In a message dated 04/12/2002 00:10:28 GMT Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I wonder what it is about Canada that seems to spawn singers who are vocally "unambitious" - that is to say, untrained and more vocally raw. There are so many who could be placed in this category: Jane Siberry, Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Alanis Morrisette. There are exceptions, most notably the ear-rupturing ranting of Celine Dion. Anne Murray and k.d. lang are other "crooners" of the north who also appear to be vocally ambitious. >> Fascinating post, Andrew, not least for the interpretive difficulty it throws up: how does one define "ambitious" and "unambitous"? Obviously, a voice that we may find unambitious isn't necessarily "bad" [and yes, this is all In The Opinion Of The Listener, blah blah blah] - Much as I loathe Shania Twain and find her records unspeakably bland, I would be hard pressed to claim that she has a bad voice. I find the use of "ambitious" and "unambitous" hard to fathom - what exactly was Joni on about? I've heard Streisand's voice described in many ways, from sublime through majestic to histrionic - but ambitious?? As time goes by, I'm becoming more inclined to take everything Joni says about other performers with a pinch of salt! I can see your point about many of the most prominent Canadian singers having, shall we say, plain voices - in addition to those you mention, Bruce Cockburn would fit that bill. On the other hand, surely nobody would describe Mary Margaret O'Hara's voice as unambitious! And where would Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Ron Sexsmith come into it?? Azeem in London NP: More extraordinary Portuguese music On the other hand
