VAL'S VOICE (weekly blog)
Another Direction?
Is it me or is the idea getting old?
Singing competitions on TV… American Idol, The Voice, America’s Got Talent… Voices going head to head in vocal battles; cover competitions with back stories and personal baggage… Okay, so it’s tempting to listen in. You’re channel surfing and come across a live audition. You’ll just listen to this one song. But then you have to hear who the singer’s up against, so you listen to one more… Grabbing a bag of chips and gravitating toward your favorite arm chair you listen, analyze and evaluate. It’s sucked you in and now you’re a judge. You pick your winner and explain (to other family members) why he’s the one, how lucky he is. And therein lies the problem.
The talent hasn’t changed. The format hasn’t changed. The rules haven’t changed. But the outcome has changed. In earlier years, the winner of these competitions actually went somewhere. Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson. Their post-show ride was fun to follow, magic at its best, the dream come true.
Since then, the winners… well, they don’t seem to go anywhere, really. Why not? Continue reading …
THIS WEEK'S PLAYLIST: THE LIST
(Give a Quick Listen Here:)
To listen: press the play arrow. Songs will rotate automatically in 30 second clips. Previews courtesy of iTunes.
MUSIC MATCH: (see Val's weekly feature in NYT)
Each week, Val Haller, the founder of the music Web site Valslist.com, matches music from her baby boom generation to music of her 20-something sons’ generation.
If You Like Fleetwood Mac, Try the Kopecky Family Band
FEATURED ARTIST: (who Val's listening to)
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The Shadowboxers
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Fresh out of Atlanta, The Shadowboxers landed quite the gig in 2012 – opening as well as playing back up for the Indigo Girls as they toured the East Coast. After hitting the road, they hit the studio. This past January marked the release of their debut album, “Red Room,” complete with strong vocals supported with undertones of alternative rock.
FEATURED ALBUM: (pick of the week)
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Random Access Memoriesby DAFT PUNK
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CHICAGO CONCERTS: (for a great night out)
RECENT PLAYLISTS:
MEET VAL
- Song: Youth by Locksley
- Location: Lincoln Hall, Chicago
- Production: Golden Fleece Media
