladies provided a soulful edge to Madonna's girlie whimsical voice.  It wasn't until True Blue LP that Madonna started sharing the more mature side of her voice.

I think Madonna has only connected to the fringe music like Urban music, dance and club music. She also enjoys the stories that songs tell as she has always taken an active role in writing her own music.

 1983

At the peak of her new found fame, Madonna embodies the new woman.

The infamous cone bra.

One thing that about Madonna that very few people seem to connect is her constant use and love for R&B music.  Her first albums had an R&B edge as well as the last such as Music, Hard Candy, and Bedtime Stories. Over and over again, she has used soulful top selling producers to give her that street edge and soul to her music.   She has worked with artists and producers from Babyface to Dallas Austin to Missy Elliott to Timberland to Justine Timberlake to the Neptunes.

I think Madonna is smart to connect to soulful music because her true vocal talent is limited. Not only does she package the music well.  But when you listen to it, she tells you the story as only she can.

However, as much as i respect her as an artist, the truth is her talent is limited vocally and about four notes is all she is actually able to produce.  Sure, Evita can along and she was smart to take voice lessons and practice more with her voice.  And yes, a few of the songs she worked very hard to shed the image of "not a singer" just a brand.

But, I dare you take the test and sing any Madonna song.  You will find that every phrase in every song surrounds four notes.  Try Like a Virgin, Try any song and you get the same result. Four notes.

But the great thing about Madonna is she has never claimed to be a quality vocalist. But what she does offer is the package as a singer.  She connects to the audience in a highly emotional way.  This is an amazing trait to have a singer, but Madonna proves that range does not outweigh heart.

Madonna still has a sexy body. 

Madonna is always regal.


Only time will tell if Madonna the singer will endure but we know the phenomenon will.

She entertains and challenges our beliefs while defying the expectations. She has broken millions of records as an artist and made billions of dollars as a brand.  In 2009, her tour grossed 409 million dollars.  And live, well let's just say Madonna is not the best live artist vocally.

But she connects to the audience, we feel her music is coming from her soul.  Madonna is giving it her best.  When she sings she becomes one with the words and the hope that the music sets her and us free.  And for a moment it does.

The truth is every vocalist is not a great singer but with heart you can feel their message as if it is from a great soul singer.

Madonna is not perfect, but there isn't a greater star than her.


Thomas

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