Off Topic Bill Nicholson Arms

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Perhaps going way off topic even for this thread, my inner grumpy old man can stand by no longer... I must ask what happened to singers. It seems we get nothing but performers now, and there's a difference. Singers presented the tune to you, so you can enjoy the song but performers make it all about them. They don't need to have written the thing, play any instruments or have any contribution other than (constantly) demonstrating how good their voice is... and I do mean constantly! It seems sometimes they are incapable (or not minded) to sing one consistent note without going into some kind of vocal gymnastics warbling thing that after all these years has finally got to me. Now I simply can't listen to these people any more. It was bad enough when Maria Carey and Witney Houston was all about this but then you still had alternatives. Now I hear nothing but the Sam Smith's of this world who cannot say the word "prey" without sounding like he's about to sneeze. The worst thing is that he seems to have a spectacularly good voice with an amazing range - but then apparently needs to prove this every single note - and on top of that come up with one of the worst Bond themes of all time. My apologies if you like these performers but it's gone too far for me. Of course the X factor hasn't helped in this, making the focus purely on singers - who as I said no longer sing. Shirley Bassey doesn't feel the need to do such warbling, though I'm sure she could, Karen Carpenter didn't need to do that. Everyone knows they have/had fantastic voices, but you also get to enjoy the tune as well. Today you don't get that option.

And one more bit of the rant. There is another group of singers, as typified by Sia, where I can't even understand what they are singing. I can't imagine that happening years ago, but now we have a singer who is generally heralded for her talent where you can't make out the words - well I can't anyway. Just listen to her current Christmas single. I listen to Radio 2 a lot so have heard it many times. It winds me up every time that all the words I could make out were "I'm a hummingbird", which I couldn't work out why it fitted into the song "Santa's coming for us" (or similar title). Only today I word out the hummingbird bit is probably her "singing" the title. But that is probably me and everyone else can hear her very well.
 
vimhawk said:
Perhaps going way off topic even for this thread, my inner grumpy old man can stand by no longer... I must ask what happened to singers. It seems we get nothing but performers now, and there's a difference. Singers presented the tune to you, so you can enjoy the song but performers make it all about them. They don't need to have written the thing, play any instruments or have any contribution other than (constantly) demonstrating how good their voice is... and I do mean constantly! It seems sometimes they are incapable (or not minded) to sing one consistent note without going into some kind of vocal gymnastics warbling thing that after all these years has finally got to me. Now I simply can't listen to these people any more. It was bad enough when Maria Carey and Witney Houston was all about this but then you still had alternatives. Now I hear nothing but the Sam Smith's of this world who cannot say the word "prey" without sounding like he's about to sneeze. The worst thing is that he seems to have a spectacularly good voice with an amazing range - but then apparently needs to prove this every single note - and on top of that come up with one of the worst Bond themes of all time. My apologies if you like these performers but it's gone too far for me. Of course the X factor hasn't helped in this, making the focus purely on singers - who as I said no longer sing. Shirley Bassey doesn't feel the need to do such warbling, though I'm sure she could, Karen Carpenter didn't need to do that. Everyone knows they have/had fantastic voices, but you also get to enjoy the tune as well. Today you don't get that option.

And one more bit of the rant. There is another group of singers, as typified by Sia, where I can't even understand what they are singing. I can't imagine that happening years ago, but now we have a singer who is generally heralded for her talent where you can't make out the words - well I can't anyway. Just listen to her current Christmas single. I listen to Radio 2 a lot so have heard it many times. It winds me up every time that all the words I could make out were "I'm a hummingbird", which I couldn't work out why it fitted into the song "Santa's coming for us" (or similar title). Only today I word out the hummingbird bit is probably her "singing" the title. But that is probably me and everyone else can hear her very well.
Click to expand...

You need to chill-out and listen to some good old Bob Marley VH. Start with the album Kaya. If you partake, put a number together, then toke and chill. If you don't, just chill. All of a sudden the misty morning will clear and you will see the sun. Then only listen to people who write their own stuff, because their heart is in what they are saying, not just their ego. Look at it as someone eating a nice meal, or eating the same meal second hand, after it has been regurgitated. Might make you feel better.
 
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vimhawk said:
...

And one more bit of the rant. There is another group of singers, as typified by Sia, where I can't even understand what they are singing.
Click to expand...

I guess you are/were not a fan of The Skids, or Desmond Dekker, then ...

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The RDBD said:
I guess you are/were not a fan of The Skids, or Desmond Dekker, then ...

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Click to expand...
Even with the lyrics it was sometimes difficult to figure out what Desmond Dekker was saying.......

I get up in the morning slaving for bread sir
so that every mouth can be fed - poor me Israelites
I get up in the morning slaving for bread sir
so that every mouth can be fed - poor me Israelites
my wife and my kids they pack up and a-leave me
darling she said I was yours to receive - poor me Israelites
Shocked then I tear up chose as I go
I don't want to end up like Bonny and Clyde - poor me Israelites
after a storm there must be a calming
you catch me in your palm you sound your alarm - poor me Israelites
I get up in the morning slaving for bread sir
so that every mouth can be fed - poor me Israelites
my wife and my kids they pack up and a-leave me
darling she said I was yours to receive - poor me Israelites
Shocked then I tear up chose as I go
I don't want to end up like Bonny and Clyde - poor me Israelites
after a storm there must be a calming
you catch me in your palm you sound your alarm - poor me Israelites
Poor me Israelites poor me Israelites poor me Israelites

Something about him working hard and his missus buggering off with the kids. The rest is anyone's guess. Bloody good music though.
 
deedub93 said:
Even with the lyrics it was sometimes difficult to figure out what Desmond Dekker was saying...
Click to expand...

"Shocked then I tear up chose as I go"

Shirt - dem a tear up, trousers a gone


"you catch me in your palm you sound your alarm"

They catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm.
 
The RDBD said:
"Shocked then I tear up chose as I go"

Shirt - dem a tear up, trousers a gone


"you catch me in your palm you sound your alarm"

They catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm.
Click to expand...

I got them off metro lyrics, yours make more sense, is he related to RCL? he goes to the football with no trousers, looks like Desmond Dekker went to some farm short of his keks.
 
vimhawk said:
Perhaps going way off topic even for this thread, my inner grumpy old man can stand by no longer... I must ask what happened to singers. It seems we get nothing but performers now, and there's a difference. Singers presented the tune to you, so you can enjoy the song but performers make it all about them. They don't need to have written the thing, play any instruments or have any contribution other than (constantly) demonstrating how good their voice is... and I do mean constantly! It seems sometimes they are incapable (or not minded) to sing one consistent note without going into some kind of vocal gymnastics warbling thing that after all these years has finally got to me. Now I simply can't listen to these people any more. It was bad enough when Maria Carey and Witney Houston was all about this but then you still had alternatives. Now I hear nothing but the Sam Smith's of this world who cannot say the word "prey" without sounding like he's about to sneeze. The worst thing is that he seems to have a spectacularly good voice with an amazing range - but then apparently needs to prove this every single note - and on top of that come up with one of the worst Bond themes of all time. My apologies if you like these performers but it's gone too far for me. Of course the X factor hasn't helped in this, making the focus purely on singers - who as I said no longer sing. Shirley Bassey doesn't feel the need to do such warbling, though I'm sure she could, Karen Carpenter didn't need to do that. Everyone knows they have/had fantastic voices, but you also get to enjoy the tune as well. Today you don't get that option.

And one more bit of the rant. There is another group of singers, as typified by Sia, where I can't even understand what they are singing. I can't imagine that happening years ago, but now we have a singer who is generally heralded for her talent where you can't make out the words - well I can't anyway. Just listen to her current Christmas single. I listen to Radio 2 a lot so have heard it many times. It winds me up every time that all the words I could make out were "I'm a hummingbird", which I couldn't work out why it fitted into the song "Santa's coming for us" (or similar title). Only today I word out the hummingbird bit is probably her "singing" the title. But that is probably me and everyone else can hear her very well.
Click to expand...
Was with you right up to Shirley Bassey. All she does is shout everything. With you on Maria Carey, stick to the bloody tune not interested in your vocal gymnastics.
 
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