Posted by jakdedert on 12/06/06 18:38

Mike Rivers wrote:
> jakdedert wrote:
>
>> I think it's because there are those people who can get it right, nearly
>> every time.
>
> But that means that sometimes they get it wrong. And sometimes it just
> comes out wrong through no fault of the artist. Those of us in the know
> can recognize and understand this, sometimes forgive the artist, and
> often blame the technology. But for those not in the now, it represents
> a disappointment. You might want a refund because the artist wasn't
> actually singing. Someone else might demand a refund because she was
> singing badly, or that her mic was cutting out.
>
That's why there are pro's...on both sides of the mic.

That said, I recognize that every performance is not going to be one of
'those' moments. That's part of the allure of seeing live--truly
live--music. It's the real thing.

> If you're going to attend a performance, you need to accept that there
> are no retakes.
>
No problem there....

>> Sometimes, they get it even more than just 'right'. Some
>> performances are a transcendent, shining, once in a lifetime event.
>
> . . . which will probably be released on DVD next year. But the
> chances of that happening with some performers is pretty slim. And with
> others, it always occurs (if you like that sort of thing).
>
That's the music biz.

>> It's dishonest pretending to be one of those people.
>
> Well, I don't expect Christina Aguilera to do a show like U. Utah
> Phillips (and vice versa, even though he does carefully hone his jokes
> and mid-song patter). Yet, when I was serving as the archivist for the
> Folklore Society of Greater Washington (we used to record all of our
> concerts) I'd get a flood of requests for copies of Utah's concerts,
> not for the songs (which were always better on the recordings) but for
> what he said in between the songs. But it was always better if you were
> there.
>
Not familiar with Phillips...have to research. Aguilera, OTOH has an
exceptional set of pipes, if she'd get them under control. Either her
handlers--or lack of good advice (or unwillingness to follow it--have
IMO hamstrung her career as a serious artist.

jak

>

[Back to original message]