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More American Idol
Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different choirs.
One choir did an old spiritual, and the soloist stepped right up to the
mike and proceeded to suck the heart and soul right out of it with a
typical American-Idol solo, full of the chirpy,
slide-into-every-note-so-I-don't-have-to-hit-a-precise-pitch, yodeling
and howling that passes as singing these days in the minds of AI's
audience. The "Vocal Jazz" group did three pure-pop-dreck tunes with a
series of solos that Simon would have torn to pieces, and then finished
with a Broadway-show-tune-style rendition of "Mack the Knife." But not
a single note of jazz, none at all. It was painful.
When they stuck to traditional choral music, where there was no
temptation to go pop, they were fantastic. But you give a young singer
the opportunity to solo these days, and you're going to hear the same
awful caterwauling you can hear any night on American Idol. It's a sad
thing.
music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different choirs.
One choir did an old spiritual, and the soloist stepped right up to the
mike and proceeded to suck the heart and soul right out of it with a
typical American-Idol solo, full of the chirpy,
slide-into-every-note-so-I-don't-have-to-hit-a-precise-pitch, yodeling
and howling that passes as singing these days in the minds of AI's
audience. The "Vocal Jazz" group did three pure-pop-dreck tunes with a
series of solos that Simon would have torn to pieces, and then finished
with a Broadway-show-tune-style rendition of "Mack the Knife." But not
a single note of jazz, none at all. It was painful.
When they stuck to traditional choral music, where there was no
temptation to go pop, they were fantastic. But you give a young singer
the opportunity to solo these days, and you're going to hear the same
awful caterwauling you can hear any night on American Idol. It's a sad
thing.
On 15 May, 10:26, Brian Running <brunn...@XXameritechXX.net> wrote:
> Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
> music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different cho=
irs.
>
> One choir did an old spiritual, and the soloist stepped right up to the
> mike and proceeded to suck the heart and soul right out of it with a
> typical American-Idol solo, full of the chirpy,
> slide-into-every-note-so-I-don't-have-to-hit-a-precise-pitch, yodeling
> and howling that passes as singing these days in the minds of AI's
> audience. The "Vocal Jazz" group did three pure-pop-dreck tunes with a
> series of solos that Simon would have torn to pieces, and then finished
> with a Broadway-show-tune-style rendition of "Mack the Knife." But not
> a single note of jazz, none at all. It was painful.
>
> When they stuck to traditional choral music, where there was no
> temptation to go pop, they were fantastic. But you give a young singer
> the opportunity to solo these days, and you're going to hear the same
> awful caterwauling you can hear any night on American Idol. It's a sad
> thing.
Bot only on American Idol but on nearly every rendition of The
National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
TS
> Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
> music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different cho=
irs.
>
> One choir did an old spiritual, and the soloist stepped right up to the
> mike and proceeded to suck the heart and soul right out of it with a
> typical American-Idol solo, full of the chirpy,
> slide-into-every-note-so-I-don't-have-to-hit-a-precise-pitch, yodeling
> and howling that passes as singing these days in the minds of AI's
> audience. The "Vocal Jazz" group did three pure-pop-dreck tunes with a
> series of solos that Simon would have torn to pieces, and then finished
> with a Broadway-show-tune-style rendition of "Mack the Knife." But not
> a single note of jazz, none at all. It was painful.
>
> When they stuck to traditional choral music, where there was no
> temptation to go pop, they were fantastic. But you give a young singer
> the opportunity to solo these days, and you're going to hear the same
> awful caterwauling you can hear any night on American Idol. It's a sad
> thing.
Bot only on American Idol but on nearly every rendition of The
National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
TS
> Bot only on American Idol but on nearly every rendition of The
> National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
Oh, God, ain't that true? I usually turn it off before they get to,
"o'er the land of the free-eeeeeeeeeee!"
> National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
Oh, God, ain't that true? I usually turn it off before they get to,
"o'er the land of the free-eeeeeeeeeee!"
Brian Running <brunning@XXameritechXX.net> wrote:
>> Bot only on American Idol but on nearly every rendition of The
>> National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
>
> Oh, God, ain't that true? I usually turn it off before they get to,
> "o'er the land of the free-eeeeeeeeeee!"
I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows and
practice some licks during the anthem.
>> Bot only on American Idol but on nearly every rendition of The
>> National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
>
> Oh, God, ain't that true? I usually turn it off before they get to,
> "o'er the land of the free-eeeeeeeeeee!"
I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows and
practice some licks during the anthem.
RichL wrote:
> I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows and
> practice some licks during the anthem.
Just so long as you're standing at attention while you do so. ;~)
> I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows and
> practice some licks during the anthem.
Just so long as you're standing at attention while you do so. ;~)
DGDevin <dgdevin@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> RichL wrote:
>
>> I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows and
>> practice some licks during the anthem.
>
> Just so long as you're standing at attention while you do so. ;~)
Depends on who's singing!
> RichL wrote:
>
>> I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows and
>> practice some licks during the anthem.
>
> Just so long as you're standing at attention while you do so. ;~)
Depends on who's singing!
RichL wrote:
>>> I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows
>>> and practice some licks during the anthem.
>>
>> Just so long as you're standing at attention while you do so. ;~)
>
> Depends on who's singing!
And whether she's had a wardrobe malfunction.
>>> I always keep an instrument by my side when watching sports shows
>>> and practice some licks during the anthem.
>>
>> Just so long as you're standing at attention while you do so. ;~)
>
> Depends on who's singing!
And whether she's had a wardrobe malfunction.
TS wrote:
> On 15 May, 10:26, Brian Running <brunn...@XXameritechXX.net> wrote:
>> Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
>> music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different choirs.
>>
>> One choir did an old spiritual, and the soloist stepped right up to the
>> mike and proceeded to suck the heart and soul right out of it with a
>> typical American-Idol solo, full of the chirpy,
>> slide-into-every-note-so-I-don't-have-to-hit-a-precise-pitch, yodeling
>> and howling that passes as singing these days in the minds of AI's
>> audience. The "Vocal Jazz" group did three pure-pop-dreck tunes with a
>> series of solos that Simon would have torn to pieces, and then finished
>> with a Broadway-show-tune-style rendition of "Mack the Knife." But not
>> a single note of jazz, none at all. It was painful.
>>
>> When they stuck to traditional choral music, where there was no
>> temptation to go pop, they were fantastic. But you give a young singer
>> the opportunity to solo these days, and you're going to hear the same
>> awful caterwauling you can hear any night on American Idol. It's a sad
>> thing.
>
> Bot only on American Idol but on nearly every rendition of The
> National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
> TS
They use that Justin Timberlake mook scale AND I HATE IT VERY VERY MUCH.
--
Les Cargill
> On 15 May, 10:26, Brian Running <brunn...@XXameritechXX.net> wrote:
>> Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
>> music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different choirs.
>>
>> One choir did an old spiritual, and the soloist stepped right up to the
>> mike and proceeded to suck the heart and soul right out of it with a
>> typical American-Idol solo, full of the chirpy,
>> slide-into-every-note-so-I-don't-have-to-hit-a-precise-pitch, yodeling
>> and howling that passes as singing these days in the minds of AI's
>> audience. The "Vocal Jazz" group did three pure-pop-dreck tunes with a
>> series of solos that Simon would have torn to pieces, and then finished
>> with a Broadway-show-tune-style rendition of "Mack the Knife." But not
>> a single note of jazz, none at all. It was painful.
>>
>> When they stuck to traditional choral music, where there was no
>> temptation to go pop, they were fantastic. But you give a young singer
>> the opportunity to solo these days, and you're going to hear the same
>> awful caterwauling you can hear any night on American Idol. It's a sad
>> thing.
>
> Bot only on American Idol but on nearly every rendition of The
> National Anthem played on sports events on TV broadcasts.
> TS
They use that Justin Timberlake mook scale AND I HATE IT VERY VERY MUCH.
--
Les Cargill
On May 15, 10:26 am, Brian Running <brunn...@XXameritechXX.net> wrote:
> Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
> music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different cho=
irs.
I don't watch that program often mostly because of the things you
mentioned.
Something else I noticed was that some singers had little or no
musical backup and they sucked.
Then comes the pretty young chick singing a newer country song.
Her pitch is perfect, there is 3 part harmony and the music is
excellent.
How come?
Pt.
> Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
> music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different cho=
irs.
I don't watch that program often mostly because of the things you
mentioned.
Something else I noticed was that some singers had little or no
musical backup and they sucked.
Then comes the pretty young chick singing a newer country song.
Her pitch is perfect, there is 3 part harmony and the music is
excellent.
How come?
Pt.
"Brian Running" <brunning@XXameritechXX.net> wrote in message
news:5DYWj.107$mh5.19@nlpi067.nbdc.sbc.com...
> Last night, I had a close encounter with what American Idol is doing to
> music, at a high-school choir concert. There were several different
> choirs.
>
> One choir did an old spiritual, and the soloist stepped right up to the
> mike and proceeded to suck the heart and soul right out of it with a
> typical American-Idol solo, full of the chirpy,
> slide-into-every-note-so-I-don't-have-to-hit-a-precise-pitch, yodeling and
> howling that passes as singing these days in the minds of AI's audience.
> The "Vocal Jazz" group did three pure-pop-dreck tunes with a series of
> solos that Simon would have torn to pieces, and then finished with a
> Broadway-show-tune-style rendition of "Mack the Knife." But not a single
> note of jazz, none at all. It was painful.
>
> When they stuck to traditional choral music, where there was no temptation
> to go pop, they were fantastic. But you give a young singer the
> opportunity to solo these days, and you're going to hear the same awful
> caterwauling you can hear any night on American Idol. It's a sad thing.
>
Yeah...well...Whitney started it!!!
;-)
> Yeah...well...Whitney started it!!!
>
> ;-)
Yeah, ol' Whitney Houston, the Human Air-Raid Siren.
>
> ;-)
Yeah, ol' Whitney Houston, the Human Air-Raid Siren.
On May 15, 11:13=A0am, Brian Running <brunn...@XXameritechXX.net> wrote:
> > Yeah...well...Whitney started it!!!
>
> > ;-)
Before Aretha, there was Mahlia Jackson. Just sayin' where "it
started" maybe. Don't blame Ms. Franklin <g>.
>
> Yeah, ol' Whitney Houston, the Human Air-Raid Siren.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3D8EbYmMb4lR4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3DVUoEil40qZA&feature=3Drelated
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3DQ5GSxSmYvME&feature=3Drelated
The last, hardly an example of over-the-top ornamentation.
If you wanna "blame" someone other than the actual singers themselves:
(from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
<Carey is the most influential vocal stylist of the last two decades,
the person who made rococo melismatic singing=97the trick of
embroidering syllables with multiple no-o-o-o-o-o-tes=97the ubiquitous
pop style.>
I don't know the Carey canon at all, just grabbed one offa Utube,
sounded kinda what they're talking about I guess. This stuff all left
me behind long ago:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3DvOR_jq9M53c
--Grouchy Granpaw D-y
> > Yeah...well...Whitney started it!!!
>
> > ;-)
Before Aretha, there was Mahlia Jackson. Just sayin' where "it
started" maybe. Don't blame Ms. Franklin <g>.
>
> Yeah, ol' Whitney Houston, the Human Air-Raid Siren.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3D8EbYmMb4lR4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3DVUoEil40qZA&feature=3Drelated
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3DQ5GSxSmYvME&feature=3Drelated
The last, hardly an example of over-the-top ornamentation.
If you wanna "blame" someone other than the actual singers themselves:
(from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
<Carey is the most influential vocal stylist of the last two decades,
the person who made rococo melismatic singing=97the trick of
embroidering syllables with multiple no-o-o-o-o-o-tes=97the ubiquitous
pop style.>
I don't know the Carey canon at all, just grabbed one offa Utube,
sounded kinda what they're talking about I guess. This stuff all left
me behind long ago:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3DvOR_jq9M53c
--Grouchy Granpaw D-y
> If you wanna "blame" someone other than the actual singers themselves:
> (from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
I agree completely, Grampaw. I was going to respond to Lane with,
"Whitney the Human Air-Raid Siren and Mariah Carey." Honest!
In contrast to Aretha and Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston relied on the
siren blare all the time. It was her shtick. Aretha and Mahalia knew
how to use the power as an effective interpretive tool, but Whitney
Houston used it all the time. Blare, like a marching band. Yech.
Mariah Carey is responsible for the fad of yodeling, not blaring, so she
gets the blame for all the Star Spangled Banner "interpreters." I would
also like to get my hands on whoever is responsible for the current fad
of sliding up into correct pitches, instead of precisely hitting notes.
It's another one of those things that can be used as an interpretive
device, but kids do it on every single note these days. I chew my kids
out every time I hear them doing it.
> (from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
I agree completely, Grampaw. I was going to respond to Lane with,
"Whitney the Human Air-Raid Siren and Mariah Carey." Honest!
In contrast to Aretha and Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston relied on the
siren blare all the time. It was her shtick. Aretha and Mahalia knew
how to use the power as an effective interpretive tool, but Whitney
Houston used it all the time. Blare, like a marching band. Yech.
Mariah Carey is responsible for the fad of yodeling, not blaring, so she
gets the blame for all the Star Spangled Banner "interpreters." I would
also like to get my hands on whoever is responsible for the current fad
of sliding up into correct pitches, instead of precisely hitting notes.
It's another one of those things that can be used as an interpretive
device, but kids do it on every single note these days. I chew my kids
out every time I hear them doing it.
On May 15, 12:25 pm, Brian Running <brunn...@XXameritechXX.net> wrote:
> > If you wanna "blame" someone other than the actual singers themselves:
> > (from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
>
> I agree completely, Grampaw. I was going to respond to Lane with,
> "Whitney the Human Air-Raid Siren and Mariah Carey." Honest!
>
> In contrast to Aretha and Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston relied on the
> siren blare all the time. It was her shtick. Aretha and Mahalia knew=
> how to use the power as an effective interpretive tool, but Whitney
> Houston used it all the time. Blare, like a marching band. Yech.
>
> Mariah Carey is responsible for the fad of yodeling, not blaring, so she
> gets the blame for all the Star Spangled Banner "interpreters." I would=
> also like to get my hands on whoever is responsible for the current fad
> of sliding up into correct pitches, instead of precisely hitting notes.
> It's another one of those things that can be used as an interpretive
> device, but kids do it on every single note these days. I chew my kids
> out every time I hear them doing it.
Well, I think that if the Houston SSB pushes the envelope, it pushes
it very well and far enough. I saw that SuperBowl live and it was
funny, the guys in the broadcast booth all just sat there for some
good old dead air, kinda stunned, after she finished. You have to
remember the times, of course, it was diffrent back then, you kids.
But you don't know (etc. etc.).
Where was I now... oh yeah, I haven't listened to enough Whitney to
know if she does it all the time; "I'll Always Love You" was another
one of hers I heard accidently and I like it. But, like with the Two
Tenors (<g>) (Licitra and Alvarez), whom one critic said peeled the
chrome off the bumpers of the cars out in the parking lot at one
concert (or something like that), Total Force can get old (like me) in
a hurry (a lot quicker hurry).
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8yZlZ8cd4KU
Not a dry pair of panties in the house... --D-y
> > If you wanna "blame" someone other than the actual singers themselves:
> > (from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
>
> I agree completely, Grampaw. I was going to respond to Lane with,
> "Whitney the Human Air-Raid Siren and Mariah Carey." Honest!
>
> In contrast to Aretha and Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston relied on the
> siren blare all the time. It was her shtick. Aretha and Mahalia knew=
> how to use the power as an effective interpretive tool, but Whitney
> Houston used it all the time. Blare, like a marching band. Yech.
>
> Mariah Carey is responsible for the fad of yodeling, not blaring, so she
> gets the blame for all the Star Spangled Banner "interpreters." I would=
> also like to get my hands on whoever is responsible for the current fad
> of sliding up into correct pitches, instead of precisely hitting notes.
> It's another one of those things that can be used as an interpretive
> device, but kids do it on every single note these days. I chew my kids
> out every time I hear them doing it.
Well, I think that if the Houston SSB pushes the envelope, it pushes
it very well and far enough. I saw that SuperBowl live and it was
funny, the guys in the broadcast booth all just sat there for some
good old dead air, kinda stunned, after she finished. You have to
remember the times, of course, it was diffrent back then, you kids.
But you don't know (etc. etc.).
Where was I now... oh yeah, I haven't listened to enough Whitney to
know if she does it all the time; "I'll Always Love You" was another
one of hers I heard accidently and I like it. But, like with the Two
Tenors (<g>) (Licitra and Alvarez), whom one critic said peeled the
chrome off the bumpers of the cars out in the parking lot at one
concert (or something like that), Total Force can get old (like me) in
a hurry (a lot quicker hurry).
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8yZlZ8cd4KU
Not a dry pair of panties in the house... --D-y
I grew up listening to R&B, so that kind of melismatic singing is what I
prefer - provided you now how to do it well, AND know when to use it. AND
most importantly, you have SOUL. Whitney and Maria are annoying at times,
but at least they have "soul"
"Idol" has created this freakish sub genre of music where every contestant
does this pseudo black yodeling on every note that is utterly devoid of
feeling - in a pathetic attempt to convince Betty Lou in Des Moines that
they have "soul". It has about a much to do with Mahalia and pre-crack
Whitney as your typical Branson act...
Actually, these Idol types remind me of my cruise ship days, when Broadway
type singers would belt out over these top, stiff, horribly cheesy
arrangements of rock or pop tunes like "Magic Man" or "Free your Mind", for
Midwesterners who thought this was the height of culture. Maybe Simon needs
to do a show about ventriloquists next. Or maybe "Who Has the World's
Biggest Buffet?"
"Brian Running" <brunning@XXameritechXX.net> wrote in message
news:vm_Wj.147$Q57.103@nlpi065.nbdc.sbc.com...
> > If you wanna "blame" someone other than the actual singers themselves:
> > (from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
>
> I agree completely, Grampaw. I was going to respond to Lane with,
> "Whitney the Human Air-Raid Siren and Mariah Carey." Honest!
>
> In contrast to Aretha and Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston relied on the
> siren blare all the time. It was her shtick. Aretha and Mahalia knew
> how to use the power as an effective interpretive tool, but Whitney
> Houston used it all the time. Blare, like a marching band. Yech.
>
> Mariah Carey is responsible for the fad of yodeling, not blaring, so she
> gets the blame for all the Star Spangled Banner "interpreters." I would
> also like to get my hands on whoever is responsible for the current fad
> of sliding up into correct pitches, instead of precisely hitting notes.
> It's another one of those things that can be used as an interpretive
> device, but kids do it on every single note these days. I chew my kids
> out every time I hear them doing it.
prefer - provided you now how to do it well, AND know when to use it. AND
most importantly, you have SOUL. Whitney and Maria are annoying at times,
but at least they have "soul"
"Idol" has created this freakish sub genre of music where every contestant
does this pseudo black yodeling on every note that is utterly devoid of
feeling - in a pathetic attempt to convince Betty Lou in Des Moines that
they have "soul". It has about a much to do with Mahalia and pre-crack
Whitney as your typical Branson act...
Actually, these Idol types remind me of my cruise ship days, when Broadway
type singers would belt out over these top, stiff, horribly cheesy
arrangements of rock or pop tunes like "Magic Man" or "Free your Mind", for
Midwesterners who thought this was the height of culture. Maybe Simon needs
to do a show about ventriloquists next. Or maybe "Who Has the World's
Biggest Buffet?"
"Brian Running" <brunning@XXameritechXX.net> wrote in message
news:vm_Wj.147$Q57.103@nlpi065.nbdc.sbc.com...
> > If you wanna "blame" someone other than the actual singers themselves:
> > (from http://www.slate.com/id/2190184/)
>
> I agree completely, Grampaw. I was going to respond to Lane with,
> "Whitney the Human Air-Raid Siren and Mariah Carey." Honest!
>
> In contrast to Aretha and Mahalia Jackson, Whitney Houston relied on the
> siren blare all the time. It was her shtick. Aretha and Mahalia knew
> how to use the power as an effective interpretive tool, but Whitney
> Houston used it all the time. Blare, like a marching band. Yech.
>
> Mariah Carey is responsible for the fad of yodeling, not blaring, so she
> gets the blame for all the Star Spangled Banner "interpreters." I would
> also like to get my hands on whoever is responsible for the current fad
> of sliding up into correct pitches, instead of precisely hitting notes.
> It's another one of those things that can be used as an interpretive
> device, but kids do it on every single note these days. I chew my kids
> out every time I hear them doing it.
