Musings-Bill Evans

 

[pic: jazzdagama.com]

“To imitate someone is to insult them.” – Bill Evans

When I came across this quote, it seemed so one-sided to me that I had to respond. I try my best to look at both sides of a situation or opinion, but to me, this statement seems extremely reductive because of the fact that many musicians start out their musical careers imitating someone else.

As a matter of fact, I have always told people to learn what others have done before them (their melismas, phrasing, breathing techniques, etc.) as a tool for practice. Once you have become comfortable enough and know that melodic line or vocal lick like the back of your hand, then you can start to experiment with it, adding or taking away parts, or coming up with something entirely different so that it becomes your own. For this reason, imitation is a key step in the learning process.

I wouldn’t imitate vocalists or musicians (horn players’ horn lines are great practicing tools too)if I didn’t like or respect some aspect of their playing. If I truly think something sounds slick or interesting, I’ll want to figure it out and practice singing it until I can perform it all my own because I want that idea or performance aspect as part of my musical vocabulary. That idea will be in my subconscious for the rest of my life. How could that be insulting?

I can understand why some might see this as an insult though. Some musicians think that copying or imitating is lazy; that there is no effort or original thought in imitation. I would argue the contrary because many licks, phrases, or melodies that I’ve imitated during practice have been used as a springboard or starting  point to create something entirely different. The more avenues the musicians are willing to utilize for creativity, the more potential for music that can be created. Imitation has the potential to spark creative thought, leading to something newer, different, or even, better than the original idea.

 

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#OnRepeat: “Without Question” -Elton John (from the movie, The Road to El Dorado)

 

 

This week, I’ve had Elton John’s “Without Question” from the movie, The Road to El Dorado, #OnRepeat. I watched this movie the other night and I couldn’t get enough of this song, especially because of Elton’s voice.

Elton John is a singer, pianist, and composer from London, England who is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, having sold millions of albums internationally, dozens of awards (including five Grammy Awards), and several songs on the Top 40 hit list. He is a strong advocate for LGTBQ social movements and rights, and continues to raise money to help fight and raise awareness for HIV and AIDS. Elton’s music blends Pop, Rock, R&B, Gospel, Glam and Soft Rock musical influences. Some of his most well-known songs are “Candle in the Wind,” “Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight (yes, the song from the movie, The Lion King),” and “Your Song.” This brief introduction to Elton John really doesn’t do him any justice, so please go check out more of his music (he has TONS of songs…TONS).

“Without Question” is a song written by Tim Rice and Elton John for the movie, The Road to El Dorado. The lyrics, although slightly vague, give the impression of a person who has been going through life doing whatever they want, almost carelessly, until they came across another who they fell in love with; their views and life completely gets flipped on its head. This is my interpretation of the lyrics, but other people could interpret it differently. That’s the great thing about art, and really, Elton John’s music: it’s still a beautiful song to listen to even though you don’t quite understand the message that the lyrics are trying to convey. Elton’s voice is bright and powerful; his belt voice isn’t over-bearing and his lower part of his range is as evenly balanced and piercing as his upper register. The guitar is a great addition to this arrangement as well. The version below from the movie only has the first verse of the song, but you can get a really good idea of what it sounds like.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? Do you have a favorite Elton John song? Let us know in the comments below!

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Memoirs of a Frustrated Singer – “Karaoke”

“Oh my gosh, you sing? How fun!” Dina whined. She was a friend of Sam and Natalie, and that was the only reason why she didn’t roll her eyes.

Natalie noticed the look on her face, quickly adding, “You know what might be fun? Karaoke.” She grabbed Sam’s arm. “There’s this great karaoke bar with good happy hour specials fifteen minutes from here.”

She winced. She knew how much Natalie loved karaoke because of her love for Pop music and performing, but she would rather scrape her nails on a chalkboard than sing into a cheap sound system at a bar.

“Yeah! Singers love karaoke!” Dina said, enthusiastically.

“Um, that’s not necessarily tr–” she began, but the other three were so excited that they began to talk over her. Where was it written, or agreed upon, that vocalists loved to do karaoke? She shook her head to herself as they all got into Sam’s car.

“This place has the best song selection and there’s four-dollar beers–”

“Yay! I love karaoke!”

“Can we pick teams?”

“Tiffany’s on my team–”

She began to rub her head where she felt a headache coming on. She should’ve drove her own car.

They parked and walked into the bar. There was a pungent smell of liquor in the air and several people were yelling, clearly already intoxicated.

“Just think of it this way: this is the best place to get up and sing because everyone’s so drunk, that even when you mess up, everyone will still cheer you on,” Sam jokingly said in her ear.

“You do realize everything that is wrong with the statement you just made, right?” she asked, looking sideways at Sam.

Natalie and Dina were too busy chatting away to see how uneasy she felt. She knew Sam was trying to make her feel better, but it made her feel even worse knowing that no one would care if she hit the right notes in some random Pop song, much less even remember her face. She sat back in her chair, casually sipping a beer as different people got up and mumbled into the microphone.

This was going to be an interesting night.

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#OnRepeat: Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die”

This week, I’ve had Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die” #OnRepeat. I remember hearing this song in one of the Shrek movies (completely serious) and I’ve loved it ever since. Interesting fact: it is incredibly hard to find and purchase this song by itself, so if anyone finds it, please send it/and or a link to it my way.

Paul McCartney is a singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and composer from Liverpool, England. He got his start in the internationally successful group, The Beatles, and the songwriting work that he and John Lennon did has been celebrated over multiple generations. After the band split up, Paul went on to pursue a solo career and later formed another band called Wings. Some of his most well-known songs are “Yesterday,” “Yellow Submarine,” “My Love,” and “Lady Madonna.”

“Live and Let Die” is a song written by Paul McCartney and his first wife, Linda, and performed by Paul’s band called Wings. It was the theme song of the 1973 James bond film of the same name, Live and Let Die, and was the most successful Bond theme song at the time and the band’s most successful song. The arrangement of piano and violin during the verses allows the change for the chorus to really be highlighted through the use of drums and guitar. Paul McCartney has always had the perfect voice for heartfelt, Pop-like ballads, and music filled with poignant lyrics, so this song is right up his alley. The melody is catchy and the lyrics are simple yet straightforward, making this song relatable even years later–a true testament to Paul’s song writing.

Take a listen below:

Which of Paul McCartney’s songs are your favorite, and why? Leave a comment below!

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Memoirs of a Frustrated Singer – “Hobby”

She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her towel. She had only meant to work out for thirty minutes, but she had spent too long on the treadmill. She would have to leave now if she didn’t want to be late for class. She walked over to the mirrors to stretch and cool down. As she sat down, she noticed a familiar elderly manumitting several feet away from her stretching.

They made eye contact. “Oh, you’re here early today, eh?” he called over to her, smiling.

“Yeah, I have an early class,” she said, stretching her shoulders.

He nodded. “Science? Literature?” They had always passed each other in the the large gym on campus, but never actually had a conversation.

She had always made a point to keep to herself when she exercised. She didn’t come to the gym to socialize. “It’s a music theory class. I’m a music major.”

“Oh okay! I’m one of the molecular biology professors here.”

“Oh okay,” she said. She didn’t know what else to say to add to the conversation. She shifted her legs to get ready to stand and leave.

“So, music, yeah? Do you play an instrument?”

“Yeah, I sing. I’m a vocalist.”

“Oh, singing! How fun! It’s always nice to work on your hobbies.”

She was getting up from the mat, when his statement registered in her brain. She paused and gave him a dirty look. Hobby? she thought to herself. “Have a good day,” she said, forcing a smile.

Did that guy know how much time and effort she had put into learning how to sing? Trying to master all the different aspects of vocal technique–breath control, support, posture, vowel shape–just to avoid damaging her vocal chords while trying to sound decent when she performed? Practicing songs and scales over and over until her voice gave out? She wouldn’t do that, go through all of that, if it was just a “hobby.” It stopped being a hobby more than fifteen years ago.

She wanted to blame the man’s ignorance on his age or his profession, but really, it was because of the way society viewed music, musicians, and the arts in general. It wasn’t something that was considered just for fun in other countries. Saying that it was just for fun, though, negated all the work that she had put in over the years; all the progress she made and personal goals she had attained. She realized in that moment that she would have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously as a musician and artist, no matter the number of years of training, hard work, or the talent she had.

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#OnRepeat: Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World”

This week, I’ve had Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World” #OnRepeat. Even though I’m writing a post about this song this week, this song has been running through my brain for the past month or so. Yeah, it’s that good.

I’m pretty sure I’ve written about Sam Cooke before–his voice and music is so soulful and iconic–but if not, Sam Cooke is a singer and songwriter who is considered to be one of the most influential vocalists of his time. His music consisted of Soul, Gospel, R&B, Swing, Jazz, and Pop music, and although he died young, his music is still considered relevant decades later. Some of his most well-known songs are “A Change is Gonna Come,” “You Send Me,” “Cupid,” and “Twistin’ the Night Away.”

“Wonderful World” was originally written by the song writing duo, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert, with Cooke tweaking the lyrics to emphasize education more. The lyrics for the song were written with the theme of love and feelings completely trumping knowledge and education. Cooke’s smooth vocal timbre and seemingly effortless delivery of the melody and the lyrics highlight the theme even more, giving you an image of someone who hasn’t got a care in the world since they have the love of another. Cooke’s voice and performance, combined with the catchy melody and child-like, lullaby lyrics make this song a classic for me; one that is perfect for playing in your car while driving by the beach on a hot summer day.

Take a listen below:

Do you have any songs or singers that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

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#OnRepeat: Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”

The week, I’ve had Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” #OnRepeat. I grew up listening to Cyndi Lauper and this song, but only recently rediscovered this song after hearing Anne, Donna, and April sing their own version of this song on the show, Parks and Recreation.

Cyndi Lauper is a singer, songwriter, and actress from New York who was popular during the 1980s. She is a strong LGBTQ activist and has won multiple Grammy Awards and Tony Awards for her songwriting. Her music blends Pop, Rock, Blues, Synthetic Pop, and Soul music. Some of her most well-known songs are “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “True Colors,” “All Through the Night,” and “She Bop,” also composing lyrics and music for the Broadway musical, Kinky Boots.

“Time After Time” was written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman for Lauper’s debut album, She’s So Unusual, in 1983. The song lyrics depict a classic theme of love and devotion, but the actual arrangement itself gives the song its iconic sound and 1980s vibe. Lauper’s voice always reminds me of my childhood–I was born in 1988, but a lot of 80s music was played in my parents’ household well into the latter half of the 90s–so I am partial to her music. The range of the melody is reminiscent of Bon Jovi’s “Don’t Stop Believing;” one of those types of songs that has the potential to showcase a singer’s range and command of their voice. Lauper is no different in this regard, but in some ways brings a child-like, innocent quality with her performance, making the meaning behind the lyrics pure and real.

Take a listen below:

 

What do you think? Do you have any songs or singers that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

 

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Memoirs of a Frustrated Singer — “Doubt”

“Just get up there and sing. It won’t be that hard,” William said, shrugging his shoulders.

“What do you mean, ‘just get up and sing’? What if they don’t know the key that I sing it in?” she said, looking at him incredulously.

“Tiffany, they’re musicians. They’ll know.” He put his hands up as if to almost physically push her towards the small stage.

She hesitated, looking at the musicians playing. This was as good a place as any to get more experience performing. The restaurant was dimly lit and the few people who were there were too busy talking or eating to notice the music being played. From the looks of it, it seemed as though the musicians were too busy to notice her either. She turned around to sit back down.

“Nope. Go!” William whispered loudly, pointing to the stage.

She gave him a dirty look and turned back around, walking over to the elderly man playing piano. She waited until the group stopped playing completely and turned to the piano player. “‘Willow Weep for Me’? In C?” she said hesitantly.

“In C Major?” the piano player asked, taking off his fedora to wipe his bald head with a towel.

“Yes,” she said, smiling.

“No,” the piano player said, immediately shaking his head.

Her smile turned into a frown as she looked over to meet William’s eyes. What did he mean ‘no’? She saw a look of confusion cross over William’s face as he looked at the pianist. That was the key that she knew the song in and the key she felt her voice fit. The fact that this professional, gigging musician, who’d probably been playing for at least two decades was telling her that the key she had practiced for this song was wrong, made her feel uneasy. Was it the right key or did he just not like the song? Or maybe she had approached him in a rude way, but then, how else was she supposed to say it? What was this guy’s deal? “That’s the key I sing the song in,” she said, standing her ground.

The piano player shrugged and nodded at the other musicians, who started to play.

As she sang through the first verse, she could hear some of the notes that the piano player was playing were off. She looked back to see the piano player grimacing and shaking his head. She finished singing and went around to thank all the musicians. After she was done, she sat back down with William.

“I don’t think he was comfortable playing the song in that key,” William said under his breath.

“Well then he should’ve said that. Not just shoot me down,” she said, shaking her head. She had been nervous enough already, walking up to and performing in a situation she wasn’t familiar with; the pianist’s attitude and response had filled her with doubt. “I don’t have much experience performing at jam sessions. You would think he would be a little sympathetic.”

“Quit acting like a victim. You’ve performed before. There’s really not that much difference,” William said as they walked towards the door.

She could tell she was going to get as much sympathy from William as she had from the piano player, so she let it drop. She knew she wasn’t okay with how the musician had talked to her, regardless of how many years of experience he had or how little experience she had. Either way, she didn’t like being treated like that by anyone. This had been a learning experience.

 

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#OnRepeat: Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling”

This week, I’ve had Blue Swede’s version of “Hooked on a Feeling” #OnRepeat. I’ve been listening to a lot of music from the 1960s and 70s, and this song has been too catchy to keep from playing more than once, especially because of the “ooga-ooga-chackas” (if you’ve heard the song, you know what I’m talking about).

Blue Swede was a rock band from Sweden that played cover songs. They were led by Sweden’s most popular vocalist at the time, Björn Skifs, and were active during the early 1970s. They rose to international success when they released their version of “Hooked on a Feeling,” reaching the top of the Billboard charts for more than three months. Some of their other well-known cover songs are “Silly Milly,” “Never My Love,” and “Hush.”

“Hooked on a Feeling” is a pop song originally recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1968, and was written by Mark James. The Blue Swede version of this song is actually a cover of the British singer-songwriter, Jonathan King, whose version features the well-known “ooga-ooga-chacka.” They also changed the lyrics slightly to avoid any possible drug references. Songs just aren’t written this way anymore–not overly-sexualized or over-dramatic, playful yet simple and to the point. Plus, the music and arrangement is catchy and Björn’s voice cuts through the band like a knife. His swing and flair, combined with a powerful vocal timbre is reminiscent of Tom Jones (the similarities make sense since Jones was popular internationally during the 1960s).

Take a listen below:

 

 

Are there any singers or groups that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

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Musings – Otis Redding

“If you want to be a singer, you’ve got to concentrate on it twenty-four hours a day. You can’t be a well driller, too. You’ve got to concentrate on the business of entertaining and writing songs.” -Otis Redding

I have a hard time agreeing with this quote, and the main reason why I picked it is because of the discussion that needs to take place for creative people trying to stay creative while paying bills. If I had read this quote in my late teens or early twenties–before I lived out on my own–I would’ve whole-heartedly agreed with it.

However, now that I have lived on my own for quite some time, I would say that this view isn’t always realistic. You have to pay rent and bills, so you need a job–five to eight hours are taken up by that–so you wouldn’t necessarily be able to concentrate on music all of the time. Many musicians go on to become music instructors at music academies, public schools, or as professors at a university or two-year college to be able to maintain a somewhat steady paycheck while still working in their field.

This may seem pessimistic to some, but it’s a reality that’s not really talked about as often as it should be. Being a musician–or creative person of any kind, really–in today’s world means being able to diversify yourself. Being able to write music, arrange music, play an instrument, and lead a band are all great skills that can make you a well-rounded musician and could potentially get you a lot of work, if you make the right connections. Acquiring multiple skills related to your craft can open up many different avenues and job opportunities for you.

Having a discussion about diversifying yourself in your field doesn’t mean that you’re not concentrating or focusing on music (or any other craft). It means that you study all elements of music, picking skills that you’re interested in and/ or good at, and sharpen those skills to make you a more marketable musician. This will most likely take you more than twenty-four hours at first, but in the end, will give you a head start during the times when you don’t have the luxury to devote all your time to music. This will also make you more likely to find more work than other musicians around you, potentially allowing you to continue to do what you love instead of sitting behind a desk all day, dreaming of performing or composing.

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