A Voice Apart

Rhianna video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbpJQhowiyo Is she the "only girl in the world" who cannot sing live in tune?  EVIDENTLY NOT!!! Yesterday, I happened to catch a kids show called "Next Star". It is formatted the same way as the Canadian Idol used to be, or for that matter, American Idol is. There are judges and there are young kids voting for other supposedly vocally sound young kids who are taking the stage. Pretty innocent concept, but not only kids for the kids show and adults for the adult show cannot differentiate good notes from bad notes, in tune or off tune singing, but judges are definitely getting more deaf than ever.  Maybe that happened because for all of these years, they've been listening to bad singing and partially (hopefully not yet completely) lost their hearing. Or maybe they gave up on the idea that somebody actually can sing in tune and remotely resemble what once was called music and singing in particular. This is a big r...

Nowadays, almost every artist and especially 'so called' artist in the recording studio using auto-tune and, or a more modern version of it,  Melodine. What's that, the not so musically experienced reader may ask? That is the computer software which is designed to correct pitch for semi tone-deaf "artists". Many years ago, I received a call from one of the recording studios pleading for help. The person who called me was almost screaming over and over "Please help, our bands are breaking auto-tune"! How so, I exclaimed! Is it even possible? Apparently, IT WAS!   Next, When I went to a prominent recording studio with my client, I asked a well known engineer/producer if it is actually possible to "break" an auto-tune? He said "absolutely"! He explained that it meant that the singer of the band was so far off in pitch, that even auto-tune was unable to correct it. Those days, the melodine software was not available yet. (It probably...

“The voice” is a new television show which at a glance has a very commendable purpose. The Judges are trying to find the true vocal talent independently of age, looks, and even performance skills. WOW! I first exclaimed! “My prayers were answered” I thought. The whole thing is about the voice and the voice only! I have to admit that so far out of all the vocal competitions we have seen, the contestants chosen during the “blind auditions” are the strongest ever!  The beauty of this show is that all the contestants are definitely vocally sound, but in my opinion, it is a little hard at times to accept their appearance. Some of them are middle-aged and appear to be quite “un-groomed.” And some of them are even somewhat scruffy looking. But that is not the end of the world. The peculiar thing is that not one of them during their interviews and off stage appearances said that they are participating in the show for the love of music and singing in particular! In fact, practically all...