I must admit, the opening line of the tune was an eye opener. I have been following Christelle's videos since the beginning of my tenure here at MBH, and had heard her voice in earlier videos, specifically, the one when she was driving and playing at the same time :-). What i just heard was no surprise. I think the negative reaction by "some" here is directly in relation to the accent rather than the octave in which she sings. To this I say, try singing a song in a foreign language. See how well you fare. The song Christelle did above absolutely demands that you sing with meaning, with force, with conviction. And she's done all of these things. very well done girl... i applaud you.
Thanks for the comment. I have a Boss RC-2 - a stompbox format. I also use the The FS-5U momentary "unlatch"-type foot switch that gives a bit more functionality.
Lots of respect for your style.Keep on growing as a musician.There will aleays be negative people along the way but it should make you stronger.I liked your signature style. Respect!
I said I liked her voice and I never had an issue with the octave she's singing in. I don't think it was any lower than the Dietrich track I posted - more growly, but it's blues isn't it? For the record I prefer Dietrich singing in German too.
I did not say the French can't sing - that's a ridiculous extrapolation from my comment.
@Kyzer "I think the negative reaction by "some" here is directly in relation to the accent rather than the octave in which she sings. To this I say, try singing a song in a foreign language."
An accent is nothing to be ashamed of.
I noted self-consciousness in her singing and attributed it to performing in a foreign language. I suggested she might sound more confident in French. Why jump two hurdles at the same time? build the confidence in just singing first - then work on singing in English.
Furthermore, I do not know of a French language version (correct me if I'm wrong - I'd love to hear it), so that is something that would add to making the track her own rather than yet another cover.
I still hold my opinion, although now I recognise there are other factors in the sense of self-consciousness I heard in her voice.
Christelle doesn't agree - that's what opinions are for, so people can disagree without it having to be seen as hostility; clearly Christelle wants to sing in English (more marketable in the States I guess).
It was an opinion; it wasn't an attack on her heritage, ability, gender or sexuality. Quite frankly I think "negative reaction" is stretching it a bit, but each to his own.
I respect and admire her for what she's doing. Stupidly I thought constructive criticism was acceptable here - I had no idea when I posted that the thread would degenerate into homophobic hate mongering.
If and when you're reading this, I think that your response was articulate, well structured, and impressive. I realize that it was not a forum posting but rather a forwarded email. Nonetheless it was good.
Clearly, mine is only an opinion. Like assholes, some are nice and some are ugly. I've never been shy about airing mine out. But, (in the end) it is just an asshole.
You are now on my personal list of French whom I respect. I've worked with, lived with and been around plenty of your countrymen and women over my lifetime (including living offshore in Brazil with an all French crew, and 4 months on the 'Calypso' as the only American on board). Believe me, its a short list.
French singing doesn't work well for blues. Her french accent doesn't disturb me, maybe because french is my language too. I think that the growl she tries to do is interesting, but not mastered yet ; it sounds "forced" to my ears, but with practice it should come out more and more naturally. After all, growling is a special singing technique, you can't expect to get it perfect at once.
I like better the singing on the SRV song, it has a rockabilly feeling, reminds me of Gene Vincent, kind of.
Harp playing is very cool on both tracks.
Last Edited by on Nov 17, 2010 7:35 AM
I gonna have to disagree with the idea of the French accent not working for blues because zydeco has plenty of blues in it, often times being sung in French, and the first guy that comes to mind is the late, great Clifton Chenier. Christelle clearly has more than just an appropriate point. I'll bet a whole lot of you have never listened to zydeco at all.
Vocals can be a more difficult instrument to master than harmonica at times. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
@Christelle, keep doing your thing. You are doing something right if your performance provokes such a response (good or bad). Your voice is original, and if listeners like it or not they will remember it. Much respect for putting your stuff out there.
I think there's nothing sexier than a woman singing in French. A previous band I was in played a small New Orleans cafe/bar, and the opening act was a girl playign guitar and singing French folk songs-I got all goofy after that.
Not that this was sexy, but at our harp revue a couple months ago, J' Monque D sang 'Everyday I Have the Blues'-alternating in English, then(Cajun)French-it was a very cool and memorable part of the show. ----------
@BBQBob (where ya been hiding these last few days???!!!)
Listened to plenty of Zydeco and Cajun in my time! Balfa Brothers, Rockin' Dopsie, Clifton Chenier.
What I've been talking about isn't really the accent per se, but the enunciation - the way the words flow together (or rather don't here). A lazy sounding cajun drawl, in French or English, is perfect for blues.
An upperclass English accent would suck badly for blues because of the precise diction. A Jaggeresque, "Americanised Cockney" style works better. Blues is dirty and slurred, "Gotto help me" sounds odd when the we're used to hearing "Godda help mi".
I am not much of a singer( I also have the accent issue coming from an east european country) , but I ll try to give my 2 cents here:
- to me it looks that every now and than she reads the lyrics from a screen , that it's going to make you very disengaged , you have to learn the lyrics so you don't have to read or think about them while you sing
- the other thing that makes you disengaged , it's the camera ,if you have the camera that close and you are not a professional actor , it's gonna affect you a lot. Christelle place the camera a little bit further and at a slight angle so you don't look into it.
- forget about the accent , and the low voice ,have 2 glasses of wine , hit record on the camera , close your eyes and pour your soul into it , you are too self conscious , and that is not gonna help you with your singing
ps: I post this video so you have an idea what I mean about the camera angle ( again I am not much of a singer or harp player for that matter)
Christelle,. has to be the Baddest (Best) harp player ever ! Her singing will come to her,.. Don't hate / be ashamed of your accent,.Embrace it !! ---------- Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
Last Edited by on Nov 17, 2010 11:53 AM
Anonymous
513 posts
Nov 17, 2010
2:31 PM
I know and like zydeco, yes it's sung in french but the pronunciation is a lot different from French (French from France, I mean). Cajun accent works better for blues, I think. I don't know a whole lot of that music, but for example I have a version of "Balfa Waltz" by David Doucet that is very bluesy. But generally zydeco music doesn't sound very "blues" to me, although it has some connections with it.
Anonymous
112 posts
Nov 17, 2010
2:32 PM
@ Christelle screw thoes who arent open minded & willing to hear something different from the norm. Yes I was a bit surprised when I first heard you sing... but that dont mean it was bad..different..yes.. but not bad. You have talent & dont let the jerks of this world get you down. Im sure you have plenty of followers,more then haters. Keep goin,& dont be ashamed of any thing you do in life. We ALL have our faults & up & downs.. its how we deal with it that matters & your voice is NOT a fault,its a plus because it is SO different. Be proud of the difference not ashamed. ----------
Anonymous
113 posts
Nov 17, 2010
2:34 PM
& the last anonymous (@ Christelle screw thoes...) That was me. Dont know what happened there,but it was me. ----------
Anonymous
1285 posts
Nov 17, 2010
4:16 PM
ZackPomerleau: Good for her. Sandy88 is just a coward who won't show himself, and uses the internet to taunt others.
Anonymous
641 posts
Nov 17, 2010
4:19 PM
"Sandy88 is just a coward who won't show himself, and uses the internet to taunt others. "
That would appear to be a personal attack on Mr 88.
---------- ~Buzadero Underwater Janitor, Patriot
Anonymous
901 posts
Nov 17, 2010
4:39 PM
My criticism is along the lines of what Adam mentioned earlier & is probably why I hardly check her videos anymore. When I first found her videos on youtube I followed them. But at some point I realized that I knew what I was going to hear before I clicked play & only check on her latest once in a while. So I do think there's a point where you can play things so near the original, crisp, & clean that it is not as interesting. Still wish I could play that well and create harmonica renditions of whatever I felt like, it is a cool skill to have. I'd like to hear oldies but goodies brought into a new light. Or original writings/compositions. Otherwise, very nice playing. Too be honest I was more interested/enjoying in her singing then her playing in the Help Me video.
----------
~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
"some are using them [youtube] as a way to lead their businesses (selling CDs, custom harmonicas, microphones, you name it)."
to me, she makes it sound like she aint hawking her stuff. but she has this on almost everything post SPAH: "IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME TO RELEASE MY FIRST CD, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DONATE WHAT YOU WANT HERE"
Budazero, that's not a personal attack, it's true. People have asked to see videos or hear audio clips, and he doesn't post them but CLAIMS he is world class, and then insults other people who post their music. I made an observation and I posted what I found, and it's cowardice. Prove me wrong.
"I made an observation and I posted what I found, and it's cowardice. Prove me wrong."
Don't challenge me, young'un.
You are labeling someone a coward. That is the online equivalent of an attack. His claim to "world class" is a signature line. It is a printed word. It could be tongue-in-cheek, sarcasm or an ego-driven self-assessment. I don't believe that is for you to determine, except as your own suspicion or belief.
As for his not posting anything, who cares? You? And, why would that be? I further suspect that you are salivating at the prospect of criticizing anything he was to post, on only the motivation of getting back at him for somehow offending your sense of right and wrong.
Clearly, you are entitled to your opinion. However, this smells like your panties are in a wad in regard Mr Sandy88 over past feather ruffling.
My own assholish opinion is that "Sandy88" will continue to rub you the wrong way, precisely because you take the bait.....every time.
Do you take the bait every time someone posts something like this? Seems like you can't handle when someone disagrees with you!
Look, he went on a limb to insult me, Brandon Bailey, and now her, also Chris Michalek, and many others. I called him a coward. Sure, a personal attack, but guess what, is it NOT true? Who is he? You know who I am, and so doesn't others. Now, tell me who he is. Show me a picture, videos. I think a coward is someone who does stuff like this without showing himself. He's hiding behind a screen. Don't say I am, too, because guess what...you know who I am, and so doesn't others. I stand by my statement because until he proves me wrong, I stand by my statements.
Kyzer, I try to be the best person I can be all of the time, on all mediums. We all mess up and that's cool, we're human!!! But, this Sandy fella just lacks social skills I believe. I don't mean to start fights, but I believe ignoring someone only works for so long. Plus, I'm very opinionated...that's not a good thing for us youth to have! ;)
Zack > cool it. Just ignore the coward. Nearly everyone would agree with you but after a while it becomes boring. All of us should read 'desiderata' as it says it all:-
"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
Hey Zack...I think what Buzadero is trying to say is that as you get older you will realise that there are more important things in life than worrying what a wind-up merchant like Sandy has to say. Professional trolls like that positively cum in their pants when they get a reaction to things they post and good ones like Sandy will suck you in if you let them. As the saying goes...don't feed the troll. Nate did the right thing in deleting his posts...just ignore him.
A fat guy in his crusty pants sitting at his laptop with no friends is someone to be pitied at the end of the day (that is the offical profile of most trolls I believe) ---------- Oisin ---------- Oisin
Oisin and Aussie, in the end some people aren't the type to ignore, I bring it up. It's who I am, age won't change that, and I know this. It's a personality trait, and I think it's a good one. I'll go listen to some Michael Jackson now.
For Zydeco music check out Cliften's son "CJ Chenier". The blues influnece is obvious so too is the Cajun. My favorite album is Let me in you heart but it was never recorded on CD and I wore out my tape years ago.
Christelle like many of us sing out of necessity. I would much rather play than sing but you do what you gotta do.
Pretty close. We ALL sit behind keyboards and type snipe. To throw out crap from that safe position is one thing. To perpetuate the nonsense by typing even more crap, that merely only attacks and references the first crap is the privilege of the young and/or immature.
It doesn't matter if you call yourself a screen name, or use your real name, or some made up name that sounds like a real name. You are still essentially anonymous and what you say is only important to you.
The really comical part is just how earnestly upset young Zack can sound. Even through the keyboard I can hear his voice go up an octave and crack.
Sandy is indeed enjoying the hell out of all of this.
My original point was to echo that of the Esteemed Mr Heumann, if you don't like the post, don't read any more. You have the power. If you choose to forfeit it that's your business. But don't bitch about it and whine that justice needs to be meted by someone else.... on your behalf.... to make your world a nicer place.... for you.
Although, when I read back through the posts of Zack the Impetuous, I am reminded of the 20th century philosphy of the collective trust that produced the fine gem distinguishing between argument and contradiction:
And for those too lazy to copy and paste the URL, Buz is of course talking about Monty Python's brilliant and immortal "argument clinic" sketch. My favorite line of which. is......"not necessarily... I could be arguing in my spare time"
Have a listen, guaranteeed to crack you up, or a least make you smile a bit, assuming you have a pulse.
I've also met some great vocalists who weren't really comfortable with their own voices when heard played back to them, and some of them, who shall remain nameless, are some very big names, so I perfectly understand being not very confident in one's own vocals.
There are plenty of vocalists with very limited range, but are able to use what they have very expressively, and the first to come to mind is Billie Holliday.
For anyone whose primary language isn't English, of course one is gonna have some difficulty with the enunciation for awhile, but to even come close to it is gonna take a few years of non stop hard work and that's the reality of it. Christelle's been playing for less than 10 years and from what I gather, singing for probably less than that, and so like anything else, there's always a learning curve and there's gonna be times that you're gonna have to make mistakes and look like crap so you can get further on to one's goals, much like anything else, and if you're too afraid of screwing up, you never progress. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Buzadero, my voice doesn't crack and I can reach my falsetto without cracking. So, you shouldn't claim you can hear my voice go up an octave and crack, because I feel that was an insult. Plus, I find it odd that you could even hear me at this very moment.
This thread used to be about Christelle and her version of a SBW song. Something happened along the way, and a lot of egos got involved. Maybe it would be a good idea if we sorta brought it back around to the topic at hand. Or ended it.
Personally, I sort of like her vocal. But, then, I like Howlin' Wolf's vocals, too. Each strikes me in a sort of primal way and blues is a sort of primal art form. Sure, it's different, but that's what makes it interesting.
And, so far as I am concerned, the mere fact that Christelle's vocal rendition provoked 3 pages of wandering discussion is a testament to the fact that her vocal rendition has aesthetic validity as an artistic statement. If it didn't, there would not be so many reactions to it.
OK - My initial reaction was that liked Christelle's version of Help Me. It is nice to hear an alternative take on an old song and her vocal style created that. I don't feel qualified to give the performance an in-depth analysis, but would say that the harp tone sounded good.
The only other point of interest in the ensuing comments (I have followed this in a state of amazement at the mean-spirited tone of some contributors) is to discover that Christelle is a very reluctant singer. I can relate to this as I am VERY self-concious about my singing voice, and wouldn't have the bottle to post a YouTube video with me singing. Christelle did have the bottle, so well done girl and all best wishes from the UK.
Already said the harp playing was excellent and enough like the original while making it her own. The vocals i likened to a female Louie Armstrong and if there is room for a male version there is room for a female version.
From your response, and Adam thanks for posting, the fear you have is a tough situation. When i was young I had a damn good voice but was terrified to even get up in front of class in school. So I can sort of relate to your situation. And bravo to dealing with it.
With respect to your accent, I have seem your videos for Seydel and all I can say is - I can listen to you say the word harmonica with that accent all day long.
Her harp playing rocks more than most of the videos out there. It is a great example to me of a solid nod to the original that builds with variations on the theme later on.
Christelle your singing is good on this I think. Getting some good emotion on it, I actually wouldn't mind hearing more emotion in it like in your harp playing. I always think of this as a pretty desperate love song, I could be wrong but that is what it is to me.
nice to hear some OBs on a traditional tune. I just wish one or two of them were a little smoother like the rest of your playing. ( I intend this as constructive feedback from my point of view )
I hope you never leave this Forum or You tube. It would be a great loss to us.
Jason ,.I do believe she did leave MBH a while back ,..I could be wrong,.. ---------- Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
Last Edited by on Nov 19, 2010 12:54 AM
