As much as I adore HL, I cannot enjoy his music. Maybe I've spent too much time listening to "the real thing" and more authentic modern interpretations. I can't shake how derivative and repressed he sounds, and his singing voice is not pleasant enough (or really, emotional enough) for me to believe what he sings. In short, love the actor, love the musician, but no amount of production makes me think of these as anything but large-scale vanity projects.
I agree with you about Unchain My Heart. Also, One For My Baby will always belong to Sinatra (his Only The Lonely album is great suicidal depression fodder) and to Fred Astaire, who first sang it in an otherwise forgettable musical during WW11.
Hi , Vicpei :) I had thought of commenting on your interesting account of HL's performance last year and agreeing by the way, with the opinion that here is a man thoroughly in command of himself and his audience. However, this latest entry of yours sprung up before I responded and it's a way of looking at the order and selection of tracks that hadn't occurred to me at all but is quite convincing! You are right that HL does not have a real Blues voice; he's naturally a light baritone I'd have said but it's still a long way from "Forty-seven Ginger Headed Sailors", isn't it?! When I saw him in London last year the live performance was much more 'raw' and full throated, better than I had even hoped. My long- suffering husband was completely won over and we are off to see him again next month. No doubt you are too.
Hi,happy to hear from you again! :) I am glad you find this convincing. I like to rethink things, and who knows what is in this man's head, as evidenced by the portraits at the different concerts? My man came with me to one of the three concerts I have attended so far. He was a bit sick, and as much as he found it much better than he thought it would be, he did not really like the music. So this summer I'm on my own again. I'm happy that you, too, found the live performance much more heartfelt than the recordings. How is it that they couldn't capture his real voice?
The recordings are more polished than a live performances of course . Perhaps he needs the adrenalin boost of audience appreciation to cast off the last vestiges of English reserve and go for it. I really like the new CD, though I have some doubts about how well "Kiss of Fire" works . I think the title track is absolutely stunning and still think so after looking again at Rosetta Tharpe's version . "Stagger Lee " is possibly my favourite. Whatever the verdict on HL's "authenticity" by long time blues fans, he is being successful in doing what he said he wanted to do- bring this music (back from the verge of extinction in some cases) to a wider audience. I'm sure there are are more hits on YouTube for these past greats as a result. He is evidently having a great time doing this. Good luck to him!
I have to agree with the others - Hugh really does not have the 'right' voice for these songs. His singing voice has 'issues' anyway, but in a way, that almost makes me enjoy it more. Because....this man is so insanely talented in so many ways, large and small, from his acting and writing and musicianship right down to athletics and juggling or magic tricks. His voice is one thing that is *not* crazy-talented - just average - but because of that, it engenders a warm affection in me
( ... )
Warm affection may be the right term.Or "Darling" as you qualified the las pic we saw. The fact that he is aware of the imperfections and wrote a perfectly brilliant self deprecating intro to Let ThemTalk last year adds to the love.
Comments 7
I agree with you about Unchain My Heart. Also, One For My Baby will always belong to Sinatra (his Only The Lonely album is great suicidal depression fodder) and to Fred Astaire, who first sang it in an otherwise forgettable musical during WW11.
Reply
Reply
You are right that HL does not have a real Blues voice; he's naturally a light baritone I'd have said but it's still a long way from "Forty-seven Ginger Headed Sailors", isn't it?!
When I saw him in London last year the live performance was much more 'raw' and full throated, better than I had even hoped. My long- suffering husband was completely won over and we are off to see him again next month. No doubt you are too.
Reply
My man came with me to one of the three concerts I have attended so far. He was a bit sick, and as much as he found it much better than he thought it would be, he did not really like the music. So this summer I'm on my own again.
I'm happy that you, too, found the live performance much more heartfelt than the recordings. How is it that they couldn't capture his real voice?
Reply
I really like the new CD, though I have some doubts about how well "Kiss of Fire" works . I think the title track is absolutely stunning and still think so after looking again at Rosetta Tharpe's version . "Stagger Lee " is possibly my favourite.
Whatever the verdict on HL's "authenticity" by long time blues fans, he is being successful in doing what he said he wanted to do- bring this music (back from the verge of extinction in some cases) to a wider audience. I'm sure there are are more hits on YouTube for these past greats as a result. He is evidently having a great time doing this. Good luck to him!
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment