Comments on: The State of the Union (musically, that is…) Part 3 http://skafishblog.skafish.com/2008/09/09/the-state-of-the-union-musically-that-is%e2%80%a6-part-3/ Skafish speaks... in his own words - raw and uncensored... Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:25:06 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Skafish http://skafishblog.skafish.com/2008/09/09/the-state-of-the-union-musically-that-is%e2%80%a6-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Skafish Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:26:26 +0000 http://skafishblog.skafish.com/2008/09/09/the-state-of-the-union-musically-that-is%e2%80%a6-part-3/#comment-82 Ewolf -- I think you make great points here! Different vocalists bring different gifts to the table, like Joe Strummer and Jagger. I don't separate them from say a Frank Sinatra as again, each person brings something invaluable to the collective that is only theirs. There has to be real feeling for a song to cut through and reach out to others and everyone you mentioned does just that, and I appreciate being included with such fine company. Jim Skafish Ewolf — I think you make great points here! Different vocalists bring different gifts to the table, like Joe Strummer and Jagger. I don’t separate them from say a Frank Sinatra as again, each person brings something invaluable to the collective that is only theirs. There has to be real feeling for a song to cut through and reach out to others and everyone you mentioned does just that, and I appreciate being included with such fine company. Jim Skafish

]]> By: Ewolf http://skafishblog.skafish.com/2008/09/09/the-state-of-the-union-musically-that-is%e2%80%a6-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Ewolf Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:30:59 +0000 http://skafishblog.skafish.com/2008/09/09/the-state-of-the-union-musically-that-is%e2%80%a6-part-3/#comment-81 Every so often I like to think about all the successful vocalists who would have never made it today if the music business were like it is now. Some of the most charismatic performers could never get record deals because they likely couldn't be auto-tuned into the blandness that seems so popular now. Yes, I know folks like d. boon and Joe Strummer couldn't "sing" but I wasn't looking for perfect pitch, I was drawn in by the sum of the parts - the message, the passion, and the energy (and the freedom to be who I was, which probably wasn't an option in the Journey scene). And that sum made them and others (including you, sorry for the butt-kissing) so much more endeared to me. All the people who look to American Idol to determine their next favorite singer should think about those they've enjoyed in the past and ask themselves how many of those people would pass muster if they auditioned on the show. Most would probably be cut before the first commercial. Can you imagine how Simon & Co. would react to Joe Cocker (if he were emerging now)? "NEXT!" David Lee Roth - nope! Mick Jagger - please! Prince - they'd laugh him out of the studio And on & on Sometimes I find myself liking the rough mixes of songs better than the album versions because they display the artist as they are naturally. Reminds me of the line from Ike & Tina's version of Proud Mary: "We never do nothing nice and easy. We like to do it nice...and rough." Every so often I like to think about all the successful vocalists who would have never made it today if the music business were like it is now. Some of the most charismatic performers could never get record deals because they likely couldn’t be auto-tuned into the blandness that seems so popular now. Yes, I know folks like d. boon and Joe Strummer couldn’t “sing” but I wasn’t looking for perfect pitch, I was drawn in by the sum of the parts – the message, the passion, and the energy (and the freedom to be who I was, which probably wasn’t an option in the Journey scene). And that sum made them and others (including you, sorry for the butt-kissing) so much more endeared to me.

All the people who look to American Idol to determine their next favorite singer should think about those they’ve enjoyed in the past and ask themselves how many of those people would pass muster if they auditioned on the show. Most would probably be cut before the first commercial.

Can you imagine how Simon & Co. would react to Joe Cocker (if he were emerging now)? “NEXT!”

David Lee Roth – nope!
Mick Jagger – please!
Prince – they’d laugh him out of the studio
And on & on

Sometimes I find myself liking the rough mixes of songs better than the album versions because they display the artist as they are naturally. Reminds me of the line from Ike & Tina’s version of Proud Mary: “We never do nothing nice and easy. We like to do it nice…and rough.”

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