Thursday, 9 February 2012

Tarja Turunen- Vocal Range/ Profile [Lyric-Soprano: 3 Octaves]

Tarja Turunen

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves 1 note and a semitone (F3-Ab6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Tarja Turnunen's voice has a duality to it that has been created by her classical training and her time in a rock band. Thus,she can create a sound that is operatic, but equally adapt to sing in a more contemporary tone.

The low note are achieved comfortably with great support, creating a controlled and measured tone that moves into its midrange with brilliant mirroring of timbre and tone. The head voice is the strongest part of Tarja Thunrunen's voice, thanks to its classical training. It's full, rounded and with a sweet timbre. It can create a resonant operatic tone, creating stunning crescendos, or utilise a softer timbre that contrasts texturally, but that's not so resonant. As the head voice climbs higher, towards the sixth octave, its colouring remains bright, polished and its tone stays clear and resonant, though less powerful than the lower half of the head voice- hear the introduction to Damned and Divine.

Tarja Turunen's brilliant technique allows for sweeping trills, resonant held notes and the implementation of a classical vibrato that is beautifully executed with even spacing.

Vocal Negatives:Over reliance on head notes, but that may be solely due to the type of music she sings. Still, it would be nice to hear how her belting range sounds in the fifth octave.

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Christina Aguilera: "The Voice" Season 2, Prince Medley


Hit American talent show, The Voice, returned to spectacular ratings of 35 million plus viewers! It has to be said that this must have been helped, to a large degree, by it following the 2012 Super Bowl, because its first season was averaging 12 million. For reasons unbeknownst to me, the judges decided to sing a medley of Prince songs to open the second season with. NB:I don't watch the show so let me know if there was a reason.

Monday, 6 February 2012

Review: Watch Madonna's 2012 Super Bowl Extravaganza

 madonna superbowl 2012
Madonna at the 2012 Super Bowl

Madonna clearly set out with the intention of making the 2012 Super Bowl half-time show the biggest the sporting event had ever hosted, and we wouldn't expect anything less from our Madge! Wanting to impress and grab headlines in ways that did not involve the flashing of body parts, a la a certain other Diva *cough* Janet Jackson *cough*, Madonna's plan was simply to overwhelm and impress with a gigantic budget and good old nostalgia!

Friday, 3 February 2012

Review: Madonna Feat Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. "Give Me All Your Luvin'". Yes, It's as Bad As The Leaked Demo Suggested It Was Going To Be


Madonna Nicki Minaj MIA  Give Me All Your Luvin


I'm conflicted about the new Madonna release. I really don't want to be ageist, or push on to her expectations of what someone in their fifties should be doing, or how they should be dressing, but its hard when you watch the new video for, or indeed just hear, the new single, Give Me All Your Luvin. In fact, scratch that. On second viewing its not that I take issue with the skimpy clothing or the suggesting dancing, because I actually don't. Its more the immaturity of the whole thing that gets to me. From the obnoxious cheerleader chants of the music itself, to the faux breastfeeding and discarding of a doll, it just all feels extremely tacky.

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Rihanna: Love Her or Hate Her? Analysis of Rihanna's good and Bad points.



This will become a regular feature of the site, but with a different star obviously. Hopefully you guys will help fill out the reason why people love or hate the featured artist! So presenting to today's subject, the 23 year old, Barbadian whose full name is actually Robyn Rihanna Fenty .

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

[Vocal Profile] Lana Del Rey


Vocal Type:Dugazon
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves and one note (B2-C6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: An expressive voice that carries the emotional narrative of the lyric through Lana Del Rey's uncanny ability to channel whatever character is contained within them. This is accentuated by her brilliant intonation and phrasing which maintain that the song words are always clear, audible and understandable to a listener. Very much influenced by Nancy Sinatara, Lana has adapted and modernised her sound for a new generation.

Monday, 30 January 2012

Album Review: Lana Del Rey Triumphs on Debut Album "Born To Die"



Its finally here: self confessed, studio singer and last years biggest musical Internet sensation, Lana Del Rey’s debut album, Born to Die, hit the shelves today. With a debut single as good as the bitter sweet love song Video Games was, it was always going to be an uphill battle trying to create a collection of songs that would not immediately shrivel into nothingness when placed on the same CD as it. But by heck, did setting the bar high from the get go produce a brilliant debut album.

It should be noted though, if you haven't liked Lana's voice, or any of the songs you've heard thus far from her, than this album is not going to convince you otherwise of her talent.