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Joanna Newsom and her incredibly annoying voice


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Old 03-11-2015, 23:37
Veri
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For years, I've been reading reviews of her music. They were positive, sometimes extremely positive. It seemed what she did was unusual too. Harp. Medieval. I might like that. Unusual voice. Sure, why not? I was intrigued, but I'm not sure I'd ever heard any of her songs. So when I noticed she was on Later with Jools Holland last night, I was keen to watch.



I mean

Why on earth is she singing like that? It was like a very annoying version of Kate Bush or Elizabeth Fraser.

There isn't a video of that performance yet on Youtube, but here's an earlier example:

Joanna Newsom - The Book of Right-ON (Jools Holland)

I'm starting to wonder whether a lot of her popularity might be down to the opportunity she gives to feel superior to the poor, benighted people who don't "get it" and whose musical taste is too unsophisticated to appreciate her supposed wonderfulness.

Still, it's not always so extreme. For example, here she is sounding very like early Kate Bush:

Joanna Newsom - Soft as Chalk - Live at Les Bouffes du Nord (Paris 15-01-2011)

I could like that.
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Old 04-11-2015, 16:41
Paul Wilson
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I must admit I really, really liked Ys which is admittedly an acquired taste. I'm not sure that matters. I have never - ever - seen the UK music charts in as dismal a state as they are now. The recent BBC4 documentary Music For Misfits shows that we used to celebrate weirdness in this country. And that often made for some wonderful music. It still can....
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Old 04-11-2015, 21:33
crazymonk
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Well I like it, she's refreshing. I love that track on first listen too.
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Old 04-11-2015, 21:41
crazymonk
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I'm starting to wonder whether a lot of her popularity might be down to the opportunity she gives to feel superior to the poor, benighted people who don't "get it" and whose musical taste is too unsophisticated to appreciate her supposed wonderfulness.
Oh please this opinion is so old and silly.

She just likes to use her voice in a different way, so what?
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Old 05-11-2015, 08:41
my name is joe
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her voice is okay, it's different at least. YS was good but was also one of those albums that made you think you didn't need a second by the same artist. Her songs can be a bit shapeless and the harp can seriously piss you off after a while, but she's ploughing her own furrow and you can't knock that
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Old 07-11-2015, 10:35
Blah123
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I adore Joanna Newsom. Have one on me is my favourite album of all time.

Yes her voice is unusual but definitely for myself. I LOVE HER
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Old 07-11-2015, 11:29
shaddler
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She's very talented but her self-consciously quirky vocal affectation grates on me so much I can't listen to her music. Kate Bush did it better, but even then she didn't sing like that all the time.
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Old 08-11-2015, 11:42
nathanbrazil
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Kate Bush did it better, but even then she didn't sing like that all the time.
Also, as Kate Bush matured her voice got so much richer and was better for it. Newsome is just squeaky and irritating.
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Old 08-11-2015, 15:55
Smudged
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She's very talented but her self-consciously quirky vocal affectation grates on me so much I can't listen to her music. Kate Bush did it better, but even then she didn't sing like that all the time.
Why do you think it's self-conscious? Joanna Newsom's voice is certainly not for everyone but I've always thought that it's her natural expression. She just has an unusual voice, partly because she's not a natural singer (seen by how she has to contort her face to reach some of the notes). I actually find Kate Bush more affected and annoying sometimes because you know the vocal "quirkiness" is being wilfully added. Also, I think Newsom's voice can sound very impressive so it would be a shame if there are people out there who have written her off quickly as someone they wouldn't like without listening to her albums first.
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Old 08-11-2015, 21:49
shaddler
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Why do you think it's self-conscious? Joanna Newsom's voice is certainly not for everyone but I've always thought that it's her natural expression. She just has an unusual voice, partly because she's not a natural singer (seen by how she has to contort her face to reach some of the notes). I actually find Kate Bush more affected and annoying sometimes because you know the vocal "quirkiness" is being wilfully added. Also, I think Newsom's voice can sound very impressive so it would be a shame if there are people out there who have written her off quickly as someone they wouldn't like without listening to her albums first.
Because that's how she chooses to sing. The way she pronounces words is often like how an adult will talk to a baby. It's more exaggerated in some performances than others. It's worse in her earliest ones. That said, I listened to Divers from her new album yesterday and I really liked it.
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Old 08-11-2015, 23:25
Smudged
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Because that's how she chooses to sing. The way she pronounces words is often like how an adult will talk to a baby. It's more exaggerated in some performances than others. It's worse in her earliest ones. That said, I listened to Divers from her new album yesterday and I really liked it.
That was my point. I think it's more the nature of her voice and the fact that singing doesn't come easy to her rather than wilfully trying to sound unusual or "quirky". I remember reading that she didn't like her singing voice when she was younger and it took her a while to accept it and start performing. Her voice has become less unusual or less "exaggerated" over time as her singing has improved. I really don't think the main appeal of Joanna Newsom lies in her singing anyway but of course, it will be a barrier for some people....
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Old 10-11-2015, 09:09
Inkblot
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Saw her live yesterday and her voice is really not an issue. She is a superb musician, both on harp and piano, and she has such a warm, self-effacing manner that the audience is completely captivated. Half way into the set, after she finished singing Emily, the applause was like you'd get at the end of a gig - it went on for several minutes and even then, that didn't seem like enough.

A great show.
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Old 10-11-2015, 09:20
barbeler
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For years, I've been reading reviews of her music. They were positive, sometimes extremely positive. It seemed what she did was unusual too. Harp. Medieval. I might like that. Unusual voice. Sure, why not? I was intrigued, but I'm not sure I'd ever heard any of her songs. So when I noticed she was on Later with Jools Holland last night, I was keen to watch.



I mean

Why on earth is she singing like that? It was like a very annoying version of Kate Bush or Elizabeth Fraser.

There isn't a video of that performance yet on Youtube, but here's an earlier example:

Joanna Newsom - The Book of Right-ON (Jools Holland)
My god, that is awful Mind you, it's typical of the 'wacky' rubbish that pads out that programme.
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