Modern Singers, Classic Music?

[scotrace]

This is going to sound un-patriotic and off topic, too boot, but I think "O Canada" is a better song than "The Star Spangled Banner."

HEY! Back to your glue pots, sir!!! :cheers1:

 

[scotrace]

Well, she's married to Elvis Costello.


Anyhow- whats the problem..?
T

She IS?
Damn. Next you'll tell me Monica Bellucci is married too....

 

[Naama]

When it comes to modern singers singing vintage songs I think Max Raabe (who sings with the Palast Orchester) tops my list for male singers. Not only does he have an incredible and unique voice, but his on-stage and off-stage personality is just what you would expect from a singer of the period. Seeing him live was just spectacular.

http://www.palastorchester.de/index2.php

Yes, that's right, Max Raabe is really good! Unfortunally I didn't see him when he was in austria (just too expensive at the time). But also Mr. Henry deWinter is one great singer with a lot of style

Naama

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Madeline Peyroux

Hemingway Jones and I discovered Madeline Peyroux a while back, and we really enjoy her sound. I saw that some of you were writing about her. I just lover her sound, She really get's it right, sounds so 30's. She covers "Dance Me To The End Of Love", and does such a beautiful rendition. I believe Billy Holliday brought this great song to the charts, but I'm really not sure. I know orchestra's have covered it, but Madeline really does it right. So, if you're looking for a new singer who has an incredible vintage flare, check her out. ITunes is a great way to sample before purchasing ( I actually buy all my music on there now, it's just too convenient, and I get only the tracks I like). I know that she is on there. Then there are The Squirrel Nut Zippers. A bunch of students who put together a band and really made it work. They are funky and jazzy, and fun for long road trips. Definitely not slow dance music, or music I can listen to while reading, but so much fun.
Hope you all had a nice relaxing weekend.
Daisy (Or, some of you might know me as Spiely thanks to HJ)

 

[flat-top]

Harry Connick's "Blue Light, Red Light" from a few years back was an excellent swing album, but I haven't heard any of his recent stuff although "Forever For Now" from 2004 looks like it might be good.

"Blue Light Red Light", and it's "sister" album "We Are In Love" are Connick's best and two of my favorite albums. Anyone here at the Fedora Lounge would love them.

 

[jake_fink]

She covers "Dance Me To The End Of Love", and does such a beautiful rendition. I believe Billy Holliday brought this great song to the charts, but I'm really not sure.

See above.

 

[Cabinetman]

HCJ is funky and cool, a gentleman it seems, and just plain fun. I didn't like the turn he made after the two aforementioned albums - Too funky. I'm not a contemporary or improvisational jazz or jazz/funk ("junk" - actual description not opinion) fan. But I do like him still. I mean we watched "The Happy Elf" in December because of his involvement in it.

The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra was a fun night. I'll post a new thread in The Steamer Trunk a bit later, or maybe a new one here.

Link to Steamer Trunk: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=6604

 

[Rundquist]

Michael Bublé is gay (as in lame). I don't really have a problem with his voice (although I don't particularly like it). It's his persona and choice of material that I have a problem with. His orchestrations aren't particularly good either. The problem with the modern “artist� (and I use that term loosely�) is that in general, they haven't paid their dues. In this case, Buble's choice of material shows either a lack of musical knowledge or a lack of musical integrity. Whoever is doing his band charts is doing nothing new or remotely inventive. Guys like Henry Mancini and Quincy Jones (at least back when he was good), have forgotten more about musical arranging, than the new guys will ever know.

As far as cabinetmans's comments about scat having no place in music goes, I have to respectively disagree. I do agree that there are many “artists� (again I use the term loosely) out there that have no business doing it. Many singers think that just because they can sing, they can also scat. A vocalist (someone whose instrument is their voice) scatting can be a different thing altogether. Try listening to “Lambert, Hendricks & Ross� or Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, or Dwight Trible. They're as musical with their voices as any instrumentalist is with their instrument.

There are some really great artists making music today, but finding them at times can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I will say go see what's left of the old school while you can. I saw Mose Allison two nights ago and I couldn't help but think that there is absolutely no one to replace a treasure like him when he's gone.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Anyway... wasn't Dance Me To the End of Love a great song? And it's by Leonard Cohen.... a Canadian. :cheers1:

Leonard Cohen? The man who wrote "The Future?" Wow. I would have never put that song to his pen. He is an extreme talent though. "The Future" is one of the most amazing pieces of melodic sarcasm my ears have ever witness. It was also well placed at the closing credits of "Natural Born Killers."

 

[Cabinetman]

more on scat

I still don't really like it, as a rule. My comments regarding it are basically for those who try (miserably in many cases), and are also for the most part contemporary artists, or modern singers as the thread title indicates. Greats like Ella certainly hold their own. My personal opinion of style & method, or not...these folks made a name for themselves doing what they do very, very well.

I think when it bothers me most is when it is used in lieu of lyrics. This is exaggerating a bit, and too harsh, but sometimes it almost sounds like they aren't sure of the words so they'll just mumble something approximating scat and get away with it.

Do I try to scat?? Not seriously, and no way during a performance. It would sound ridiculous.

 

[Twitch]

Well "young" people think Tony Bennett is cool and Rod Stewart's "classic" sound is going over too. I guess what goes around comes around.:fedora:

 

[katiemakeup]

Michael Bublé is gay (as in lame). I don't really have a problem with his voice (although I don't particularly like it). It's his persona and choice of material that I have a problem with. His orchestrations aren't particularly good either. The problem with the modern “artist� (and I use that term loosely�) is that in general, they haven't paid their dues. In this case, Buble's choice of material shows either a lack of musical knowledge or a lack of musical integrity. Whoever is doing his band charts is doing nothing new or remotely inventive. Guys like Henry Mancini and Quincy Jones (at least back when he was good), have forgotten more about musical arranging, than the new guys will ever know.

As far as cabinetmans's comments about scat having no place in music goes, I have to respectively disagree. I do agree that there are many “artists� (again I use the term loosely) out there that have no business doing it. Many singers think that just because they can sing, they can also scat. A vocalist (someone whose instrument is their voice) scatting can be a different thing altogether. Try listening to “Lambert, Hendricks & Ross� or Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, or Dwight Trible. They're as musical with their voices as any instrumentalist is with their instrument.

There are some really great artists making music today, but finding them at times can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I will say go see what's left of the old school while you can. I saw Mose Allison two nights ago and I couldn't help but think that there is absolutely no one to replace a treasure like him when he's gone.

I respect your opinions, but in defense of Michael's career: All of his albums are Platinum so not everyone thinks he is lame. Certainly his choice of music is right on- he writes his own stuff and chooses standards and classics that have been recorded by many- even legends in this time. Not everyone likes, of course. He was raised on Ella, Duke, Frank, Billie, Bobby D. and others- he is only on his second studio album (although he has 4 independant albums prior to this) and he is doing even greater things for his next.

He was discovered by well respected multiple Grammy winner David Foster (about 5 years ago) - after Michael had been performing for 10 years. He is no overnight sensation and has paid his dues big time. He most definately brings this genre to us his own way, and doesn't copy a 'persona' or structure the way some wanted him to. This is hard to do because, as you had mentioned- and I agree with you- it's hard to fill the shoes of the greats before them as the barr was set very high. There will inevitably be people/songs/arrangements that will overlap & be reused becuase there are only so many things you can record- it's just numbers/laws of averages. In fact, David's arrangement of the Beatles' 'Can't Buy Me Love' is up for a Grammy for best arrangement.

So you are very picky about the music you listen to, aren't we all? That doesn't mean he is any less of an artist. He is very talented regardless if you like him or not. Do we have to only appreciate artists post mortem? His musical knowledge and integrity were learned and loved through the so called school of hard knocks and lived it growing up. With any artist, the path to their destination is just as important as the result they make. What is the difference of musical knowledge & integrity between Michael and artists similar to him, than the greats before him? One doesn't have to sing or play or write as good as their idols~ the fact that they feel it within themselves and strive to be like them and love what they loved makes them more like their idols than those who are technically equal, because those striving are fed by the need that their idols possess and therfor live it. I wish you would have backed up your 'choice of material' statement with facts so I could see your side. To me, art is the result of any creative process and therefor subjective.

And since when did scat have a blueprint?

 

[matei]

I hate myself to saying this or even thinking it, but actually Robbie Williams 'aint that bad' when it comes to some of the old time stuff. Can't believe I said that!

Good call Paddy. I think that Robbie's genuine love for the music of that era came through on his performances. I feel that many times an artist can overcome whatever technical faults or deficiencies they might have if they perform the pieces with conviction and feeling.

I like Bublé, and fair play to him for doing something different. I feel his vocal timbre is similar to Barry Manilow's - they both have a somewhat nasal tone. I was unaware that ol' Barry had forayed into this era's music. I'll have to check it out.

 

[Cabinetman]

And since when did scat have a blueprint?

True...never.

You know, I am curious who first started doing it. Given it may not be written into a song, save "ad lib" written on the sheet, it does seem to be an if-the-spirit-moves-ya type of thing. Sometimes words can't express how you feel about or interpret some things. You all know that's true. Maybe these folks came to a bridge in the music and suddenly heard this thing in their head, and before they knew it, it was coming out of their mouth. Then the conductor, the arranger, the composer - they all heard it and thought, "Wow! What the heck was that?" In a good way, though. And so it was born...maybe.

Still not my bag, as a rule. I may be looking at this at one extreme, too. How much, "Doobee, doobee, doo," and, "zippity, do, dat, dey," needs to be present in a song to be considered Scat? Is it all scat?

 

[jake_fink]

SCAT

You know, I am curious who first started doing it.

Louis Armstrong when he forgot the words to Heebie Jeebies. Check it out here:
http://www.redhotjazz.com/hot5.html

 

[Cabinetman]

Good link, Fink!

I gotta reinforce some previous thoughts...it's the modern artists that I have heard doing it that makes my timbers shiver.

Listening to that recording of Louis...well, there is something very comforting about it, scat and all. And there was melody to that scat.

 

[Cabinetman]

I was unaware that ol' Barry had forayed into this era's music.

Oh, yes...been doing it a long time. He recorded, "I don't want to walk without you," in 1979. The 1938 song was first recorded by Harry James.

Side note/question: Was there ever a song recorded by Manilow in which he did not change keys?

 

[Twitch]

Gee guys and ladies. Know what? Last time I looked everybody pretty much listens to what they want and aren't too swayed by others' opinions. Even people that are into hip hop are secure enough in their likes to not feel compelled to defend their choice.

I don't listen to most any of the folks you all metion on any regular basis at all but think you should if you have the desire. I also feel that if someone realy likes 50 Cent or Xzibit they should listen to their music without feeling intimidated.

I thought all that mellow music was supposed to mellow folks out. Maybe a few

are in order.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Oh wow, I just checked out the site and the music samples sound like they are from way back when. I think you've found a new fan in me. Is there a place here in Texas you can find their cds? I love it that the music is in German too! I looked at their tour schedule in hopes I might see a Texas stop, but there's not even a stop anywhere in the USA. Were you in Germany when you saw them? Which CD would you recommend to a newbie fan?

I am not sure where in Texas to find their CDs, I bet there isn't anywhere. You can find a couple of their CDs on Amazon but they aren't the best ones. The best ones are on German Amazon and the shipping to the US is insane. I would say that any of their CDs are good except for the ones which are covers of modern songs like by Brittany Spears and such called "Super Hits." There are a couple songs on the Super Hits CDs which I actually like, but they are outnumbered by the ones I don't.

Any of the non-super hits CDs would be great though.

I saw them live in San Antonio about a year ago. They recently had a US concert in New York, but they didn't go anywhere else in the country so far as I know.

 

[koopkooper]

Personally I think it's a bit like walking into a supermarket and choosing RC Cola over Coke when they are the same price....I'll choose Coke every time.
I also don't like the fact that Buble is a hophead and boasts about it in magazine articles. Whilst some of the most famous crooners had various drug problems they always worked hard to maintain their image so it's a thumbs down for me on Buble. I'll take the origionals anyday.