Tuesday 6 December 2016

[Review] VH1 Divas: Unsilent Night


"Never get your hopes up" is a phrase I mostly abide by. But knowing VH1 Divas was returning after a four year hiatus, I couldn't help but put aside my natural pessimism and be hyped after reading who was taking part. Silly me.

Friday 2 December 2016

[Free For All Friday]



The Vh1 DIVAS is being taped today! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!

If you don't know the score, here be the rules:

  • Try not to get too perverted- this site needs to basically be "safe for work".
  • If somebody starts a controversial subject, try keeping it civil when dealing with it. If things get out of hand please flag the conversation.
  • It would be nice if it stuck to music, but it's not a requirement! So talk about news, current events, how you're getting your hair done next time you hit the hairdresser! Whateves, really!
  • No nasty comments aimed at other users.
Inappropriate hugs to all of y'all (hi-fives to the underagers), and wishing you an awesome weekend!


Tuesday 29 November 2016

[Discuss] The Vocal Slide


We all know what a vocal slide is, right?

Also known as a glissando, it's the technique where a singer slides up (or down) the scale with a smooth and continuous sound. But I'm not an expert. Let's let a real singer- a "singer's singer," if you will- explain it to us laymen.

Monday 28 November 2016

Brandy Performs Medley Of Hits @ Soul Train Music Awards 2016



Brandy was the recipient of The Lady of Soul Award at the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards. With such an accolade being bestowed, Brandy had to come out and represent her material. And that's what she did with a nine minute medley of her biggest hit.

The reviews said she slayed; I wouldn't go that far. Even though it was enjoyable, the choices she took when rearranging the melodies of some of her songs didn't work for me. It wasn't just that they were iffy to my ears, they sounded darn right dissonant at points. Also the lows didn't appear to come as comfortable to the Diva, which made some of her (usually flowing) runs end abruptly.

Saturday 26 November 2016

Aretha Franklin takes US National Anthem To Church @ NFL Game


You ever wanted to hear Aretha Franklin take 5 minutes-ish to sing The Star Spangled Banner? Me neither! But here we find ourselves.

To those of you with patriotism running through your veins, maybe this rambling rendition will have you waving those flags fervently in reverie. Either that, or you'll find this to be so entirely self-indulgent that it's tantamount to treason and will now be boycotting Aretha and pianos hence forth. After all, it wasn't just Aretha up on that stage. Piani gotta take some of the heat too.

JoJo Shines Bright @ Disney Holiday Special With "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"



JoJo singing holiday classics and teaming up with Boyz II Men, all in one evening? Yes please!

Booked by Disney for their Holiday Special, the Diva gave a beautiful, piano-led rendition of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Though full of big notes and fancy vocal tricks, it thankfully wasn't garish or overdone. Instead, it was imbued with the original's nostalgic magic and actually managed to give me that Christmassy feeling for the first time this year.

Kelly Clarkson Performs @ Disney's Holiday Celebration 2016


Kelly Clarkson's original Christmas song, Underneath the Tree, still hasn't grown on me, being all too derivative. But that didn't stop me enjoying her performance of it and Stronger at Disney's Holiday Celebration.

Sounding raspier than usual- which I liked- the Diva brought bags of energy to her mini set. Contrasting the edgy top notes was her mid range, which was strangely clear and lighter than normal. There was some dodging of notes in Stronger, but not enough to bother or concern me.

Can't beat a bit of (this) Clarkson!