Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715 
|
Post by Joe on Jul 25, 2016 5:48:48 GMT
Hi Libby  Thank you for reminding me about the live shows beginning tomorrow! I am looking forward to Grace VanderWaal's next performance...she was Howie Mandel's Golden Buzzer act. Simon Cowell proclaimed that Grace may be "the next Taylor Swift". |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jul 25, 2016 22:38:25 GMT
Did not really care for her. Very talented of course, but her voice is not my thing. I'm bored with child singers, as well. I'm looking forward to Simon's golden buzzer, much prettier voice. Also looking forward to Hana and... yes, Tape Face Boy.  |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jul 29, 2016 6:51:16 GMT
Just want to say Laura Bretan's (the first golden buzzer audition) performance of The Prayer was very nice if a bit wobbly... that is, until the middle, the opera part, which was absolutely atrocious!!! Sorry, I'm stepping in for Simon Cowell this time, because he clearly didn't do his job right the other night. None of them know enough about opera to judge that performance correctly. Can't say I'm a total expert on opera, since I only listen to certain singers sing opera (Sarah's the only female I'll listen to), but let's just say... fingernails on a chalkboard!! Her tone is very harsh and squawking, her voice is extremely wavery, which makes for an awful combination. Then the R-rolling was irritating.
Now, let me repeat, the beginning was actually quite lovely, but the opera part was BAD.
See for yourself:
|
|
|
|
Post by Simba on Jul 29, 2016 8:17:18 GMT
I have to disagree, I thought the performance really picked up only after half way through "Sogna mondo, senza pyuuu...", I'm not sure if I 'like' a very operatic version of this song, Liked the original with Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion, where the female vocals were pop, the song was designed to have an operatic male and pop female vocal. But that aside, I could just focus on her singing and forget the song, when she got to that bit, she was incredibly good, unlike say Jackie Evancho, who has a fake and forced operatic sound, let alone Katherine Jenkins. The latter are not opera singers, and neither is Sarah Brightman, not even close. This girl has great projection and support, that's necessary to grow up to be a real opera singer. She's amazing for a 13 year old. Her Nessun Dorma for the auditions was brilliant. Ofcourse she has a lot to learn, and this performance may not have been very pleasant to the ears like you said, and even I don't think this 'style' is very suited for this song. But this is one of the very few times a person with real operatic potential comes on these shows, almost all of the rest are trying too hard. The waveryness you're talking about is a very well supported vibrato, that's got amazing quality and consistency, considering her age. But what she needs to learn is vocal dynamics, that is to control volume and intensity... A lot of those notes could have been lighter, especially the high ones, because now she belted them out, (which is not easy at that range either).....
But with that said, I don't think she should win, I don't think any of the singers should ever win in a show with other kinds of talents involved (unless it's something absolutely breathtaking, which is not possible when put up against some of the INCREDIBLE non singing stuff that they do)...There were SO many magic tricks and other entertainment which deserved to get through, and win, stuff that I can never imagine to be possible on live television, and yup they do it, everytime, only to be dismissed by singers who end up winning most of the time...Sad.
|
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Jul 29, 2016 11:05:22 GMT
Yes, Simba, that's the problem with AGT, BGT etc. The diversity of acts is such that it is verging on the unfair to have to choose between them. Singers, animal acts, magicians, dancers, all work hard to perfect their performances. Choosing between the best of each category is very difficult.
Martin D
|
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jul 29, 2016 23:47:00 GMT
You're probably right, Simba, the belting it out is the biggest problem. Either way, it sounds horrendous. LOL if that's considered good singing, great, but... wow.  Well, I'm not a fan of most opera because most divas are too warbly, but I've never heard one that bad! I still can't believe people (especially you!) think that's good. Oh well. Having said that, there's a male tenor you all know whom I still can't believe anyone thinks sounds pleasant to the ears, but I'm staying quiet on that one.  Yeah, no way she'll win. Even if a singer wins, it will not be her! A singer like her can only last so long with the type of singers that are on this season; they're better than they've been in quite some time. The girl from last year, Ariel Barille, was really good, with a much better tone than Jackie, and the same age as she was, but she did not last long at all. It's funny what you say about the talent shows. Yes, from 2005 to 2011, AGT had a singer winning all but one of those years (a ventriloquist in 2006). However, there has not been a singer since 2011! That's 5 seasons! 2012 was the Olate Dogs (same year as Pudsey won BGT), 2013 was a unique Japanese peformer who did dance with computerized scenes and stuff that all told a story. 2014 was a magician. 2015 was another ventriloquist. |
|
Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715
|
Post by Joe on Jul 30, 2016 3:11:03 GMT
I was so surprised that Laura Bretan made it through to the semi-finals. Although I liked the song choice, her increasingly brassy vocal did not sit well with me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Simba on Jul 30, 2016 4:27:32 GMT
Yes Libby, Vocal dynamics can make the world of a difference, Listen to this youtu.be/hqBwe9BCj4A?t=1m56s Opera at its finest, Mozart's queen of the night Aria is one of the most difficult arias ever, and not many have even attempted to sing it. The link plays from exactly 1m 56s, The thing about opera is that, it's not everyone's cup of tea, But whenever I show people this clip, even the crazy metal fan has his jaw dropped on the floor, whether they like it or not, the talent is undeniable in cases like this. That is the power of real opera, it's unbelievable how so much control can be exercised in the vocals. Even Hayley is not trained enough to attempt this piece. So it's just that this girl Laura seems to have the right foundation and potential to hopefully work into something great, (even if like you said it maybe unpleasant to the ears right now), of course if she takes the right path, and has learning and mastering as top priority. But as far as young opera singers go, this girl Amira Willighagen, who appeared on Holland's got talent, I think it was shared here as well, www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-A2MyVDbU...at 9 years old...My goodness. She was so exquisite that Andre Rieu invited her to perform with him. Do listen to it, it's quite something. And thanks for the stats! I wasn't aware of that, but good to know! haha. Hopefully this guy wins it this time www.youtube.com/watch?v=iokOJVtwrck, Jon Dorenbos(Magician). He's quite amazing. But there was a Rubix cube guy who was equally stunning....but didn't make it through to the live shows  |
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Jul 30, 2016 11:52:17 GMT
Simba, what do you think of this young lady as a future opera singer. That is her ambition she says.
She is clearly not yet the finished article, yet I think she is very promising for a 15 year old.
(If you look very closely you can see the back of my head in the audience).
Martin D
|
|
|
|
Post by Simba on Jul 30, 2016 14:59:15 GMT
Hey Martin! That was lovely, I listened to her "Lascia Chio pianga" and couple of others too. She's got a lovely voice, love the way she accesses her higher registers, reminds me of Hayley. (The technique I mean), but with that said, I don't see an 'opera' singer. She'd turn out to be a fine classical crossover/folk singer, it doesn't appear like she wants to be traditionally 'operatic', she seems to focus on the notes sound cleaner and prettier, and not much on the technique and projection. Not enough support and projection, or control over her vibrato, it's non existent at some parts as well. The term opera, I think is more often misguided and associated with classical crossover singers, so much that I'm not sure if she really means it when she says she wants to be an opera singer. Ofcourse if that's what she really wants, with immense training, she could achieve it. She's got a naturally great tone, a gift. Those pristine high notes would have sounded great live in those acoustics |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jul 31, 2016 0:31:33 GMT
I was so surprised that Laura Bretan made it through to the semi-finals. Although I liked the song choice, her increasingly brassy vocal did not sit well with me. I know, I was so sure the other girl would be picked instead of her, not both of them!  Oh, well, she won't last long, as well she shouldn't, so I'm not really worried. There, you see, Simba. |
|
Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715
|
Post by Joe on Jul 31, 2016 4:47:51 GMT
I was so surprised that Laura Bretan made it through to the semi-finals. Although I liked the song choice, her increasingly brassy vocal did not sit well with me. I know, I was so sure the other girl would be picked instead of her, not both of them! Oh, well, she won't last long, as well she shouldn't, so I'm not really worried. Another thing was that I did not know the other girl's name. I didn't hear what Nick Cannon said, and I assumed it was her who made it! It is quite rare that Nick fools us when both spotlighted acts advance. |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jul 31, 2016 7:30:36 GMT
Too bad he didn't do a Steve Harvey!  |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Aug 4, 2016 6:27:15 GMT
This girl was on last night and, not surprisingly, got the golden buzzer. I found her performance to be very beautiful and powerful. I liked the way she used her voice, and she is very genuine and real. All she had to do was stand and sing, and the whole audience was completely quiet listening to her. Singers are always told or expected to move around the stage or do something else besides just stand there, but in her case, nobody even cared, because all that mattered was her voice and her beautiful face. I was shocked to find out she was only 16. She looks like she's in her 20's. Calysta sang very well, singing Brave by Sara Bareilles, and made it through to the semi-finals. |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Sept 1, 2016 5:42:10 GMT
Laura Bretan's performance last night was much better than her previous ones, and she made it through to the Finals. I personally don't think Pie Jesu is an operatic aria requiring warbly vibrato, but maybe that's just me.  Here's her performance: Tape Face also made it to the Finals! His act this week was one of his funniest so far; I especially thought it was hilarious when his volunteer from the audience was walking back to his seat after winning the "duel", Tape Face continued shooting the staple gun behind his back in mock resentment that he beat him. LOL |
|
Well, I'm not a fan of most opera because most divas are too warbly, but I've never heard one that bad! I still can't believe people (especially you!) think that's good. Oh well. Having said that, there's a male tenor you all know whom I still can't believe anyone thinks sounds pleasant to the ears, but I'm staying quiet on that one. 
Oh, well, she won't last long, as well she shouldn't, so I'm not really worried.