Playing Favourites

I know you’re not supposed to do it but sometimes I do.  I play favourites.  I let some singers have higher rotation on my iPod.  Maybe I even go so far as to make a playlist of just the bestest ones.  I’m not confirming that, I’m just suggesting.  The release this week of the new Dixie Chicks album, has once again allowed one of my favourite voices to fill the airwaves.  Yes, Natalie Maines.  She rocks.  Big time.  I know, she’s not jazz.  I don’t care.  She’s country and I’m fine with that.  You know, there’s just something about her voice that I love. I don’t care what she’s singing, it could be moviefone ads and I would, as always, have a visceral reaction to the sound of her voice.  As I was driving home from my gig tonight, listening to the radio (a borrowed car, my own car doesn’t have a radio. sigh.) hearing Natalie croon got me thinking about all of the other recorded voices out there that I love – whether I should or not.  For the rules of classical vocal production no longer taint my ears.

See, when you go off to university to study voice a strange thing happens – your ears change.  You start to hear things you never heard before, subtle frequencies you never noticed.  And your body starts to react to some of those sounds and not necessarily in a good way.  As you’re exposed to  healthy vocal techniques your minds warps into a ball of judgement aimed and ready to fire directly at all of those who don't conform to your new found standards.  From then on in you’re never just hearing someone sing you’re hearing how they sing, and breathe, and shape their vowels, and hold their tension, and well, the list goes on.  Sometimes you just can’t listen anymore – all the joy is gone.  But I’m pleased to announce that after years of being out in the “real” world I was able to isolate my critical ears to the studio and be a voice teacher only when I’m being paid to teach voice.

Okay, I’ve digressed.  I didn’t mean to start preaching about music school or vocal technique – but if you’re interested on more of my thoughts on all that, let me know and I’ll dedicate a few posts to the subject.  Tonight my intention is to sing the praises of the vocalists out there who make the hairs on my arm rise to a standing ovation.  You know what that’s like right?  I hope so. There ain’t much that’s more enjoyable than the feeling of someone’s voice vibrating through your skin.

Here’s a list of a few singers I think are killer, even though you won’t find them on the recommended listening syllabus in Lorna MacDonald’s course at U of T. 

• Natalie Maines – the last track on Home – Top of the World – love to lip sync to that in the car and pretend I can sing out that that gal.
• Ritchie Havens – Handsome Johnny doesn’t come at you with production value or voice lessons but it gets into your bones.
• Rufus Wainwright – I could listen to Poses on repeat all day.
• Frank Sinatra – Maybe it’s because my grandmother was obsessed with him so loving his voice was programmed into my DNA but I just think he has the most beautiful male voice in the world.
• Joni Henson – An exception to the previously stated rule because she’s a graduate of U of T so I’m sure they would want to promote her by adding her to the syllabus.  Go to hear her in the Canadian Opera Company.  Go now.

Alright, your turn.  Tell me who your favourites are.  I’d love to add some more to my list.