Here are some really cool music videos that I have come across…some performance, some not, in no particular order.
There is something about Ray LaMontagne’s voice that draws me in. I don’t know what it is, but it’s just comfortable to me. There are only a few other artists that demand that same reaction from me…
When I first heard that Taylor Hicks was covering this song, I was elated. He did a hell of a good job on it. Too bad the lady’s head in the front row keeps moving. But hey..whatcha gonna do?
I’m sure everybody probably has seen this next video, but it’s still very cool. I don’t know the specifics on how long it took to get everybody on the same page…I can imagine it took a while for everybody to catch on.
Will Hoge…awesome.
This is the unofficial video for this Train song, but it’s done really well. Clever.
This, hanging out in the lobby with his fans after the show. More Will Hoge. I can’t help it.
This is one of my favorite performances from Taylor Hicks. I was there in the second row to witness it in all it’s glory. Out of all the concerts that I went to, that had to be the best one.
Love Foy Vance and love how this video is made. It has a pretty deep message, too. I’m a sucker for lyrics.
This is cool.
And this one, as much as I don’t like Miley Cyrus’ singing voice, if that’s what we’re going to call it, watching this video makes it somewhat bearable. Total hilarity.
Ray LaMontagne…Mr. Anti-Establishment, who sells himself as a simple songwriter who lives in the woods with his wife and kid, who seems to disdain modern conveniences…has sold himself out to corporate America.
If you watch this:
You will discover that not only is Ray hard to interview, he seems to be very quiet and reserved. He rarely gives interviews, so it surprised me to see this commercial with a song of his displayed so prominently.
This discovery led me to wonder what songs of Taylor’s would be good for product endorsement. Maybe “The Runaround” for a cell phone company or “Limin’” for Corona Beer?
“New Found Freedom” for feminine hygiene products? “I’m gonna spread my wings and fly!!”
“Woman’s Gotta Have It” for chocolate or dessert products?
How about “The Distance” for a social networking site? You know, to get the younger generation involved.
Taylor does a fair number of covers, but the question was posed to me recently, “What do you want to hear him record?” I want Taylor’s voice to be the focus of the song, not the instruments. I think that’s why I was so impressed with Under The Radar. It was so raw, and you could just feel the passion oozing out of him. When Taylor said in interviews that his voice was going to be the thread that wove the songs together on The Distance, I thought…ok, either that means the songs don’t “go together” or Bill Will taught him a good new line. Obviously, it was the first one. However, as much as The Distance is an improvement from TH, I still don’t think it’s going to go down as his best work. I think he has so much potential and he just needs to find the right songwriters to work with.
Take this song, for instance, Shelter by Ray LaMontagne. Watch him sing this song, and you can just hear the aching in his voice, the desire. His voice leaves no question of how he feels to the person he’s singing to. This song could be in another language and I think you could get the same heartache out of it. Some voices just lend themselves to that effect, and I think Taylor is one of them.
This next one is by Marc Broussard called Lonely Night in Georgia. I think Taylor could really tear up this song…adding tags during concerts, and just giving the song his own touch. Maybe throw a little harp in there. Awesome.
The lyrics in this next song are fantastic…The Weight of It All by Matt Nathanson.
i’m weak when you miss me
when you roll me on your tongue..
when you whisper me your best moves
i almost believe you
but you don’t know me at all
i’m covered by lovers,
who recite lines
convinced their bodies
are gonna save mine
but you don’t know me at all..
show me where the sun comes through the sky
i’ll show you where the rain gets in
and i’ll show you hurricanes
and the way that summer fades
underneath the weight of it all
…the weight of it all
i spent days stupid nailed to your floor
and i spent nights pushed against you, baby
trying to keep warm
but you don’t know me at all.
show me where the sun comes through the sky
i’ll show you where the rain gets in
and i’ll show you hurricanes
and the way that summer fades
underneath the weight of it all
show me where the sun comes through the sky
i’ll show you where the rain gets in
and i’ll show you hurricanes
and the way that summer fades…
underneath the weight of it all
…show me,
show me where the sun comes through the sky
i’ll show you where the rain gets in
and i’ll show you hurricanes
and the way that summer fades
so you can pick me up just to put me down again
underneath the weight of it all
…the weight of it all
This is a really cool song that I just came across. Foy Vance and Be With Me. I think Taylor could sing the hell out of this song.
I’m not sure any of these songs could actually garner airplay, and I think that, as a fanbase, is something we need to come to grips with. It’s ok if his song doesn’t reach the top of the charts, it’s ok, really. The kind of music that Taylor plays and the kind that he seems to be gravitating to isn’t radio material. It just isn’t. No amount of calling, emailing or bugging radio stations is going to cause them to say…”Oh, ok. We didn’t know it was so wonderful. We’ll play it around the clock now.” It just doesn’t work like that.
All this talk of Broadway is making me wonder, will Taylor ever be considered a serious musician again? Actually, was he ever considered a serious musician to start with? We all know Taylor cut his teeth for ten years in seedy bars, most of the time with a little audience and a lot of booze. Then, he took a shot with American Idol. For alot of people, the credibility that he may have had before AI got washed down the drain with Seacrest’s hair gel. It didn’t help that he had the “goofy, drunk dad” persona down pat. But, since then, he’s come out with his first CD, which did ok in sales…and the success of the second CD remains to be seen. So, maybe he really had nowhere to go but up, regarding the cliche of “serious musician.”
But, honestly, can you imagine somebody like Ray LaMontagne or Amos Lee doing Broadway? I have a feeling it would have to be 32 degrees in hell first. For some people, the limits are there. For Taylor, I’m not sure that they are. I remember thinking a couple of years ago, he is still acting like somebody who has to take every measly job that comes his way. Obviously, I don’t know what he’s been offered or hasn’t, and I’m not going to pretend like I do. But, it just seems that his decision making skills in that arena leave a little to be desired.
Here’s a little Ray LaMontagne and Damien Rice to enjoy.
