The Music Box

[Horsa]

For me, the definitive “Mack the Knife”

This is the version I'm most familiar with.



Thank you very much for sharing your favourite version. I think she's very good & she definitely obeys 1 of the golden rules of being on stage. Don't just stand there doing &/ saying/singing nothing. If you forget your words or where you should be, improvise.

 

[Horsa]

Bringing things up-to-date a bit.

 

[Federberg]

 

[Horsa]

 

[Horsa]

After my foray into the archives I've decided to think of others. (I've decided what songs I'm going to have in my 1940's sing-song & I'm typing up the hand-outs & doing vocal preparation work. I'm looking forward to conducting the 1940's sing-song now.) I recall some people saying they were Carpenters fans & I'm sure I recall quite a few people saying they were Queen fans.



















If I remember rightly Murat said he liked Shania Twain.





I'm sure I remember Mrzz saying he liked Genesis



If I'm not very much mistaken tented said his favourite singer is Bob Dylan. I won't share his favourite Moody Blues song as I only shared it last week. (I'm a Moody Blues fan though as they're all multi-talented musically. They can sing all different styles, write songs & play many different instruments. I don't like all their songs but they have songs to suit everyone.) I'm sure I recall him saying he liked this 1 too.








Double Bagel likes Meatloaf but I'll try my best not to share songs I shared last week.

 

[Horsa]

This is the 1st song I ever sung in a singing competition. It came out when I was 5.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

This is the version I'm most familiar with.



Thank you very much for sharing your favourite version. I think she's very good & she definitely obeys 1 of the golden rules of being on stage. Don't just stand there doing &/ saying/singing nothing. If you forget your words or where you should be, improvise.

Bobby Darin's version is technically impeccable, but there is one aspect missing from it: improvisation. If you think improvisation there is no better version than the first English interpretation by Louis Armstrong. And I love Armstrong for his treatment of trumpet: sweet, sentimental and humorous playing, backed by equally interesting singing with his unique voice. You could not find any better personality to unite racially divided America at that time.
I think this is one of his first performances of the song in question

You probably hear it but let me point out those extra notes, in the trumpet intro, then all those "funny" notes "thrown in" during singing. Gorgeous. What Louis did with this song, is pretty much the same Miles Davis has done with Mercer's Autumn Leaves. You remember Autumn Leaves right? Yes, Mercer's original is nice but have you heard Davis' version? This is just a masterpiece. Cool jazz at its best.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Since you're in a B/W mood what about these?

Thanks for these. Apart from Mack the Knife (the all-time classic, goldmine of artistic inspirations) I also enjoyed the Four Leaf Clover, a nice mix between Dixieland & swing.

 

[Horsa]

Bobby Darin's version is technically impeccable, but there is one aspect missing from it: improvisation. If you think improvisation there is no better version than the first English interpretation by Louis Armstrong. And I love Armstrong for his treatment of trumpet: sweet, sentimental and humorous playing, backed by equally interesting singing with his unique voice. You could not find any better personality to unite racially divided America at that time.
I think this is one of his first performances of the song in question

You probably hear it but let me point out those extra notes, in the trumpet intro, then all those "funny" notes "thrown in" during singing. Gorgeous. What Louis did with this song, is pretty much the same Miles Davis has done with Mercer's Autumn Leaves. You remember Autumn Leaves right? Yes, Mercer's original is nice but have you heard Davis' version? This is just a masterpiece. Cool jazz at its best.

I noticed & I love Louis Armstrong too but my favourite of his has to be this 1



I remember Autumn leaves but haven't heard the version you mentioned. I will check it out. Thank you very much.

 

[Horsa]

Thanks for these. Apart from Mack the Knife (the all-time classic, goldmine of artistic inspirations) I also enjoyed the Four Leaf Clover, a nice mix between Dixieland & swing.

You're welcome. I'm glad you liked a couple of them. I remember singing "I'm looking over a 4 leaf clover I've over-looked before" at Sunday morning sing-songs as a little girl.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

For me, the definitive “Mack the Knife”

No question about Ella's mastery as jazz vocalist. But this time, apart from clever lyrical improvisation, does she do anything with the melody? Does she do any scat singing tricks Louis is very famous for? Not really. She should have done something more fun, the opportunity was just begging, yet she chose not to. She just praised Louis but did not want to imitate him. Maybe she wanted to be "politically correct"? Dunno.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

I remember Autumn leaves but haven't heard the version you mentioned. I will check it out. Thank you very much.

Read this blog in addition to listening to Davis' Autumn Leaves (embedded therein):
https://anthonyviscounte.com/blog/blog/jazz-transcription-autumn-leaves

 

[Horsa]

Read this blog in addition to listening to Davis' Autumn Leaves (embedded therein):
https://anthonyviscounte.com/blog/blog/jazz-transcription-autumn-leaves

O.K. Chris. I will do. Thank you very much.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

If I remember rightly Murat said he liked Shania Twain.



I'm sure I remember Mrzz saying he liked Genesis

Thanks for catering for our tastes. I hope all of us appreciate this collection. I do.
But I want to play a little devil's advocate and throw in some quick critique about the pieces I left out in my quote above . I wonder what people who like the affected pieces say in response.
I noticed this Shania piece sounds like a shameful plagiarism of zz-top. I'm talking about the guitar riff of the entire verse. How did she get away with such plagiarism? Admittedly, the chorus is original and interesting, but that does not change the fact half of the song is plagiarised.
Genesis piece sounds "too soft" even to my taste. I assume it might also be to mrzz taste. I prefer their stronger, more metallic pieces, like Mama, or Home by The Sea.

 

[Horsa]

Thanks for catering for our tastes. I hope all of us appreciate this collection. I do.
But I want to play a little devil's advocate and throw in some quick critique about the pieces I left out in my quote above . I wonder what people who like the affected pieces say in response.
I noticed this Shania piece sounds like a shameful plagiarism of zz-top. I'm talking about the guitar riff of the entire verse. How did she get away with such plagiarism? Admittedly, the chorus is original and interesting, but that does not change the fact half of the song is plagiarised.
Genesis piece sounds "too soft" even to my taste. I assume it might also be to mrzz taste. I prefer their stronger, more metallic pieces, like Mama, or Home by The Sea.

You're welcome.

I don't know. I heard of Z.Z. top but haven't listened to their music.

Damn! You've caught me out here. Go for the group the other person likes & I also like but choose their sweeter song hoping that this means that it's something both of us like. For example, I like Meatloaf but I don't like his weirder songs. If someone says they like Meatloaf I wouldn't share Bat out of hell but I'd do anything for love or 2 out of 3 ain't bad or you took the words right out of my mouth. I like the Osmonds but not Crazy horses. If someone said they liked the Osmonds I would share anything except Crazy horses. I like the Moody Blues but don't like their weirder songs so if someone said they liked the Moody Blues I'd share Nights in White Satin, Question or another of their softer songs rather than 1 of their weirder songs. I'm trying to find the balance between both but I've got good intentions.( I also thought that as I've got an eclectic taste in music I thought I was forced to like something other people like. I mean I like soul, Motown, country, folk, some blues, jazz & classical & some rock & pop.) I'm doing it to be nice & get on with people not to be manipulative. Music that's too loud can also damage people's eardrums so listening to softer music doesn't do as much damage so I'm actually thinking about people by being nice to their eardrums. Oh dear! I'm in trouble. You won't stand for me acting daft.

 

[Horsa]

You'd prefer this 1 then:-



or this?

 

[Chris Koziarz]

You're welcome.

I don't know. I heard of Z.Z. top but haven't listened to their music.

Damn! You've caught me out here. Go for the group the other person likes & I also like but choose their sweeter song hoping that this means that it's something both of us like. For example, I like Meatloaf but I don't like his weirder songs. If someone says they like Meatloaf I wouldn't share Bat out of hell but I'd do anything for love or 2 out of 3 ain't bad or you took the words right out of my mouth. I like the Osmonds but not Crazy horses. If someone said they liked the Osmonds I would share anything except Crazy horses. I like the Moody Blues but don't like their weirder songs so if someone said they liked the Moody Blues I'd share Nights in White Satin, Question or another of their softer songs rather than 1 of their weirder songs. I'm trying to find the balance between both but I've got good intentions.( I also thought that as I've got an eclectic taste in music I thought I was forced to like something other people like. I mean I like soul, Motown, country, folk, some blues, jazz & classical & some rock & pop.) I'm doing it to be nice & get on with people not to be manipulative. Music that's too loud can also damage people's eardrums so listening to softer music doesn't do as much damage so I'm actually thinking about people by being nice to their eardrums. Oh dear! I'm in trouble. You won't stand for me acting daft.

If you haven't heard ZZ Top yet, here is La Grange (from 1973) probably their biggest hit:

Just listen to the Billy Gibbons' guitar intro.
Isn't the sound of the guitar in Shania's "I feel like a Woman" the same? While Billy Gibbons' riff ends in double modulation of Boogie Blues style, the riff on Shania's hit ends in single modulation only, the typical blues style. That's the only difference, otherwise the riffs are the same. Do others agree on it?
As for the sound of Genesis, should it be "sweet" or "metallic" depends on one's taste. It turns out my taste is different to yours (I prefer "metallic") and that's fine, we just acknowledge our tastes are different. We cannot say that one choice is "better" than the other. We can only say that it's more popular (based on e.g. number of views), or we can justify why we like/dislike certain pieces (e.g. as you said the music cannot appear "too loud" for you) but we cannot say that our choice is "better" than the choice of others.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

You'd prefer this 1 then:-



or this?

Oh, definitely Meatloaf piece is my preference over Spandau Ballet piece, and by far. Starting from the more interesting sound and emotional rendition. Ending on more interesting form of music, including key change mid through the chorus. A more fulfilling experience to my ears.

 

[Horsa]

Oh, definitely Meatloaf piece is my preference over Spandau Ballet piece, and by far. Starting from the more interesting sound and emotional rendition. Ending on more interesting form of music, including key change mid through the chorus. A more fulfilling experience to my ears.

I prefer Meatloaf's "I would do anything for love", "2 out of 3 ain't bad" & "You took the words right out of my mouth" though. Do you like this Meatloaf song?

 

[Horsa]

If you haven't heard ZZ Top yet, here is La Grange (from 1973) probably their biggest hit:

Just listen to the Billy Gibbons' guitar intro.
Isn't the sound of the guitar in Shania's "I feel like a Woman" the same? While Billy Gibbons' riff ends in double modulation of Boogie Blues style, the riff on Shania's hit ends in single modulation only, the typical blues style. That's the only difference, otherwise the riffs are the same. Do others agree on it?
As for the sound of Genesis, should it be "sweet" or "metallic" depends on one's taste. It turns out my taste is different to yours (I prefer "metallic") and that's fine, we just acknowledge our tastes are different. We cannot say that one choice is "better" than the other. We can only say that it's more popular (based on e.g. numIr of views), or we can justify why we like/dislike certain pieces (e.g. as you said the music cannot appear "too loud" for you) but we cannot say that our choice is "better" than the choice of others.

O.K. Thank you very much. I disagree. I listened to the song & thought "What on earth am I listening to? Do they actually know how to sing properly?" The redeeming feature on here for me was actually the drums. I prefer Shania Twain 100 times over.

I don't mind some metallic sounds as long as it's not too loud. I know. I get your point & agree with it. I try to appreciate all types of music but I've got very sensitive hearing which means I can't really listen to music that's too loud (unless I've had 1 too many to drink & then any music sounds o.k. even pleasant). I forgot to mention when telling you what type of music I liked that I like Reggae.