yippie
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He's on FIRE!
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Post by yippie on May 16, 2011 22:00:23 GMT -5
Ooo, interesting challenge. I'll get to work on it. BBL Don't know if you are still around, but here is my attempt. It is a bit longer than a "little blurb" but will it help? What is it about Adam Lambert’s voice that makes it so special? It’s many things, some tangible and some ethereal. The first thing many comment on is his range. Recordings of his voice have him singing as low as a Bb2 or a C3 (the C below middle C) and as high as A5 (close to two octaves above middle C), in full head voice, not falsetto. There are even a couple of brushes with a Bb5. Most singers are happy with a two octave range, and Lambert routinely exceeds that in performance. But range is nothing without tone or timbre. Lambert has a pure, crystal, ringing tone to his voice throughout his range. His voice abounds with harmonics that enhance the richness of the tone. (Some even think we unconsciously respond to these harmonics resonating in our own bodies. His voice ‘feels’ good.) At will, he can darken or lighten the tone, warm it with vibrato or pierce it with a straight sound. He can seamlessly blend his tone up and down his entire range so that one cannot detect where he shifts from chest, to mixed, to head register. He can make his voice sound light and lilting, floating on the notes, or powerful and dramatic using both his head and chest register way into his upper range. People say that he belts or screams, but that is inaccurate. There is no strain, no push, no sound of effort when he wails a high note. The power comes from his use of the natural full resonance of his body and his excellent breath support in a most relaxed manner. Another notable thing about Lambert is his ability to sing multiple styles or genres convincingly. Coming from a musical theater background, he can sing in the “legitimate” style of a Broadway star. Because of his years of serious vocal training, he can sing in a convincing operatic style as well. Few classically trained singers can shift their style to sound convincing doing pop, blues or hard rock, but Lambert assails each of these styles like a natural. Gone are the formal tones of opera, and present is the slightly gruff, raw grit of a rock singer. And he can do jazz riffs with the best of them. Underlying this ability is the physiology he was born with --- the physiology of a great singer. Just like a beautifully crafted cello has a rich, full-bodied, honeyed resonance, so does his body. But, it is his years of training, practice and study that allow him to make the most of his instrument. To know how to shape it, how to support it, how to bend notes, elongate phrases, articulate words, add crescendos and diminuendos, and craft the song into one that touches us emotionally. Just like the cello sounds best when played by a technically accomplished musician who has great interpretation abilities. That’s what is so remarkable about Adam Lambert’s voice. As to his ability as a performer and entertainer, we’ll save that for another day. Very cool!! Thank you!! |
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Post by quietlion on May 16, 2011 22:08:58 GMT -5
Adam #2 : The Permanence of Change
 Late to the thread as usual...please forgive me for jumping to the end. I had to comment on Animated's talented contest entries. I really enjoy her work. In the interest if fairness, I think Animated should illustrate all the finalists. (Yes, I know, entitlement is not sexy.) However, if she should choose to illustrate my #3 entry of "Just Boots", I look forward to Adam in boots, just boots and NOTHING but the boots. |
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Post by seoulmate on May 16, 2011 22:10:10 GMT -5
What is it about Adam Lambert’s voice that makes it so special? It’s many things, some tangible and some ethereal. The first thing many comment on is his range. Recordings of his voice have him singing as low as a Bb2 or a C3 (the C below middle C) and as high as A5 (close to two octaves above middle C), in full head voice, not falsetto. There are even a couple of brushes with a Bb5. Most singers are happy with a two octave range, and Lambert routinely exceeds that in performance. But range is nothing without tone or timbre. Lambert has a pure, crystal, ringing tone to his voice throughout his range. His voice abounds with harmonics that enhance the richness of the tone. (Some even think we unconsciously respond to these harmonics resonating in our own bodies. His voice ‘feels’ good.) At will, he can darken or lighten the tone, warm it with vibrato or pierce it with a straight sound. He can seamlessly blend his tone up and down his entire range so that one cannot detect where he shifts from chest, to mixed, to head register. He can make his voice sound light and lilting, floating on the notes, or powerful and dramatic using both his head and chest register way into his upper range. People say that he belts or screams, but that is inaccurate. There is no strain, no push, no sound of effort when he wails a high note. The power comes from his use of the natural full resonance of his body and his excellent breath support in a most relaxed manner. Another notable thing about Lambert is his ability to sing multiple styles or genres convincingly. Coming from a musical theater background, he can sing in the “legitimate” style of a Broadway star. Because of his years of serious vocal training, he can sing in a convincing operatic style as well. Few classically trained singers can shift their style to sound convincing doing pop, blues or hard rock, but Lambert assails each of these styles like a natural. Gone are the formal tones of opera, and present is the slightly gruff, raw grit of a rock singer. And he can do jazz riffs with the best of them. Underlying this ability is the physiology he was born with --- the physiology of a great singer. Just like a beautifully crafted cello has a rich, full-bodied, honeyed resonance, so does his body. But, it is his years of training, practice and study that allow him to make the most of his instrument. To know how to shape it, how to support it, how to bend notes, elongate phrases, articulate words, add crescendos and diminuendos, and craft the song into one that touches us emotionally. Just like the cello sounds best when played by a technically accomplished musician who has great interpretation abilities. That’s what is so remarkable about Adam Lambert’s voice. As to his ability as a performer and entertainer, we’ll save that for another day.  |
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yippie
Member
He's on FIRE!
Posts: 778
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Post by yippie on May 16, 2011 22:12:17 GMT -5
Completely OT. There was a hummingbird in my house. I couldn't figure out why the cats were going crazy. I managed to PICK IT UP off of the top of the kitchen cupboard and let it go outside.
HOW did it get in? It's been raining all day. The doors haven't been open.
God, it's heart was pounding. I can't believe it held still for me to grab.
I am stunned.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2011 22:17:16 GMT -5
Nah, I live in Oregon..LOL  Then a haystack or a rosebush, perhaps? We ARE pretty organic here, just like Adam #2!!!!  |
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Post by VoiceFan53 on May 16, 2011 22:25:53 GMT -5
My suggested title for Adam #2: No Regrets
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Post by midwifespal on May 16, 2011 22:36:13 GMT -5
Sorry if we've already seen this, but just in case it's new, I just came across this very cool Adam mention. It's a really really long very interesting interview of Dan Savage by Joshua Kors in the Huffington Post about the It Gets Better campaign, and it includes this brief mention of Adam's video: Savage: The problem comes when straight people have limited interactions with gay people, so when they see gay people, their minds immediately leap to anal sex. When straight people see each other, they don't think of the other person's sex acts. ... Anyway, that "ick factor" and the anti-gay bigotry with it is fading the more straight people and gay people interact. I know when my neighbors think about gay people, their minds leap to barbecuing and block parties because that's what we do.
Kors: That's excellent. You know, Adam Lambert's video addresses this issue. He talks about articles written about him on the Internet and how the reader comments section always overflows with discussions about how he's a "faggot," a homo, gay, gay, gay—when, as he says, there's so much more to him than his sexual orientation. His message to gay kids is: Don't let bullies narrow you down so that you see yourself as solely "gay."
Savage: Exactly. Exactly. www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-kors/dan-savage-interview_b_859172.html |
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NoAngel
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Take a bow, Adam Lambert, you fucking legend.
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Post by NoAngel on May 16, 2011 22:39:28 GMT -5
Not really caught up, but wanted to say how much I loved Cassie's post about Adam's voice! UNNNNNFFFFFFF to both the voice and the writing about the voice.... Vivlite, I LOL'd at your album title ideas. Clevah! You put it in the "humorous" group, but I think Damage Control would be a great title, actually :D As for the Durbin interview, rolling my eyes. Aside from just really not "getting" his appeal, and finding his voice pretty average, I feel bad for the guy. He seems like someone who has been given way too much praise in his life, and has never learned to take constructive criticism. He's in for a hard lesson, I'm afraid, in the real world. I can't believe Adam gets so much shit for having an honest opinion. Like, really? "I'm over him" is that bad? Seems like a pretty innocuous comment. TBH I get sort of tired of Adam being expected to cross his hands, smile sweetly, and say only nice things for fear of losing some fans. Eh, I'd rather have him be real. And anyway, it's not like what I think matters cuz he's gonna do what he wants, lol. Okay, back to see what else I missed  |
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Post by SusieFierce on May 16, 2011 22:40:28 GMT -5
What a fun thread!! The Miradam stuff was hysterical. Loved that unca Dave letter OMG!! I've read it before, but it struck me as even funnier now. ~The vapid vapids  Cassie, LOVED all your posts as always and I totally agree re: James. Antimated, your mockups and titles are fantastic. Vivlite, Saulitary (I vote for spelling with an A) Confinement was inspired! Loved a lot of those. Here is the latest work from Jolson12Miggles; she's only 19, I think and amazing. Does her art all in colored pencil. It's not done yet, just an update. I can't embed for some reason. When I try to upload to Photobucket, it gets midway through, then fails. I tried several times. :-/ twitpic.com/4yp00g |
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Post by seoulmate on May 16, 2011 22:42:16 GMT -5
Completely OT. There was a hummingbird in my house. I couldn't figure out why the cats were going crazy. I managed to PICK IT UP off of the top of the kitchen cupboard and let it go outside. HOW did it get in? It's been raining all day. The doors haven't been open. God, it's heart was pounding. I can't believe it held still for me to grab. I am stunned. OMG!  You actually picked up a hummingbird??!!! Wow! That's all ~mystical or something... |
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