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From: usenet%agate.Berkeley.EDU@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (USENET Administrator)
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1991 16:07:57 -0800
Subject: Re: Candle in the Wind
To: rec-music-gaffa@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU
Path: monsoon.Berkeley.EDU!boris From: boris@monsoon.Berkeley.EDU (Boris Chen) Newsgroups: rec.music.gaffa Subject: Re: Candle in the Wind Date: 13 Dec 1991 00:07:56 GMT Organization: ucb Lines: 65 Message-ID: <kkfuesINNcrn@agate.berkeley.edu> References: <9112122122.AA00675@echelon> NNTP-Posting-Host: monsoon.berkeley.edu Yes, Kate has released her singles, and lots of love-hound are howling. Contrary to the seeming majority opinion, I think that both covers (I got the 7" beauty) are excellent. Let me start with Candle in the Wind. There's been complaints about her voice, her instumentation, etc. I think that her voice is fine, as fine as it was in the Sensual World. She expresses all the emotion and feeling of the sadness that the song expresses. The instrumentation is subtle and undominating, and furthermore compliments Kate's voice nicely. I don't see the sin in using synthesizers, only the abuse of synths, and in this case, the synths are used rather poignantly in giving the song and overall ethereal feel. The background vocals also compliment the main vocal line well by enhancing the emotional power and impact of the song -- coming in when needed and being absent when it ought. As for Rocket Man, I have to agree with IED in that the song is one of sadness. The begining is certainly testimony to this and, though the major key can be deceiving, the rest of the song follows the prelude in suit. I think the "reggae" beat is an excellent idea in terms of updating this classic, and it certainly isn't obstrusive. It is a wonderful addition to the song, and after hearing it, I wonder how the song could have done without it. The way she performs makes the song flow really well. We get the full effect and the full range of the climaxes and diminuation that make the song so interesting, and so touching. Again, her singing is as good as it has been in recent years (though I second the motion that she give up smoking, since her voice is definitely more raspy than her younger self). I think that the ethinic instrumentation gave the song her artistic stamp while combining well with everything else. About both songs, I have to say that I am glad that she covered them as she did. She did it in a conventional style that was not too conventional, and that kept clear of the cliche. The covers showed her trademark spark of inginuity, without going overboard in trying to be different and creative (she didn't try geting Bulgarian singers with helicopter sounds and weird voices in the background). On a final point, I'd like to say something about the cover. The cover actually, to me, strikes me as rather strange. She's not really smiling or frowning, it has been described as sad, but I think it is something that is less easily pigeonholed. Though I can't say what I think it conveys (it only strikes me as disturbing, since I can't figure it out), I think it is decent cover for the single, though I cant say that it is one of JC Bush's better works. The only reason she looks old (as some say) is probably due to the fact that in most of her pictures, her skin is so washed out, either by makeup or lighting, that you don't often see though dimples on each side of her mouth, or the lines around her eyes. If you ever see the picture disk for This Woman's Work (I just got that also), you'll see the same picture (or near same) except with higher contrast, and thus she looks younger. The poster included with the 7" has one of her grinning slightly. And I can't help but laugh a little every time I see it. I can't explain why. All in all, she did a great job. I think that these songs rank up there with Cloudbusting and Experiment IV, and I wait with bated breath for her soon to be released album. --boris