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May. 13th, 2009 08:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wildestrangerIs livejournal not working for anybody here? I guess I'll have to post my Very Important Thoughts on Adam Lambert on just dreamwidth. Oh well. *g*
So, last night's songs: I was a bit dubious when I heard of Simon's choice for Adam. The thing is, U2's One is a song that is pretty impossible to cover and not sound like an utter failure compared to the original. And I don't say this just because it is one of my core beliefs that this song is the utter pinnacle of artistic endeavour ever (This list also includes: 1) Other people are stupid. 2) Wine is good.). The melody is simple enough that any complicated vocal tricks will just sound silly (see Mary J. Blige) - this song finds its strength in the fact that the singer's voice must sound rich and interesting within a fairly narrow vocal register. But singing it that way tends to result in Not As Good As Bono, and any other arrangement will end up being not as rich and moving and subtle as the original. It's a horrible song to cover because the original is so well known and so well loved that any departure will be immediately recognisable, but the things one can usually play with in covers - different singing styles, vocal texture, instruments - will take away the things that make this song so wonderful.
For Adam, in particular, it would not be a good choice, because the changes he tends to make in songs will not work with this one, and the range and power of his voice will not complement the song. And I am sorry to say that it did not. Despite my doubts, I had hoped that he would be able to do something interesting with the material he was given, but while his performance wasn't bad, it was certainly short of the spectacular that we've come to expect from him. The fact that he was made to sing this song makes me supremely unimpressed by Simon - yes it's your favourite singer and your favourite song, but sometimes the two don't go together.
Aerosmith's Cryin', by contrast, was magnificent, and it was almost a relief to see Adam with a song that he could perform with confidence and style (and swagger and snarl!). That's what his voice sounds like in a song that suits him. That's how it should be.
Anyway, what did you think? Don't pretend you're not watching, Adam Lambert leaves no bosom unheaving in his quest for rockstardom.
So, last night's songs: I was a bit dubious when I heard of Simon's choice for Adam. The thing is, U2's One is a song that is pretty impossible to cover and not sound like an utter failure compared to the original. And I don't say this just because it is one of my core beliefs that this song is the utter pinnacle of artistic endeavour ever (This list also includes: 1) Other people are stupid. 2) Wine is good.). The melody is simple enough that any complicated vocal tricks will just sound silly (see Mary J. Blige) - this song finds its strength in the fact that the singer's voice must sound rich and interesting within a fairly narrow vocal register. But singing it that way tends to result in Not As Good As Bono, and any other arrangement will end up being not as rich and moving and subtle as the original. It's a horrible song to cover because the original is so well known and so well loved that any departure will be immediately recognisable, but the things one can usually play with in covers - different singing styles, vocal texture, instruments - will take away the things that make this song so wonderful.
For Adam, in particular, it would not be a good choice, because the changes he tends to make in songs will not work with this one, and the range and power of his voice will not complement the song. And I am sorry to say that it did not. Despite my doubts, I had hoped that he would be able to do something interesting with the material he was given, but while his performance wasn't bad, it was certainly short of the spectacular that we've come to expect from him. The fact that he was made to sing this song makes me supremely unimpressed by Simon - yes it's your favourite singer and your favourite song, but sometimes the two don't go together.
Aerosmith's Cryin', by contrast, was magnificent, and it was almost a relief to see Adam with a song that he could perform with confidence and style (and swagger and snarl!). That's what his voice sounds like in a song that suits him. That's how it should be.
Anyway, what did you think? Don't pretend you're not watching, Adam Lambert leaves no bosom unheaving in his quest for rockstardom.
