MetaFilter posts tagged with vocal

You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile.

1f2frfbf — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:31:36 -0800

The Okeh Laughing Record, a novelty recording, was first released in 1923 and rose to #8 on the Billboard charts, becoming the highest ranking anonymous* recording ever. It's history and provenance is completely unknown**. It has since appeared as the soundtrack to cartoons, on Dr. Demento and on Jean Shepard's radio show. *At least one YouTube poster claims that one of the voices is German comedian Karl Valentin who, strangely enough, generally played the straight man in his routines. **It may have been inspired by a Rudy Vallee outtake of (Drunkard's Song) There is a Taven in the Town where the singer cracks up in the middle of the song.

Perpetuum Jazzile

flex — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 14:24:47 -0800

This cover of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" (video) is performed by Slovenian vocal/a cappella group Perpetuum Jazzile. More performances (these are all videos): *Toto's "Africa" (previously on MeFi but that link is broken) *Van Halen's "Jump" *Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" *Toto's "Rosanna" *Avsenik Medley ("...a jaw-dropping rendition of Slovenia's most renowned traditional folk music ensemble") *Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There"/Ecce quomodo moritur iustus ("A unique combination of the Michael Jackson hit from the early 90's and Slovenian composer Iacobus Gallus Carniolus' renaissance masterpiece.") *Perpetuum Jazzile in a Radenska commercial - "The Power of Water" ("The first TV ad you can see without watching!") Perpetuum Jazzile on Wikipedia. Current YouTube channel and former YouTube channel.

What went wrong during Dave Chappelle’s Austin appearance?

reenum — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:39:01 -0800

Dave Chappelle, still facing pressure from audiences who want him to do bits from "Chappelle's Show", did not amuse an audience in Austin. Which begs the question: Do we expect too much from entertainers?

My Old Man - The Five Spirits of Rhythm 2012 Mayan Apocalypse Father's Day Edition

y2karl — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 11:33:49 -0800

My Old Man - The Spirits of Rhythm Internet Archive mp3s: The Five Spirits of Rhythm YouTube Related: Alabamy Bound: Jackie Green & The Five Spirits of Rhythm See also I Got Rhythm - The Spirits of Rhythm

Rock and roll is here to stay

BoringPostcards — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:07:27 -0800

Alex Chilton (of the band Big Star) died two years ago today. Here's a choir singing Big Star's song "Thirteen."

Let's Get Lost - Chet Baker documentary

y2karl — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:03:00 -0800

Let's Get Lost - Chet Baker documentary by Bruce Weber 120 min
There will never be another you A remembrance of Chet Baker by Bruce Weber
See also chetbakertribute.com I had borrowed a friend's portable record player to check out some 78's I have, and while rummaging through boxes of records, happened across a vinyl album of the soundtrack to this movie. On that, the older, ravaged Baker sings My One and Only Love. Still sublime, after he had gone through by then, he was. It led me to listen to Chet Baker Sings early this morning. Which left me cloud hidden, whereabouts unknown.

A modest title for a piece with modest pretentions

MattMangels — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:51:07 -0800

Got 12 minutes to spare? Then feel free to brush up on the evolution of the last 400 years of Classical music by enjoying this video of Paul Drayton's "Masterpiece".

just some blokes singing some songs

flapjax at midnite — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:08:19 -0800

Here come old flat top, coming down fast, standing by a parking meter, oh what joy, I'll never do you no harm, and you're working for no one but me. These tracks are a lot of fun to listen to, and several of them reveal little bits that are barely audible in the final mixes we're all familiar with. More fun: open all 6 links in separate windows and play simultaneously. And here's an extra treat: the fabulous acapella group Vocal LT, straight outta Cuba, with their delightful version of Nowhere Man. From Here Comes... El Son.

like angels on high

flapjax at midnite — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:09:52 -0800

As undeniably great as the golden age Motown studio musicians were, and as indisputably funky and creative as the arrangements were, you still have to think that maybe it would've been a good idea to release some of The Temptations amazing vocal group artistry in unaccompanied form. Maybe as B-sides or something. Well, that never happened back in the day, as far as I know, but we are extremely fortunate now to be able to hear a capella versions of many of the Tempts biggest hits, in stunningly impressive and thoroughly enjoyable unaccompanied renditions: Runaway Child Running Wild, Just My Imagination, Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Ball of Confusion, Get Ready and Cloud Nine . And folks, there's more a capella from the Tempts and other Motown acts floating around on the Tubes out there, so feel free to link to them in the thread, cause, you know, I Ain't Too Proud To Beg.

Read my lips

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:06:00 -0800

As is well known by now, the opening spectacle of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing featured a young girl's performance of Ode to the Motherland which was later revealed to be a lip-synch. The talented original singer Yang Peiyi was considered not "cute" enough. As is perhaps not so well known, however, the resultant flap resulted in the creation of a strict anti-lip-synch law in China, and now two Chinese pop stars face a $12,000 lip-synching fine. Some Chinese rockers have eagerly supported the creation of the ban on lip-synch, and, interestingly, the practice of lip-synching in Chinese musical entertainment had been under discussion in Chinese government circles since at least 2005.

For me, it was an away game.

idiopath — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:54 -0800

Jaap Blonk, Namesake of the blonkorgan, performer, sound poet. Aaa aaA AAøøøø øøøø øAEE Eeeeii iIIII Iiiiüüü üüüüüüüiee eeooooOU UUUUoo ooooo. previously. previously.

The voices of happiness

bigmusic — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:02:49 -0800

What does happiness sound like? Maybe Anna knows. Charles Spearin explores. Mrs. Morris - Vanessa Two more tracks on the myspace page.

Choir Geeks Rejoice!

chara — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:12:18 -0800

Since these posts seemed to bring back happy memories/warm fuzzies for so many former/current choir kids, here is Hear the Choirs Sing, a massive collection of contemporary and sacred choral works from all around the world. And, if while singing along, you realize you've forgotten your part, check Choral Wiki for links to sheet music.

The intoxicatingly beautiful vocal music of south India

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 07:39:35 -0800

Queens of Carnatic singing: Nithyasree Mahadevan: 1, 2 and 3. Sudha Ragunathan: 1, 2, 3 and 4. And the legend of the legends, M.S. Subbulakshmi, in her film appearances from decades past: 1, 2 and 3, and as an elder stateswoman of Carnatic vocal artistry: 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The man can definitely eef.

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 05:16:04 -0800

Before you do anything else, just listen to this. That's eefing, a 100-plus-year-old vocal technique from rural Tennessee that's, well, the original hillbilly beatboxing. The undisputed master of the art was Jimmie Riddle. His unique skill landed him re cording* and TV (youtube) work. Want more weird sounds from the deep south? Try Hollerin & Whoopin and Ringing the Pig. *[warning: on the "Little Eefin Annie" page, avoid the "click here to hear Rolf Harris Eeefin'!" link: it's a pesky popup.

Il massacro di Brandeburgo N° 3 in sol maggiore

kenko — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 08:48:45 -0800

Demetrio Stratos's 1978 solo album of experiments in vocal technique Cantare la Voce in RA format. "Settembre Nero" [mp3], by A r e a, which he fronted. Some links in Italian.