Possibly The Awesomest Terrible Singer In The World

[plumtreeblossom]

I stumbled across Joanna Newsom completely at random while reading the Wikipedia page of her boyfriend (actor Andy Samberg). At first listen I was both bewildered and riveted at the same time. I didn't want to keep listening but couldn't stop listening because there's something akin to magic about the bizarre music she makes. Honestly, her voice sounds like Bjork's irritable Siamese cat with an epic sinus infection. But juxtaposed against her gorgeous harp playing and her rich, quirky lyrics, it folds together into something that defies... pretty much everything.

There's something inspiring about an artist who can take every contemporary convention we have about what constitutes "good" singing and chuck them right out the window. Lots of composers with mediocre or poor singing voices collaborate with better voiced singers to bring their songs to life. But sometimes, someone wants to sing their own song regardless of what their voice sounds like, and if they have the right combination of confidence, stage presence and thick skin, they can do it, damn the torpedoes. Whether liked or disliked, the voice of this elven bardette certainly draws strong emotional reactions. If you click through to the comment thread on Youtube, there is passionate fighting between those who think her vocal cords should be slit and those who look up to her as a hero.

Anyway, listen if you can handle it, respect if you're inspired to.

Comments

[kencf0618.livejournal.com]

Vocal wasabi. I liked it, not that I'd dine on it every day. She has, as the French would say, the virtues of her defects -- and she sounds like the inbred love child of Laura Veirs and Diamanda Galas.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Thank you for introducing me to Laura Veirs. I went and listened to several of her songs after I read your reply and I'm now hooked. I can see the comparison with Diamonda. In both of their cases as well as Joanna's, the realness and honesty are what make them so distinctive.

[kencf0618.livejournal.com]

My pleasure.