Give me a singer who can sing! It isn't Mica!

[mrdreamjeans]

One of my guilty pleasures is watching "So, You Think You Can Dance". I enjoyed all of last season and have watched this year too ... have already picked my favorites to win. The young dancers are amazingly talented. During the course of the results show each week, "So, You Think You Can Dance" offers a musical guest performance. It's often someone or a group I've never heard of; I usually enjoy the exposure to new artists ... or at least, the artists who are new to me. Last night was the exception!!!

Mica! Pronounced "Mee -ca". Pronounced pure unadulterated crap! I just finished an issue of "Out" magazine that wasted several pages of paper profiling him. Yes, he's cute in an androgynous way. Yes, he's had a hard life. But no way should this kid be being promoted the way he is, whether he's Gay or not (which was the silly point of the profile). He isn't talented. I've never heard worse vocals and I've listened to Jessica Simpson, her sister who shall remain nameless, Britney Spears and their ilk.

I viewed Mica's performance like I do a bad car wreck ... terrible fascination, unable to look away despite the carnage I am witnessing ... His chest voice was weak, barely distinguishable, then the move to a screechy falsetto without apparent reason, not a single word articulated ... No diction ... I think he was saying "love me", amidst his hopping about the stage; but if he was, there are better ways to beg for love! *sigh*

I suspect my opinion will be dismissed because I'm an older singer who believes in a voice with power, range, nuance and beauty, who believes that you sing to be understood, to get your message across, to tell your stories. Pop music can't be all about small voices, studio pitch correction, over-processed sound and careful packaging ... it just can't ... I can't be alone in believing this ... Give me a singer who can really sing.

Comments

[faghatesgods.livejournal.com]

I'm, like I am with Rufus Wainwright, far more interested in his writing than his voice. And his songwriting and production and use of various rhythms and styles is very creative.

And though his voice isn't technically anything I would ever want to hear singing anything legit, it works with the stuff he writes.

Never seen him live. Maybe he can;t reproduce what he does in the studio.

But I think you're kind of reducing a multidimensional art here to one dimension and dismissing it based on that dimension. Vocals are only a small part of the picture. In the same way there is nothing more painful to me than hearing a great singing singing horrible material.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I understand your point and mostly agree. I too value the writing and the music as equal parts of the overall equation. But with the performance by Mica last night, I had no liner notes for the lyrics. I didn't hear a melody or hook which captured me. I had no idea what his muffled message was. How can I appreciate the writing if I have no idea what is being communicated, other than general noise? He could be a brilliant songwriter; but I'm not reading a performance.

And I most certainly agree with your final statement. I once watched Leontyne Price sing, "I've Got the Music In Me" on Johnny Carson ... Oy!

Thanks for your feedback. HUGS!

[faghatesgods.livejournal.com]

believe me... being a writer / guitarist / performer /singer who has produced a few albums and never really got the attention for them I was expecting... I totally understand your underlying frustration!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Ernie ... Maybe that is what's behind my rant. I have friends who are superior on all counts and then someone like Mica gets this attention ... It's not jealousy ... It's about fairness ... Guess, I want to be the grand arbiter of taste. LOL!

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Not the same thing at all, but this reminds me of watching the Grammys several years back and Placio (sp?) Domingo was scheduled to perform an operatic number but he was ill. They had Aretha Franklin fill in on the song.

It was FANTASTIC!!

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

I didn't catch the profile on Mr.Mica, but after the first 45 seconds watching his performance on "So You Think You Can Dance", I experienced one of the joys of TiVo: Fast Forward.

BTW: GO Dominic! Yes, he had a bad night with the Vienese Waltz, but I blame the choreographer and the music ("Man of LaMancha"??? WTF??). The kid has phenominal talent and charisma to burn; the gaps in his technique can be shored up by going to class...and what school wouldn't take him in? He may not make it to the Finale, but he's going places.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I keep thinking I"m watching John Leguziamo .... :) He isn't my favorite, but his solo last night was amazing! The choreographer certainly didn't do Dominic or Jamie any favors. I think the final four will be Neil, Danny, Lacey and Sabra .... Any guesses?

HUGS!

ps ... I was offered free Tivo and turned it down. You just gave me a reason to reconsider:)

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

I think we're pretty close as to the final four. The trick is, the program is billed as picking "America's favorite dancer" not the best one, so the one with the best technique (Danny) could loose to one with more charisma (Neil). Given that criteria, and a favorable draw of dance styles, Dominic could still take it.

Among the women, a face-off between Lacey and Sabra would be interesting, but I think Lacey would win (She's far better than her hammy brother).

(I've learned to appreciate TiVo for the ability to zap through the extensive commercial breaks.)

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

Good pic for the final four, with Lacey and Sabra the final two and (perhaps) Lacey taking it. But it's hard to pick when the winner is effectively decided by a combination of dancing ability and charisma/personality. It's encouraging though that last night, the public's vote pretty well got it right.

[elfkat.livejournal.com]

Hear! Hear!

Hugs!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks:)

I really am not an old fogey when it comes to my music ... Whatever the genre, I want it to be a good example of it.

HUGS!

[elfkat.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'm an old fogey but you better not sing like the merpeople in Harry Potter's egg in the Goblet of Fire.

[rckdjbear.livejournal.com]

You aren't alone. He does Nothing for Me either.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I think the most interesting part of Mica's awful performance was whether his pants would fall off. I briefly considered if I wanted that to happen and then dismissed it:) I was more drawn to watching his drummer. She had the charisma he lacked.

[bluedevilsf.livejournal.com]

I'm almost completely dismissive of pop music as a whole, so I can't critique Mika. However, I do find beauty in imperfection, and many artists I enjoy have less than perfect voices. So, I don't agree that power, range, and nuance are the end-all/be-all of being a "good" singer who can emotionally connect with a listener.

Then again, I'm not a professional singer.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You are entirely correct Tim. Some of my favorite voices have imperfections and I listen to them because of the imperfections. There can be beauty and nuance in a voice with interesting flaws. First examples that come to mind are Edith Piaf and Judy Garland ... and of course, they are not pop singers. As showmeonthedoll points out, the writing and composition are also important pieces of the musical puzzle. In the performance I heard last night, there were no positives that I could hear. It was all about the packaging ...

As you well know, I come from a theater background, love CW, Bluesgrass, R&B, Blues and other music. Within those genres, I am most drawn and appreciative of powerful, rangy voices. Even in the disco era, with the overproduced sound, there were singers such as Alicia Bridges whose voices shined brightly. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy a different type of voice.

As to the qualities I listed, I should have also mentioned "pitch". Even in imperfection, there is never a reason to sing off pitch:)

Thanks, Hon ..

[deege.livejournal.com]

Mika's record is all about songwriting (pastiche, mostly), production and clever arrangements (including multiple vocal overdubs). The music has been compared to Queen, but Freddie Mercury could actually deliver live. I do think the record is fun, but I don't see how it could be reproduced live...whether or not Mika were a good live singer. It's a novelty, basically, but it does have its charms.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I liked Freddy Mercury and enjoyed his music. But, as you've said, Freddie had the vocal talent to deliver live. That was what was missing from Mica's performance last night. To my ears, no discernible vocal talent ... There are lots of wonderful writers out there, but I didn't think there was anything particularly distinguished about the writing, pastiche or not. How could I tell? I didn't understand a word that was sung.

I did like watching his female drummer. She rocked!

Thanks for commenting. HUGS!

[paladincub21.livejournal.com]

Obviously every one has already made my comment before I got to this section of my friends page.

But as someone who has slowly grown intrigued in the nature of live performances on television, I have noted several factors:

• Pop music is part of a process. It includes so many factors that are not musical in nature that the "performance" we see has little to do with musicianship and more to do with satisfying a need to see the CD in 3D. Its not about intepretation, communication, immediacy or engagement or any of the other things we've come to expect from live performance. Instead it becomes "you liked my CD? Well here it is again! But this time with dancing and pyrotechnics! Enjoy listening to the CD with a thousand of your bestest friends! Oh...here is my new CD. If you liked this, then you can go straight to the store and buy exactly this." Its the kind of thing that can be interesting at times, but when you watch a performer perform the same thing again and again all over the television/'net, you start to realize that pop performance is less about performativity and more about mass production.



• I find it interesting that pop concerts rarely feature covers of other songs. They are tightly timed (often using click tracks), frantically designed to sell an album, image or appeal. You won't ever see Britney Spears randomly decide to add a Prince song to her set, even if its appropiate to the concert at hand. The reason for this is that pop performances work not on the content of the performance but on strengthening the relationship between an audience experiencing a song and a performer that they already know. There has been such a push for lip-synching and backing tracks because pop audiences want to hear the song exactly as heard on the cd or radio. In that case, pop performances are barely performances; they are just staged repetition of an experience. In that sense, some performers veer away from being musicians and more towards being marketable automatons.



• This is why, the best performers are the ones that are the most daring; they show musical gifts as well as charm. Kelly Clarkson receives criticism for not sounding exactly like her recordings but I think it sustains her as a performer. She has sung her songs in so many different ways: new arrangements, adding a coda, playing with the dynamics of a song, acoustic versions, etc etc. I have her performing "Breakaway" on Oprah as if its a inspirational hymn while another clip shows her singing it acoustic like a folk song. Beyonce uses backing vocals but sings above and below them, in essence ornamenting the skeleton of the song with flourishes and nuances. She often even sings a new bridge for the song. Even though her choreography is consistent in all her performances, each one feels different because she's actually singing and playing with the songs each time. All these things make for better performances, but force the audience to actively engage and appreciate new things...which is dangerous when audience are ready to call things "pitchy" or question why they can't watch exactly what they listened to earlier. I think it shows good musicianship, which interests me more than simple repetition. Performance should be a living, breathing present thing, not something as fixed as we seen in most performances.


Ok, enough me babbling.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! I appreciate your opinion/comment very much! You've articulated the topic much better than I could have done and given examples to buttress your opinion. Well-said!
Thank you!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

OK I admit it... there are times I regret not having a TV, if for no other reason than to join in the general cultural buzz, diss the laughables, and laud the remarkables.
Since 'my music' tends to range across 'classical' (that's at least Bach to Bluegrass)- and of course Broadway - I'm sure I'd agree with your assessment. The rendition needn't be perfect - some imperfections are stylistic virtues - but ultimately hype alone cannot substitute for quality.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The whole performance bewildered and frustrated me. I usually am when there's a triumph of style over substance ... especially when I didn't like the style either. I suspect that some people will embrace him because he's Gay. No matter that he isn't measurably good, just Gay.

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

You might add a reservation to the 1970's protest slogan 'Gay is Good!'*

* ...but that doesn't count if it's talent-free. LOL

[nlotic.livejournal.com]

I've heard a little Mika and my reaction has been...ehhh..it's O.K. Nothing that make me want to buy his album.

I don't get why certain artists are popular. The general public seemed to be more obsessed with image than talent. I'm glad that Mika actually performed his song live (it sounds like Mika had performance like Bette Midler had when she appeared on American Idol) instead of lip syncing.

Groups that *I* think should be wildly popular, never are. I also don't go for voice alone. I've heard singers with wonderful voices that I won't listen to because they sing about topics that have been covered to death or in a way that isn't original.

I do also listen to quite a bit of "manufactured" music (electronic music) because I hear new ideas and unique orchestration. They also never claim to be anything but manufactured unlike Jessica Simpson and crew.

I agree with Tim, I also respect unconventional voices, but they have to be able to present it live too.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I agree with Tim too ... When I chose my criteria, I wasn't speaking of perfection (though I can't take songs or works where the intention is to sing off-pitch ... I just can't. It makes me want to slap someone:) You said you've listened to Mica .. What is ok about it?

We all have our own taste in music. I've listened to electronic music and various permutations .. I've listened to Rap. One of my nephews writes and performs it. I can usually find something I like about it. As a songwriter, I can appreciate wonderful lyrics, though I might not like the music attached to it.

I agree with your comment about Bette! I have loved her .. loved all of her music and styles she tried on, but she was AWFUL on American Idol. I hope that she had an illness and that she can recover to her previous fabulosity.

But Mica ... like Milli Vanilli, but not bright enough to hide his lack of talent.

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

You are right on both counts. So You Think You Can Dance is amazing TV, overlooked by culture snobs who don't realize it showcases a viable and neglected art-form, mostly intelligently, and with superb skill in both the dance itself and the underlying choreography. It is, in short, as good as it gets.

Mica though is indeed crap. So are the Scissor Sisters. There, I've said it. Heresy!

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

"Mica though is indeed crap. So are the Scissor Sisters. There, I've said it. Heresy! "

I'll go get the cooking oil. Who wants to bring the faggots?

:-)>

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, it's getting warm here.

Guess I shouldn't have slagged a bear favourite, even if the band is crap.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

A clever reply, but our dislike of these singers has nothing to do with their sexuality. I'm usually first on the bandwagon to give our own a chance. I just don't like their music.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I agree with you. I applaud you courage! :)

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Interesting, 'cuz I may have had a similar reaction to something else. Recently I watched DVD of Man Of LaMacha and as soon as Peter O'Toole opened his trap I thought, "Oh, this is ain't no Richard Kiel*. I kind'a grew up on the original Broadway cast recording, and whoever did the male lead (geez... I can't spell for shit today.) had this deep, profound voice. I don't know if this is what you mean by "chest voice", but I wonder...

O'toole eventually won me over, pretty much.

Of course I got quickly besotted by John Castle. (Kind'a like how William Young nearly made me forget that Judi Dench was also in Mrs. Henderson Presents...)
_____
*Or whatever the correct name is.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I didn't care for the movie version of "Man of La Mancha". Peter O'Toole grew on me, but he certainly wasn't Richard Kiley vocally and I want my musicals well-sung. Sophia Loren was stunning, but there are many stunning women who can sing.

I used the term "chest voice" to distinguish between Mica's regular voice and his falsetto. I'm actually improperly using the term, as it most often applies to women singers and how they produce their vocal sound.

Movie musicals are another place where they often cast marketable actors rather than the people who would most likely deliver a complete performance. I can give dozens of examples. For instance, my intention is to see the current version of "Hairspray". I know going in that I will dislike Travolta as Edna. The original "Hairspray" is one of my favorite films and I enjoyed the stage version too. I can tell from the commercials and clips that I've seen that Travolta is the weakest link.

[macduff131.livejournal.com]

having never heard of Mica before, i can't really judge him...but this is why i don't listen to a hell of a lot of pop music. these days, it's all about the packaging. there seems to be a lot of bad songwriting, sung by singers who haven't a clue what they're singing about. case in point: American Idol winner Ruben Studdard. he sang "Breakin' Up is Hard to Do" with a giant Kool-Aid on his face.

Packaging doesn't work if you don't want to open the package ...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

American Idol has been hit and miss ... Hit - Kelly Clarkson; Miss - Reuben Studdard ... Hit - Carrie Underwood ... Miss - Jordin Sparks ...

Fantasia ... not sure yet ... certainly not a hit with records sales, but live, she rocks. Chris Daughtery didn't win, but he's definitely a hit because he can deliver the goods live ... And I haven't even mentioned the psycho queen, Clay Aiken.

Wait till you hear Mica ... and make sure you see him perform live. You wll get exactly what elicited this post:)

HUGS!

Re: Packaging doesn't work if you don't want to open the package ...

[macduff131.livejournal.com]

do i hafta subject myself to it? *weep*

Re: Packaging doesn't work if you don't want to open the package ...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Only if you are able to be really, really strong ... LOL!

[4nicoleseyes.livejournal.com]

age has little to do with it... good is good and crap is crap... that my dear sir was crap... about 3 unaudible lines into the pitiful performace there were looks around the room followed by channel changing

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thank you ... I rest my case:)