Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:27 am  

McLaren_Field wrote:

I used that argument time and again when I was a know-nothing teenager arguing with my dad about who's records to play on our one record player in the house (oh how times have changed!), my trump card was always "Well at least Rod Stewart writes his own material, Sinatra doesn't", I cringe when I think of that now

Sticking with that comparison though its very noticable now how Mr Stewart rarely strays outside of his now one octave range when picking suitable songs, and listening to a Sinatra album (yes, my fathers music choice did influence me) last night which was recorded live at Carnegie Hall when he was in his 70s, it was also true of Sinatra that his range was very limited at that time, almost limited to talking through most songs, its very sad to hear and you wonder why he felt the need to continue performing to a live audience.

I would think because of the sheer addictive quality of performing – in part, at least.

When I saw Ella Fitzgerald at the Albert Hall she was years past her best and, as such, stayed well clear of the 'songbook' stuff, trying some far newer songs that didn't demand the same range. But at least I've seen her.

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:56 pm  

Mintball wrote:

On the idea that singing someone else's compositions makes you somehow less 'legitimate' (if you will) as an artist, it's a ridiculous argument. It would leave us decrying the likes of Sinatra or Martin. While Nina Simone (mentioned earlier) has written much of her own material (and what a voice), Ella Fitzgerald – possibly the greatest female crooner of all time – didn't. It doesn't mean she wasn't an absolute star of the highest order.

He's not everyone's cup of tea, but in terms of overall success as an artist you'd have to go a pretty long way to beat Elvis. I think the only thing he ever wrote (co-wrote) was Love Me Tender, wasn't it?

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:09 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

He's not everyone's cup of tea, but in terms of overall success as an artist you'd have to go a pretty long way to beat Elvis. I think the only thing he ever wrote (co-wrote) was Love Me Tender, wasn't it?

I've never been a fan, but I certainly wouldn't pretend he wasn't important etc.

I was going to add Edith Piaf – and she did write some of her own songs.

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:09 pm  

Mintball wrote:

Carey makes me squirm every time I see or hear her.

Her early stuff was absolutely outstanding (Hero/Without You etc). She was probably the best 'pop' singer in terms of vocal ability there has been in years. But then she mysteriously went into the phase where she suddenly became obsessed with black music and started to half rap/half high-pitched-whine her way through her material.

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:19 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

Is she dead? You'd have thought they would have mentioned it on the BBC News channel.

The Scum have got their knives sharpened already - "dies in bath" (confirmed this morning by the coroner) "after 48 hour binge" (not confirmed by anyone)

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:23 pm  

A lot of being made of how 'brilliant' Whitney Houston's voice is, sorry, was. Personally all I heard on her songs was a lot of shouting. Christ, she was noisy.

Taste aside, it's a tragedy when someone dies aged just 48, and despite her long history of abusing substances, the news was still shocking.

I was going to say that it's a relief she won't be releasing any new albums, but her record company will no doubt be looking for a way to release a re-hash of her greatest hits and a special directors cut version of that film she was in. Performers like her tend to make more money dead than alive.

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:24 pm  

Chris28 wrote:

The Scum have got their knives sharpened already - "dies in bath" (confirmed this morning by the coroner) "after 48 hour binge" (not confirmed by anyone)

Sounds about right. I bet they were pisssing themselves with excitement when they heard she was dead.

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:27 pm  

Rock God X wrote:

Sounds about right. I bet they were pisssing themselves with excitement when they heard she was dead.

Sources close to the lovable Wapping sweetheart confirmed that a lorry load of socks were delivered there yesterday afternoon

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:40 pm  

Music and fame aside looking at the purely on the basis she's a human being i think it was sad that she had so many fans and entourage types and yet thought she was so alone and no one seemed to have her back or help her through her problems.

I know addiction and depression are things you have to get through yourself but you really need love and support to do that, if only the media had an ounce of decency and let her memory and those close to her just be.

Re: RIP Whitney Houston : Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:05 pm  

Horatio Yed wrote:

Music and fame aside looking at the purely on the basis she's a human being i think it was sad that she had so many fans and entourage types and yet thought she was so alone and no one seemed to have her back or help her through her problems.

I know addiction and depression are things you have to get through yourself but you really need love and support to do that, if only the media had an ounce of decency and let her memory and those close to her just be.

I'd agree on most of that.

I think that there is legitimacy in reporting her problems in this context – how it's done is an entirely different matter.

On the basis of what I've read, I think I might be the only person in Christendom who doesn't have any tracks by her.