Marc Almond

emu · June 2007

Who the b****y *ell keeps this bloke in business? I'm currently listening to the recording of last weeks Friday Night is Music Night - work related you understand. His fans are tone deaf because this guy cannot sing in tune at all. It's very painful listening.

Smeggers · June 2007

Still making a tidy living out of Tainted Love no doubt. Especially from that recent tripe version released.

Hickory Dickory Dock,
A baby elephant ran up the clock,
The clock is being repaired

alecstilleyedye · June 2007

if you mean the maralyn manson one i doubt it because marc almond did not write it (some bod called ed cobb wrote it) as it was originally performed by marc bolan's mrs (whose name escapes me).

if i had a better signature, i'd use that instead

billsters · June 2007

I disagree, and think Marc has a very rich voice. Tainted Love is a perfect pop song/performance.

He doesn't always choose material that suits his voice, but I do applaud him for experimenting. You don't have to buy it and you don't have to listen to it.

Smeggers · June 2007

I stand corrected.

Hickory Dickory Dock,
A baby elephant ran up the clock,
The clock is being repaired

Regulator · June 2007

Marc Almond has a fantastic voice - the Virgin Tales CDs are fantastic. He's best when singing sultry, torchlight songs - "What Makes A Man A Man" is a classic example.

Plus he's got a body to lick all over...

___________________________
Bugger elephants - capabari are cuter!

Fab Foodie · June 2007

Gloria Jones originally sang the Northern Soul classic Tainted Love. And a damn fine song it was/is too. Shame people only know the Marc Almond version...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Jones

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

andyoxon · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Fab Foodie

Gloria Jones originally sang the Northern Soul classic Tainted Love. And a damn fine song it was/is too. Shame people only know the Marc Almond version...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Jones

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

"She was also the girlfriend of T. Rex singer Marc Bolan with whom she had a son, Rolan Bolan" [:D]

Andy

--- Beware of 'all things being equal' - because very often they are not. ---

emu · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I disagree, and think Marc has a very rich voice<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

As a classically trained musician working in the music business, and as I said my listening to FNIMN was work related, I can tell you he can't sing in tune. I don't have any problems with what he sings. It would sound so much better if it was sung in tune. If you can't hear that he sings out of tune I hope you don't sing too.

willski · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by emu

Who the b****y *ell keeps this bloke in business?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Mrs Willski.

Unfortunately.

Still it's better than Anthony & the Johnsons. A Marc Almond CD makes me want to leave the room, A & Js forces to me to leave. Worst of all is Baby D - I would willingly cut my own ears off rather than listen to Baby D.

____________________________________________________________________

If I had a baby elephant, I'd write a witty sig line about it - if I had any wit.

emu · June 2007

My son keeps raving about the Marilyn Manson version of Tainted Love but I've yet to hear it. MM is more my kind of music I have to admit.

billsters · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by emu

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I disagree, and think Marc has a very rich voice<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

As a classically trained musician working in the music business, and as I said my listening to FNIMN was work related, I can tell you he can't sing in tune. I don't have any problems with what he sings. It would sound so much better if it was sung in tune. If you can't hear that he sings out of tune I hope you don't sing too.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I didn't say he "sings in tune", did I? I don't think that's always the point, just as musical proficiency is not always the point.

I actually do sing (and play two instruments), and in tune, in fact I have been told I have "an amazingly tuneful, but very boring" voice. Which kind of proves my point. A singer needs to be able to move you, possibly he or she might move you out of the room, but I think they should move you.

willski · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by emu

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I disagree, and think Marc has a very rich voice<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

As a classically trained musician working in the music business, and as I said my listening to FNIMN was work related, I can tell you he can't sing in tune. I don't have any problems with what he sings. It would sound so much better if it was sung in tune. If you can't hear that he sings out of tune I hope you don't sing too.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'll tell you a ropey singer; Mick Hucknall. Years ago when I trained as an engineer at the BBC they had a 24 track master of Simply Red doing Money's too tight to mention on Whistle Test. They used to use it to show you how a pony performance could be made to sound better by careful use of effects. The raw vocal track was awful.

If I had a baby elephant, I'd write a witty sig line about it - if I had any wit.

gillan1969 · June 2007

this last night in sodom is a classic album

some classic almond lines

" a fistfull of love with Rual Kowalski
he's only a slob of a Corsican junkie"

yes that would be the fistful you're probably thinking about[:)]

"it was the morning after the month before"

"...and I don't mean love on a chocolate box, I mean a love that really rocks"

"no comfort of bed or the softness of sheets,
just the back of a car sprawled across the back seat,
and he'll just not give up
and he's messed up your head
a dish in the disco but a pig in the bed"

almonds strained tones on say hello wave goodbye also make the record (witness david grays crap attempts to cover it)

he's a recording artist not a classicly trained singer, his material does not lend itself to being sung 'clasically'....it would sound stupid

his material relates to the underbelly of urban life and his strained tones suit it perfectly

His solo work is excellent although a bit off more recently

likewise, bonn scott wouldn't get a gig from a classicaly trained singer like your good self but sometimes enjoyment can be had from voices outwith the mainstream

off to the opera with you[:)][:)]

www.squadraporcini.com

billsters · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gillan1969
he's a recording artist not a classicly trained singer, his material does not lend itself to being sung 'clasically'....it would sound stupid<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Exactly, Gillan, it's "horses for courses". Or "hoarses for coarses". [;)]
Some other "can't sing" vocalists that are unique and spine-tingling (if you like them): John Lydon, Joe Strummer, Ari Up, Bjork, Kate Bush, Billy MacKenzie, ....
The current fad for "Pop Idol" competitions puts technical ability at the forefront, but it is less important in rock/pop etc. than passion and originality.

Fab Foodie · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by emu

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I disagree, and think Marc has a very rich voice<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

As a classically trained musician working in the music business, and as I said my listening to FNIMN was work related, I can tell you he can't sing in tune. I don't have any problems with what he sings. It would sound so much better if it was sung in tune. If you can't hear that he sings out of tune I hope you don't sing too.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Bit OT: What are your thoughts(professionally) on Frank Sinatra, I never thought or still think he could sing in tune?

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

emu · June 2007

Thing is, singing out of tune is painful to the listener. Doesn't matter what syle of singing. To go sharp once in a concert is fair enough but every song? Marc Almond does not have a "rich" voice. Frank Sinatra has a rich voice. I've never noticed that Frank has sung out of tune. However, I don't enjoy his repertoire nor have I had any reason workwise to listen through something of his. I don't like opera either and in fact nothing irritates me more (apart from singing out of tune) than a warbling soprano. Whether a singer is self taught, classically trained or stage school trained, tuning is very important. It's not really something that can be taught either. You can be taught to listen but if you can't hear your own tuning then there's not much can be done. You can have the most perfect singing technique (whatever that might be) but it won't necessarily help the tuning. Listen to the recording on the BBC website via listen again and hopefully you will understand exactly what I'm going on about. Oh and I've been training both my kids to sing, more stage school style than classical. My autistic daughter sings perfectly in tune. However, my musically precocious son, who shows no interest whatsoever in classical music, who has a far better technique, struggles to keep long notes in tune without being reminded to listen. I won't be buying Marc Almond albums. I was into rock and heavy metal by the time Soft Cell did Tainted Love. I love Cole Porter (he himself was quite an appalling singer), Robbie Williams, Kasabian, James Bowman's recording of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and my current fav musical is Wicked. So there you go you have some idea what music I like. All hopefully sung in tune[;)]

papercorn2000 · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by gillan1969
[

likewise, bonn scott wouldn't get a gig from a classicaly trained singer like your good self but sometimes enjoyment can be had from voices outwith the mainstream

off to the opera with you[:)][:)]

www.squadraporcini.com
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

And what has he done recently? Nuffink 'ats wot!

God told me to skin you alive.
http://www.ekroadclub.co.uk/

Two sheds · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">...James Bowman's recording of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Amen to that - but Emma Kirkby on that recording (I assume it's the Hogwood/AAM) is surely the exemplar. In particular, the opening of Quis est homo is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.

Put a hump in your back
Shake your sacroiliac
And ride on

emu · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Emma Kirkby on that recording (I assume it's the Hogwood/AAM) is surely the exemplar<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's just a wonderful recording and there's no denying that Emma Kirky is superb but in general I prefer male voices so James Bowman's voice moves me more. My reason for mentioning the recording at all was to show my varied tastes in music. Just because I'm classically trained doesn't mean that I have tunnel vision where music is concerned. And if anyone's interested I'm currrently listening to the soundtrack of Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl - and it's not work related.

Unknown · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by willski

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by emu

Who the b****y *ell keeps this bloke in business?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Mrs Willski.

Unfortunately.

Still it's better than Anthony & the Johnsons. A Marc Almond CD makes me want to leave the room, A & Js forces to me to leave.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You must already be earless if you can't appreciate Anthony and the Johnsons. What a voice-good songwriter as well.

the floggings will cease when morale improves

billsters · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by emu

Thing is, singing out of tune is painful to the listener. Doesn't matter what syle of singing. To go sharp once in a concert is fair enough but every song? Marc Almond does not have a "rich" voice. Frank Sinatra has a rich voice. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's presumably in reply to me; his singing obviously isn't painful to me. I like a lot of it. I'm not going to ask you to define a "rich" voice as it obviously means different things to us both.

Your original question was "who keeps this bloke in business"? Well, your answer is "people who enjoy his work". Just as people who enjoy your work keep you in business. Presumably.

Tourist Tony · June 2007

I prefer the Profanisaurus definition of an Almond:
"An Imperial measure of semen; a stomachful.

If I had a stalker, I would hug it and kiss it and call it George...or Dick

Flying_Monkey · June 2007

I absolutely love whiney, out of tune vocals - David Byrne in particular and especially more recently the singer out of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. And the more it irritates other people, the more I enjoy it! Even the Beach Boys sang out of tune. Billie Holiday was at her most affecting when older and her voice was shot to bits by the terrible life she'd had. Bob Dylan, Billy Bragg, and Robert Wyatt - what a voice, what passion, what a man! Not such a big fan of Amond as it happens, but that's just because a lot of his recent songs just aren't much cop...

On the other hand I find many trained, tuneful voices utterly uninteresting and bereft of emotional content and meaning.

What matters is a combination of so many things: distinctiveness of voice, content, music, context, the reaction of others, etc... many of which are emotional and utterly personal.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

redcogs · June 2007

Seriously, who is Mark Almond?

please look up to the stars.. ***

Flying_Monkey · June 2007

Former singer of 1980s electro duo, Soft Cell, and specialist in gay torch songs.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

Gary Askwith · June 2007

Syd Barrett was out of tune in most tracks of his two solo albums ..... they are whimsical evocative masterpieces

Economic Growth; as dead as a Yangtze River dolphin....

redcogs · June 2007

Ah - 'Tainted Love'? Cheers 'Monkey. Bob Dylan and Lenny Cohen are quite good illustrators of your point as well, technically pretty poor voices, but that has never really detracted from their contribution to human enrichment has it?

i'll take the imperfection of the meaningful live performance any time over the bland sameness of Kiri Takanawa.

please look up to the stars.. ***

EDITED - SUCH A LACKLUSTRE AND ERROR BOUND 3000th POST. Downhill all the way from now on..
[V]

Flying_Monkey · June 2007

Anyone who's not been moved by Robert Wyatt's version of 'Shipbuilding' (possibly the greatest cover version ever) or cares that completely flies in the face of musical training, is not quite human IMHO...

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

gillan1969 · June 2007

steady redcogs, never heard of him????????

almonds voice was for the disaffected and the marginal in society...he would be right up your street

i would suggest the brilliant 'this last night in sodom' as a starting point

non-stop erotic cabaret' is also good, 'sex dwarf' being a particularly good song about tabloid expliotation of page three girls as is the eee'd up version of the album 'non stop ecstatic dancing' an album produced by the boys in New York after discovering ectasy in the last days of the studio 54 era in clubland New York......some....eh 6 or 7 years before the so-called rave generation made it their own

www.squadraporcini.com

redcogs · June 2007

gillan mate, i'll youtube or limewire the suggested tracks.

Trouble was, that when Soft Cell were prominent, i was too busy being engaged in trying to advance the cause of social egalitarianism to listen properly. Cheers.

please look up to the stars.. ***

Marc Almond

Comments

Categories