#OnRepeat: Marisa Monte"s "Dança da Solidão"

This week, I've had Marisa Monte"s version of "Dança da Solidão" #OnRepeat. I've been recently getting back into listening to Brazilian music and I think this is the perfect vocalist to reintroduce myself back into the music with.

Marisa Monte is a singer from Brazil who sings mostly Pop and Rock music (Música Popular Brasileira). Her music is eclectic and distinct, and you can tell--Monte was classically trained, yet grew up around the sounds of the Portela samba school. She also plays ukulele, cavaquinho, and guitar while she sings. Much of her music blends popular musical influences such as Rock, Pop, and Blues, with that of traditional Afro-Brazilian musics such as Forro and Samba. Some of her most well-known songs are "Nú Com A Minha Música"and "Aquele Abraço."  

"Dança da Solidão" was originally composed by Paulinho da Viola, a famous Brazilian singer/songwriter who also played guitar, mandolin, and cavaquinho. The song talks about the solitude of dance and disappointment that comes with life and love. My interpretation of the words were that dance, like solitude, were the only things that could bring happiness and contentment, but then again, I'm not fluent in Portuguese and I didn't write the song. Either way, Monte's interpretation of this piece is absolutely haunting--the voicings that she chooses to play on her instrument and her choice of vibrato placement and embellishment adds just the right amount to this already beautiful song.

Take a listen below:

Are there any new artists or groups that you can't stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

Too Much or Too Little?:The Art of Musical Taste in Singing

One great thing about the holidays is all of the great holiday music that you get to listen to and all of the different interpretations of these holiday classics. Hey, I'm a vocalist and I love the holiday season--this was bound to be brought up at one point or another. Lately, I've found myself trying to actively listen to the music that I've been exposed to in regards to the musical taste of the musician or musicians performing.

What is taste?
The term isn't normally something that is referred to when you talk about your favorite vocalist or band with others, though it is something that you talk about, unknowingly.  Many musicians take about this on a daily basis, but coming up with an actual definition can be tricky since it is so hard to define. For the purpose of this post, though, here is a basic definition. Taste is each individual's musical instinct--when to add vocal affectations, dynamics, inflections on certain words, how you interact with different members of your band or audience, etc--that gives that musician their own unique sound or quality. This can differ slightly from song to song, set, or performance, but that underlying quality is always present. So, in other words, taste is choosing what and what isn't appropriate for each musical situation.

I believe that the most successful singers out there know just when and how to add the right amount of affectation, dynamics, or vocal riffs to their performance. Some of the most successful performers have made their career on exaggerating certain elements of their singing or performance--Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Madonna. However, there are also some very successful singers who stuck to their guns when it came to developing their own taste and sound: James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Prince.


Too Little or Too Much?

Knowing when to add that extra note, hold a note longer than expected, or even add inflection on a word that normally wouldn't have any in a phrase is tricky.

1. Does it feel forced? If it doesn't feel comfortable, then it's probably too much. That being said, if you've never really performed, or even sung before, everything you try might feel weird. Which leads me to my next point.

2. Listen & Experiment. Find multiple versions of the song you're working on and take what you like from the singers you admire. Everyone copies or emulates others. After practicing the affectations or riffs that you've heard, try adding (or subtracting) your own ideas. Eventually, you'll find your own unique sound.

3. Remember that you're trying to connect and convey a message. First, try speaking the words before you sing them. What words do you put more emphasis on? Where do you naturally pause while speaking the words? Remember that, ultimately, you are trying to connect to others; to convey a message.

What musicians or groups do you think have great musical taste? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat: Ennio Morricone & Yo Yo Ma's The Mission film score "The Falls" and "Gabriel's Oboe"

This week I've had Ennio Morricone's pieces "The Falls" and "Gabriel's Oboe" from the film, The Mission, performed by Yo Yo Ma, #OnRepeat. I know I usually write about vocalists for the #OnRepeat posts, but once in awhile, instrumental pieces come along that are just so good that I have to let everybody know about it.

Ennio Morricone is a composer, conductor, arranger, and trumpet player from Rome, Italy. He has composed music for several films including The Untouchables, The Thing, Mission to Mars, The Holiday, and most recently, The Hateful Eight. He has won multiple Grammy Awards, Golden Globes, and countless other awards for his film score work.

Yo Yo Ma is a world-renowned cellist that gained fame as both a soloist and orchestral performer. He has won multiple Grammy Awards and plays in many different styles, collaborating with artists such as Celine Dion, Bobby McFerrin, and even the Dixie Chicks, and even several contemporary dancers.

Yo Yo Ma's recordings of "The Falls" and "Gabriel's Oboe" are from his collaborative album with Ennio Morricone, which features many of Morricone's most loved and well-known compositions. These two pieces in particular are from the 1986 movie, The Mission, which tells the story of a Spanish Jesuit missionary who travels to the rainforests of Argentina and Paraguay to build a mission and convert a Guaraní village to the religion of Christianity. It is a great movie displaying themes of redemption and faith. These themes are conveyed strongly in this piece and in Yo Yo Ma's playing. I encourage everyone to watch the movie and listen to Morricone's pieces below:

Is there a new composer or performer that you can't stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat: Natalie Cole & Whitney Houston's "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

This week, I've had Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston's version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water." As some of you may have heard, Natalie Cole passed away on New Year's Day, so I've been reminiscing and listening to her music for the past couple days.

I know that for many, names like Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston need no introduction, but this post is for those who are unaware of who these great performers are. Natalie Cole is a singer-songwriter, who is also the daughter of the famous crooner, Nat King Cole. Natalie recorded many of her father's classic hits, including, "Unforgettable," and also had some of her own well-known songs, like "This Will Be," "Our Love," and "Inseparable." Whitney Houston is also a singer as well as an actress, model, and producer. I remember Whitney Houston from her role in the movie, The Bodyguard, and her single from the soundtrack, "I Will Always Love You." However, she is also well-known for songs like "How Will I Know" "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," "I'm Your Baby Tonight," and "I Wanna Run to You."

This version of the Simon & Garfunkel song was improvised; not planned. However, these two women make the performance seem rehearsed.  This simplistic song has a gospel hymn vibe with lyrics that have a universal appeal. Cole and Houston's vocal licks, their musical dynamics, and projection cause anyone who listens to feel inspired. Natalie Cole's natural R&B style of singing brings a nice contrast to Whitney Houston's "powerhouse singing" (wide range, dynamics, and almost melismatic singing), providing a unique blend for this classic song.

Listen below:

Is there a song, musician, or group that you can't stop listening to? Leave a comment below!