Do you prefer a singer or a performer?

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my name is joe

25-09-2011

Originally Posted by Randy Gibbons:
“I love the ones with distinctive voices, the ones who you know who it is even when you've never heard the song before. People like;
Michael Stipe, Howlin Wolf, Feargal Sharkey, Elizabeth Frazer, Morrissey, Tracey Thorn, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Tanya Donelly, Elvis Costello, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Neil Young.

They may not always be the best singers but what they do comes from their very soul.

I couldn't give a flying toss about how technically good they are or worse, how well they dance. I'd rather go deaf than spend time listening to some Aretha wannabe trying to crowbar as many notes as she can into whatever pile of garbage she's yodelling.”

yes to this, a great post

rfonzo

25-09-2011

I think both is equally important as Michael Jackson used to embody.

Spacedone

25-09-2011

I prefer a musician.

CEThom

03-10-2011

If they can't sing live and perform at the same time, they're not worth paying money to see.

CEThom

03-10-2011

Originally Posted by rfonzo:
“I think both is equally important as Michael Jackson used to embody.”

Michael Jackson, Prince, James Brown, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson... so on and so forth.

The legendary artists can sing live and perform at the same time. If they can't, don't waste your money.

cm1992

03-10-2011

Originally Posted by CEThom:
“Michael Jackson, Prince, James Brown, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson... so on and so forth.

The legendary artists can sing live and perform at the same time. If they can't, don't waste your money.”

Hate to tell you this, but even Michael Jackson mimed...

konebyvax

03-10-2011

He sure did. A lot.

PS Singer every time for me. If they can't sing live but sound OK in the studio I can't help feel the fans are being duped. Maybe it's just me?

CEThom

03-10-2011

Originally Posted by cm1992:
“Hate to tell you this, but even Michael Jackson mimed...”

Not at his peak. I know he mimed on the later tours, when his heart wasn't in it, but try to track down a Victory Tour or Bad Tour concert. Supreme live vocals throughout.

DEADLY_17

03-10-2011

Performers I cant pay to see someone just sitting on a stool or Standing at mic for over an hour.

I prefer Dancers/Entertainers

To name a few:
Lady Gaga
rihanna
Britney Spears
Madonna

mushymanrob

03-10-2011

Originally Posted by CEThom:
“The legendary artists can sing live and perform at the same time. If they can't, don't waste your money.”

erm... but some styles of music dont require a performance, all they require is a damn good live singer!

take dusty springfield for eg...

sterock85

03-10-2011

Neither.

A musician.

Unigal07

03-10-2011

I'm more into singers. But if they can do both (like Beyonce) then brilliant

wildhoney

03-10-2011

Originally Posted by warszawa:
“for me the performance side of things is just a distraction.the singer should be able to hold an audience regardless.both would be good, but more often than not it's a case of papering over the cracks.”

Hit the nail on the head there for me - it all about a connection for me - i've been to countless gigs and the ones that stick in my mind are the ones where the singer / band manage to cross that gap somehow between the stage and the audience - and not necessarily in a physical sense - though thats happened sometimes too!

While i enjoyed ..say the circus take that tour ..it was a show and everyone sang along and screamed (very loudly!) - it was exactly that .... a show ....you ended up looking at everything going on around rather than having the chance to connect with the lyrics ...which if you actually listen are pretty good.

Then there are other concerts which have left me unable to speak, or singing at the top of my voice or breathless - whatever the singer demanded really - i couldnt even tell you if anything was going on behind the singer, because their ability to completely captivate and pull you in leaves you transfixed on them and you find yourself in the 'moment' with the band..............there are some bands that can do both muse, coldplay, U2 but they are rare. I agree often the reliance on the 'performance' or show is to hide a lacking ability elsewhere

waffling now so ill go

nicmars

03-10-2011

Originally Posted by Unigal07:
“I'm more into singers. But if they can do both (like Beyonce) then brilliant ”

+ Gaga

gelbma0991

04-10-2011

A singer, I can never listen to someone who is just good to watch. I know that probably sounds daft coming from someone who likes a lot of performers, but if they have a good voice - then why not!

It's a good question, but I'm voice first, performance after.

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