Mekomy is My English Music Maestro: August 19, 2007

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Friday, August 24, 2007

The Cranberries - Just my Imagination

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Top 20 favorite singers of all time

like honest singers who are not trying to sound a certain way, but rather sound the way they sound because their vocal strengths and quirks alike naturally flow out of them. My top 20 favorite singers is a varied list across all musical genres. Sometimes, I like a voice because I'm used to it, that I grew up hearing it. It feels like home. At other times, I am in awe of technical ability, although this is rare. Mostly, I like a voice if it's unique, not following a particular school of singing, or after a certain tradition So here, in no particular order (for how could I possibly rank one higher above another) is my list:
Paul McCartney: From sweet ("Yesterday") to rough ("I'm Down") to downright crazed ("Helter Skelter") McCartney's vocal talent is rivaled only by his superlative instrumental ability. Recommended track: "Maybe I'm Amazed"

John Lennon: For similar reasons as McCartney. Lennon was famously uncomfortable with his own voice, which is why he opted for double-tracking in the studio. But his poignancy on a track like "Julia", and his passion on another such as "Don't Let Me Down" put him in the stratosphere of rock vocalists. Recommended track: "God "

Chet Baker: A jazz vocalist who stood out from the confident crooner stylings of many of his contemporaries, Baker's vocal is a lost, haunted sound of a doomed romantic. His performance on "Time After Time" remains to be my favorite. Recommended track: "Time After Time"
John Lee Hooker: Bluesman Hooker's voice is like melted chocolate over a well-used ashtray; menacing, dangerous and ultimately sexy. Recommended track: "Decoration Day"
Mavis Staples: A ruggedly soulful alto voice, Mavis Staples performances are infused with gospel fire, and a textured tone which provokes emotional reactions in me, most notably on the Staples version of "The Weight". Recommended track: "The Weight"
David Bowie: Known for his reputation as a musical chameleon, Bowie also had many facets of his voice, which gave each of his performances something unique. From the lower registers ("Golden Years", "China Girl") to impassioned theatricality ("Rock n' Roll Suicide"), to the poignant ("Life on Mars"), Bowie is able to nuance his performance in just the right way to serve the song. Recommended track: "Young Americans"
Ella Fitzgerald: The yin to Billie Holiday's yang, Ella's voice is clear and clean, almost impossibly noted for a clarity that remains unmatched even today. Recommended track: "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered".

Sam Moore: The "Sam" in soul duo Sam and Dave, Moore's voice is playful, friendly, and right out of the church. His performance on "You Don't Know What You Mean To Me" is my favorite of his, full of vigor and positivity. Recommended track: "I Thank You"
Solomon Burke: This soul giant, known as "The King of Rock n Soul", also took his cues from gospel music, but leant his skills to a wide range of styles, including country. Using backup singers as a kind of soulful Greek chorus, listening to Burke is like attending a tent meeting, with a voice so powerful, emotional, it pulls you closer to the divine. Van Morrison owes this guy big! Recommended track: "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"
Bob Dylan: For many, Dylan's voice is a deal-breaker. And it's true, you either love or hate his voice. But then again, which voice do you mean? Dylan has used several. In listening to his albums, you can see that he was always experimenting with his voice in intonation and texture. Compare "Blowin' in the Wind" to "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" to "Just Like A Woman" to "Lay Lady Lay", and on. It might seem like four different singers! Recommended Track: "Desolation Row"
Elvis Costello: Starting off as a nervy pub rocker, Elvis Costello's approach has since been that of pushing his own limits as a writer and as a singer. He's tried country, torch singing, classical, big band jazz, and several other musical styles, all while staying true to the core qualities of his unique voice. Costello's limitations ultimately reveal themselves as strengths. From the piss-and-vinegar of "Miracle Man" from his debut, to his impassioned, countrified "The Judgement" of his more recent "The Delivery Man" album, Costello is a consistently interesting vocalist. Recommended track: "I Want You"
Peter Gabriel: First, the front man and founding member of Genesis, Gabriel's voice is a smoky, raspy instrument, flecked with soul influences and yet very English. He carried his vocal prowess into a solo career which relies on the interplay between his voice and the percussion-oriented rock for which his overall sound is known. The voice is at the forefront, unique, almost otherworldly. Recommended track: "San Jacinto"
Sting: Although he lost me a while ago with his MOR meanderings, Sting's voice remains to be a favorite. During his work with the Police, and also on his first few solo albums, Sting explored the darker aspects of humanity in his writing. His keening tenor which has been imitated but never reproduced, is what brings across the emotional connections without being showy but rather in relying on the distinct quality of his voice itself. Recommended track: "Fortress Around Your Heart"
Roberta Flack: On the strength of "Killing Me Softly" alone, Roberta Flack gets my vote as one of the smoothest sexiest voices ever. I think one of the reasons for this is I get the impression that she's not trying to be this good, she just is. Her voice is the sound of pure effortlessness, particularly on this track, bringing soul, pop, and jazz together as if they've never been apart. Recommended track: "Killing Me Softly"
Jeff Buckley: Who knows where Buckley would have gone if he'd lived to build his career beyond a single completed album? Anywhere. Buckley was gifted with a genetic advantage being Tim Buckley's son. The elder Buckley was no slouch in the singing department either! But another thing Jeff Buckley seemed to inherit was his father's musical curiosity, taking on anything from Nina Simone to Led Zeppelin to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and pulling them all off. Recommended track: "Dream Brother"
Norah Jones: Much like Roberta Flack, Jones' vocal is the sound of someone who breathes out the song, rather than sings it, all the while marrying a love of jazz and country in equal measure. Her music is thereby made the two opposing worlds sound as if they've always belonged together in the most laid back and unassuming way possible. Recommended track: "Seven Years"
David Byrne: Byrne's voice is a great example of how a front man can create a sound for a whole band. The members of Talking Heads are good players particularly in their ability to incorporate world music in with the sound of post-punk, but it is Byrne's voice that defines the band for most; a paranoid, idiosyncratic voice of a man driven to the brink by living in the city too long. Recommended track: "Pulled Up"
Neil Finn: A superlative songwriter in Split Endz, Crowded House, and in an excellent solo career I think Finn's ability as a singer is often overlooked. Finn's voice seems to evoke an impassioned innocence betrayed by the darker tones of experience. It is an emotionally connected, boyish-yet-textured voice which rages and soothes with equal dexterity. Recommended track: "Don't Dream It's Over"
Ben Ottwell of Gomez: On seeing Ottwell, and his band mates in Gomez, you wouldn't imagine that a sound that owes a heavy debt to blues singer Charley Patton would be involved. But Ottwell's Tom Waits-like growl jumps out, delivering a sound that adds grit and gravel, without the effect that he's imitating what people think a rock singer should sound like. Recommended track: "We Haven't Turned Around"
Elvis Presley: The King: blues, country, pop, gospel, and beyond, this man could sing anything. From the scrappy rockabilly of the Sun Sessions, to the MOR of "Wooden Heart", to the later day "Burnin' Love", Elvis proved that he was more than a rhinestone jumpsuit. He had the skills as a vocalist that few have or will ever have. Period. Recommended track: "American Trilogy"

How to throw a karaoke party

You're sitting at home planning a party. You've got your list of invitees down. A cupboard full of chips and dips, and a cooler full of beer. You go to your computer and start putting together some mix Cd's of your favorite music. As you gather the songs you notice yourself singing along with one, and your eyes widen, lit up as you a struck with an idea.
"I should have Karaoke at my party!"
Brilliant! What could be more fun that a Karaoke party? The answer: a lot of things, if you're not careful! While Karaoke is a pass time enjoyed by people of every age, race and gender, it's also something you have to be in the mood for. So what happens if people show up to your party and aren't in the mood for Karaoke? Get them in the mood.
There are three basic steps to throwing an amazing Karaoke party, and it all starts with invitations.
Step 1: Inviting your guests
With any luck, everyone at your party will have a blast, but do you know who won't? The people who don't show up! Karaoke is always fun with a good sized crowd, but if you aren't careful, you may loose half of your guests. It's all about how you present your invitation. There are two different types of people you will be inviting to the party; people who love karaoke, and people who like karaoke. The difference is this...
People who LOVE karaoke - Make sure they know this is a karaoke party! This will be the smaller of the two types, but they are also the most important. They will go out of their way to attend, and you will need them during the party.
People who LIKE karaoke - The easiest way to help ensure they will come is to avoid mentioning karaoke, and just tell them you are having a party. Why? While it is true that they enjoy karaoke, if they realize your party will focus around this activity, come party day they may think, "I'm not really in the mood." With people who just like karaoke, this can often be the case, and the number of people attending can make or break a party.
Step 2: The supplies
First and foremost is the karaoke machine. RENT ONE! Unless you own a professional karaoke machine, you should get one. This might seem a little expensive, if you buy yourself a cheap one and then try to supply yourself with a good selection of music, you'll end up spending a lot more, and getting a lot less. A good way to cut on costs all around is set up the party with a small group of friends so you can all split the bill.
Just as important as the karaoke machine is the food and beverages. It is a party after all. As far as food goes, avoid really heavy foods. Things like "pigs in a blanket", meatballs, or any sort of dinner foods. These foods will make your guests feel sluggish and tired, and when people are tired, they don't want to sing! Stick to chips, meat and cheese trays, hot wings and sugary foods. These will keeps your guests happy and high energy.
Now, if you want to loosen up your guests vocal cords and inhibitions, there's nothing that does the trick quite like alcohol! Mixed drinks are your best choice. They are fun, flavorful, and, best of all, won't slow everyone down. Serve fun drinks like Jell-o shots or margaritas. Beer will weight people down just light heavy foods, so if you are going to serve beer, go with bottled. People tend to drink them a little slower, and their is less beer to them. Wine is generally best avoided, but if you must, go with a White Zinfandel or a Lambrusco. They tend to be more of the "party" wines. Also, make sure you have an amply supply of soda for any non-drinkers. Energy drinks are great too, but a little more expensive.
Step 3: Getting people in the mood
You're guests have arrived and the party is underway. This is the easy part. Have fun and sing! As the host, you may have to be the first one to sing. Most people don't want to be first up, so take charge and get things started! Then focus on encouraging the people who "LOVE" karaoke to get up there and sing, and try to get them to drag others up there with them. Many people need someone to sing with them first before they feel comfortable on their own.
Make sure you have people sign up on a list so you have a singing order, and make sure someone enforces that! Nothing can kill a karaoke party like having one drunk guy hog the microphone.
And there you have it! The recipe for a perfect karaoke party. Now, just make sure you don't wake the neighbors with your 3am performance of Bohemian Rhapsody.
Learn more about this author, Klaus von Hohenloe.