Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie
November 19, 2010 1:44 PM Subscribe
I hate hype. Gives me hives. Sends me right into a lather, when publicists write that so-and-so is "the next big thing" or "the next Mozart" or the "reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix".
So when I read articles that compared young Montreal chanteuse Nikki Yanofsky to Ella Fitzgerald, my hackles went up. I mean, Ella? She's widely considered to be one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century, regardless of genre. Ella's pitch, swing, interpretation and style were unequaled. So how you gonna compare some teenage girl to her?
Then I heard Nikki Yanofsky sing.
AIRMAIL SPECIAL 29 Juin 2007; AIRMAIL SPECIAL 2010
Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie
Then I worked with her. She was, and continues to be the very definition of an oxymoron. In her speaking voice, her manner and disposition, she is every bit the contemporary teenage Canadian girl - all bubbly and giggly, mouth full of braces. But then she opens her mouth to sing... and a sound comes out that should really only come out of a woman three times her age. Simply astonishing. The braces are gone now, but the talent is only really starting to flourish.
So when I read articles that compared young Montreal chanteuse Nikki Yanofsky to Ella Fitzgerald, my hackles went up. I mean, Ella? She's widely considered to be one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century, regardless of genre. Ella's pitch, swing, interpretation and style were unequaled. So how you gonna compare some teenage girl to her?
Then I heard Nikki Yanofsky sing.
AIRMAIL SPECIAL 29 Juin 2007; AIRMAIL SPECIAL 2010
Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie
Then I worked with her. She was, and continues to be the very definition of an oxymoron. In her speaking voice, her manner and disposition, she is every bit the contemporary teenage Canadian girl - all bubbly and giggly, mouth full of braces. But then she opens her mouth to sing... and a sound comes out that should really only come out of a woman three times her age. Simply astonishing. The braces are gone now, but the talent is only really starting to flourish.
Wow. This is huge.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 1:50 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 1:50 PM on November 19, 2010
The "best post" contest isn't until next month, dude. (THAT WAS A COMPLIMENT.)
posted by Gator at 1:55 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Gator at 1:55 PM on November 19, 2010
Nice antidote to the post below ...
Unfortunately, the CBC player links don't seem to work in Chrome. :(
Nikki, age 12 - It Don't Mean a Thing (YT)
Nikki, age 13 - The Way You Look Tonight (YT)
Nikki, age 14 - God Bless the Child (FB)
posted by mrgrimm at 1:57 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, the CBC player links don't seem to work in Chrome. :(
Nikki, age 12 - It Don't Mean a Thing (YT)
Nikki, age 13 - The Way You Look Tonight (YT)
Nikki, age 14 - God Bless the Child (FB)
posted by mrgrimm at 1:57 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
I hate hype
Me too. And comparing her to Ella Fitzgerald is just hype. I mean, look, she's obviously a great singer-- she's better at singing than I ever will be at anything-- but she's no Lady Ella.
That said, thanks for this great collection of links to an excellent singer (though I can only manage to get the youtube ones to actually play).
posted by dersins at 1:58 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Me too. And comparing her to Ella Fitzgerald is just hype. I mean, look, she's obviously a great singer-- she's better at singing than I ever will be at anything-- but she's no Lady Ella.
That said, thanks for this great collection of links to an excellent singer (though I can only manage to get the youtube ones to actually play).
posted by dersins at 1:58 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
A concert of hers was just on CBC radio this afternoon. Her Two of Us is terrible, and her Over the Rainbow is almost as bad. Her other stuff isn't that bad..
posted by Chuckles at 1:59 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Chuckles at 1:59 PM on November 19, 2010
dersins, someone said that in the comment on the page linked, this was the response of the author
posted by infinite intimation at 2:05 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hey there - I did not mean to suggest that Nikki "is" Ella. No one is Ella, that's for sure. But I do say she's got a lot of similar attributes, some fully manifested, others developing. And that's saying something for a 16-year-old. We do not hear young voices like this everydayI only note this here because I don't want to make the author look bad because of my incomplete framing.
posted by infinite intimation at 2:05 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
To say the two obvious things before anyone else does:
1) What were you doing when you were 16? Yeah, I was unimpressed with myself too.
2) Presumably, she's only going to get better as she ages...unless, God forbid, her voice does the equivilant of a Heisman winner's knee exploding before he goes pro.
* * * *
Also, thank God she's Canadian so she became famous on her own talent before Disney sucked her into their tween queen empire (and spit her back out)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:06 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
1) What were you doing when you were 16? Yeah, I was unimpressed with myself too.
2) Presumably, she's only going to get better as she ages...unless, God forbid, her voice does the equivilant of a Heisman winner's knee exploding before he goes pro.
* * * *
Also, thank God she's Canadian so she became famous on her own talent before Disney sucked her into their tween queen empire (and spit her back out)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:06 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
oxymoron ≠ enigma, nor even dichotomy
posted by humboldt32 at 2:10 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by humboldt32 at 2:10 PM on November 19, 2010
What were you doing when you were 16? Yeah, I was unimpressed with myself too.
I invented the piano key necktie. What did you ever do?
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:14 PM on November 19, 2010 [9 favorites]
I invented the piano key necktie. What did you ever do?
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:14 PM on November 19, 2010 [9 favorites]
I Believe, which closed out the concert, was the CTV theme song for the Vancouver Olympics.
posted by evilcolonel at 2:17 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by evilcolonel at 2:17 PM on November 19, 2010
What were you doing when you were 16?I was the first teenager on the moon.
And, c'mon, Ella? The kid's good, but I have to wonder if there's some sort of reverse Susan Boyle thing going on.
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:18 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
I also saved Latin.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:21 PM on November 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:21 PM on November 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
She's got a hell of a lot of vitality and power. Let's hope she manages to acquire the skill and ability of Ella, or even of someone like Sarah Vaughan. There's more to them than talent, and she's still very young; the unfortunate thing is that young talents who are recognized early often don't have room to grow into mature talents. I can only hope in her case, this will be different.
You know what I mean when I say skill, right? Sarah Vaughan's recording of "They Can't Take That Away," or Ella's 1966 concert with Duke Ellington – these were moments of great calculation, wherein practiced artists who were expert in their craft created beautiful things. Singing is different from playing an instrument only in that it seems like an innate thing, like something you're born with – but it's not, at least not the whole craft of it. It's exactly the same, in that it takes a long amount of practice, much learning, maturity, and relaxation. It's thrilling to hear Nikki Yanofsky's young vivacity, but I hope she has the breathing space necessary to develop her skills into mature artfulness. Because she has more innate talent than almost anybody.
posted by koeselitz at 2:23 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
You know what I mean when I say skill, right? Sarah Vaughan's recording of "They Can't Take That Away," or Ella's 1966 concert with Duke Ellington – these were moments of great calculation, wherein practiced artists who were expert in their craft created beautiful things. Singing is different from playing an instrument only in that it seems like an innate thing, like something you're born with – but it's not, at least not the whole craft of it. It's exactly the same, in that it takes a long amount of practice, much learning, maturity, and relaxation. It's thrilling to hear Nikki Yanofsky's young vivacity, but I hope she has the breathing space necessary to develop her skills into mature artfulness. Because she has more innate talent than almost anybody.
posted by koeselitz at 2:23 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
I alternate between wanting to praise extraordinary young individuals for their gifts, and worrying that such praise hurts not only them but the generation surrounding them.
I grew up unhealthily obsessed with celebrity culture. When I was 13, my 8th-grade Language Arts teacher held up Christopher Paolini's novel Eragon (which he published at 17-ish) as an example of "great writing"; I argued that no, it was pretty shoddy writing, and not particularly good plotwork either. Her response? "Well, it's published, and you're not. Maybe when you publish a book you can say what's good and what's not."
Which set me off on about 5-or-6 years' worth of self-hatred and resentment. (Note to teachers: Never ever EVER suggest that your students' thoughts are invalid just because they're not famous. It fucks kids up.) I was reasonably certain that I was talented/meaningful/not entirely stupid; sometimes I could convince myself that I wasn't scum; but there are a fuck of a lot of people who think it's appropriate to dismiss somebody just because they're not famous or haven't been in the media, and it indirectly teaches young people a message.
I spent the last two years working at a summer camp for gifted youngsters; it kills me how most of them, at tender ages like 14, have decided already that they're talentless and will never go on to do anything special. I mean it. There are actors and singers who, come freshman year high school, are not famous, and so they're convinced that they just aren't quality. And then there's the ugly opposite: Talented youngsters who convince themselves that the only indication of quality art is fame, and so devote themselves to doing things that people will like, and completely throw away the depths and beauties of their art to focus on populism.
(It's not just art communities that do this; I know a lot of techy high school kids that keep blogs and judge their self-worth by their Twitter follower count. I know a 16-year-old kid with 8,000 followers who had a breakdown because he knew a 15-year-old with twice that many.)
I ended up self-publishing a novel of my own when I was 17, so I got to realize that "doing something that sounds impressive" doesn't make you any happier, or any more accomplished, or any more likable, than you would be otherwise. And the next year I made a few things that brought me a little fame and a lot of fan mail, got sick of it, and eventually wound up with a decent mental health. Nonetheless I still really worry about this culture of excellence, where people grow up thinking that celebrity and fame and media recognition means something about their character. It's harmful to the people who never get to be a part of that, and it's harmful to the people who get in so young that they never know what it's like not to be in that scene.
This girl has got a great voice. I hope she does something with it.
posted by Rory Marinich at 2:39 PM on November 19, 2010 [7 favorites]
I grew up unhealthily obsessed with celebrity culture. When I was 13, my 8th-grade Language Arts teacher held up Christopher Paolini's novel Eragon (which he published at 17-ish) as an example of "great writing"; I argued that no, it was pretty shoddy writing, and not particularly good plotwork either. Her response? "Well, it's published, and you're not. Maybe when you publish a book you can say what's good and what's not."
Which set me off on about 5-or-6 years' worth of self-hatred and resentment. (Note to teachers: Never ever EVER suggest that your students' thoughts are invalid just because they're not famous. It fucks kids up.) I was reasonably certain that I was talented/meaningful/not entirely stupid; sometimes I could convince myself that I wasn't scum; but there are a fuck of a lot of people who think it's appropriate to dismiss somebody just because they're not famous or haven't been in the media, and it indirectly teaches young people a message.
I spent the last two years working at a summer camp for gifted youngsters; it kills me how most of them, at tender ages like 14, have decided already that they're talentless and will never go on to do anything special. I mean it. There are actors and singers who, come freshman year high school, are not famous, and so they're convinced that they just aren't quality. And then there's the ugly opposite: Talented youngsters who convince themselves that the only indication of quality art is fame, and so devote themselves to doing things that people will like, and completely throw away the depths and beauties of their art to focus on populism.
(It's not just art communities that do this; I know a lot of techy high school kids that keep blogs and judge their self-worth by their Twitter follower count. I know a 16-year-old kid with 8,000 followers who had a breakdown because he knew a 15-year-old with twice that many.)
I ended up self-publishing a novel of my own when I was 17, so I got to realize that "doing something that sounds impressive" doesn't make you any happier, or any more accomplished, or any more likable, than you would be otherwise. And the next year I made a few things that brought me a little fame and a lot of fan mail, got sick of it, and eventually wound up with a decent mental health. Nonetheless I still really worry about this culture of excellence, where people grow up thinking that celebrity and fame and media recognition means something about their character. It's harmful to the people who never get to be a part of that, and it's harmful to the people who get in so young that they never know what it's like not to be in that scene.
This girl has got a great voice. I hope she does something with it.
posted by Rory Marinich at 2:39 PM on November 19, 2010 [7 favorites]
Maybe it's just because I wanted to slit my wrists after hearing the Olympics theme too many times last winter, but I've tried a few links and am not feeling it. She has a gorgeous natural voice and great technical control, but I haven't yet heard anything from her with real emotional connection.
The first Airmail link was be-bop, which leaves me cold, Two of Us was absolutely awful -- I mean, stunningly awful in every way, from the generic arrangement to the vacant, preening singing that killed Paul all over again -- and when I tried a YouTube link to this Norah Jones cover, it sounded very much like Jones.
Based on three songs so far, I have the impression that where she's good, she's not original, and where she's original, she's not good. But a lot of people with pretty decent taste in music seem to like her, so I'm ready to be converted.
Can anyone volunteer a single song they've heard from her that really knocks you out? Not just "Pretty damn good for a kid, she's got potential" but really, really good? Anything but be-bop should work for me.
posted by maudlin at 2:54 PM on November 19, 2010
The first Airmail link was be-bop, which leaves me cold, Two of Us was absolutely awful -- I mean, stunningly awful in every way, from the generic arrangement to the vacant, preening singing that killed Paul all over again -- and when I tried a YouTube link to this Norah Jones cover, it sounded very much like Jones.
Based on three songs so far, I have the impression that where she's good, she's not original, and where she's original, she's not good. But a lot of people with pretty decent taste in music seem to like her, so I'm ready to be converted.
Can anyone volunteer a single song they've heard from her that really knocks you out? Not just "Pretty damn good for a kid, she's got potential" but really, really good? Anything but be-bop should work for me.
posted by maudlin at 2:54 PM on November 19, 2010
I'm sure she's a very nice person, and a talented singer, but I will never forgive her for the absolute waterboarding she gave to the national anthem during the Vancouver Olympics opening ceremony. You're singing the national anthem of your country on the biggest world stage in decades, can we please for the love of Jesus, Buddha and Trudeau not make it a Canadian Idol audition about your unique, amazing vocal chops, and keep to singing the song in time with the music (and the rest of the crowd, who don't spontaneously scat all over the anthem).
A Roseanne Barr and KC Parks duet would almost have been preferable.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 3:02 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
A Roseanne Barr and KC Parks duet would almost have been preferable.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 3:02 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Pretty voice. Nice kid.
On the one hand, I wish it would be made illegal for anyone ever again to record or perform "Over the Rainbow." On the other hand, it is an excellent and simple metric.
Say what you will about Judy Garland, she sang the god damn song. Whether they have technically perfect voices or not, just for once, could these ever-lovin' Star Search kids today just stand there flat-footed and sing the god damn song instead of hanging all these extraneous doilies and doodads and curlicues all over it?
Now I'm gonna go cleanse my palate with Andrea McArdle doing "Tomorrow" and "Hard-Knock Life." Now there, my friends, was a kid who sang the god damn song.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:15 PM on November 19, 2010 [5 favorites]
On the one hand, I wish it would be made illegal for anyone ever again to record or perform "Over the Rainbow." On the other hand, it is an excellent and simple metric.
Say what you will about Judy Garland, she sang the god damn song. Whether they have technically perfect voices or not, just for once, could these ever-lovin' Star Search kids today just stand there flat-footed and sing the god damn song instead of hanging all these extraneous doilies and doodads and curlicues all over it?
Now I'm gonna go cleanse my palate with Andrea McArdle doing "Tomorrow" and "Hard-Knock Life." Now there, my friends, was a kid who sang the god damn song.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:15 PM on November 19, 2010 [5 favorites]
Moreover, I will call this young woman the next Ella right after she convincingly pulls off "Lush Life."
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:19 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:19 PM on November 19, 2010
Rory, I hope you caught the Malcom Gladwell talk about outliers. I skimmed "Blink" and it didn't click with me, but this talk is very, very good.
posted by notion at 3:28 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by notion at 3:28 PM on November 19, 2010
Regarding the anthem the Vancouver Olympics, Anne Murray told someone (Jian Ghomehi maybe?) that she was really ticked with how Nikki sang the anthem. She made clear that she was not ticked with Nikki, who she felt was not the one who decided to go that way with it, but with her handlers who would have made that decision. Murray said that people want to be able to sing along with the anthem at an event like that, and if the rendition is overly stylized, they can't do that.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 3:29 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 3:29 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
She's okay, but not very daring, certainly nowhere near Ella. And when I read all the "this isn't hype" crap and then got to the part where the guy writing it says, "then I worked with her," well, that sort of made the fact that it was all hype pretty obvious.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:43 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:43 PM on November 19, 2010
When I was 16 I invented Post-Its!
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:55 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:55 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Say what you will about Judy Garland, she sang the god damn song. Whether they have technically perfect voices or not, just for once, could these ever-lovin' Star Search kids today just stand there flat-footed and sing the god damn song instead of hanging all these extraneous doilies and doodads and curlicues all over it?
Perfect example of why Ella was so great. It was Judy's song, and everyone knew it. It came time for Ella to record the Arlen songbook, and Ella simply didn't want to sing Judy's song. Granz had his way, however, and something magnificent and beautiful and true was born.
Judy's version is the standard, no doubt. But where Judy's version is that of a young girl longing for some better world, Ella took the reverse side of it. Ella sang a lullaby to that young girl, telling her a fable of that better world, knowing that that world doesn't really exist, and with a hint of sadness for it. Ella gives us that different view, which maybe you'd never imagined, and you can only say 'of course!' Ella's brilliance was in pairing unbelievable technical skill with an equal measure of emotional wisdom about the song.
So when people claim Nikki as the 'new Ella' -- it's wrong. The kid has much technical skill, no doubt, but she has an awful lot to learn about the emotional truths behind these pieces. She has the technical abilities for jazz, but almost none of the sensibilities, of the phrasing. She needs to listen to a LOT more jazz before she'll know what works and what doesn't and why. In so many of her songs, she doesn't know how to build -- it's all sex and no foreplay. Bring us in, draw us near, and then hit us with the magic.
Personally, I think Nikki was sent up to the majors far too quickly. Someone wanted the press that comes along with having a wunderkind, instead of allowing her the time to develop beyond the simply technical. Hopefully Nikki can still grow, if she's to last. I have my doubts.
posted by Capt. Renault at 4:04 PM on November 19, 2010 [11 favorites]
Perfect example of why Ella was so great. It was Judy's song, and everyone knew it. It came time for Ella to record the Arlen songbook, and Ella simply didn't want to sing Judy's song. Granz had his way, however, and something magnificent and beautiful and true was born.
Judy's version is the standard, no doubt. But where Judy's version is that of a young girl longing for some better world, Ella took the reverse side of it. Ella sang a lullaby to that young girl, telling her a fable of that better world, knowing that that world doesn't really exist, and with a hint of sadness for it. Ella gives us that different view, which maybe you'd never imagined, and you can only say 'of course!' Ella's brilliance was in pairing unbelievable technical skill with an equal measure of emotional wisdom about the song.
So when people claim Nikki as the 'new Ella' -- it's wrong. The kid has much technical skill, no doubt, but she has an awful lot to learn about the emotional truths behind these pieces. She has the technical abilities for jazz, but almost none of the sensibilities, of the phrasing. She needs to listen to a LOT more jazz before she'll know what works and what doesn't and why. In so many of her songs, she doesn't know how to build -- it's all sex and no foreplay. Bring us in, draw us near, and then hit us with the magic.
Personally, I think Nikki was sent up to the majors far too quickly. Someone wanted the press that comes along with having a wunderkind, instead of allowing her the time to develop beyond the simply technical. Hopefully Nikki can still grow, if she's to last. I have my doubts.
posted by Capt. Renault at 4:04 PM on November 19, 2010 [11 favorites]
Jesus.
I've always HATED Over the Rainbow. HATED HATED HATED it. When I heard people rhapsodize over Eva Cassidy's version, I listened and shrugged it off. (I had the same reaction to Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah. Meh. Fie. Whatever.)
But that linked performance by Ella completely blindsided me. I was ready to listen and potentially consider it not as bad as the rest, but it was magnificent. It was beautiful. It crept up on me, and when she first hit the chorus, I actually started to cry because I knew that damn woman was going to redeem a song I had hated for decades.
So maybe I won't bother trying to find anything any Nikki Yanofsky songs that I actually like right now. If she ever does anything great, odds are I'll hear it. Right now it's much more important that I finally get some vinyl, CDs, ANYTHING by Fitzgerald.
(Thanks, Capt. Renault. Really!)
posted by maudlin at 4:50 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
I've always HATED Over the Rainbow. HATED HATED HATED it. When I heard people rhapsodize over Eva Cassidy's version, I listened and shrugged it off. (I had the same reaction to Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah. Meh. Fie. Whatever.)
But that linked performance by Ella completely blindsided me. I was ready to listen and potentially consider it not as bad as the rest, but it was magnificent. It was beautiful. It crept up on me, and when she first hit the chorus, I actually started to cry because I knew that damn woman was going to redeem a song I had hated for decades.
So maybe I won't bother trying to find anything any Nikki Yanofsky songs that I actually like right now. If she ever does anything great, odds are I'll hear it. Right now it's much more important that I finally get some vinyl, CDs, ANYTHING by Fitzgerald.
(Thanks, Capt. Renault. Really!)
posted by maudlin at 4:50 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Awesome voice. I believe she could end up as one of the greats, but it seems obvious to me that what separates her from a more experienced singer (like Ella in her prime) is the lack of subtlety and restraint. Comparatively, of course -- she already has far more than most people, and it's hard to deny she has the pipes, but I'm curious to hear her in 10 years.
The last Canadian superstar I listened to was Michael Bublé, the highly regarded "heir to Sinatra", wh... (Bear with me, brain stopped responding, rebooting now) ...who is so over-autotuned that I angrily re-named the directory for his album to "RealDoll: The Animated Series OST". I'm happy to have someone else to point to as Canada's latest and greatest, someone who isn't freakishly airbrushed.
posted by jake at 4:51 PM on November 19, 2010
The last Canadian superstar I listened to was Michael Bublé, the highly regarded "heir to Sinatra", wh... (Bear with me, brain stopped responding, rebooting now) ...who is so over-autotuned that I angrily re-named the directory for his album to "RealDoll: The Animated Series OST". I'm happy to have someone else to point to as Canada's latest and greatest, someone who isn't freakishly airbrushed.
posted by jake at 4:51 PM on November 19, 2010
I think this thread is pretty good evidence that goes to why hype is so completely stupid – it's pretty much ruined our ability to hear this kid, and it probably has ruined her music for a lot of other people, too. At the end of the day, she's got a fantastic voice and a bright future, and I'm not kidding when I say I'm excited to see where she goes with it. She's not Ella – so the hell what? She doesn't benefit from the comparison, in fact I think it hurts her, but she wasn't the one who brought it up. So ignore the doofus who said that and focus on this: her voice is really nice.
posted by koeselitz at 4:53 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by koeselitz at 4:53 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Look, I don't think that she's the "new Ella" either, and nobody is. But finding her wanting because she's not Ella or Judy Garland is kind of ridiculous. Have the grace to be secure in Ella's uniqueness without having to rip anyone to shreds who has the temerity to anoint a "new Ella" (or a "new Frank," or a new whoever). Their singularity will outlive anyone's stupid attempts to crown a successor, with or without your gall.
Say what you will about Judy Garland, she sang the god damn song.
She didn't go all melismatic like a lot of today's singers do, but she didn't just "sing the song." That's one of the reasons that her performance of "The Man That Got Away" leaves all others in the dust.
posted by blucevalo at 4:56 PM on November 19, 2010
Say what you will about Judy Garland, she sang the god damn song.
She didn't go all melismatic like a lot of today's singers do, but she didn't just "sing the song." That's one of the reasons that her performance of "The Man That Got Away" leaves all others in the dust.
posted by blucevalo at 4:56 PM on November 19, 2010
Great stuff. She's gonna make her own way. No comparisons needed, right?
Amazing in-tuneness too.
posted by Namlit at 5:12 PM on November 19, 2010
Amazing in-tuneness too.
posted by Namlit at 5:12 PM on November 19, 2010
Yeah, she sounds just like Ella, except for the whole "singing like a bird" thing. This girl is fine, whatever, but none of what I heard was great. It wasn't even Michael Buble, which is about where I place this. I won't even go into pitch or anything, it's just...thin.
Did anybody watch all of SNL last weekend? It's kinda "Stars of Tomorrow." "It was you, Charlie!"
posted by rhizome at 5:40 PM on November 19, 2010
Did anybody watch all of SNL last weekend? It's kinda "Stars of Tomorrow." "It was you, Charlie!"
posted by rhizome at 5:40 PM on November 19, 2010
This whole "the new Ella" thing reminds me of Harry Connick's response to the early criticism of his talent, ie "he's no Fats Waller." He said "Even Fats Waller wasn't Fats Waller when he was 21." Even Ella wasn't Ella when she was 16. (Uh, was she?)
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:46 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:46 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Everyone is a fucking critic.
posted by sfts2 at 6:48 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by sfts2 at 6:48 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
ThatCanadianGirl: Totally. The problem is that developing talents at a young age doesn't mean you're going to be anything special later on. I was writing music at 3, now I'm just another average grown-up composer in a sea of super-talented, educated, experienced peers. Who cares if you bloom early, others are likely to catch up and lap you. So I feel weird about artists who are discovered young and made to take on the responsibility of a totally speculative future greatness. It doesn't always pan out that way, and all the pressure might actually be working against them.
Regarding comparisons: Yeah, every YouTube video of a musical performance is infuriating because its comments are just a bunch of 13 year old nerds swordfighting with their dicks about who is the best guitarist. I'd like to think that the discussion here isn't like that, and comparisons can be a little more thought-provoking than "CLEARLY UR SUTPID... SARTANI SUX, MICHOLANGALO PLAYS 4 FUKN GUITARS AT ONCE".
posted by jake at 6:50 PM on November 19, 2010
Regarding comparisons: Yeah, every YouTube video of a musical performance is infuriating because its comments are just a bunch of 13 year old nerds swordfighting with their dicks about who is the best guitarist. I'd like to think that the discussion here isn't like that, and comparisons can be a little more thought-provoking than "CLEARLY UR SUTPID... SARTANI SUX, MICHOLANGALO PLAYS 4 FUKN GUITARS AT ONCE".
posted by jake at 6:50 PM on November 19, 2010
(I just wanted to point out, by the way: when I mentioned the "doofus" who compared to Nikki to Ella in my earlier comment, I totally did not mean anyone in this thread. I just mean – well, it's some random critic, right? We don't even know who first made that comparison; Andrew Craig clearly didn't. So why worry about it? I just meant: if that's distracting us, we may as well let it go.)
posted by koeselitz at 7:19 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by koeselitz at 7:19 PM on November 19, 2010
Also, thank God she's Canadian so she became famous on her own talent before Disney sucked her into their tween queen empire (and spit her back out)
Justin Bieber is also a 16-year-old Canadian. So was Avril Lavigne once. Just sayin'.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:50 PM on November 19, 2010
Justin Bieber is also a 16-year-old Canadian. So was Avril Lavigne once. Just sayin'.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:50 PM on November 19, 2010
The Ella at 18/20 links shine a bright light on this discussion. In those tracks, Fitzgerald is a feature vocalist for an extraordinary band. Unimaginable today.
Maybe I have a soft spot for Over the Rainbow because for years a nightclub singer neighbour of mine would practice in the afternoon. He had a great voice, and he did Over the Rainbow all the time.
posted by Chuckles at 11:05 PM on November 19, 2010
Maybe I have a soft spot for Over the Rainbow because for years a nightclub singer neighbour of mine would practice in the afternoon. He had a great voice, and he did Over the Rainbow all the time.
posted by Chuckles at 11:05 PM on November 19, 2010
If any of you watched the CTV coverage of the last winder Olympics you'll have a massive hate-on for this chick. I don't understand, who does she know that is pushing her career so hard? She's not that good, really.
posted by spish at 5:27 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by spish at 5:27 AM on November 20, 2010
Interesting to hear the changes in her voice between 2007 and 2010. Her voice might still change more, but as it is, there's something sort of . . . girlish? about it still. Even in those clips of Ella at 18, there's this powerful sort of maturity there.
I grew up unhealthily obsessed with celebrity culture. When I was 13, my 8th-grade Language Arts teacher held up Christopher Paolini's novel Eragon (which he published at 17-ish) as an example of "great writing"; I argued that no, it was pretty shoddy writing, and not particularly good plotwork either. Her response? "Well, it's published, and you're not. Maybe when you publish a book you can say what's good and what's not."
This sort of celebrity-of-youth is pretty par-for-the-course in young adult writing, and was pretty much started by Paolini. It's something my writing group debates pretty heavily. Not a month goes by without the announcement of yet another 16-20-year-old getting an agent or publishing contract. My experience reading these books have been all pretty similar: they usually seem young. On occasion, I'll read an author who is undoubtedly talented, but it's the sort of talent which is defined by their youth--"For a seventeen-year-old, there's raw talent here. I can't wait to see what kind of writer they grow into." Their youth is almost always played up by the industry, a selling point that I find odd. As a teen, like Rory, I bristled against news of other teens achieving this sort of fame because it always, or at least often, seemed to arise largely out of privilege rather than raw talent alone. I've heard this charge leveled against Paolini, too (who, incidentally, I've never read), often by other contemporary aspiring writers: he had parents wealthy enough to self-publish his book, and was home schooled, and so he was able to publicize his book in a way that other aspiring writers of his age would usually never be able to. As a talented, but not privileged, kid, I was a pretty capable writer, but I didn't know the first thing about navigating the business. And so I felt averse to these sorts of stories, rather than invigorated. It wasn't a selling point for me.
And deep down, I'm glad I passed through my writing youth without access to the industry. I think time will tell for a lot of these young YA writers whether their careers will have any sort of staying power (the only one I've heard of is Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, who seems to have achieved quiet, steady success)--likewise, whether a singer like Nikki Yanofsky will. Already, I've seen some teen authors who make pronouncements on their blogs that they don't want to be called "teen writers" anymore, but just "writers." The problem is that, when your initially publicized work is largely centered around a gimmick--and a transient one, such as age--there's no telling whether the public will remain interested once that fleeting selling point has expired. Not to mention the fact that you get a bunch of published authors with a bunch of half-formed juvenilia floating around, published. The stuff I wrote at 18 or 16 wasn't terrible, but it's not what I'd like to build an artistic career upon.
So who does pushing these young talents really benefit? Are there people who really love stories of youthful prodigies? They seem to sell well, but like I said, as a kid I found them jealousy-inducing, mostly, and as an adult I find the potential for abuse of young talent somewhat chilling. mostly, I'd rather see what these people could do when their talent is fully-formed.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:27 AM on November 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
I grew up unhealthily obsessed with celebrity culture. When I was 13, my 8th-grade Language Arts teacher held up Christopher Paolini's novel Eragon (which he published at 17-ish) as an example of "great writing"; I argued that no, it was pretty shoddy writing, and not particularly good plotwork either. Her response? "Well, it's published, and you're not. Maybe when you publish a book you can say what's good and what's not."
This sort of celebrity-of-youth is pretty par-for-the-course in young adult writing, and was pretty much started by Paolini. It's something my writing group debates pretty heavily. Not a month goes by without the announcement of yet another 16-20-year-old getting an agent or publishing contract. My experience reading these books have been all pretty similar: they usually seem young. On occasion, I'll read an author who is undoubtedly talented, but it's the sort of talent which is defined by their youth--"For a seventeen-year-old, there's raw talent here. I can't wait to see what kind of writer they grow into." Their youth is almost always played up by the industry, a selling point that I find odd. As a teen, like Rory, I bristled against news of other teens achieving this sort of fame because it always, or at least often, seemed to arise largely out of privilege rather than raw talent alone. I've heard this charge leveled against Paolini, too (who, incidentally, I've never read), often by other contemporary aspiring writers: he had parents wealthy enough to self-publish his book, and was home schooled, and so he was able to publicize his book in a way that other aspiring writers of his age would usually never be able to. As a talented, but not privileged, kid, I was a pretty capable writer, but I didn't know the first thing about navigating the business. And so I felt averse to these sorts of stories, rather than invigorated. It wasn't a selling point for me.
And deep down, I'm glad I passed through my writing youth without access to the industry. I think time will tell for a lot of these young YA writers whether their careers will have any sort of staying power (the only one I've heard of is Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, who seems to have achieved quiet, steady success)--likewise, whether a singer like Nikki Yanofsky will. Already, I've seen some teen authors who make pronouncements on their blogs that they don't want to be called "teen writers" anymore, but just "writers." The problem is that, when your initially publicized work is largely centered around a gimmick--and a transient one, such as age--there's no telling whether the public will remain interested once that fleeting selling point has expired. Not to mention the fact that you get a bunch of published authors with a bunch of half-formed juvenilia floating around, published. The stuff I wrote at 18 or 16 wasn't terrible, but it's not what I'd like to build an artistic career upon.
So who does pushing these young talents really benefit? Are there people who really love stories of youthful prodigies? They seem to sell well, but like I said, as a kid I found them jealousy-inducing, mostly, and as an adult I find the potential for abuse of young talent somewhat chilling. mostly, I'd rather see what these people could do when their talent is fully-formed.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:27 AM on November 20, 2010 [2 favorites]
Well, it's published, and you're not. Maybe when you publish a book you can say what's good and what's not.
Yeah. See? So all you Bush-haters who haven't published a book, just shut the hell up.
Cuz a genuine certified -teacher- says so.
Friend of mine told me someone asked him "Where are all the Mozarts and Beethovens these days?"
and he replied, "They went through your schools."
posted by Twang at 4:14 PM on November 20, 2010
Yeah. See? So all you Bush-haters who haven't published a book, just shut the hell up.
Cuz a genuine certified -teacher- says so.
Friend of mine told me someone asked him "Where are all the Mozarts and Beethovens these days?"
and he replied, "They went through your schools."
posted by Twang at 4:14 PM on November 20, 2010
So, does buzz affect perceptions/judgement? Yes.
The Wailin' Jennys: This concert streaming on CBC radio 3 had instrumentation that I liked even more than the one linked above in the post.
Deeper Well, what a round! my introduction thanks again to Andrew Craig.
Their music, and Craig's presentations have been (and continue to be) a series of "driveway moments".
Blue Rodeo as you've (likely) never heard them
Bassekou Kouyate and his band feature an instrument from Mali called the ngoni.
The Wailin' Jennys: This concert streaming on CBC radio 3 had instrumentation that I liked even more than the one linked above in the post.
Deeper Well, what a round! my introduction thanks again to Andrew Craig.
Their music, and Craig's presentations have been (and continue to be) a series of "driveway moments".
Blue Rodeo as you've (likely) never heard them
And when you hear the onstage banter, you'll really know what I mean. Maybe I shouldn't give this away, but in the first few minutes of the concert, Jim tells the audience that they're trying out some new material, and that "we're still trying to remember the lyrics". Greg says "we?", and without missing a beat, Jim says "oh, Greg's speaking French".
Bassekou Kouyate and his band feature an instrument from Mali called the ngoni.
Some call it the grandfather of the banjo; some call it the grandfather of the guitar. Over an intricate weave of ngoni rhythms, their singer spins her melodies. It held the Vancouver Folk Festival audience spellbound. Contemporary African music at its best.posted by infinite intimation at 1:26 PM on December 4, 2010
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Her concert at the historic Pantages theatre where Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin and Ella Fitzgerald performed among many others, was much anticipated. Nikki appeared as part of the International Winnipeg Jazz Festival. Her regular band includes former Winnipegger John Sadoway on piano. Nikki possesses a wonderful tone, exacting intonation and an innate ability to swing.
PLAY ALL TRACKS
TRACK LISTING FOR THIS CONCERT
1 Sunny Side Of The Street - Fool In The Rain
Dorothy Fields, John Paul Jones, Jimmy McHugh, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant (composers)
2 God Bless The Child
Arthur Herzog, Billie Holiday (composers)
3 Lullaby Of Broadway
George Shearing (composer)
4 Stompin' At The Savoy
Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Chick Webb (composers)
5 No More Blues
Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes (composers)
6 Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie
Jesse Harris, Ron Sexsmith (composers)
7 Airmail Special
Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Mundy (composers)
8 Take The A Train
Billy Strayhorn (composer)
9 You'll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini)
Sam Coslow (composer)
10 Try Try Try
Feist (composer)
11 Hear Me Talkin' To Ya
Louis Armstrong (composer)
12 Grey Skies
Sharada Banman, Paul Shrofel, Nikki Yanofsky (composers)
13 For Another Day
Jesse Harris, Ron Sexsmith (composers)
14 Two Of Us
John Lennon, Paul McCartney (composers)
15 Over The Rainbow
Harold Arlen, Edgar Harburg (composers)
16 I Got Rhythm
George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin (composers), Ira Gershwin (composers)
17 I Believe
Alan Frew, Stephan Moccio (composers)
ARTISTS
Nikki Yanofsky - vocals
Rob Fahie - Musical Director, bass
John Sadoway - piano, keyboards
Andy Dacoulis - guitar
Richard Irwin - drums
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Kinzey Posen - Producer
Joe Dudych - Recording Engineer
Bryan Harder - Assistant Recording Engineer
Joe Dudych - Mix Engineer
Nikki Yanofsky- Canada Live- 06-16-08 YouTube Playlist from previous Canada Live concert.
Nikki Yanofsky - For Another Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPrM5FDAM8I
This is also a reminder to use CBC Concerts on Demand (previously)… and listen to the Canada Live Podcast, or live.
Montreal singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright pays homage to both her late mother, Kate McGarrigle, and French songstress Edith Piaf in this concert recorded at Salle André-Mathieu in Montreal.(mp3)
The Wailin' Jennys bring their beautiful vocal harmonies and superb songwriting skills to McDougall United Church in Edmonton. (mp3)
With many thanks to Andrew Craig.
posted by infinite intimation at 1:44 PM on November 19, 2010 [4 favorites]