R
RealtorGal
Guest
American Idol - Group 3
<span style="color:navy;font-family:times new roman;font-size:small;">My daughter and I watched tonight, and just in case anyone wants to hear my "music professor" thoughts, here we go:
First of all, I really admire and like Simon. As my daughter says, "He's the only one really saying the truth". (My daughter is 8 BTW). As I said before, I did not see the show last season (I taught singing on Tuesday evenings!) It's eerie that I've spent the past few years telling very talented students the very same things as Simon. Some have taken it well, others think they're so talented that they have ignored me (rare) and honestly, some were just not mature enough emotionally to deal with these concepts.
Simon is looking to be wowed, and no one really did that this evening. Paula has trouble getting to this level because she herself was unable to achieve it as a singer. (When she tells someone they sang flat, I just find that hysterical, coming from her, of all people.) These kids just don't understand that when he says, "You're capable of better," that's a COMPLIMENT. Lou and Equoia were perfect examples of ignoring the truth and getting offended. There's more to being a performer than having a great set of pipes. As I've said before, it's all about COMMUNICATION. Are you communicating the feeling of the WORDS of the song? Do you even know what you're singing about? Are you so concerned with vocal gymnastics that you forget the HEART of the song?
KIMBERLY: Looks the part, just not projecting warmth, heart, maturity or anything special.
JASON: My favorite of the evening VOCALLY. Really liked the voice. Hasn't developed his own style but the potential is there.
VANESSA: Looks like a freak but I think she has a good heart and is trying to allow the vulnerability out that is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY IN A TOP PERFORMER.
RICKY: Great voice but doesn't know what the heck he's singing about.
SAMANTHA: If you're going to sing a song made famous by Aretha, you better be able to rock the house. (She said, "It's hard to do Aretha." If she felt that way, she had no business doing that song. Anyhow, we're not looking for another Aretha; we're looking for HER interpretation of that song. She sang, "My love is real," which is supposed to be plaintive but wasn't.)
LOU: Too hooked on his own self; no one learns or grows with that attitude. (He told Simon that he was WRONG, which really will not endear him to anyone.) He sang, "How am I supposed to live without you?" which is supposed to tear at your heart--HOWEVER, that will ONLY occur if the SINGER makes us believe that his/her heart is being torn apart. Lou did not come anywhere close to that. That final "woo" had absolutely no meaning. "Ooo" and "Ah" always have to have meaning in the singer's mind ("I'm upset; I'm hurting; I'm so ecststic--whatever--just SOMETHING)--or they add nothing to the song.
EQUOIA: Open your eyes, honey. People close their eyes thinking they're being "deep". WRONG. When a singer closes his/her eyes, he/she cuts the connection to the audience, shutting us out. BIG MISTAKE. That is a true contralto voice (rare) and I think she has potential. Telling Simon that he's wrong about Group #3 was stupid. It shows a lack of willingness to see the truth or admit that there might be truth in his words.
GEORGE: That hands on the stomach and odd leg gyrations bugged me. That's not the time to check your breathing! Already I've forgotten his performance.
My daughter said to me, "If something is fun, it's easy." How true! These singers were TRYING just to darned hard. If they could find a way to just SING and not try to impress everyone, they'd be so much better. Lots of potential is there--we'll see if anyone can find that HEART AND SOUL when they move on.
My choices: JASON & VANESSA
However, I don't think America will vote for Jason; they will prefer George.</span>
<span style="color:navy;font-family:times new roman;font-size:small;">My daughter and I watched tonight, and just in case anyone wants to hear my "music professor" thoughts, here we go:
First of all, I really admire and like Simon. As my daughter says, "He's the only one really saying the truth". (My daughter is 8 BTW). As I said before, I did not see the show last season (I taught singing on Tuesday evenings!) It's eerie that I've spent the past few years telling very talented students the very same things as Simon. Some have taken it well, others think they're so talented that they have ignored me (rare) and honestly, some were just not mature enough emotionally to deal with these concepts.
Simon is looking to be wowed, and no one really did that this evening. Paula has trouble getting to this level because she herself was unable to achieve it as a singer. (When she tells someone they sang flat, I just find that hysterical, coming from her, of all people.) These kids just don't understand that when he says, "You're capable of better," that's a COMPLIMENT. Lou and Equoia were perfect examples of ignoring the truth and getting offended. There's more to being a performer than having a great set of pipes. As I've said before, it's all about COMMUNICATION. Are you communicating the feeling of the WORDS of the song? Do you even know what you're singing about? Are you so concerned with vocal gymnastics that you forget the HEART of the song?
KIMBERLY: Looks the part, just not projecting warmth, heart, maturity or anything special.
JASON: My favorite of the evening VOCALLY. Really liked the voice. Hasn't developed his own style but the potential is there.
VANESSA: Looks like a freak but I think she has a good heart and is trying to allow the vulnerability out that is ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY IN A TOP PERFORMER.
RICKY: Great voice but doesn't know what the heck he's singing about.
SAMANTHA: If you're going to sing a song made famous by Aretha, you better be able to rock the house. (She said, "It's hard to do Aretha." If she felt that way, she had no business doing that song. Anyhow, we're not looking for another Aretha; we're looking for HER interpretation of that song. She sang, "My love is real," which is supposed to be plaintive but wasn't.)
LOU: Too hooked on his own self; no one learns or grows with that attitude. (He told Simon that he was WRONG, which really will not endear him to anyone.) He sang, "How am I supposed to live without you?" which is supposed to tear at your heart--HOWEVER, that will ONLY occur if the SINGER makes us believe that his/her heart is being torn apart. Lou did not come anywhere close to that. That final "woo" had absolutely no meaning. "Ooo" and "Ah" always have to have meaning in the singer's mind ("I'm upset; I'm hurting; I'm so ecststic--whatever--just SOMETHING)--or they add nothing to the song.
EQUOIA: Open your eyes, honey. People close their eyes thinking they're being "deep". WRONG. When a singer closes his/her eyes, he/she cuts the connection to the audience, shutting us out. BIG MISTAKE. That is a true contralto voice (rare) and I think she has potential. Telling Simon that he's wrong about Group #3 was stupid. It shows a lack of willingness to see the truth or admit that there might be truth in his words.
GEORGE: That hands on the stomach and odd leg gyrations bugged me. That's not the time to check your breathing! Already I've forgotten his performance.
My daughter said to me, "If something is fun, it's easy." How true! These singers were TRYING just to darned hard. If they could find a way to just SING and not try to impress everyone, they'd be so much better. Lots of potential is there--we'll see if anyone can find that HEART AND SOUL when they move on.
My choices: JASON & VANESSA
However, I don't think America will vote for Jason; they will prefer George.</span>