The other side of crossover...

[HWI]

I think it really is a matter of subjectivity. It's not down so much to whether we hear things differently, but our personal likes and dislikes. I mean, to someone who loves music, how can we understand anyone who likes rap? And, they feel the same about us.

Now, back on topic. I voted for Andrea Bocelli in this poll. Not just because I feel his voice is superior in tone, pitch and quality but, because I feel that Russell is one of those who produces sound through force rather than strength. You can see this very clearly when watching him on video. This is so even now, although he had that difficulty which took him out of action for so long. This is not good. Not good at all.

For a very pronounced example of this, watch him carefully during that duet of Pokarekare Ana with Hayley. Another aspect of that performance which I do not like is the way he chops the notes off, followed by a meteoric expelling of breath.

The whole thing gives me a feeling of - excellent voice, very poor technique. And that's a shame because I would always like to support a "local lad".

Compare that with Andrea Bocelli. There you have an excellent voice, produced with such ease. His singing appears effortless. In fact, he seems to be so relaxed when singing that it gives the impression he takes Vallium as a pick-me-up. Now that is good technique if ever I saw it.

Keith.

[roger]

Yes Keith, that is precisely why I'm not overly keen on Russell. The way he projects by force rather than by strength seems to be much more apparent since his return than it was prior to his illness. Or am I mistaken? Whatever, it doesn't explain his "meteoric expelling of breath" which I find positively irritating.

Roger

[Raymond]

What is his illness?

[Natasha]

Yes, Russell's technique left something to be desired but we must take into account that he never had formal classical training as the others have, and he made it on that because he was the guy off the street singing big opera songs.

He can sound very driven and when he doesn't sing with the ease of Andrea Bocelli, but even given all these things, Russell can still out sing most tenors.

Raymond, to answer your question Russell had nodules and couldn't sing for a while. But he's back in shape now. The "Panis Angelicus" video on Gerrit's site truly proves it!

Natasha

[Raymond]

classicgrace said:

Raymond, to answer your question Russell had nodules and couldn't sing for a while. But he's back in shape now. The "Panis Angelicus" video on Gerrit's site truly proves it!

Natasha

Thank you.

[roger]

classicgrace said:

Yes, Russell's technique left something to be desired but we must take into account that he never had formal classical training as the others have, and he made it on that because he was the guy off the street singing big opera songs.


Natasha

Quite so Natasha and all credit to him for everything he has achieved. But it is the pleasure one derives from hearing the voice that counts. The public are not going to make allowances for the fact that Russell had no formal classical training when they decide whose CD to buy.

Also, I can't believe that classical training is needed to eliminate that expelling of breath. As for the need for force, wouldn't it be better if he stuck to the more gentle songs which he can sing perfectly well?

Roger

[Natasha]

We all have our own opinions, lol. I love Russell's repertoire! Whatever he sings, for me anyways, sounds gorgeous on his voice.

Russell doesn't have perfect technique -- actually I don't there's a singer out there who does. Some may have excellent technique but I don't think anyone has absolutely perfect teachnique.

But for me personally nothing distracts from the voice. Russell can move me, Andrea and most other male singers can't.

I especially admire Russell for going through an ordeal like he did and coming out on top. I think God has blessed him with a tremendous talent that many listeners can enjoy. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

So do I sound like a Russell fan? lol. Who would have guessed? LOL

Hugs,
[glow=red,2,300]Natasha[/glow]

[roger]

I would like to expess my sincere thanks to both Russell and Andrea for going to such lengths just to give us something to discuss on this board!

Roger

[stephch]

this is an interesting decussion.I think both russell and andrea do not have great technique but to me there is so much more to a voice then that.But like Keith saided Russell does chop some not's off he also does use force sometime's and I think he alway's did this not only does he do it live he also does it on cd some time's but he has the passion and emtion.But not everyone hear's the samething with singer's voice's .
Classicgrace,I am just like you Russell is pretty much the only male singer I can listen too that is not an opera singer.

But I do not care i a person like's a singer or not as most Russell fan's dislike Hayley they prefer Katherine or yulia.

[kcuteus1]

Andrea Bocelli does nothing to me his voice to me is small and I think he does not do aira powerful and with the pop and classical he sounds the same to me he does not do aria very good. I heard alot of people do tham better than him . I also find him broning . I think Anderea Bocelli does not use much power but that is me. But I also see something that is not that great with all the singers that I linten to or have cds of I found something that I do not like. How I know i like someone is if they move me. but I have to siad there are a lot of singers that have there cd and they do not move it. How a very good tenor would be DeStefo. But he goes back to the 50's.

Russell has been getting some training he has to to get his voice back and he still goes to this person. I think his voice get better and I think his breath conrol got better but that is what I hear. And not ever voice has the same tone there are people that have a light tone and people that have a hevery tone .

I put russell watson it is for many resons . Yes his vocie needs some work are something but I also alot of other people do too like Andrea Bocelli . But not everyone is the same.

people can like who they what . I likes the children in need Pokaana better than the one on Russell Watson dvd. But I think his beath is getting better yes there are times were his breath is heavery but i heard others and it does not bother me. that is me.
But everyone not everyone like the same people .

[kcuteus1]

stephch said:

I put Russell as to be honest andrea does not do anything for me his voice is weak and it has nothing to it is very boring and I do not think of josh groban as classical crossover.I also think color is missing from andrea's voice it to me is just an easy listening voice.What I like about Russell's voice is he has an edge to it .

But that said I also think Hayley lack's color too she does not have the emotion or color in her voice that Katherine and yulia have but she does have perfect pitch.And about judgeing who are better singer's is a matter of personnal taste.

Stephanie I argee with what you have said and yes it is a matter of personal taste I think it is hard to say so is a better singer. that is way I never do that. But I also look at more than how someone sounds.

I think with the thing about some stuff i think it is more to do with who people look at things and tease than hearing different things.

[Natasha]

Well, looks like all the voting that was going to take place on this poll has and the winner:

RUSSELL WATSON

Russell won with 66.6% in his favor while Andrea had 33.3%. Josh had no votes at all.
Thanks for voting everybody!!