Enjoy Yourself

G’day my friends, sorry I haven’t been around the blog much. My personal life has been extremely stressful the last few weeks and Matters To Be Attended very time consuming so just had to knuckle down in the material world; my creative self has taken a back seat. Quite resentful actually but need to let it go. LOL

On that very subject I have begun a piece on vocal screaming inspired by Tool’s Maynard James Keenan. In the song “The Grudge” he unleashes an 18 second scream live (in the studio he sustains it for 24 seconds but the live version is cool to watch.) It powerfully expresses letting go of the negative energy of resentment and demonstrates a potent chest voice and massive breath support as sources of MJK’s vocal mastery. It’s a great piece to focus on, though time is still limited and I have got a way to go – it’s a complex project. I’m making a video to go with it, all going well with the technical learning I need to apply. As well as MJK, I will focus on vocals by Chris Cornell, Mike Patton, Robert Plant, Jack White, and Lisa Fischer. I’ve noticed while wading through mountains of research is that there is nothing written about women’s vocal screams. Lisa is a force of nature, compelling in performance, sometimes overshadowing even the most talented of men around her. I sense that women’s power is once again being ignored, undervalued, disapproved of, and most of all, feared. These are slap-downs the Sagittarian woman in me strongly rebels against. So some of Lisa’s amazing vocals are in there; MJK himself would approve – having agitated for more female inclusion:

“That’s the hugest thing missing (from this Lollapalooza): feminine energy, and it’s disappointing. But it’s not for lack of trying. I had my wish list: Meshell Ndegeocello, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Luscious Jackson.” — Maynard; L.A. Times, Aug 3, 1997

On that mutinous note, I’m doing this quick post because I came across the Tool song, “Hush”. MJK screams defiance and the mood feels right for today. It can’t only be me who sometimes thinks everything has gotten way too serious, and who wants to say things I probably should not. Just to get people to wake up and notice what awesome forces are out there if we stay open to them and let go of our fears. This tune is fun, funky, and definitely does not take itself seriously. Also I do respect a healthy dose of honesty. The world is often messy, inconvenient and cruel. Take time out and enjoy yourselves:

Tool – “Hush”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF_WKwbueG8

Seether – Careless Whisper

Seether – “Careless Whisper”

Is this the best cover song ever?

                                    I feel so unsure                                      As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor….

I do love a really great cover song. A track re-interpreted in a fresh and interesting way intrigues me. If you are a muso or band intending to perform a cover, you don’t want to just equal the original, especially when it’s George Michael, who’s a little, well, naff. There are many interpretations of original songs that stand as significant pieces in their own right and these are worthy endeavors. The Deftones’ hypnotic underwater metal rendition of “No Ordinary Love”, elevated by Chino’s breathy vocals, is an outstanding example, bringing the song into the 21st century. Yet Sade’s original is extraordinary also. Ideally you want to jam the song in a way the original failed to do.

With that in mind, Elvis’ intense 1969 hit “Suspicious Minds” is a contender for hottest cover ever (the original, released by the songwriter, Mark James flopped) and definitely has the edge in the popularity stakes. The song ranked #91 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list and Elvis’ definitive version broke cross-Atlantic chart records.

“Careless Whisper” by post-grunge South African band Seether, for my money, tops both of these. The song grabs you in the guts with raw and powerful emotions due to some first rate musicianship and an impassioned vocal from Shaun Morgan. Its alt metal feel is innovative and progressive. In my humble opinion, this version of George Michael’s 1984 blue-eyed soul smash hit, from Seether’s 2007 album “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces”, really, really nails the song. In doing so it transforms a slightly cheesy pop tune into a cool, edgy classic. The best cover song ever? Decide for yourselves.