“She didn’t even sing her own music”. That was a recent criticism I overheard in the wake of Whitney Houston’s death. I’m not here to talk about the death of Whitney Houston and her cultural significance--I’m more interested in the particular criticism that was overheard. I’ve always found it interesting that singers so often get maligned and their talent discounted by the fact that they don’t write their own music. Given that all artistic expressions have their own nuance, it’s difficult to adequately compare, but it seems that singers are one of the few artists that are given very little credit as musicians.
Granted the industry is flooded with marginally talented “singers” who are more famous for gyrations in skimpy clothing than for their vocal prowess but a good voice transcends gimmicks. A good voice will pull focus from a near naked spectacle. A good voice makes you cry, gives you chills, stops you in your tracks, makes you forget what you’re doing or where you are. Recently, I was exiting the A train at 125th when I heard a women singing gospel and had one of those moments where the itemized, neurotic tick tock of things swimming through my brain was cast aside. There was only a voice and a frozen moment. This women had a pitch perfect, powerful voice that defied her pedestrian speaker and microphone--she didn’t even need it. But I doubt she wrote the song so there goes her legitimacy.
Let’s break this down a bit. Do we expect for an actor to write their own material? Absolutely not. Sure, there are those that are playwrights AND actors but let’s face it, they are often much better at one. Nobody remembers Edward Albee’s Hamlet or Eugene O’Neil’s Kostya but I remember watching Phil Hoffman (we hang out so I can call him Phil) in a Long Day’s Journey into Night. Utterly magical. Despite the play being an autobiographical piece by O’Neil, I highly doubt Mr. O’Neil could have out-performed Mr. Hoffman.
An actor’s talent is judged by his or her ability to bring life and depth to a character. There are times when it’s apparent that an actor is much better than the material they are working with and then there are those rare, electric moments when an audience member witnesses the perfect union of actor and material. The part couldn’t have been written for anyone else and even if it was, that actor will forever be associated with that part and anyone who attempts to revive the play is doomed for failure. Think Marlon Brando and A Streetcar Named Desire. Think Whitney Houston and I Will Always Love You. Heck, think Whitney Houston and The Star-Spangled Banner.
Song writing is a glorious talent and I don’t mean to discount it. Bob Dylan is an amazing songwriter (“Yesterday’s just a memory, tomorrow’s not what it’s supposed to be” “I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul” etc.) and his style is unique and has its place. But I can’t see him belting out “And I am Telling You” from Dreamgirls. Actually that sounds amazing. I would definitely pay to see that.
Producing takes a specific talent as well. Kayne West is a great producer. Rapper? Not so much. He can turn some clever phrases, but his genius is his producing. Let’s not even go there with his singing.
My point, I think, is that it doesn’t make sense for singers like Celine Dion (oh I went there) to be regarded as invalid because they lack song-writing skills. Mock Celine Dion for her jumpsuits, carnival-like concerts, and chest pumps, but the chick can sing.
And finally, most of the naysayers are quasi-talented singer-songwriters that when viewed singularly are neither singers nor songwriters (discuss). They’re the people that are counter-cultural for the sake of being counter-cultural. They’re “in a band” and constantly “working on their music” and their music and their voice usually “sucks.”
I am not a big main streamer but I watched Kellie Clarkson sing the shit out of Aretha Franklin’s Natural Woman on American Idol. And I will continue to respect Kellie, Mariah, Aretha, Celine, and Christina (even though her vocal gymnastics detract) even if I don’t necessarily like their music. I respect them for those frozen moments when their voices met with a song and chill-inducing magic occurred. I will never forget Whitney Houston performing I Will Always Love You at the Grammy’s and her Star-Spangled Banner will live on. I’m sure Francis Scott Key is bitter because he was “in a band” and their original version was better but he can build a bridge and get over it (in heaven). Whitney OWNED it.
Granted the industry is flooded with marginally talented “singers” who are more famous for gyrations in skimpy clothing than for their vocal prowess but a good voice transcends gimmicks. A good voice will pull focus from a near naked spectacle. A good voice makes you cry, gives you chills, stops you in your tracks, makes you forget what you’re doing or where you are. Recently, I was exiting the A train at 125th when I heard a women singing gospel and had one of those moments where the itemized, neurotic tick tock of things swimming through my brain was cast aside. There was only a voice and a frozen moment. This women had a pitch perfect, powerful voice that defied her pedestrian speaker and microphone--she didn’t even need it. But I doubt she wrote the song so there goes her legitimacy.
Let’s break this down a bit. Do we expect for an actor to write their own material? Absolutely not. Sure, there are those that are playwrights AND actors but let’s face it, they are often much better at one. Nobody remembers Edward Albee’s Hamlet or Eugene O’Neil’s Kostya but I remember watching Phil Hoffman (we hang out so I can call him Phil) in a Long Day’s Journey into Night. Utterly magical. Despite the play being an autobiographical piece by O’Neil, I highly doubt Mr. O’Neil could have out-performed Mr. Hoffman.
An actor’s talent is judged by his or her ability to bring life and depth to a character. There are times when it’s apparent that an actor is much better than the material they are working with and then there are those rare, electric moments when an audience member witnesses the perfect union of actor and material. The part couldn’t have been written for anyone else and even if it was, that actor will forever be associated with that part and anyone who attempts to revive the play is doomed for failure. Think Marlon Brando and A Streetcar Named Desire. Think Whitney Houston and I Will Always Love You. Heck, think Whitney Houston and The Star-Spangled Banner.
Song writing is a glorious talent and I don’t mean to discount it. Bob Dylan is an amazing songwriter (“Yesterday’s just a memory, tomorrow’s not what it’s supposed to be” “I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul” etc.) and his style is unique and has its place. But I can’t see him belting out “And I am Telling You” from Dreamgirls. Actually that sounds amazing. I would definitely pay to see that.
Producing takes a specific talent as well. Kayne West is a great producer. Rapper? Not so much. He can turn some clever phrases, but his genius is his producing. Let’s not even go there with his singing.
My point, I think, is that it doesn’t make sense for singers like Celine Dion (oh I went there) to be regarded as invalid because they lack song-writing skills. Mock Celine Dion for her jumpsuits, carnival-like concerts, and chest pumps, but the chick can sing.
And finally, most of the naysayers are quasi-talented singer-songwriters that when viewed singularly are neither singers nor songwriters (discuss). They’re the people that are counter-cultural for the sake of being counter-cultural. They’re “in a band” and constantly “working on their music” and their music and their voice usually “sucks.”
I am not a big main streamer but I watched Kellie Clarkson sing the shit out of Aretha Franklin’s Natural Woman on American Idol. And I will continue to respect Kellie, Mariah, Aretha, Celine, and Christina (even though her vocal gymnastics detract) even if I don’t necessarily like their music. I respect them for those frozen moments when their voices met with a song and chill-inducing magic occurred. I will never forget Whitney Houston performing I Will Always Love You at the Grammy’s and her Star-Spangled Banner will live on. I’m sure Francis Scott Key is bitter because he was “in a band” and their original version was better but he can build a bridge and get over it (in heaven). Whitney OWNED it.
