I forgot to mention, she didn't remain a folksinger but became a pop singer, and a successful one. Against all odds.
Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Rosen To: MoPo Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 9:43 PM Subject: Re: [MOPO] Corrected OT: Susan Boyle 1999 Amateur Jazz-Blues CD Track Found All this stuff about Susan Boyle...I guess you guys never heard of a Canadian singer named Rita MacNeil. From Cape Breton, she started out singing in people's living rooms, became a folksinger and ended up not only a bestselling Canadian artist but had charted hits in the US and UK. She also hosted a national TV variety show for years. This, despite being plain, overweight, painfully shy and born with a harelip. Here are a couple of links: http://www.ritamacneil.com/ http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/macneil-rita-biography I only post this because being homely and talented is not exactly new and unique. And the fact that media people are falling all over themselves about how a frumpy, middle-aged woman can have a beautiful voice only goes to show, not only how shallow they were, but how shallow they continue to be. Shallower than the wading pool in Tiny Town. Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: David Kusumoto To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 9:01 PM Subject: Re: [MOPO] Corrected OT: Susan Boyle 1999 Amateur Jazz-Blues CD Track Found Leave it to Dr. Sue Heim to have an encyclopedia in her brain comparing (and with great skill) the supreme vocalists of history. I love Jane Monheit and Diana Krall -- both completely different singers, with Krall carrying a raspy low octave (like her husband Elvis Costello) -- that prevents her voice from hitting high notes -- (but it doesn't matter because she plays a mean jazz piano). Sometimes when I listen to Boyle, I think her voice has a theatrical vanilla quality, that is, still super talented, but akin to what you'd find on a Broadway stage; nothing ground-breaking. But other times, particularly as you say, the way she articulates, e.g., her reading/phrasing of lyrics -- (for which Sinatra was spectacular) -- something special jumps out that feels new. Even if you can't pick her voice out of a crowd (which is my litmus test to determine recognizability and originality) -- she is special; her pitch is near perfect; but it's her phrasing skills that makes my ears perk up. -d. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:36:09 +0000 From: [email protected] Subject: Re: Corrected OT: Susan Boyle 1999 Amateur Jazz-Blues CD Track Found To: [email protected] Her voice is really remarkable. She has such great articulation. Some people don't like that in a singer as they think it makes them sound "taught". Obviously, she has a natural talent. I think her voice was better displayed in the number from Les Miserable. You can also tell her voice was a bit younger on "Cry Me a River". She has a bit of the crooning of a June Christy, not quite as deep as Helen O'Connell from the 40's and 50's. She sounds like many of the younger female stars of Broadway that are second, almost first sopranos. There are a few newer singers that sing alot of the standards like Jane Monheit and others that have the same type of sound. Diana Krall is one of the great contemporary singers of the standards. Most of the torch singers had lower voices like Billy Holliday, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, and of course, Ella Fitzgerald, who had a higher voice by nature but was able to do incredible things in all ranges. Sue ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:10:02 -0700 From: [email protected] Subject: [MOPO] Corrected OT: Susan Boyle 1999 Amateur Jazz-Blues CD Track Found To: [email protected] This is superfluous news to those who've followed what's happened to Susan Boyle since the last postings here at MoPo. But the Daily Record in Glasgow has found an astounding amateur CD jazz-blues track of Boyle singing for charity back in 1999. You can read the story and listen to the entire song track -- by going directly to the Daily Record site -- or by visiting a web-hosted version of mine which includes the song's lyrics -- (the tune takes about 10 seconds to download): http://tinyurl.com/cs8wuf If the song doesn't play, you can open up another tab on your browser and listen to it directly at: http://tinyurl.com/cm42xl Meanwhile -- maybe Greg Douglass or someone musically proficient can help me out. Boyle's voice is unique -- but it also sounds familiar, perhaps a blend of several torch singers layered into one -- and I can't pick them out. Any ideas? -d. 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