Amy Lee (Evanescence singer)- Vocal Profile [3 Octaves/ Lyric-Mezzo]

Amy Lee

Vocal Type: Lyric Mezzo Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 octaves and 1 semi tone (Eb3-E6)
Vocal Pluses: Instantly recognizable voice, with its smooth and sweet colouring, that is well supported and technically good. This helps Amy Lee hold belted notes for periods of time, without wavering in pitch, and produce a consistent tone.

Amy Lee's midrange is delicate, and with a smoky timbre and sensitive disposition- My Immortal.

Belted notes are resonant, rounded, and mixed well when pitched at the upper extremes of this part of the range. The tone produced is impressively darker than the rest of the range and has a piercing quality that can be softened by the addition of her pleasant and quick vibrato.

The head voice is warm, powerful and resonant until E6, where, at this point, they become shrill and sharp.

Vocal Negatives: Higher belting, which forgoes mixing with the head voice, begins to strip the voice of character. Also Amy Lee's lower register can be weak and lack resonance if reached with improper technique.

Single Review: Lady Gaga "Edge Of Glory" - Gaga releases yet another poor single.

What is going on with Lady Gaga and the Born this way project? The first single, also entitled Born this Way, was terrible. Judas was a little better. But new single Edge of Glory has her depressingly sliding back towards Born this way territory.

Monica- Vocal Profile/ Range

Monica

Vocal Type: Contralto
Vocal Range: 3 octaves B2- B5
Vocal Pluses: Voices strength comes from it's dark, thick low to mid range.
Vocal Negatives: Vibrato sounds unnatural and forced on the higher chest notes, and her head voice is somewhat limited.

Video review: Lady Gaga's boring video for "Judas"

Lady Gaga in Christian Lacroix

Despite the use of heavy religious iconography, a rumoured 10 million dollar budget, and copious amounts of extras, the video for Lady Gaga's video Judas manages to totally underwhelm on all fronts. The dancing is dated, the fashion is pretty terrible-Crucifix titty tassels anyone?- and Gaga's panto level acting is pretty dire, as is the stiffness and dead eyes she displays throughout. Cultural baptism" this is not. So so Pop it is.

Album Review - Cat Power "The Greatest" - Guest Blogger

Having access to a record store owner that listens to all the CD's he orders is a rarity these days, and Cat Power The Greatest was one of the albums that he recommended. She was playing on the stores music system at the time, and I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her husky alto voice. Released in 2006, it received critical acclaim with Rolling Stones Magazine rating it as one of their albums of 2006.

Ben Folds cover Ke$ha's "Sleazy"

The former Ben Folds Five frontman has released a brilliant, shall we say "alternative" version of Ke$ha's2010 club track Sleazy in aid of the victims of the Japan tsunami. Hipsters will scoff and no doubt take pot shots at Ke$ha's version, while simultaneously declaring their love for Ben's, but they need to get over themselves and get into Ke$ha coz the gurl is fly!

Donate and download the album from which this cover comes from here

[Duelling Divas] Mariah Carey Vs Celine Dion - "Open Arms"

At a recent show in Las Vegas, Canadian vocalist Celine Dion gave a classy, subdued and restrained performance of Journey's classic rock anthem Open Arms. Mariah Carey, who had worked with both the band's bassist and drummer before that point in her career, also covered the song in her own inimitable style on her 1995 album, Daydream.