Vocalist.org archive


From:  Dean FH Macy <deanmacy@m...>
Date:  Thu Apr 13, 2000  9:24 pm
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] The Voice of a (Greedy) Angel


Karena Aslanian wrote in comment to:

> > Can you believe it?? $150 to hear a 12-year-old girl with a quite
> > unexceptional voice and an absolutely miserable technique squeal songs and
> > arias approximately on pitch.
>
> In a sense, I think this is what is happening with Charlotte Church - it is
> the sensation of a very young, pretty girl, with a kind of pretty voice, who
> is singing pretty songs, and people see and hear this and they like it. It's
> unusual, and they are charmed by her, just like many are charmed by some of
> the young singers out there today who are skilled in technique and blessed in
> looks, but ring shallow in the passion and feeling department.

I agree with the shallow passion and feeling department; a lack of emotion in
singing. But she is charming with a pleasing and gracious smile that warms
your heart. I imagine that's why Sony grabbed her. But it's not Charlotte who
wants $150 a seat. As someone else said, Charlotte would sing for free. She
just loves to sing. I had hoped her voice teacher (who, incidently, was hired
by Sony) would have taught her proper technique by now, but apparently has been
told by Sony not to worry about her tremolo and other problems.

She's doing TV commercials now, by the way. And with the close ups on her face,
I am totally turned off and angered watching (close up) her wobbling chin as she
sings. Angered because no one is doing anything about helping her. They just
want the money she's bringing in. Pathetic!

> I don't think it means people are just stupid, I think true feeling and
> passion are out of fashion, and are considered corny and overdone nowadays.
> Therefore, those with the attractive walk and talk get the attention, even if
> they don't have much else!

With this I disagree. I think emotional portryal is always in fashion. It's
just the latest batch of singers don't know or care about putting feelings into
singing. As a manager and coach I train children in singing and theatre and I
demand expression and emotion in singing else I don't sign the kid.

When Jillian, my newest eight year old sings, people come up to me later and
praise her on her emotional delivery ("It was so beautiful I began to cry" and
"I can't believe a child can put all that emotion into a song. She sings as if
she knows what the person of the song is feeling. She's wonderful!")

It's not acting, although she can quite well. It's that she 'feels' the joy or
pain of the song and allows that to penetrate her sounds. Perhaps, when I have
a few of her emotional songs recorded I will point Vocalisters to a site where
they (you) can hear a child sing with feeling.

One last word- Outside of a few professional 'feelie' singers out there, it does
seem the emotional styling of songs is no longer in vogue with the singers or
their managers. Pity.

--
Dean FH Macy, Lit.D./Mus.D.
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"Specializing in Management of exceptionally talented youth in Music"
<http://www.newenglandtalent.org> EPI Records - NetWork Films
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"Making children do something they don't want to do is the job of the parents.
If that doesn't work, there are always juvenile detention centers." - Mike R.
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