Ok, the Cranberries are an Irish Rock band, so it's not really the same style at all - listening to them, there may be hints of folk, but western pop/ rock seems to have stronger influence on their music than any indigenous culture. There's a lot of similarities between Irish and other gaelic music, but Julie Fowlis is specifically a Scottish gaelic singer who sings in her mother tongue - which is a skill and an art form in itself.
Posts made by Adrian A
-
RE: Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
-
RE: Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
SusyLuvsPaul:
Julie has a very pleasant voice, I wouldn't call it "great." It sounds very ethnic Irish and I like Irish folk music a lot. It's just that her singing voice doesn't blow me away, to tell the truth. But I'd listen to a whole cd by them. The Cranberries have a new album coming out after many years. Deloris O' Riordan has a stronger voice than Julie's, which I prefer, also featuring a plaintive Irish lilt. I don't know if you consider the Cranberries too commercial or not. I happened to see that about their new album just the other day.
I think that this style is not supposed to blow you away, but gently life you up on the breeze. It is simple, understated and pure - unlike the plastic divas that dominate the airwaves and undress at every opportunitie. She is probably the most highly rated singer in her style right now. I will listen to the cranberries and let you know what I think.
-
RE: The Nancy Shevell Appreciation Thread
Michelley:
Adrian A:
Ok, she's pretty and good for her age. But has she ever done anything thing of note, or is it just a case of being "nice" and having a privileged upbringing? Is that really a cause for such adoration? Anyone can be born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
"Has she ever done anything of note?" Well, she's given Paul the love and support he so desperately needed after the 1-2 punch of the loss of his beloved wife and then the most miserable marriage/divorce one can imagine. I'd say she deserves a medal for restoring his faith in himself and in love. After all, the world needs nice people. We can't all be brilliant temperamental songwriters.
You are right. The world needs more nice people. Funnily enough, unlike most geniuses, Paul is also a "nice" person, which makes me respect him all the more.
-
RE: Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
dance-tonight:
But at least I have to like it. I don't care if it's mainstream or not, I just have to like it if I want to listen to it.
I agree, but what I'm saying that many people don't have any critical judgement skills and just like something because it is popular - just like they admire celebs just for their fame. I imagine the situation is better in Germany as our education system in the UK is dire. It's not just that critical thinking is dead, but thinking is dead, and it suits the media that this is so - we will willingly submit to their brainwashing and shite.
-
RE: The Nancy Shevell Appreciation Thread
Ok, she's pretty and good for her age. But has she ever done anything thing of note, or is it just a case of being "nice" and having a privileged upbringing? Is that really a cause for such adoration? Anyone can be born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
-
RE: Katie Melua
herc:
Darth_McCartney:
Adrian A:
I might sound old fashioned, but most female singers just try to dress like sluts to sell more records nowadays.
Sex sells
you say like it's something bad
Herc, as you get older you begin to see that sex doesn't have to be in every aspect of our conscious self. There's more to life than having a bonk.
-
RE: Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
That is based on the premise that people make rational judgements about music, and their tastes are not guided and directed by the mass media and its all-encompassing tentacles. If you market something ad infinitum, the masses will end up singing in chorus to their tune: Go Compare, Go Compare! etc etc Edit : for non-UK readers, "Go Compare" is the current brainwashing trend on our televisual screens
-
RE: Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
dance-tonight:
Adrian A:
dance-tonight:
Great voice. The language takes some time getting used to, but not bad. I like Irish folk-songs, and this comes close to it (or maybe it is? ). Reminds me of The Corrs and Celtic Woman.
even if you don't understand it, I think there is an expressiveness in the langauge itself. I see the mainstream western music as a sort of cutural imperialism - it tends to wipe out all native forms of expression; we have to make a special effort to preserve other musical traditions. more importantly- these are great musicians, not an auto-tune in sight.
I don't think it's a bad thing, mainly because I like western music the most, as I'm someone who is grown up in Europe. Yes, she has a good voice, doesn't need auto-tune.
I don't deny that there is some great mainstream music, it's just that it's been allowed to steamroller its way through everything else. Partly it's due to our obsession with celebrity.
-
RE: Katie Melua
Darth_McCartney:
Adrian A:
I might sound old fashioned, but most female singers just try to dress like sluts to sell more records nowadays.
Sex sells
Always has, but it started off subtle, then with madonna it was blatant, but now it's just porn.
-
RE: Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
Did anybody else listen and enjoy or otherwise?
-
RE: Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
dance-tonight:
Great voice. The language takes some time getting used to, but not bad. I like Irish folk-songs, and this comes close to it (or maybe it is? ). Reminds me of The Corrs and Celtic Woman.
even if you don't understand it, I think there is an expressiveness in the langauge itself. I see the mainstream western music as a sort of cutural imperialism - it tends to wipe out all native forms of expression; we have to make a special effort to preserve other musical traditions. more importantly- these are great musicians, not an auto-tune in sight.
-
Julie Fowlis - gaelic singer
If you're sick of overrated female singers who undress at any available opportunity, I hope you will enjoy the beauty and mystery of the voice of Julie Fowlis from the Outer Hebrides. Listen with headphones for maximum effect:
It' s about time we celebrated the lesser-known talent! -
RE: Katie Melua
Well I think we mean "mainstream" I will start a thread now on a beautiful non-mainstream female singer
-
RE: Katie Melua
dance-tonight:
Adrian A:
BOYCIE:
Adrian A:
Bright Eyes is a great song and so is Winter's Tale by Mike Batt. But the million bicycles in Beijing is pretty crap. Don't ask me though, as I think nearly all modern female songwriters are over-rated, especially Adele, Gaga, etc etc.
I agree that both songs are pretty good. To be honest the best female artist of all time is Kate Bush, at least she tries different things and is a bit eccentric and doesn't play safe. Also her vocals are unique, most female artists want to sing like Whitney or Madonna, no originality.
I love some of Kate Bush's songs, but not the later stuff. Wuthering Heights has been analysed to have one of the strangest chord progressions of any pop song. I might sound old fashioned, but most female singers just try to dress like sluts to sell more records nowadays.
Katie Melua does not. And I like her voice and her songs. Maybe it's just like Bob Dylan, either you like him (and his voice) or you don't.
to her credit she doesn't. You're right, a lot of music is down to personal taste. I love With a Little Luck, but I know it is too sugary-sweet for many; if we all liked the same music, life would be so dull.
-
RE: Katie Melua
BOYCIE:
Adrian A:
Bright Eyes is a great song and so is Winter's Tale by Mike Batt. But the million bicycles in Beijing is pretty crap. Don't ask me though, as I think nearly all modern female songwriters are over-rated, especially Adele, Gaga, etc etc.
I agree that both songs are pretty good. To be honest the best female artist of all time is Kate Bush, at least she tries different things and is a bit eccentric and doesn't play safe. Also her vocals are unique, most female artists want to sing like Whitney or Madonna, no originality.
I love some of Kate Bush's songs, but not the later stuff. Wuthering Heights has been analysed to have one of the strangest chord progressions of any pop song. I might sound old fashioned, but most female singers just try to dress like sluts to sell more records nowadays.
-
RE: Katie Melua
BOYCIE:
Adrian A:
Sorry, I just don't like how marketing creates a "product" that is pretty and well packaged but lacks any real depth. To me it's just musical wallpaper. Many of her songs are written for her by Mike Batt - who has produced some very good songs in his time.
Particularly his Womble songs, those tunes just burrow into your brain. They were one of the leading underground groups you know. The Wombles should go pick up Katie Melua and stick her in a bin, she's rubbish. ops:
Bright Eyes is a great song and so is Winter's Tale by Mike Batt. But the million bicycles in Beijing is pretty crap. Don't ask me though, as I think nearly all modern female songwriters are over-rated, especially Adele, Gaga, etc etc.
-
RE: Katie Melua
Sorry, I just don't like how marketing creates a "product" that is pretty and well packaged but lacks any real depth. To me it's just musical wallpaper. Many of her songs are written for her by Mike Batt - who has produced some very good songs in his time.
-
RE: Katie Melua
Bland and lightweight and weak vocals. move aside for real talent, please.
-
RE: "In My Chair" (more jazzy style song)
illwobble:
Adrian A:
Quite a nice little tune there and the guitar part is interesting. A pity you can't add some other instruments - eg. strings to fill out the textures. What recording device did you use? The guitar is very close-miked and a bit of distance or reverb may cover the scratchiness of the tone (at times).
Oh, thanks very much, Adrian! It was recorded on a little Zoom recorder. Yes, I was planning to attempt to put some strings on it at some point (well, a viola part anyway, since my wife plays one), if I can figure out how to do the overdubbing or mixing or such things. All new to me...
I think the next stage for you is to start using a sequencer like Cubase and importing your audio into there. You can do far more editing and polishing with it. The other thing to do is to invest in some good string VST samples like Wix uses which you can use through cubase - you can get a really good sound for your money today. This is what I do. Any tips or advice you need, let me know as I have this all set up for my music.