If the rampant popularity of "American Idol" is any indication of way we like our singers to sound, I envision that the future of popular music will be one fraught with forced emotion, melismatic show-boating and the usual image-over-substance crapola. Fantasia may have powerful pipes, but I cringe everytime I hear someone compare her to Ella Fitzgerald. Ella had sophisticated control over her voice; she had subtlety, lyrical wit, melodic tact, and an improvisational skill sufficient to make a listener glad she forgot the lyrics once in a while. Most of the "good" "Idol" contestants, on the other hand, can do little more than bowl you over with the melodic monsoons that churn out of their mouths.
I'm not sure why or when most folks stopped listening to singers renown for their individuality or expressive vocal talents. Perhaps the blame for this (like most things) can be placed on MTV, with its rampant disregard for music worth hearing. I don't know. I do know that interesting singers are harder to come by these days, and their numbers are ever dwindling. All the while, Celine Dion's bank account gets fatter.
Anyways, Ray Charles was no "American Idol." If he auditioned, Simon would probably point him toward the exit sign with some of his department store sarcasm. His style was far too unpolished and disheveled to be of any interest to those who like their singers to sound like they're competing in a sincerety contest. But man, I'll take his yelps, growls, n' sly smirk over that any day.
One listen to "Georgia On My Mind" is worth a thousand "If I was Invisible's." That's the truth, Ruth.
I'm not sure why or when most folks stopped listening to singers renown for their individuality or expressive vocal talents. Perhaps the blame for this (like most things) can be placed on MTV, with its rampant disregard for music worth hearing. I don't know. I do know that interesting singers are harder to come by these days, and their numbers are ever dwindling. All the while, Celine Dion's bank account gets fatter.
Anyways, Ray Charles was no "American Idol." If he auditioned, Simon would probably point him toward the exit sign with some of his department store sarcasm. His style was far too unpolished and disheveled to be of any interest to those who like their singers to sound like they're competing in a sincerety contest. But man, I'll take his yelps, growls, n' sly smirk over that any day.
One listen to "Georgia On My Mind" is worth a thousand "If I was Invisible's." That's the truth, Ruth.