Vivianne ( or Vivienne ) NDour, former sister in law of the mega famous Senegalese singer Youssou NDour.
Arguably the greatest song ever written, but there can surely be no argument that this is the definitive version, by two veritable giants of the world of music.
My late mum's favourite album was "Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Songbook". Great songs from one of the finest songwriters ever to walk the earth, and Ella had a great voice. "Night and Day" is a favourite. Makes me laugh that these younger artists release this stuff now as if it's all new. I love lots of different types of music, from rock to pop to dance but this has got class written all over it.
Then your Mum probably liked this little Porter gem, Kiff. I'd like to dedicate it to her memory, if I may be so presumptuous.
Brought a tear to my eye. I mean really. On a lighter note I'm a huge fan of Incognito and saw them a few years back in Camden. Awesome, awesome band. This video feature the always brilliant Tony Momrelle on vocals and a horn section that had nothing to do during 'Reach Out' so ****ed about 'Dad-dancing'. Kids - this is how real musicians sound. That bass just kills me.
'Incognito'. They are new to me, but I think they are great. Excellent Band, and the lead singer has shades of Stevie Wonder, well,to my cloth ears anyway. Thanks for the intro to Inco.
Nailed it Vetch. Tony is like a very early Stevie to my ears too. I met Bluey the guitarist and founder of the band after the gig and he was a fabulous guy. They often have guest vocalists on their albums like Chaka Khan and Joycelyn Brown. I won't overdo it right now but they've been going for about 35 years and have had a few hits along the way, some minor, some a bit bigger. Like this one from their 35th Anniversary concert a couple of years ago.....
That's the way it goes sometimes, Lib. You've got some catching up to do. This guy you will know. It's brilliant.
As a musician I can appreciate the art of Incognito, but I really don't find anything in there that moves me emotionally. It's elevator music. I studied performing arts for 4 years, and was surrounded by lots of very good musicians, but my opinion is that wonderfully technical musicians rarely make great music, only music played extremely well. For me music is about heart and spirituality, not about technical ability. The rough edges are what inspire me. I got fed lots of Chick Corea whilst studying, listened to lots of Dave Weckl drumming etc, but it's got no soul for me - it's just clever. I want to feel joy at a concert. I don't particularly care about D minor 7 Aug 9 chords and how difficult a section is to play because there's three bars of fifteen sixteen in there. I'll judge it with my ears. I consider myself an anti-muso I guess. I like sounds. Hurdy Gurdy.
This song is just one of the most overwhelming experiences I have had the privelidge of absorbing. No matter which venue, large or small, the wave of joy seen in the audiences faces as they all sing their hearts out with the 'oooohhhhs ' is mind blowing. It's usually the final song of their shows, as anything that comes after it just seems pointless.
Each to their own, Stereo. I've listened to Arcade Fire after them being recommended to me by someone. Did nothing for me at all - and I tried. They have a major problem in that none of them can sing. Joking aside, music is very subjective like any art. Some of the stuff posted on this thread posters have said it moves them and I find it's music that I've heard a million times before and doesn't do anything for me at all. Guitar bands in particular I find characterless and boring. They are all much of a muchness. When I was growing up in the 70's there were all sorts of things happening - something for everybody. Today I find the standard of musicianship as gone down the plug hole by and large but people still seem to get a kick out of it. Baffles me but it's probably an age thing. Early Radiohead was brilliant until Thom went all experimental, fiddling with 'sounds' as opposed to 'songs'. It was then I stopped listening. As for Incognito, I doubt they play what they play because it's difficult. It's just good. I do take issue with this though: "...wonderfully technical musicians rarely make great music, only music played extremely well." I don't buy that because although I agree that you don't have to be a great musician to write good songs (Chris Martin for example?), if you follow your logic it's only average musicians that are the most creative. That can't be true. Great musicians have made great music for centuries because they have the wider ability to express themselves and aren't limited by their own technical shortcomings. Mozart was an extremely technically gifted pianist, for example, and would never have been able to achieve what he did otherwise. Some of Rachmaninov's piano concertos can't be played by anyone who isn't a virtuoso level player - because he was. His stuff is seriously good by the way. The key words in your statement are "great music" though - and that's subjective isn't it? I saw a video on You Tube recently with Donald ***en (Steely Dan) explaining how he came to write 'Peg' on the piano - the chord progressions etc. I love that song not because it's difficult or technical (and it is) but because it's a great song that happens to be difficult and technical. Someone commented that they wondered if Taylor Swift wrote songs that way. I seriously doubt it.
