The Art of Less is More
...and the concept thereof
I won't identify the band because my purpose is not to put down, just observe. It's a concept few people grasp, especially in music today. Sinatra definitely mastered it, Dean Martin matured it and Elvis perfected it. Others like Nat (King) Cole and Jim Reeves were masters of it. Some lived there and that's okay, but just because it is good doesn't mean you have to set up camp. There's a line in GI Blues where this German gentleman asked Elvis' character what he thought of the little band and he had no criticism other than to say that "we do it a little differently...we sort of let is OOOZE out!" The gentlman replies "Vas dis OOOZE?" and Elvis is off to singing "Tonight is So Right for Love."
The other thing this band did that so many do is over-harmonize. There are songs constructed to not have harmony. Of course, there are some that it won't hurt, but far too many others that are ruined by it. This band had way too much personell, for one thing. Like a tree, they need a good pruning. Background vocals should be just that...background, not drowning out the lead. When I sing karaoke and someone does this, I make note and do not sing that song again at least in that venue. I am quite capable of ruining a song on my own. What I can't stand is for someone else to ruin it and for me to get credit for it. I'm just that vain. Some say, it doesn't matter because it's karaoke. Well, if it's singing, yes it DOES! I've heard a lot of bands put in unnecessary "harmonies." Many times, they are not harmonies, but dischords. It only takes one person off key to mess the whole thing up.
I have no idea whether Rick Barefoot can sing, but I appreciate the fact that if he doesn't think so, so he doesn't. I've seen people lead every round of karaoke with five of their own songs or people who couldn't sing sing every round when it was unnecessary. One guy, didn't need to sing in the first place. His voice was ragged. There's a difference between Janis Joplin or Rod Stewart's raspy delivery and someone who's just ruined their voice with too many cigarettes and sound like a lung's on its way up.
I don't like the song anyway, but it's popular apparently. It's called "Crazy B*tch" and it has no harmony for a reason...when you add one, no matter how much you try, it doesn't fit...it's like those dad limb bells at the church that try to harmonize the hold hymns and hit a dischord.
But what do I know. I don't even have a band any more
