Lately, I've become fascinated with yodeling. In music, that is. I promise you, I don't go around yodeling. So check this out -- yodeling, or some facsimile thereof, exists and it's never going away. Here are a few of my favorite yodelers, in the list below, but in no real order other than convenience:
1. Rihanna: Wow, now that girl can yodel. Her voice always sounds super-processed, a little robotic, a little off-kilter, like she's yodeling right below or right above the note she's supposed to be hitting, but that's kind of what makes it work. She's almost made a whole style out of yodeling. Songs that show her getting her yodel on: "Umbrella" (ella)(ella)(ella), "Live Your Life" (yea-ay-yeah-ay-ee-ay), "Run This Town".
2. Joan Osborne: This lady is awesome, and has a great voice. She can also get her yodel on. Listen to her in "Pensacola".
3. Tina Turner: No, she's not known for yodeling. She's known for her dancing -- and really her legs if we're getting right to the heart of it. But check out her yodel in "I Can't Stand the Rain". That's a yodel.
4. Joni Mitchell: Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til you yodel? When it comes to anything voice-related, Joni Mitchell is only making the list for her pre-gravel-gargling output. (Holy s*!t what happened to her voice?!). She's not as big of a yodeler as, say, Rihanna -- but there's a little warble in there that fits the bill. Try "Big Yellow Taxi".
5. Sarah McLachlan - This lady is a damn fine musician and a heck of a singer. She gets unfairly criticized, in some circles, kind of like how Barry Manilow gets a bad rap for some reason. When you have as many hits as Barry Manilow, then you get to criticize him, okay? Sarah McLachlan's voice is a thing of beauty. But sometimes I feel like she's getting her yodel on.
6. Gwen Stefani - The No Doubt front woman isn't normally a yodeler, but she went for the yodeling gusto on her second solo joint. Try this: "Wind It Up".
Peace & Happy yodeling!!!!
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Friday, December 10, 2010
Post View Tuesdays
Last Tuesday (December 7, 2010) - "Last Tuesday" is what you get when I keep missing the preview for the upcoming Tuesday. Anyhoo, here are the albums that came out last week that I totally didn't see coming, or I saw coming but totally didn't mention that I saw coming, in which case it just looks like I didn't see it coming even though I totally did...
1. Natasha Bedingfield, "Strip Me" - Wow, what a title! It's not what you think, though. The title track, and the video that goes with it, don't speak to anything salacious. It's more about seeing the person underneath the trappings of life - materialism, role playing, and the like. I am totally on board with Bedingfield's voice. I'm not quite on board with the production that I've heard so far. But I've only heard the title track. Hopefully, the rest of the album isn't as generic and nondescript as that track.
2. Daft Punk, "Tron Legacy" - This is the soundtrack to the movie based on the old Tron stuff from the '80s. I'm excited about Daft Punk doing anything. I'm not so excited about the movie. Seems like yet another way to cash in on ideas that have already been sold a few times in the past. There was a Tron movie, I think, back in the day, with merchandise to go along with it. Now here it comes again. It's like detergent. You get the original detergent. Then they come out with the lemon scented kind. Then there's the detergent that has fabric softener added to it. Then they sell you the one with a color safe bleach. Then they sell you another type in a goofy-shaped bottle. Then they sell it to you in individual sizes or family sizes. Then they have one that has a festive, holiday scent, like fresh pine cones. On and on...But Daft Punk - yeah, dig them.
3. Deadmau5, "4x4=12" - Basically, it's like this: Joel Zimmerman, a Canadian DJ, is dropping a DJ-album. That *should* mean it's going to be built around previously released tracks, probably from other artists, and they will flow together in an interesting mix. Which *should* mean you can dance to it. Which *should* mean that sequence and mood and tempo will be paramount. Which *should* mean some thought will have gone into it. Which *should* mean it's not slapped together. Which *should* mean you'll dig it. But maybe not.
4. Duffy, "Endlessly" - Duffy is the blond and Welsh singer who is delivering her second album. Gotta admit, I didn't love her first one, but it wasn't because the songs weren't well written or well executed. I actually thought they were. I'm not a fan of her voice is all. It's a little too sandpapery and squeaky for my delicate ears. I don't see her voice changing much for the second album, so I don't think I'll be a fan. Her style often gets lumped into the same category as Amy Winehouse, although I'm not totally convinced the comparisons are apt. What I am convinced of is that neither of these women should be bundled under the label "neo soul", and that's what a lot of critics are doing. Don't believe the hype.
5. T.I., "No Mercy" - I'm interested in this. I actually own a copy of this. I've only listened to three songs so far. What I heard, I liked a lot more than I expected to. Not because I dislike T.I.; I've grown to enjoy his style and even his southern accent. I just thought this album would sound a little rushed, but so far, so good. I might have to say more about this as I listen to it.
6. Hinder, "All American Nightmare" - I'm interested, but I'm not sure why.
7. Jessica Simpson, "Happy Christmas" - Jessica Simpson? Hmmm...okay. Christmas music? Bah, humbug.
8. Adam Lambert, "Acoustic Live!" EP - An idol from American Idol brings another release. I'm not really big on listening to American Idol contestants once they're done with the show, so I don't see myself getting into this. I'm not sure why I tie the singers so close to the show, but that's how it comes out. It's not fair, but it is what it is. I do, however, think Adam Lambert is talented.
9. Plain White T's, "Wonders of the Younger" - I'm completely not interested, but I'm not sure why.
10. Charlie Wilson, "Just Charlie" - Charlie Wilson was a member of the R&B-funk outfit The Gap Band. I dig the Gap Band tremendously. Charlie Wilson on his own? I like the idea that he is making music. I've even heard some of it. I've even kinda liked what I heard. But I'm always kind of "meh" about it. Can't figure out why. Wilson has done a great job keeping himself somewhat plugged in through hanging out with rappers and doing hooks for them and singing in the background on their records. Snoop seems to love him, so, yeah.
1. Natasha Bedingfield, "Strip Me" - Wow, what a title! It's not what you think, though. The title track, and the video that goes with it, don't speak to anything salacious. It's more about seeing the person underneath the trappings of life - materialism, role playing, and the like. I am totally on board with Bedingfield's voice. I'm not quite on board with the production that I've heard so far. But I've only heard the title track. Hopefully, the rest of the album isn't as generic and nondescript as that track.
2. Daft Punk, "Tron Legacy" - This is the soundtrack to the movie based on the old Tron stuff from the '80s. I'm excited about Daft Punk doing anything. I'm not so excited about the movie. Seems like yet another way to cash in on ideas that have already been sold a few times in the past. There was a Tron movie, I think, back in the day, with merchandise to go along with it. Now here it comes again. It's like detergent. You get the original detergent. Then they come out with the lemon scented kind. Then there's the detergent that has fabric softener added to it. Then they sell you the one with a color safe bleach. Then they sell you another type in a goofy-shaped bottle. Then they sell it to you in individual sizes or family sizes. Then they have one that has a festive, holiday scent, like fresh pine cones. On and on...But Daft Punk - yeah, dig them.
3. Deadmau5, "4x4=12" - Basically, it's like this: Joel Zimmerman, a Canadian DJ, is dropping a DJ-album. That *should* mean it's going to be built around previously released tracks, probably from other artists, and they will flow together in an interesting mix. Which *should* mean you can dance to it. Which *should* mean that sequence and mood and tempo will be paramount. Which *should* mean some thought will have gone into it. Which *should* mean it's not slapped together. Which *should* mean you'll dig it. But maybe not.
4. Duffy, "Endlessly" - Duffy is the blond and Welsh singer who is delivering her second album. Gotta admit, I didn't love her first one, but it wasn't because the songs weren't well written or well executed. I actually thought they were. I'm not a fan of her voice is all. It's a little too sandpapery and squeaky for my delicate ears. I don't see her voice changing much for the second album, so I don't think I'll be a fan. Her style often gets lumped into the same category as Amy Winehouse, although I'm not totally convinced the comparisons are apt. What I am convinced of is that neither of these women should be bundled under the label "neo soul", and that's what a lot of critics are doing. Don't believe the hype.
5. T.I., "No Mercy" - I'm interested in this. I actually own a copy of this. I've only listened to three songs so far. What I heard, I liked a lot more than I expected to. Not because I dislike T.I.; I've grown to enjoy his style and even his southern accent. I just thought this album would sound a little rushed, but so far, so good. I might have to say more about this as I listen to it.
6. Hinder, "All American Nightmare" - I'm interested, but I'm not sure why.
7. Jessica Simpson, "Happy Christmas" - Jessica Simpson? Hmmm...okay. Christmas music? Bah, humbug.
8. Adam Lambert, "Acoustic Live!" EP - An idol from American Idol brings another release. I'm not really big on listening to American Idol contestants once they're done with the show, so I don't see myself getting into this. I'm not sure why I tie the singers so close to the show, but that's how it comes out. It's not fair, but it is what it is. I do, however, think Adam Lambert is talented.
9. Plain White T's, "Wonders of the Younger" - I'm completely not interested, but I'm not sure why.
10. Charlie Wilson, "Just Charlie" - Charlie Wilson was a member of the R&B-funk outfit The Gap Band. I dig the Gap Band tremendously. Charlie Wilson on his own? I like the idea that he is making music. I've even heard some of it. I've even kinda liked what I heard. But I'm always kind of "meh" about it. Can't figure out why. Wilson has done a great job keeping himself somewhat plugged in through hanging out with rappers and doing hooks for them and singing in the background on their records. Snoop seems to love him, so, yeah.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Music I'm Enjoying A Lot Lately
To me, there's nothing better than great music. Music is my addiction, my inspiration. It keeps me going. Here are some albums I've been listening to a lot lately, in no particular order other than the fact that numbering them is a necessity:
1. Robyn: Body Talk pt 1, pt. 2, and pt. 3 - Robyn's "Body Talk" series is definitely kick@ss. She knows how to do this electro-pop thing (and acoustic pop and dance pop and pop-rap) in a way that sounds fresh. She released 3 parts this year, with some repetition of the first two parts on the 3rd release. That's okay, though, 'cause this is the digital age and if you get a little repetition, it's not a big deal, 'cause you can make your own CDs and playlists, as you see fit. Fun music, with paper cuts (that means "edge"). Songs I actually repeat: "Don't F*cking Tell Me What To Do", "Criminal Intent", "None of Dem", "Fembot", and "U Should Know Better".
2. The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards - What's sick is that Jack White has a new fan (me!) and he doesn't know it -- and if he did know it, I don't think he'd care. Whatever, his side band The Dead Weather is my new addiction. Jack's on drums a lot, which is cool, but I dig the trade off on vocals between Jack and Alison Mosshart. Really cool dynamic. She rocks out as hard as P!nk pretends to (*smirk*). (And I like P!nk). Songs I actually repeat: "Blue Blood Blues", "Hustle & Cuss", "Gasoline".
3. k-os, The Anchorman Mixtape - This guy's a rapper-musician-singer-songwriter from Canada, and this free mixtape is really good. I totally dig it, all the way. It uses the movie "The Anchorman" as a theme, with snippets from the movie tacked to the beginning of the songs, but it's not irritating. What's awesome is the scope and breadth of the music. Is there anything k-os can't do? He's singing, he's doing rock, he's rapping, he's doing patois, he's popping popcorn, he's "The 5th Black Beatle" and "The Fourth Fugee". Songs I actually repeat. All of them. It goes by too quickly. [Download it]
More music later, but right now these are the ish.
Peace & Happy listenng...
1. Robyn: Body Talk pt 1, pt. 2, and pt. 3 - Robyn's "Body Talk" series is definitely kick@ss. She knows how to do this electro-pop thing (and acoustic pop and dance pop and pop-rap) in a way that sounds fresh. She released 3 parts this year, with some repetition of the first two parts on the 3rd release. That's okay, though, 'cause this is the digital age and if you get a little repetition, it's not a big deal, 'cause you can make your own CDs and playlists, as you see fit. Fun music, with paper cuts (that means "edge"). Songs I actually repeat: "Don't F*cking Tell Me What To Do", "Criminal Intent", "None of Dem", "Fembot", and "U Should Know Better".
2. The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards - What's sick is that Jack White has a new fan (me!) and he doesn't know it -- and if he did know it, I don't think he'd care. Whatever, his side band The Dead Weather is my new addiction. Jack's on drums a lot, which is cool, but I dig the trade off on vocals between Jack and Alison Mosshart. Really cool dynamic. She rocks out as hard as P!nk pretends to (*smirk*). (And I like P!nk). Songs I actually repeat: "Blue Blood Blues", "Hustle & Cuss", "Gasoline".
3. k-os, The Anchorman Mixtape - This guy's a rapper-musician-singer-songwriter from Canada, and this free mixtape is really good. I totally dig it, all the way. It uses the movie "The Anchorman" as a theme, with snippets from the movie tacked to the beginning of the songs, but it's not irritating. What's awesome is the scope and breadth of the music. Is there anything k-os can't do? He's singing, he's doing rock, he's rapping, he's doing patois, he's popping popcorn, he's "The 5th Black Beatle" and "The Fourth Fugee". Songs I actually repeat. All of them. It goes by too quickly. [Download it]
More music later, but right now these are the ish.
Peace & Happy listenng...
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