Anastacia.

[Richard of Chelmsford]

"..You and I never had LERVE!!!.."

What have I been listening to?

I'm in my mid-50s so my appreciation of popular music fadad away in the mid 70s, probably before some of you were born.

I hear modern 'pop' all over the place. I think most of it is just a joke. These dire kareoke 'boy' bands where they all stand in formation on stage with microphones stuck in their ears, and jig about to their rubbish music.

The girls aren't much better but you can forgive most of them because girls can't play instruments.

But my biggest objection to them is that none of them can sing in a special kind of way. You can't tell them apart when you hear them sing..none of them have distinctive voices. We've got a singer over here called Robbie Williams (he failed in the States)..he looks and sounds like the bloke in my local garage.

Not like the unbeatable greats of the past..

Elvis Presley,
Johnny Ray (remember him?)
Little Richard
Jerry Lee Lewis
Rod Stewart
Elton John
Cliff Richard (perhaps?)
Buddy Holly.

You recognise all of them at once.

Well, at work someone kept playing music by someone who sounded a bit like Tina Turner, but wasn't. I never knew who it was till I heard her on the radio the other day..Anastacia.

http://www.anastacia.com

Went straight to the lie berry (as my son calls it) and got some of her CDs out. She's just brilliant.

Reminds me a bit of a blonde Carly Simon.

She's currently recovering from breast cancer, I believe. Hope it won't affect her work.

Try her music, all of you...

"...you and I never had LERVE!!!!!!" 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

[enginelessjohn]

Anastacia... Well, not my sort of thing I have to admit. But if you want your faith in modern music re-established, get yourself over to 6 Music on the BBC. Thats

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/index.shtml?logo

A pop idol free zone, and proud of it. I even went out and bought a DAB so I could listen without a computer. Beware though, my list of albums to get getting longer and longer.....

Cheers
John

[Donnie B.]

Girls can't play instruments? :o

In pop music, I give you Bonnie Raitt, one of the most highly regarded blues slide guitarists on the planet.

Have you been to your local symphony orchestra recently? Ever notice how many of the players are female?

I think you may be generalizing a bit too broadly, Richard.

[Disinfo Agent]

What I like about Anastacia is that she seems to be genuinely enjoying herself when she sings. She doesn't look like someone who's just doing a gig, or trying to act cool and gorgeous. She's enthusiastic and dynamic.
:D

[pumpkinpie]

I have a lot of respect for her. Do you guys know anything about what she's gone through in her personal life? I believe she's around 30 years old. She has Crohn's Disease, and has had to have major surgery on her intestines because of it. I don't know how long she's been living with CD, but it's a major life-altering condition and she's managed well with it. In addition, she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer less than two years ago. I'm not sure about all of her treatment, but I do know she had surgery shortly following diagnosis. She's a very inspiring woman! To have to deal with two serious health problems at such a young age, and still be successful, is incredible!

Being almost as old as you Richard, I'll agree with you to an extent. But there are some talented pop musicians still around. You left Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry off your list!!! :D :D :D :D :D

[paulie jay]

I hear modern 'pop' all over the place. I think most of it is just a joke. These dire kareoke 'boy' bands where they all stand in formation on stage with microphones stuck in their ears, and jig about to their rubbish music.

Ever since the 1950s there has been a flippant, immediate and disposable side to the music industry specifically geared towards selling records to 13 year old girls and getting posters on their bedroom walls. History is littered with the memories of performers like Bobby Vee, Leif Garrett, Stacy Q, Fabian, The Shangri Las, Mark Bolan... the list is endless. But that's pop music!

There is no real difference when you compare the old and the new when it comes to pop music. It's all manufactured, it's all promoted to the point of ridiculousness, and it's all got the substance of a packet of fairy floss! ("cotton candy" to you American types!). Don't get me wrong Richard - I'm not sticking up for it - it annoys me just as much as it annoys you. But if you can accept pop for what it is then at least you can ignore it and go listen to something good!
(Please understand that I'm talking specificially about manufactured pop here, as opposed to popular music such as The Beatles.)

But occasionally amongst the chaff you will find some ... er, well ... wheat!

The girls aren't much better but you can forgive most of them because girls can't play instruments.
Oh no Richard, just not true. Admittedly fewer girls play specific instruments (electric guitar for example) but it's not because they can't play them. It was a female bass player who inspired me to start playing - had that not happened I wouldn't now be a session musician.

[Maksutov]

Being almost as old as you Richard, I'll agree with you to an extent. But there are some talented pop musicians still around. You left Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry off your list!!! :D :D :D :D :D
Not only almost as old, but apparently needing glasses too! :D

Richard's list:
Elvis Presley,
Johnny Ray (remember him?)
Little Richard
Jerry Lee Lewis
Rod Stewart
Elton John
Cliff Richard (perhaps?)
Buddy Holly.
Who's that fourth guy? 8)

[Richard of Chelmsford]

Girls can't play instruments? :o

In pop music, I give you Bonnie Raitt, one of the most highly regarded blues slide guitarists on the planet.

Have you been to your local symphony orchestra recently? Ever notice how many of the players are female?

I think you may be generalizing a bit too broadly, Richard.

That's just a leg-pull really. Though you don't see many girl bands playing instruments. Though there is a classical girl band over here..can't remember what they're called.

My local symphony orchestra? Must say I'm overdue a visit. Last one I saw was the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Barbican. I believe there are 5 symphony orchestras in London (35 miles away) to choose from.

But still glad I found Anastacia and found out last night my wife liked her too, (though my son doesn't..he's a classic boy!)

Like Madonna too.

Now here's an offer you can't refuse.

In the '60s when I was 15 I played in a band..probably the worst band ever..but ideal to blast at your noisy neighbours, or to give to your auntie because she bought you a Britney Spears CD for your birthday..or just to prove that if you're a bad musician, there was someone worse..I'm not Kidding!! :lol:

Free tape of the band, the Morons, to anyone who mails me an address or accommodation address.

[mid]

Though there is a classical girl band over here..can't remember what they're called.

I'm guessing you mean Bond. Can't stand them myself - silly popped up versions of classical tunes, and not in a good, William Orbit, way either. Basically trying to cash in on the success of the much better Vanessa Mae.

Re: Girls With Guitars, I'll see Bonnie Raitt and raise you a PJ Harvey.

[Nicolas]

Not long ago I saw some live DVD presentations on TV: a live show from Britney Spears and one from Shania Twain. Both not exactly my cup of tea. First there was Britney: dancing around amongst some men in a huuuuuuuuge decor, sometimes even actually singing some words in between off all the singing and running, wearing something else between every song, but mainly hearing the background track playing. Next came Shania Twain. Less of the jumping and dancing, result still lots of breath left to do real live singing. Forget the 25 male dancers, the decors, she had a drummer, bass and some guitar players with her. No background track, just real live music. The difference in quality was sooooo big. Shania twain showed what she was worth, really making music on that stage, doing her best to make it sound as good as possible, giving all her energy into the music, not the show. I think we should consider the difference between "artists" who MAKE pop music, and those who SELL it...

About female players, I've seen excellent ones on bass, piano and percussion. Particularly the interaction between the female anatomy and the electric bass is interesting... never mind [-X :wink:

[Argos]

Next came Shania Twain. Less of the jumping and dancing, result still lots of breath left to do real live singing. Forget the 25 male dancers, the decors, she had a drummer, bass and some guitar players with her. No background track, just real live music. The difference in quality was sooooo big. Shania twain showed what she was worth, really making music on that stage, doing her best to make it sound as good as possible, giving all her energy into the music, not the show. I think we should consider the difference between "artists" who MAKE pop music, and those who SELL it...


Shania is simply the best living female pop music perfomer. She has the beauty of Debbie Harris, the sex appeal of Madonna, the energy of Janis Joplin and an attitude of her own. I love her. :D

[mid]

Meanwhile, I can't stand her. Not my thing at all.

[Nicolas]

I have a problem with Anatacia's voice, she is different allright, but I find her voice boring after a while

[Richard of Chelmsford]

While we're on the subject of female singers, I nearly met one last night.

Suzi Quatro.

If you're British, and in your 40s or 50s you'll remember her from the 70s.

She was a butch little American girl. (I don't know how she did in the States, as she was very Anglicised, and now lives near Chelmsford.)

She wore a leather trouser suit and played the bass guitar as well as fronting her band.

Well, last night I went to the hotel where I work part-time. There was a big party on for the hotel owner, so the place was full of people, with noise, music, dancing and general ho-ho-ing.

I took a glance at the guest list. On the top table with the Boss and his family was Suzi Quatro.

I didn't see her but one of my colleagues said she was wearing 'a black mini-skirt.'

Now, old chaps out there,

You must remember..

"Come alive!"

Dumph.

"Come alive!"

Dumph.

"Down in Devil-Gate Drive,..

Down in Devil-Gate

Down in Devil-Gate

Down in Devil-Gate Drive.."

Wadumpha-dumpha..

http://www.suziquatro.com

[A Thousand Pardons]

If you're British, and in your 40s or 50s you'll remember her from the 70s.

She was a butch little American girl. (I don't know how she did in the States, as she was very Anglicised, and now lives near Chelmsford.)

In the states, she's known as an actress (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703001/). :)

I'm surprised that her website doesn't mention it, it has a crawl for Leather Forever video at the top--Leather Tuscadero was her character's name in the show Happy Days.

[Richard of Chelmsford]

If you're British, and in your 40s or 50s you'll remember her from the 70s.

She was a butch little American girl. (I don't know how she did in the States, as she was very Anglicised, and now lives near Chelmsford.)

In the states, she's known as an actress (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703001/). :)

I'm surprised that her website doesn't mention it, it has a crawl for Leather Forever video at the top--Leather Tuscadero was her character's name in the show Happy Days.

Thanks for that, 1000 p's.

But seems to me she was playing herself, mostly.

Just wait till I see her. :)

[paulie jay]

I was lucky enough to play with Suzi Quatro in a supporting band in 1994 during her Australian visit - didn't really get to talk to her much but it was nice to be part of it all. :)

[Richard of Chelmsford]

I was lucky enough to play with Suzi Quatro in a supporting band in 1994 during her Australian visit - didn't really get to talk to her much but it was nice to be part of it all. :)

Did you play with her in the band, or behind the back curtain?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[paulie jay]

Oh no, I was in the support band, so I could watch her show at leisure!

[Richard of Chelmsford]

Thanks for all your comments, men..this thread has degenerated now, so one last passing shot.

One thing I hate..HATE is the brainless rhythmic handclapping you get from so many audiences.

Gloria Gaynor was on telly over here a few weeks ago and the audience started with this 'whack! whack! whack!' to her singing.

Her face looked like thunder.

Audience noise seems to me to be an old problem..Mendlesson the composer linked together the first two movements of his Violin Concerto to keep out the applause which by rights should have only come at the end of the work.

I suppose handclapping is OK at folk concerts where it drowns out the music, but at good concerts..some people go to hear the people on the stage, not the dimwits in the audience.

Watta moan!! :cry: [-(

[Nicolas]

If you want the music and nothing but the music, there's the records. If you want the artist and nothing but the artist, there are small concerts, with applause at the end of each song (given a good performance :)).
Large concerts with good music make the audience get driven away by the music. Result: clapping or yelling when an artist is performing a solo or gets really "crescendo". It is kind of a way to support the performance he's giving. A good audience does this at the more "repititive" moments of the solos, in such a way that it doesn't outrun the music, more something like an extra drum beat. The real cheers and whistling only come when the song has ended. At some music (rhytmic drums) everyone starts to clap, stamp and dance, in a much more complex way. These music is meant to give this effect to the audience, thousands of people stomping wooden floors is a part of the performance, and as loud as the performance. The artists are some sort of controlling the audience, and they love it.

I believe no artist thinks it's a bad thing if large audiences get driven away by their performance and add their own layer to it. Of course it needs to be at suitable (tension building, rhytmic) moments and as much correct to the beat as possible. I've heard people yelling "oewie-oewie!" while Faithless performs, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaase!! But clapping in a supporting, non-censoring way of the music is no problem to me, and I've seen lots of musicians enjoy it. Heck, they put the track on their live recordings! If it was that bad they could easily have left it out.

I don't see it happening to classical music, but why can't a happy audience do the same job as a large foot drum would do at that same moment to show they are enjoying themselves? It would thrill me as an artist!

I suppose handclapping is OK at folk concerts where it drowns out the music, but at good concerts..

Legpulling again? 8)

Final question about handclapping:

If a symphony orchestra play the Radetzky Marsh for a large live audience, and they play it with lots of passion and energy, come to the end of the first theme, and keep on playing the three first notes that introduce the return of this theme much more times than normally, do they expect the audience to watch their clocks or to start clapping louder and louder as if they were saying "c'mon go for it! give us the theme!! we love it!!!". A good audience recognizes these moments, you've got them at every kind of concert. (I know this was a very "popular classical music" example, I used it to give a very clear example)

[Richard of Chelmsford]

Sounds to me as if you'd like the last night of the Proms..a well known British event.

[Nicolas]

I never claimed I like popular classic concerts. In fact, usually I don't. My post was about people tending to be alive while attending a concert, and performers using and enjoying this fact.

I do know the Last Night of the proms, it is well known in Belgium too:
http://www.notp.com/?country=info_en&menuitem=4
This is what we did with the concept of the "last night of the Proms" in Belgium. Here, we call this event just the "Night Of The Proms" and it attract thousands of people. I've never been there though.

[§rv]

And I thought this thread was about the russian princess, after seeing the title and the last post being made by nicolas

[Nicolas]

And I thought this thread was about the russian princess, after seeing the title and the last post being made by nicolas

:D

Somehow I never noticed this.