Comments on: Sing, Sanjaya, Sing!

By: Ricky

Ricky — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 07:29:32 +0000

“It was then that I learned how narrow musical tastes were. Suddenly, in musical theater I realized the tenors got all the good parts.” I’m in the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chrous and the tenors get all of the good solos. Baritones and basses are left in the oooooo and aaaaaaaa section. Every week at rehearsal I say….in my mind, Effie’s line from ScreamGirls “I don’t sang backup!”

By: Lynn Gazis-Sax

Lynn Gazis-Sax — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:20:14 +0000

There’s a narrowing of selection for both women and men, but it works differently for each sex. For men, the higher voices get the attention everywhere: tenors get the good parts in the opera, in musical theater, and tend to rise in the pop charts, even though there have been baritone and bass singers that the world would be much poorer without. For women, sopranos get lots of lead roles in opera and musical theater, but there’s also a perception that lower women’s voices are sexier, so (aside from getting the usually secondary “bad girl” role while the soprano gets the usually primary “good girl” role) there tend to be more lower women’s voices on the radio than lower men’s voices. At the same time, as anywhere in the entertainment world, the ideal for women’s appearance tends to be somewhat narrower than the ideal for men’s appearance. (If I hear one more remark about how terribly ooooooold Madonna is now ……)

By: Katharine

Katharine — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:28:43 +0000

Well, all I can say is that hanging out with you at R.J.’s apartment and singing “With or Without You” is a favorite memory of mine from college. I’ve always loved that smoky note you’ve got in your voice! It’s distinctive.

You mention Judy and Billie … as far as I’m concerned, the world would be a poorer place without Nina Simone’s husky alto.

By: tina

tina — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:25:07 +0000

wow! i never thought i could buy an argument to hope sanjaya wins but you may have convinced me. thanks, t, for opening my eyes, in more ways than you know. you rock!

By: greg

greg — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:48:08 +0000

Interesting piece, it ties in a bit to some comments of mine from a couple nights ago. Distrust and disrespect for professionalism and expertise does seem to be a hallmark, of the Dubya era.

By: Minor victories « Greg Prince’s Blog

Minor victories « Greg Prince’s Blog — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:46:58 +0000

[...] Interesting piece at the Republic of T. In some respects it’s harsher than the kid deserves, but it is an interesting observation on the state of the American psyche. [...]