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plumtreeblossomI 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.
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.
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Date: 2009-11-18 05:30 am (UTC)I'm not sure it's GOOD for her voice but it does sound calculated and deliberate. She certainly has good pitch.
I didn't find it hard to listen to but I did have all the build-up of what to expect. I've heard MUCH MUCH MUCH worse singing (people who can't carry a tune in a bucket) from people who are "trained." I had a friend who got a degree in singing from Emmanuel and invited me to her final concert. I had heard her sing in high school and thought perhaps she had improved, so I invited Andy to come with me (this was about three years ago so we hadn't been dating long). It was a DISASTER. Her voice wasn't strong enough, the songs were poorly sung and she had no character or charisma to her singing. And we were sitting next to her former vocal coach so I didn't feel I could whisper to Andy about it. We left promptly at the end and walked down the hallway, at which point I said "I am SO SORRY" and Andy was glad that he didn't have to navigate complimenting her.
So, you can get a degree in singing and still be unbearable. Ms. Newsom is ten times more interesting and therefore enjoyable (on some level) to listen to. She has talent, regardless of whether I like what she's doing with it.