Hi Kakki, First off thank you for your kind words as to my performance. But of course I hear it much differently than you do. I am limited in what I want to do or try to do as far as singing. The positive to this is, I must sing the song much more in a style that is my own. So I can no longer just copy the phrasing and inflections of Joni or whomever. This is making me learn to sing in some ways, all over again.
And I further agree, Joni is learning to sing more than she has ever had to before. Earlier it was more an instinct and now there is more of a thought process behind it. I like much of the new sound and have mentioned previously what I think she can do to help her voice furhter. I would agree that smoking is only one part of it and age, menopause, hormones do take their own place as additional culprits. Not to mention a lifetime of voice strain. I just believe she can eventually come up with a marriage between some of the old voice and a more educated mature voice. I am not knocking her at all. And perhaps her singing is not that important to her at this point. But I did suspect that part of her fit to retire may indeed be tied to her limited range and lung capacity. Finally, as someone mentioned earlier Joni's voice is much more in tune these days for blusier and jazzier renditions. Joni - please come to Chicago for the help that you could get hanging with the Blues community here - and of course I will be your guide! Thanks again Kakki - must light up myself now as I am listening to Diana Krall, speaking of jazz. You gotta smoke when you listen to this smokey jazz sound! A very "dear" old friend suprised me with several homemade cd's tonight! Good going - many points for her! Peace Susan NP: Diana Krall/I've Got You Under My Skin --- kakki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Susan, > > Today while I was out on my smoking break (that quiet time where I sometimes > ponder about topics on the list), I was running through my head the jmdler > singers who smoke but who have not seemingly been affected by the awful > habit and I swear you were right at the top of my list. (I've heard your > absolutely amazing performance from the last J-Fest). I have an impressive > list of members in mind but will not name them so as to not embarrass them. > > > I've had the Joni smoking discussion with a couple of jmdler singers and > they say, like you, that the problem is with her breathing - or lack of > strong lung capacity probably due to the smoking. I would never disagree > with that. What doesn't add up to me as far as blaming it completely on the > smoking is that I heard her voice change significantly so many years ago - > back in the 70s. The change to me seemed kind of sudden - that is why the > smoking rationale doesn't add up 100%. And for many years, I was also very > upset with it because I loved her early voice so much. > > I've thought for the past few years that she has consulted a vocal coach. I > think she has had to do this. It also occurred to me, sadly, that maybe she > is all too aware of how much her voice has changed and that may be one of > the real reasons she keeps saying she is going to retire. I'm at the point > where I don't care anymore what she sounds like - I'd just be happy for her > to continue. T-Log sounds pretty good to me, all things considered. I also > thought she sounded a lot like Peggy Lee. When BSN came out I played it for > my parents to get their take on the remake of all their old fave songs, and > my mother, who has heard the constantly playing of Joni's songs from the > beginning, said very authoritatively "Now that is GOOD, she has FINALLY > learned how to sing!" Go figure! > > Kakki Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
