Posts filed under 'DC LIVE'
My initial analysis, unedited
Robert Kardashian to TMZ:
“..the NBA’s so rigged are you kidding it was going to go to seven like from the beginning of the year the Celtics and Lakers in seven it’s all about money so I ah it’s guaranteed you go to seven…”
Kardashian’s voice has a hint of smile in it from the top — this says he likes to be interviewed but is uncomfortable with anyone knowing that — he’s trying to be cool.
However, he has emotion and energy on the words “so rigged” and disappointment and resignation on the words “guaranteed you go to seven” — he believes his theory, though he doesn’t state any concrete evidence which would account for the rant-like rhythm (the repetition of the word “seven ” 3 times, run-on sentence structure).
He says Celtics and Lakers not Lakers and Celtics — Kardashian putting the Celtics first means he sees them as more powerful, as a threat, or perhaps his favorite team.
Jerry Seinfeld on WFAN New York re Lady Gaga at the Mets Game:
“…this woman’s a jerk I hate her…I say I can’t believe that they put her in my box…you give people the finger and you get upgraded…is that the world we’re living in now?…”
Harsh words for a woman — “jerk” and “hate” — humor comes from some kind of pain, complaint, distress —
Jerry’s uses humor, like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, as an advanced intellectual means of developing new perspectives and coping with extreme circumstances.
Jerry’s voice and language reflect that he thinks Gaga was extreme — it’s his unique perspective and delivery that make it funny.
He doesn’t really hate Gaga - but he sure enjoys saying it — he can’t relate to her, hence the: I can’t believe they put her in “my” box — which says: I, Jerry have nothing in common with this woman.
June 24th, 2010
At last night’s GRAMMY AWARDS Pink sang in beautiful, connected fashion while in the air, twirling and hanging upside down. Beyonce marched, danced and strutted on two stages without sacrificing the vocal performance. So it can be done — marry tremendous show-value with a live vocal that has integrity. Lady Gaga didn’t fare as well but is capable. She needs to work on her breath control with Pink and Beyonce as her role models in the stamina category. The one thing that Gaga did provide in the show’s opening number was a sweet moment, albeit an unintentional one. When Elton John was revealed and opened his mouth to duet on her “Speechless,” the immediate difference in quality between the two artists was, well…it left you speechless. His rich, unique voice and take on Gaga’s song made it a better song. And to make matters even worse/better, they threw in an homage to Elton’s “Your Song,” which only highlighted what’s not quite there in her current catalog because she was more effective on his song. Still, it was a great stab at straddling musicianship and kitsch. Beyonce and Pink are in total shape and showed up to sing. A fierce lesson for all those ladies waiting in the wings or ones who are out there and think/say they already do this.
February 1st, 2010
You’re known and loved for your voice. It’s just not there on the day you’re singing on “Saturday Night Live.” What do you do? You choose to lip sync. But for the love of Mike, dude, lips to the mic. Michael Buble’s performance of “Haven’t Met You Yet” on SNL last night was a master class in the pitfalls of bad mic technique. It would’ve been bad mic technique if he’d been singing live because when you don’t sing into the mic, your sound is affected. (I know this sounds simple, but even talented singers make basic mistakes. There are no advanced mistakes in music, in life.) But this was really bad mic technique, comical really, because he was lip syncing. Classic when Buble would completely turn his head to the side while singing and not keep the mic with his mouth and the vocal remained perfect. Physically, he sold the entire performance as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Arrogance is an issue here. Gives new meaning to “Pro Tools.” Buble and his team of professional tools can’t be faulted for choosing to lip sync. This is a business and they obviously concluded after careful consideration or none whatsoever, that this was the way to go on the day. Their choice. And it’s not like SNL hasn’t had lip syncers over the years. But Michael and team should be faulted for how they chose to lip sync. Arrogance will kill the possibility of greatness, every time.
January 31st, 2010
Immediately following my last entry I picked up the phone with the intention of serenading someone on the east coast with her mother’s favorite song. My serenadee was in a hurry as she told me she was on her way out the door to see “The Wrestler.” I spoke of my blog re the lost art of serenading and then, in that spirit and with calm urgency, began to walk the talk, or shall I say, swag the song — in Arabic. She stopped me in the 1st verse to correct my pronunciation, and then said “keep going.” I lost my place and had to start over. Oops, stopped again, now in the 2nd verse, for a wrong word. Lovingly, she urges “keep going.” Now I’m aware she might miss her movie and say so but she insists that I finish. Then the gift, my gift appears. She starts to sing with me but I drop out to listen to the most beautiful voice in the world. And as she sang the song, her mother’s song, I’m thinking that this will not be forever so I must stay with this moment and remember so it will continue to wash over me. She finished singing with “you know your grandmother loved that song….you made my day.”
Yes Mom I know.
February 14th, 2009
Serenading is a lost art and highly underrated. For all the special people in my life or, for that matter, anyone I come in contact with, if it’s their birthday, I break into song. And the reaction is never mild, never “oh, he’s doing that singing thing again (yawn).” And when I’m by a piano, they get a voicemail with a special arrangement of ‘Happy Birthday.” 365 I’m spontaneous with musical outbursts. I’ve never met a person who doesn’t like to be serenaded with their favorite song. Voicemail versions are usually preferred so they can be “replayed all day” — sweet, right? Come on closet serenaders, stay with me.
So on this V-Day morning a “what if” dawned on me: What if everyone connected with someone today by breaking into a song of love? Instead of rolling your eyes (too late perhaps), just close them and imagine someone singing to you. What does that feel like? Do you feel a little flustered.? Why? Hitting a dormant nerve? Waking the beast? Are public displays of musical affection, what, not cool? What’s not cool is paying other people to do your singing for you. Yes, that’s right. Think of how much money everyone spends going to concerts, getting the best seats and sitting for 2 plus hours to listen to someone else. Or how many of you “I can’t or shouldn’t sing” singers called into radio stations last night and today to have a song played, dedicated to the one you love?
Instead of only listening and/or dedicating a recording, instead of only being the audience, dare to sing! No matter what you think it sounds like, sing. Because singing is not reserved for the chosen few. Singing is for everybody. It is the purest and, might I say, sexiest way to connect. I’ve been coaching singers and speakers for years now, pros and non-pros alike, and I can tell you that human beings are at their most complete, most beautiful when they sing.
Sing to someone today. Even if it’s on the phone — live or voicemail. You’ll find the musical phoner easier to do than the face to face thing but I tell you it won’t be lost on the listener. They will feel loved. And so will you. Hmmm…hey, how about singing to and for yourself? Start there and then go ahead — make somebody’s V-Day.
February 14th, 2009
The Super Bowl Lip Sync is as expected as the paint on a fanatic’s face.
So, a day after I go on about Jason Mraz and the virtue and value of live singing and here we are again. It’s great that so many of you are letting yourselves be heard on this matter in contention. Producer Ricky Minor made a major gaffe by recommending to Hill and Hudson that they not go live (that’s what the Associated Press is reporting). He said a glitch can devastate a performance. What’s more devastating to the audience is the feeling that they are getting ripped off. It’s one thing if a pop star’s celebrated gig is pyrotechnics, running around the stage and vocals a la electronica. However, if a star is known for their voice, their singing, then the audience (many of whom tune in and show up because they are fans) should get that voice in real time. Even with lip syncing at its best, the emotion is always once removed. Add to yesterday’s sync fest the recent Yo-Yo Ma and company’s instrumental syncing at the Inauguration because of potential harm to their instruments from the cold (think the committee could have found it in the budget to build a heated plexiglass enclosure) and it begs the question: “Is it enough just to show up physically?” Not for The Boss at the Super Bowl. He did show up physically though, with his trademark knee slide across the stage but vocally, he went live starting with telling us to put down our chicken fingers and turn our TV’s all the way up.
Listen back to all 3 of yesterday’s performances. Hill and Hudson have great voices and both recordings were good enough though not great. The choir in Hill’s was not used to advantage and the lead vocal was a bit generic, not vintage Faith Hill. The brave Jennifer Hudson knows better than to breathe in the middle of a word (gallant -take a breath– ly streaming). I also could have done without the Vegas-like riffs. She’s “church” and Minor had all the right stuff working in the track to support a more spiritual take that actually fits Hudson. In both the Hill and Hudson performances you won’t feel the vocal in real time when compared with Springsteen’s. His had life and breath. You’ll hear not so perfect endings to his phrases. You hear the human in the moment.
What was so compelling about the game on the field was the fact that you didn’t know what the final outcome was going to be until it happened. It wouldn’t have been a memorable, inspired and fun experience for the players and viewers if it had been sans glitches. Now isn’t that the best damn thing you could ever say about a live performance?
February 2nd, 2009
Singer/Songwriter Jason Mraz proved once again on this week’s SNL why he’s such a sweet beast live. His songs don’t suffer from his showmanship on his feet. Having great mic and guitar technique, overall good breathing and a continued killer connection to his own voice, Mraz puts across his music with absolute conviction without sacrificing one note. Harmonies with his band as well as with duet partner Colbie Caillat were solid on Saturday. No gratuitous oohs and aahs here just for riff’s sake. And, unlike some artists slated to perform on next week’s Grammy telecast, Jason Mraz’s instinctive vocals permeate the plasma. Memories of recent vocal disasters on the AMA’s and SNL (no, not saying who as I’m contacted for help in these aftermaths) highlight the fact that Mraz is all that.
Great live singing is an art. Let’s just say I’ve artistic differences with singers and their management that refer to themselves and the talent as “artists” without having first taken a real stab at mastering live singing. Don’t get me wrong, from botched TV appearances to a cappella National Anthem nightmares, I’m always happy and able to help post public humiliation. Still, true art (or a happy artist) is rarely found in the House of I’m Famous — Now I Want To Be Great.
February 1st, 2009