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Memoirs of a Frustrated Singer

June 4, 2017 No Comments

In my experience as a singer, I’ve come across a lot of funny, sometimes even frustrating situations. I figured that I would share this with you so, that you–and others who don’t know too much about music and performing–would be able to share in these experiences. Feel free to comment or start discussions about these stories; some I have experienced and others have happened to fellow musicians I know and have worked with. Names of musicians involved have been changed for their privacy.

“Set List”

She looked back at Sam sitting behind the drum kit, his usual look of furrowed eyebrows and intense focus on his face. He was holding the wrong type of sticks for the intro part of the song, though. What’s he doing? she thought. Knowing Sam, he probably forgot the song order. She covered the microphone with her hand and leaning back, whispered loudly, “Sam!”

Sam raised his eyebrows as he looked over at her, making eye contact.

“It’s the other song.”

He shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “What do you mean?”

“The other song?”

Sam’s eyes widened as he realized what she was talking about and looked down at the metal brushes he was holding. Without thinking, he quickly threw them over his head in a small, jerking movement, and grabbed mallets that were sitting in his stick bag. He chuckled slightly to himself as he smiled at her, dubiously.

The whole band laughed silently as she shook her head and tried not to show her surprise on her face. Sam was good at musical situations that happened on the fly, but sometimes he would make her nervous with how close he came to turning the situation into a disaster.

Well, here we go, she thought to herself, looking towards the audience to sing.

#OnRepeat, Movies, Music

#OnRepeat: Kuana Torres Kahele & Napua Greig’s “Lava (From the Pixar short, Lava)”

June 2, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had “Lava (From the Pixar short, Lava)”, sung by Kuana Torres Kahele and Napua Greig. I came across this song randomly on Pandora and is the perfect soundtrack right now with the weather gradually heating up.

The song, “Lava,” is from the animated musical short film of the same name: Lava. It was produced by Pixar and released at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival in 2014, later being released with the Pixar movie, Inside Out, in 2015. The short film is a love story that spans millions of years, focusing on a lonely volcano named Uku who wishes for a mate of his own. He sings this song to the ocean each day, unaware of an underwater volcano named Lele who has fallen in love with him and his song.

The lyrics, which were written by the director, James Ford Murphy, are simple yet full of meaning. I’ve always been a fan of Polynesian music (both traditional and non-traditional), and while “Lava” wasn’t written by someone of Polynesian descent, the influence and intent is still there. The choice to use only guitar for the instrumentation is not only an indicator of Polynesian musical influence, but it also creates an intimacy with the viewers and listeners who are hearing the story, making it more personal. I truly appreciated how Murphy brought the full storyline into the song, letting you see how the love story progresses over (literally) thousands of years. It is also endearing to hear the volcanoes sing to each other, giving the impression that volcanoes are like humans, searching their entire lives for a companion and someone to love.

Take a listen below:

Do you have a song or singer you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Movies, Music

#OnRepeat: Justin Timberlake & Anna Kendrick’s “True Colors”

May 27, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick’s version of “True Colors” #OnRepeat. I’ve actually been listening to this song for several weeks, so I decided to write about it since I just can’t get enough of it.

Justin Timberlake is a singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer from Tennessee who got his start on the television show, The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, later becoming a lead vocalist for the boy band N’Sync. After starting a solo career in the early 2000s, Timberlake won multiple Grammy and Billboard Music Awards. Some of his most well-known songs are “My Love,” “Rocky Your Body,” “Suit & Tie,” and, most recently, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”

Anna Kendrick is an actress and singer from Portland, Maine who began acting in theater productions as a child. She became well-known for her role in the Twilight film saga and gained attention as a singer when she took on lead roles in the musicals, Pitch Perfect and Into the Woods.

The song, “True Colors,” which was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, was originally performed by Cindy Lauper. The themes and messages of love, acceptance, compassion, and empathy make the song poignant and powerful; a timeless song that can even be applied now to current situations, both foreign and domestic. Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick’s version of this song adds intimacy and reflection through the use of vocal harmony and acoustic guitar, and Anna and Justin’s unique vocal timbres blend well together, almost musically mirroring the message of togetherness in the song. This has definitely been added to my list of favorite songs.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? What are some other singers or songs that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

Discussion, Music, musings

Musings – Stevie Nicks

May 19, 2017 No Comments

“If you have stage fright, it never goes away. But then I wonder: is the key to that magical performance because of that fear?” – Stevie Nicks

When I was younger, getting up to sing on stage was a terrifying experience, especially because it was just you under the spotlight with a sound system blasting a background track. No other musicians. Just you. That overwhelming feeling of sweaty palms, butterflies in your stomach, wanting to get the show over with, yet never start at the same time. . . As time passes and you gain experience, some tend to lose that familiar feeling of apprehension.

I, myself, never lost that feeling of stage fright; the feeling isn’t as strong anymore, but it still creeps up when I step onstage and look at the audience. I’ve always believed that it’s good to be a little bit nervous because it means you care about your performance, and that you want it to go well. In the case of creativity, fear is a good indicator that you’re on the right path. Doing something that scares you–even performing–helps you to grow. It is also a reminder for musicians, and other artists, to continuously stay on their toes, pushing themselves beyond the boundary of their comfort zone.

One could even argue that this feeling of stage fright can be invigorating for some, and many musicians strive to attain this feeling over and over again, whether performing, practicing,, writing, or arranging music. This need pushes some to try new things and experiment, creating great musical experiments for them and anyone around who may be watching or listening. Performances become more interesting when you see the instrumentalist or vocalist putting it all on the line and completely making themselves vulnerable. This feeling of apprehension, then, is essential to creating memorable and meaningful musical situations for both performer and listener, alike.

So the next time you see someone who is going to perform appearing to be nervous, there should be no need to say “don’t be nervous,” because maybe that feeling of nervousness or apprehension is just what they need to do an amazing show.

#OnRepeat, Music

#OnRepeat: Dolores Duran’s “Only You”

May 19, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Dolores Duran’s “Only You” #OnRepeat. One great thing about setting your music to “shuffle” is that you can discover music that you’ve downloaded months ago and forgotten about. I’ve been on a ballad song binge lately, mostly because the slower tempo allows the singer to really show off their own interpretation of the song and their voice, and Duran’s version is no exception.

Dolores Duran (born Adiléa Silva da Rocha) is a singer and songwriter from Brazil. She began singing as a young girl on the radio and later in nightclubs, recording her first album in her early twenties. Dolores Duran would’ve had a long and successful career had she not had a heart-attack at the age of 29. Some of her most well known songs are “A Noite do Meu Bem,” “Por Causa de Voce,” “Se É por Falta de Adeus,” and “Solidão.”

“Only You” is a classic love song whose lyrics say that only that one person can make everything better, and that this overall effect that this person has on them and their life is what they consider to be love. Dolores Duran’s interpretation sounds closer to 1940s and 50s American Pop and Jazz music, which can be somewhat surprising since her first language was Portuguese. Her voice is deep and full, with a nice mixture of vibrato. Some might assume that Brazilian singers don’t typically use much vibrato in performance (I haven’t heard many that do), since popular Brazilian music of the time, like Bossa Nova, characteristically didn’t call for it. However, if you listen to music from countries outside the United States during this time, you’ll find similarities in interpretation, performance technique, and sound. Knowing all of this, though, Dolores’ voice is still quite striking to listen to. Her voice truly brings out the angst and depth in the lyrics–truly almost heart-breaking to listen to, even if it is a song about the profession of love.

Take a listen below:

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

#OnRepeat, Music

#OnRepeat: Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”

May 13, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Elvis Presley’s version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” #OnRepeat. I was actually listening to Pentatonix’s version and just happened to look up the Elvis version on a whim, but instantly loved it.

In case you didn’t know already, Elvis Presley is a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor from Memphis, Tennessee. He was known not only for his deep voice, but his dancing during performances and widely acknowledged sexual appeal. His music blends influences from Gospel, R&B, Country, Blues, Pop, and Rock’n’Roll music. Some of his most well-known songs are “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Love Me Tender,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Hound Dog.”

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” was originally written and recorded for the 1961 Elvis Presley film, Blue Hawaii, a romantic comedy about a guy who has to figure out what he wants to do with his life when he gets out of the military. Although Pentatonix’s version of this classic is heavy on the bass with a great, full vocal sound, Elvis Presley’s version truly showcases his unique vocal timbre and performance technique. His delivery of the lyrics is relaxed, yet deliberate and his deep vocal tone is warm and intimate. I have been a fan of Elvis for quite some time, mostly because his deep vocal timbre and range in a lot of ways matches with mine, and this song just happens to be one of my favorites by him.

Take a listen below:

I’ve also included Pentatonix’s version of this song for reference below:

What do you think? Do you like Elvis’ version or the Pentatonix version more? Leave a comment below!

Music, musings

Musings – Herbie Hancock

May 7, 2017 No Comments

“It’s easy to get sidetracked with technology, and that is the danger, but ultimately you have to see what works with the music and what doesn’t. In a lot of cases, less is more. In most cases, less is more.” – Herbie Hancock

I think it’s so interesting that such an innovative musician who has been able to maintain his notoriety for so long because of how he is able to stay relevant, mentions the danger of technology in terms of music. Herbie is known for experimenting with different musical genres, mixing sounds and influences from other types of musics and cultures, utilizing different types of technology. With this type of approach in creating, there is a great potential to throw too much sonically at the listener or audience.

Some musicians might be tempted to play or insert as much as they can, Herbie cautions to go with “less.” For many musicians, this isn’t a new concept; I, myself, always appreciated a more simplistic approach in lyrics, melody, and arranging. However, it’s not something you would expect from a musician like Herbie Hancock, just based on his music alone. The listener tends to automatically fill in the spaces that a vocalist or instrumentalist leaves when playing less, so over-playing can become chaotic very quickly.

This isn’t to say that sometimes the music doesn’t call for more. Depending on the mood you are trying to create or message you’re trying to convey, the arrangement might need more instruments, more voices, or more sound just in general. Technology can definitely aide in this, having the potential to add synthetic sounds either during the compositional stage or even after the final recordings have finished in the studio. However, the thing that comes to mind when reading this quote by Herbie, is to try to avoid adding the extra note, instrument, or voice if you don’t need it. Many times music doesn’t need much in order to move an audience or listener, and we, as musicians, should try to remember simplicity first when creating, before trying to add more to a song just for the sake of complexity.

#OnRepeat, Music

#OnRepeat: “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass

May 5, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass #OnRepeat. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been anxiously awaiting the release of the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and I’ve been using the sound track to tide me over until then.

Looking Glass is a music group from New Jersey that was semi-popular during the early 1970s, and was a strong part of the Jersey Shore sound. Their music mixed Rock’n’Roll, R&B, Country, Soft Rock, Pop, and Doo-Wop music, and some of their most well-known songs are “Golden Rainbow” and “Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne.”

“Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” was written and composed by the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist, Elliot Lurie. The song became the most popular song for the band, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for a week and staying on the chart for four months. The song talks about Brandy, a barmaid in a port town who falls in love with a sailor who doesn’t want to be tied down and barely ever comes home. The music almost betrays the words of the song; while lyrics are sad and full of longing, the melody and arrangement is light and playful. I always loved listening to this song as a girl because it reminds me of old children songs and folk music–lyrics that have a bittersweet or subtly tragic meaning set to a light-hearted arrangement. This type of song is the kind that gets stuck in your head, but also tugs at your heartstrings, as you think about the barmaid’s lonely life. Music just isn’t written like this anymore.

Take a listen below:

Are there any songs you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

Music, Tips

Vocalese?

April 30, 2017 No Comments

I’ve come across this topic frequently in vocal classes (both group and private) and in Jazz classes during my undergrad years. Each time, it’s always spoken of briefly, and either never really explained, or not explained in enough detail in order to fully understand what it is. I don’t pretend to be an expert on the subject, but, because I am a vocalist and a genuinely curious person who likes to research interesting topics (and because I love to write about these topics), I figured I would compile what I know and what I have found out into a post for anyone else who might also be asking the same question.

Definition

Some often confuse this term with scatting, but vocalese is described on the blogcritics.org website as “taking an instrumental solo off a well-known jazz recording (usually trumpet or saxophone) then writing lyrics that mimic the sound of that solo.” The solo is usually rehearsed and uses rhythm, different vocal intonations, and words to copy the original solo.

Types

Storytelling: lyrics that tell a story from a certain point of view
Tribute: lyrics that honor or pay tribute to the original writer or performer of the song

Vocalese Artists

The names listed below are some of the most well known lyricists and/or performers of the Vocalese genre

-Eddie Jefferson-

Jazz vocalist and lyricist
credited as earliest innovator of the vocalese genre
“Moody’s Mood for Love” & “So What”

Listen to Jefferson’s arrangement of “So What” below:

-King Pleasure-

Jazz vocalist heavily influenced by Jefferson
included scat with written lyrics
“Parker’s Mood” & “Swan Blues”

Listen to King Pleasure’s arrangement of “Parker’s Mood” below:

-Lambert, Hendricks & Ross-

trio of Jazz vocalists
sang instrument parts (full, band-like sound)
“Moanin'” & “Twisted”

Listen to Lambert, Hendricks & Ross’ arrangement of “Moanin'” below:

-The Manhattan Transfer-

Jazz vocal group founded in 1969
performed A Cappella, Vocalese, Swing, R&B, Pop, Blues, and Brazilian Jazz music
heavily influenced by Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross
“Birdland” & “Another Night in Tunisia”

Listen to The Manhattan Transfer’s arrangement of “Another Night in Tunisia below:

There aren’t very many recent examples of Vocalese, however, there are some who still try to keep the genre alive, such as New York-based Jazz vocalist, Judi Silvano. Again, I’m not too familiar with this type of music, so I’m assuming this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of information (origins, style characteristics, artists or groups, etc), so if anyone has any additional tidbits, please feel free to leave a comment below!

Other Resources to Check Out:

The Manhattan Transfer official website

manhattantransfer.net

The Brew Lite’s Jazz Tales

brewlitesjazztales.wordpress.com

“Jon Hendricks: The Father Of Vocalese At 90”

npr.org

#OnRepeat, Music

#OnRepeat: Sly and the Family Stone’s “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”

April 29, 2017 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Sly and the Family Stone’s version of “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)” #OnRepeat. My mom used to sing this song to me all the time when I was younger and while browsing through YouTube recently, I came across this version.

Sly and the Family Stone is a Funk, Soul, and Rock band originally from San Francisco, California. This group was one of the pioneers of the psychedelic music “sound,” and were known for inserting social commentary into their lyrics. Their music had a strong influence on the Funk, Pop, Soul, R&B, and Hip-Hop music genres, and were subsequently inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Some of their most well-known songs are “Dance to the Music,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and “Everyday People.”

“Que Sera, Sera” is a song that was written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston (a songwriting duo) in 1956, and made its debut in the Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Man Who Knew Too Much. It was sung by Doris Day and eventually would become her signature number. Each verse of the song tell of a different stage in the narrator’s life (childhood, falling in love, parenthood) and asking “what will happen?” This song has always been a favorite of mine because of the underlying theme of living life and going with the flow (whatever happens/whatever will be, will be).

Sly and the Family Stone’s version of this song is a funky, eclectic one, with a slower tempo, heavy on the Gospel and Funk music influences. Although this version sounds very different from the Doris Day version, you can still hear the waltz, lullaby-like melody within the arrangement and the singers in the group add to the child-like innocence of the song with their own intimate, individual performances.

Take a listen below:

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

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