Shed that dignity, pop star.
If you're not willing to look like a stripper, and you're female, don't expect to get anywhere in modern pop music.
Adele did it, which is cool, and sort of miraculous.
However, I found something today which turned the stomachs of my wife and I, and I thought I'd share our criticism with the world.
Here is the offending material:
Zero out of five stars.
First off, let me say that I am not making a judgement about Reinhart, personally or artistically. She's fine, she's doing her thing, and she's making money. Good for her.
What I have a problem with is the artistic direction of the video, which serves to belittle all females into previously relegated roles of social servitude, not independence, freedom, originality, or intelligence.
But who cares, right? Reinhart gets her 15 min, a website, a tour with American Idol, attention, and the empty praise for looking good all females are conditioned to seek out. Reinhart's made an entire career out of it, but it's not like she's the first. She's just the newest incarnation.
The music of the song Free is also hackneyed and boring. Cringe-inducing. Telling is that it's the one song on Listen Up! on which Reinhart isn't credited as co-writer. Interscope Records picks the one song she didn't have anything to do with to make into the single and music video.
"Haley, your songs are good, but they're just not shitty enough. Let us help you out and write one for you--we know all the tricks and secrets. You want soul? We'll make you sound exactly like a second-rate Amy Winehouse."
IMO, if you've got people writing your songs for you, you're a cover artist.
I think that if Reinhart had asserted more control over the making of her album, Spotify wouldn't be hyping it so much (just heard an ad for her in the middle of my Virus playlist), and it wouldn't be getting the attention it's getting. Why? Because slutty sells, Interscope Records knows slutty, and slutty Interscope has made Reinhart.
What attracted me to Reinhart initially was this picture of her on Spotify. It's an image of her from the cover of Listen Up! I liked her look--it reminded me of the eighties. I imagined her to be a true throwback to that era's lovable corniness, but mixing in a modern sensibility, like Escort does.
Escort rules.
Then I show the Reinhart image to my more fashion-conscious wife, who schooled me as to what's going on in that photo.
Her hair looks like Jessie Spano, who hails atop her wacky throne from the early nineties. Reinhart's bra is a sixties style, which I believe was included for two reasons. 1) Mad Men is popular. 2) Reinhart was OBVIOUSLY coached, at least on Free, to sacrifice her own voice in favor of modern production values. Meaning: she sounds like everybody fucking else these days. No originality. Auto-tuned. Glossed-over.
Stinky.
The new song Free by Haley Reinhart, new music video, from the new album Listen Up! (19 Entertainment/Interscope Records) 19 Entertainment Interscope Records, which is gonna drop and be dropped, search engine optimization, made Megan and I cringe. We couldn't watch more than one minute of that shit, it's fucking terrible.
I don't believe it's Reinhart's fault. The video, the album cover, the sound--it all reeks of soulless modern production values and immoral marketing tactics, marketed to self-serving-morals-only-loving middle America.
You think anyone cool in New York or Seattle is going to give a shit about Reinhart?
For some reason, musical artists, to be popular, have to be the most beautiful things that ever existed. No imperfection. Glossy. Spray-tanned. Supermodel hair. Anything less than the height of glamour is unacceptable. It's ridiculous.
The music video for Free displays this perfectly--stripper shoes, short shorts, hair processed beyond belief, the slow writhing of her hips, how she moves her legs, pouts her lips, and gives seductive glances to the camera with head turned just so.
I mean, it's hot, yeah. But that's why there's porn. We don't need the crossover. You know, I'd bet that the video for Free looks that way so that Interscope can catch some of that porn-consuming crowd. You realize how huge of an industry porn is, right? Anything to get views, right Interscope? Who cares what it does to the psyche of the developing young women.
Look at her, she's a fucking teenager! Gross!
I think this video was designed specifically for women. You'd think that they're trying to attract men, with all the sexiness designed to attract heterosexual men. The only reason a man would watch this video is to gain sexual arousal, or he's researching good tranny outfits and dance moves.
The underlying purpose is: Girls--emulate this.
This video teaches females to, first of all, be heterosexual at all costs. Then: pursue the man, be sexy, bury your individuality, do what you're told, be a tool, abandon your dreams of lasting fame in favor of 15 min, get your nails done, DON'T BE HEAVIER THAN A TWIG, getcha hair did, look perfect, don't show imperfection, be graceful and have stripper dance moves, and be part of this clique designed not by you or your friends, but by record companies trying to make money by selling this dream to you and your friends.
And you know a teenager is going to be WAY more influenced by this than an adult would be. Thus, this shit is specifically marketed to children and teenagers.
It's not cool. Not okay. Women need to be given the same freedom as men to be rugged and rough if they want to be. But you know what? Men don't have the freedom to be soft, sensitive and emotional. It has a little to do with our chemistry, but much, much more with social and cultural pressure.
The video for Free wasn't meant to be a lasting product--to stand the test of time. People will forget about this drivel by day three after its release.
BOYCOTT INTERSCOPE!!!
Girls--don't buy Haley Reinhart's new album Listen Up! out soon on Interscope Records!
The new Usher track Dreams sucks, too.
If you're not willing to look like a stripper, and you're female, don't expect to get anywhere in modern pop music.
Adele did it, which is cool, and sort of miraculous.
However, I found something today which turned the stomachs of my wife and I, and I thought I'd share our criticism with the world.
Here is the offending material:
Zero out of five stars.
First off, let me say that I am not making a judgement about Reinhart, personally or artistically. She's fine, she's doing her thing, and she's making money. Good for her.
What I have a problem with is the artistic direction of the video, which serves to belittle all females into previously relegated roles of social servitude, not independence, freedom, originality, or intelligence.
But who cares, right? Reinhart gets her 15 min, a website, a tour with American Idol, attention, and the empty praise for looking good all females are conditioned to seek out. Reinhart's made an entire career out of it, but it's not like she's the first. She's just the newest incarnation.
The music of the song Free is also hackneyed and boring. Cringe-inducing. Telling is that it's the one song on Listen Up! on which Reinhart isn't credited as co-writer. Interscope Records picks the one song she didn't have anything to do with to make into the single and music video.
"Haley, your songs are good, but they're just not shitty enough. Let us help you out and write one for you--we know all the tricks and secrets. You want soul? We'll make you sound exactly like a second-rate Amy Winehouse."
IMO, if you've got people writing your songs for you, you're a cover artist.
 |
| I'm rich and glossy. |
What attracted me to Reinhart initially was this picture of her on Spotify. It's an image of her from the cover of Listen Up! I liked her look--it reminded me of the eighties. I imagined her to be a true throwback to that era's lovable corniness, but mixing in a modern sensibility, like Escort does.
Escort rules.
Then I show the Reinhart image to my more fashion-conscious wife, who schooled me as to what's going on in that photo.
 |
| Better than Reinhart |
Stinky.
The new song Free by Haley Reinhart, new music video, from the new album Listen Up! (19 Entertainment/Interscope Records) 19 Entertainment Interscope Records, which is gonna drop and be dropped, search engine optimization, made Megan and I cringe. We couldn't watch more than one minute of that shit, it's fucking terrible.
I don't believe it's Reinhart's fault. The video, the album cover, the sound--it all reeks of soulless modern production values and immoral marketing tactics, marketed to self-serving-morals-only-loving middle America.
You think anyone cool in New York or Seattle is going to give a shit about Reinhart?
For some reason, musical artists, to be popular, have to be the most beautiful things that ever existed. No imperfection. Glossy. Spray-tanned. Supermodel hair. Anything less than the height of glamour is unacceptable. It's ridiculous.
The music video for Free displays this perfectly--stripper shoes, short shorts, hair processed beyond belief, the slow writhing of her hips, how she moves her legs, pouts her lips, and gives seductive glances to the camera with head turned just so.
I mean, it's hot, yeah. But that's why there's porn. We don't need the crossover. You know, I'd bet that the video for Free looks that way so that Interscope can catch some of that porn-consuming crowd. You realize how huge of an industry porn is, right? Anything to get views, right Interscope? Who cares what it does to the psyche of the developing young women.
Look at her, she's a fucking teenager! Gross!
I think this video was designed specifically for women. You'd think that they're trying to attract men, with all the sexiness designed to attract heterosexual men. The only reason a man would watch this video is to gain sexual arousal, or he's researching good tranny outfits and dance moves.
The underlying purpose is: Girls--emulate this.
This video teaches females to, first of all, be heterosexual at all costs. Then: pursue the man, be sexy, bury your individuality, do what you're told, be a tool, abandon your dreams of lasting fame in favor of 15 min, get your nails done, DON'T BE HEAVIER THAN A TWIG, getcha hair did, look perfect, don't show imperfection, be graceful and have stripper dance moves, and be part of this clique designed not by you or your friends, but by record companies trying to make money by selling this dream to you and your friends.
And you know a teenager is going to be WAY more influenced by this than an adult would be. Thus, this shit is specifically marketed to children and teenagers.
It's not cool. Not okay. Women need to be given the same freedom as men to be rugged and rough if they want to be. But you know what? Men don't have the freedom to be soft, sensitive and emotional. It has a little to do with our chemistry, but much, much more with social and cultural pressure.
The video for Free wasn't meant to be a lasting product--to stand the test of time. People will forget about this drivel by day three after its release.
BOYCOTT INTERSCOPE!!!
Girls--don't buy Haley Reinhart's new album Listen Up! out soon on Interscope Records!
The new Usher track Dreams sucks, too.
"The music of the song Free is also hackneyed and boring. Cringe-inducing."
ReplyDeleteHaley on choosing Free:
“From the first chord the piano hit, just hearing the piano raw, alone was cool. The chords aren’t your typical chords. The chord progression was beautiful. It’s a waltz, which also caught my attention, because I love that. Not that I’m trying to be so different, but I don’t really like the most obvious and typical stuff...It just had a lot of different elements in it that struck me to be hypnotic.”
On what she wanted in her new album Listen Up:
“I wanted it to definitely be a mash-up of old and new, retro and modern. Things like funk and jazz and rock and pop and definitely soul throughout the entire album...As well as keeping it very organic and rooted, but then having something like program drums — we used that at times because the other portions of the music material were very much organic. It’s completely me and showing the kind of artist that I’ve always going to be.”
On current artists that she’s listening to:
“It’s crazy now that Adele has become a genre — her name. It’s crazy because she’s so talented, and she slipped through and just made it. I mean, her voice sells it. And there’s plenty of people out there that don’t get that chance. So, I’m very happy that there’s Amy Winehouse, who started it all out, and came out with this raw talent. And people like Duffy, Corinne Bailey Rae, Janelle Monae, Esperanza Spalding. I love that sound. They all just came through and created this lane that I’ve always wanted to be a part of.” [Reinhart later mentioned her growing affection for Alabama Shakes]
--------------------------
Cliff notes:
Haley is intelligent and talented. She has long had an affinity for retro looks and music. She had creative control in the making of her album and it reflects that.
I think you saw a young woman wearing shorts who was an American Idol alum signed to a big label and dismissed her as a person and an artist because of that.
I wasn't familiar with Escort, so I did a quick YouTube search and the first result was this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIFRPCo6AYM
I see the lead singer is showing her legs, wearing shorts shorter than Haley did in the "Free" video and moving her butt with the rhythm.
Here's a picture of her standing still: http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles/50317/projects/862629/ac44fa86e961b06806ff95bf9b215e32.jpg
Hmm...
That Escort video is fucking awesome! You can't tell me that's not a hot song. Why did you post that? You've reinforced my argument that Escort blows Reinhart out of the water. "Free" is a mid-tempo, boring, run-of-the-mill, dated-even-though-its-new style. Now doing disco? Sure, it's dated, but this isn't the disco time period! That takes ingenuity to latch onto an antiquated style like that, and make it cool for today's audiences.
DeleteAlso, that singer is also a model. Here's her website:
http://www.adelinem.com/
Unless I'm mistaken, Reinhart is not a model. American Idol is pretty terrible shit, and one of the reasons why is that they breed this culture of tying glamour to music. Not Reinhart is kinda gotta be typecast into that role, thus you have her looking HD, camera in her face, doing STRIPPER DANCE MOVES and wearing STRIPPER SHOES.
Marketed to kids.
Now that's my reply to your argument that Reinhart is somehow on equal terms with Escort.
DeleteWhen Adeline Michele is showing skin, it's tasteful, and it's making a statement. She's not dancing like a stripper in that "Cocaine Blues" video, she's dancing like she likes the music. Dancing involves shaking some booty. Reinhart's version of dancing is slowly writhing on the mic, like it's her stripper's pole.
Reinhart is marketed as eye candy for guys, and thusly as a role model for girls. That's socially irresponsible BECAUSE it's not porn--it's music.
Now to your posting of quotes from Reinhart.
Quote 1:
So she liked the song cause it sounded cool. What does that prove? She can say she doesn't "like the most obvious and typical stuff," but "Free" is obvious and typical.
Quote 2:
There's a typo at the end there.
Reinhart can say what she wants about what kind of artist she wants to be, but what's important is what kind of artist she's represented as. See the difference? What she's represented as is what is fed to the world, not the bright, shining talent I'm sure she may have for songwriting, as well as singing.
Yes, Reinhart is a good singer. There, I said it. Admittedly, I like a lot of metal music where one singer sounds just like another from another band. There's nothing wrong with Reinhart emulating Winehouse. I guess. Except that it's lame and Reinhart could try to be less forcefully smoky, and more natural. It's like her voice is trying to seduce the listener, as well as her stripper dance moves in the video.
She's being lead down a road of ruin by her record company and whatever contract she's under. That's my opinion.
I'm not saying that Haley herself is not a beautiful person, nor am I saying she isn't a talented songwriter. It's just that she's being controlled. But my review is not of her album; it's of "Free." I haven't heard her album--that's why I'm not reviewing it.
Quote 3:
Of course she has to tell the press that she likes Adele! Everyone would think she's an idiot for saying otherwise; to do so would be career suicide. Do you think her agents don't tell her exactly what to say in public?
I'm not saying she's lying. I'm just saying, "Duh." When did I say that Reinhart doesn't respect Adele? I just said that her voice is a second-rate Amy Winehouse, she's got this soulful vibe that clashes with sluttiness, and she's autotuned on her album.
I'll bet you a dollar that there's autotuning on her vocals on "Free."
And of course Reinhart likes Amy Winehouse, she's going for the same vibe. Duh. Winehouse did it first, just like Reinhart said in that quote you posted, and now there are hordes of imitators.
I typed a lengthy comment and struck my ergonomic mouse that has a couple of buttons at the bottom against the keyboard before I posted. Lost what I said.
DeleteI spent about an hour on it. Suffice it to say, Haley is in control.
Abbreviated form without nuances or quotes (edit: I'm going to drop some quotes in):
In high school, she was something of a tomboy but "rocked those clothes." Nonetheless, she was well liked and respected by her peers and teachers. On Idol, which has a conservative audience, she was widely derided for her dress and being immune to criticism (which was viewed as being disrespectful to the judges).
------------------------------------------
A response to the Idol audience:
"I knew her personally as a former teacher, and I can comfortably say there isn’t one sense of entitlement, or snobbery in that kid. She’s humble, eager to improve, and totally laid back. She was incredibly encouraging, helpful and supportive of her peers, and she’s always been a very smart musician, both theoretically and creatively. She’s been exposed to a huge variety of music her whole life, and it shows comfortably in anything she attempts to sing. She’s always well liked, very respectful, and is the furthest thing from a diva. She’s not one to look for praise, she just loves any opportunity to sing, and it shows when she performs. I always have fun when she’s singing, because I feel she’s welcomed me to enjoy with her what she loves about singing. She’s also very close to her family! If you see a snob, you’re really off!"
------------------------------------------
After finishing in the bottom three many times, she rose to the top three. Along the way, she battled what many believe was biased judging (commented on by the press) because the people in charge desired a teen winner in the country music genre (they took the top 2 spots).
It came to a head one night when Steven Tyler confronted Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez. "Haley, don't listen to them! What do you get from that? They're both wrong! That song showed me that you can. It wasn’t a hit song but you sang it, you nailed it.The upper register, you nailed it, you nailed it with feeling. You pushed it over the top. The audience heard it and America heard it.”
He told Ryan Seacrest later that night, in an interview that wasn't widely viewed, they had agreed beforehand to criticize the song before he realized it was about showing this girl could sing. "Randy's not a singer...She nailed it. She used her voice just the way she was supposed to...she delivered it like the blue plate special, it was just so good...it showed she had emotion, and it showed she could sing...(the bussing) pissed me off...the best singers have character...If you watch Reinhart up there, every bad comment she gets, it rolls right off, that's how good she is..."
He said the best singers had character and that sometimes pushed people away. It did.
Yet before Haley's first live performance, they played a tape of her saying she wanted to be an inspiration to people around the world one day. That sounds haughty and they likely played it to make her an object of derision.
But you know what? Countless young women on Twitter and Tumblr and in real life - from around the world - have told Haley that her belief in her abilities and who she was had inspired them. A couple have credited her with saving their lives, including one that used to cut herself and provided photographic evidence to that effect.
That comfort with herself comes from her loving relationship with her parents. They don't seem as inclined to judge a book by its cover as you do.
After her hometown visit televised on Idol, they appeared before the town council to thank them for hosting it. Haley's mother told the mayor Haley wanted to be a role model for young women and if she wasn't she would have to answer to her. A couple of weeks later, when Haley was back in town, they brought her back to thank the council herself.
Why did I post the Escort video? I think I made it fairly clear. You dismissed Haley Reinhart as an artist after a minute because you were offended by her dress. Yet here was "Escort" (suggestive name) with a lead singer that was wearing shorter shorts and also moving to the rhythm of the music.
DeleteI posted it to show that you were not consistent in your standards.
From what I know of you, I think you're a nice guy and a sensitive individual. I also think you come across a little full of yourself and that's most likely bluster to cover up your insecurities;
While it may please your wife, I think you do a disservice to your daughters to judge young women based on their appearance and not their character/abilities/intelligence.
As for Haley needing auto-tune, that's not true.
ReplyDeleteHere is Haley performing "Free" for the first time in public. She is accompanied by just a piano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR69UUygxJg
Nice. But I'm not saying she's autotuned live. I'm saying she's autotuned on "Free."
Delete"Nice. But I'm not saying she's autotuned live. I'm saying she's autotuned on 'Free."
DeleteHaley's fans noted when "Free" was released that her voice sounded compressed at the beginning. That's not unlike another singer you liked whom you said sounded "rushed" in order to make it radio friendly.
Haley is a fantastic live performer.
Its clear this clown didn't bother to listen to her album or find out anything about Haley before spouting this useless drivel. He took one look at the video and without any thought made up his mind regardless of the songs meaning which is 100 x more mature than anything on pop radio today
ReplyDeleteWow, The Dawg. Glad to have met you. Where'd you think that name up? I bet there's a rich story there.
DeleteI'm notaclown, you'reaclown!
I made up my mind about her looking like a stripper when I saw her wearing stripper shoes and dancing like a stripper.
Then I came to the conclusion that that's not good for girls and boys to see.
Your argument is invalid.
Please do explain to me how the lyrics of "Free" are "100 x more mature than anything on pop radio today."
Typos on your part I have to point out because you called me a clown and said my review was useless drivel:
Sentence 1:
1. It's
2. Say "Haley" before referring to her as "her."
Sentence 2:
3. comma after "and"
4. comma after "thought"
5. comma after "mind"
6. song's
7. comma after "meaning"
8. times, not "x"
9. no punctuation at end
10. If it was properly spelled and punctuated, that would be a hella long run-on sentence, The Dawg. As it is now, it's nothing more than
11. useless drivel.
"So she liked the song cause it sounded cool. What does that prove?"
DeleteShe liked the song because she recognized the chord progression on the piano was unusual. You, on the other hand, checked out because you found the song boring.
"My review is not of her album; it's of "Free." I haven't heard her album..."
You gave a review of "Free" and a criticism of Haley based on hearing one minute of the song that was burdened by your impressions of American Idol, a big label and pop music in general. You, and your wife, dismissed a young woman based on her appearance and your preconceived notions.
Haley has been performing on stage since she was 8. As her HS teacher said, she's been exposed to a wide variety of musical influences. She loves Jazz, but that's not as commercially viable so for her debut album she incorporated it and a variety of genres.
iTunes gives you the opportunity to preview the songs on her album. But, having dismissed "Free," you exhibited no musical curiosity and instead assumed she had no talent as a songwriter or musician.
In reality, unlike the top 2 AI contestants, she insisted on not recording the album while on the AI tour. The label did record "Free" and put the wheels in motion before they knew what she was capable of, but her fans favor other songs on her album for the most part.
"I'm notaclown you'reaclown" <----------- I see you're not immune to typos or whatever this giibberish is.
DeleteAs far as explaining how the lyrics are more mature if you can't figure that out yourself than you really are a useless clown. If you watch the whole video, which I doubt you have, you see she dresses more conservatively as the video progresses. There is a point to that progression, unfortunately it is clear that you have an empty noggin and will never figure it out on your own.
Miguel, you work for Haley, so don't even front, you record company tool.
DeleteI answered this accusation a few hours ago. Where did it go Glenn?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLOL. First of all, Haley is not a "cover artist", she is an ARTIST. She co-wrote every song on her album, including about 16 more songs which didn't make the album because they wouldn't release a 30 song album. The only song she didn't co-write was Free.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, her music does not just appeal to teenagers. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Thirdly, what song isn't edited to make a studio version? You're basically saying that because she cannot hit every note 100% perfectly every time she sings, she isn't talented? She sings live, extremely well, if she didn't, she wouldn't have placed 3rd on American Idol.
Also, her video is not offensive. She isn't half naked like most girls (Jlo, Gaga, etc) are these days. If you think that she is a bad person in any way, you are totally wrong.
This post is hilariously ridiculous.
Have fun with your life. Go on supporting Haley Reinhart. Whooo!
DeleteSo what age demographic do you think Reinhart's producers are going after? The over-31 crowd?
Live singing is hard. What are you talking about? And I'm fine with a little editing here and there, but auto-tuning a vocalist is unethical to me. The vocalist's voice needs to be able to stand out on its own--compression, equalizer shifting--that's all fine. But auto-tuning her voice so that she's got picture-perfect pitch? It's unnatural and robotic. A human voice needs to be able to hit those idiosyncrasies, outside the realm of the key signature.
And auto-tuning is the industry standard these days for pop music. So I'll bet you a dollar (and I will come thru on this if you prove me wrong) she's auto-tuned on the studio/video version of "Free."
Your comment is not very well-written. Steven.
Haley performed new songs live every week before nearly 20 million people. When she was voted off, the audience for the performance finale dropped by 3 million.
DeleteAlso, she is not marketed as "eye candy for men" - she is doing this because she loves music and is an artist. Your post doesn't make any sense, just because you don't like her, doesn't mean there is something wrong with what she's doing.
ReplyDeleteListen to what you're saying--she dressed like that, in this video that's going to be seen by millions of people--because she loves music and is an artist?
DeleteThis comment is at least grammatically correct. Steven.
LOL you chose to talk about the only song in her whole album that she did not co-write. I am a teen and all i see in this 21 year old is confidence and going after her dreams, she has influenced me to do the same and she is classy. In no way do i see anything wrong with that video. I hope you hear the other songs in her album, we were all actually very surprised at how much freedom they gave Haley with it, and the fact that they let her wait until after tour to make the album: Haley- "It’s been this ongoing saying in my head: I'd rather get something right than rush it. And I really stuck to that statement because it's such a huge opportunity that they've given me, so why screw it up just for time's sake? I'd rather have people really be able to step back and get their money's worth and look at me as a true artist than somebody who is just regurgitating other material." I'm glad she took her time, and co-wrote everything, the previews sound great! Her Dad even played in 4 tracks on the album. I am a fan since idol but if she would have gone in a slutty route i wouldn't be here defending her.
ReplyDeleteI understand why you don't like Free, but have you at least listened to some of the covers she did on American Idol? She's very versatile and you can see this by the covers she did, like Led Zeppelin, Alanis Morissette, The animals etc.. She's a talent girl and in my opinion diferent from everything we ever saw on this reality, she made me watch this, so I know she has something special on her.
ReplyDeleteFree is the only song that she didn't write in the whole album (here are some of the previews if you want to have a more solid argument : http://soundcloud.com/igamusic/sets/haley-reinhart-listen-up/ ) Give it a chance, I'm sure you'll at least change some thoughs you have on Haley.
Glenn...not sure where all of this over the top criticism of the "Free" video came from. The video seems pretty tame compared to other videos, from country music to rap and rock that I have seen. Haley is a beautiful and sexy girl and sure, she is going to use that to some extent in the video. But, calling it porn is just way off.
ReplyDeleteBut in any case, I hope you give Haley another listen when the whole CD comes out. As others have noted, her new CD sounds amazing with hints of Motown/jazz/blues and her gorgeous bluesy voice driving all the tracks. "Free" may actually be one of the weaker songs on the CD. I hope you at least give it a listen when it comes out on 5/22.
Alright! Alright. You all win.
ReplyDeleteThere.
Okay. Let me explain myself a little bit.
First off, I admit the review was not well-written, nor was it well-researched. I wrote it on the fly while my wife had a day off, and the kids were running around, and she was getting pissed at me for taking so long typing...
But... you guys. Okay. The very beginning of the video is her with this ... you know what, her hair looks really good there, and hell in the whole video she does look cute, and awesome.
You know what? I never said I had anything against her as a person. Lots of hidden hands are involved in the corporate sponsorship of a new, up-and-coming artist.
And Hayley's young--she's got lots of potential. She could possibly take off and write a hit that gets steady airplay and becomes Bieber-esque. They're sinking a lot of money into her. But...
I've got two daughters. 3 and 1. I don't want them thinking it's okay to dress like that. Or that she's a role model.
And that's how they START the video. That's what lures the viewer in, don't you know--the first 30 seconds. She's eye candy, pure and simple. It's inelegant, even if the video becomes elegant as it goes on.
But it starts, after the anonymous piano-playing hands, with her doing stripper dance moves, with stripper shoes (how high are those heels?), short shorts, and she's strip-teasing the mic during the whole camera-spinaround thing.
A little over-the-top, EVEN IF they were trying to express, in whatever storyline the video was going for, that, in the beginning, as is expressed by the lyrics, she's trying to get her man, and that she'll belittle herself for him. They kinda were indulgent in expressing that.
The seduction is more than it needs to be to convey the point.
And I did watch to the end of the video. I saw Haley sadly kick the boytoy out. Okay, good. Not total slavery to the man. It reinforces the independence routine, and so on and so forth.
But can Haley become an Aretha? A Britney? An Adele? We'll see. I don't doubt she has the chops.
First, she must be seriously recognized as an artist. For this to happen, she's going to need to take nigh-complete control--which means writing her own songs, hiring her own musicians, and taking a greater role in album creation, than on "Listen Up!"
Bowie had backing musicians. Mike Garson and Reeves Gabrels. But he owned the show.
Escort blows Haley out of the water. They're original. They write and produce their own shit. In New York. Without the help of American Fuckall Idol.
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Delete"First, she must be seriously recognized as an artist. For this to happen, she's going to need to take nigh-complete control--which means writing her own songs, hiring her own musicians, and taking a greater role in album creation, than on "Listen Up!"
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She selected and recorded “Free” while on the Idol tour. The recording you hear was recorded on the first take. Beyond that, she has writing credit on every song. In that video above, recorded not long after she was signed, she states she will probably “have to fight my way in and stress this is the direction I want to go.”
In regards to hiring her own musicians, she selected those she will tour with. A casting call was held.
HALEY: “I had them learn the Allman Brothers’ "Whipping Post," Sly & the Family Stone "Sing A Simple Song" and then a little bit of "Freddy Freeloader," a jazz tune. So they got to show me complete opposites. Like, I wanted to know that they could do rock and funk and jazz. “
So…meet the band…
John Notto, the guitarist, is a young-looking guy with a 4-yr degree in Jazz studies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CbAeaH0xq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWlHZzPj2yk
The drummer, Breezy Lovejoy, does more than drum. He actually had his own band and is a member of another that will tour this July, including several appearances in the UK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvuuz29VvWE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt0xc8fm5os
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_2GEDwgmxI
In the second video above, you can also see Keith Phelps. He is a keyboardist who joined Haley’s band from North Carolina.
Keith is a self-taught jazz pianist from a musical family. He’s only about 19-years-old. In this video, he is about 17:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iEMckYTsmU
The bassist and music director is Courtney Leonard. He can also play the violin, trombone, tuba... And the drums, which he did last night during one of Haley’s promotional appearances (she is usually accompanied by just 2 musicians). He was in an award-winning high-school Jazz band and earned a full scholarship at a school where he became the Jazz Combo Student Condutor – which sparked his interest in becoming a Musical Director.
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"Escort blows Haley out of the water. They're original. They write and produce their own shit. In New York. Without the help of American Fuckall Idol."
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I enjoyed what I heard of Escort. They’re a 17-piece band. The creative force behind them is Dan Balis and Eugene Cho, who met at Vassar in an electronic music class at Vassar in the mid-1990s. Later they DJ’d together where they noticed the source of most of the house music’s vocal hooks was disco.
"And it just dawned on us to make our own music," Balis says. "We already knew how to play and write music. Instead of just cutting up samples, why not just write precisely the kind of music we wanted in the first place?"
They actually had musicians play one at a time and layered the tracks. They only assembled the entire band a few times a year. They released singles in 2006 and 2007 featured Zena Kitt as lead vocalist. Around the time they decided to record a full album, she struck out on her own.
Enter Adeline Michèle.
That was about a year and a half ago.
This is a song she wrote five years ago, presumably when she was closer to Haley’s age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgOdekQoQrs
You strike me as a bit provincial in that you seem overly concerned with what is happening in NYC. Much of the music industry is centered closer to you -- in LA. Haley was signed after AmericanIdol, not by them.
Anyway, the bottom line is you don’t want your daughters to dress like Haley did in the video because people like you will make assumptions about them.
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ReplyDelete“I've got two daughters. 3 and 1. I don't want them thinking it's okay to dress like that. Or that she's a role model.”
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God forbid your daughters grow up to be honor roll students and self-assured, kindhearted young women who unabashedly express their love for their family and are unafraid to pursue their dreams.
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“And that's how they START the video. That's what lures the viewer in, don't you know--the first 30 seconds. She's eye candy, pure and simple. It's inelegant, even if the video becomes elegant as it goes on.”
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It might be inelegant, but you have presumed it is their doing and not hers. That she is a pawn and not in control.
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“But it starts, after the anonymous piano-playing hands, with her doing stripper dance moves, with stripper shoes (how high are those heels?), short shorts, and she's strip-teasing the mic during the whole camera-spinaround thing.”
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Haley is comfortable with her body/sensuality and likes to be playful. But what you saw is about as far as she will ever take it. She’s more or less modeling herself after pinups from the 1950s. In this interview from the Idol tour, twenty-year-old Haley is asked about guys throwing themselves at her. She acknowledges she’s the favorite of many of the concertgoers’ dads and says she’s okay being a (sex) symbol, “It’s fun.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qNsqnVkadyQ
She doesn’t take herself too seriously and neither do her fans, many of whom consider her “adorkable.” For instance, she wanted to start her Bennie & the Jets performance on Idol in a slinky pose on top of the piano like Michelle Pfeiffer did in The Fabulous Baker Boys. But she’s a tiny girl – as you can see from that video above – so she had to somewhat awkwardly skooch herself off the piano to continue her performance.
The truth is Haley is much more alluring when she is being herself.
btw, those high heels? Not just for the video. She’s only about 4’11” so she wears them to add height. Of course, they also help her figure. Heels aside, she’s always exhibited a great sense of style when it comes to her clothing/accessories.
It might be a conscious choice on her part to play up the “sexy” because – being only 21 – it’s her understanding that’s part of being a pop star. Just like you and others apparently believe having long hair is a prerequisite to being a serious metal guitarist.
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“A little over-the-top, EVEN IF they were trying to express, in whatever storyline the video was going for, that, in the beginning, as is expressed by the lyrics, she's trying to get her man, and that she'll belittle herself for him. They kinda were indulgent in expressing that.
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Haley describes “Free” as an “empowering break up song.” You’ll notice at the beginning of the video she is doing all the talking and leads him out the door.
The lyrics tell the story of an on-again, off-again relationship. The “camera-spinaround thing” represents going in circles. You’ll notice as she’s on that platform he walks by with roses (courting her). Then he walks by with a suitcase (leaving her). Then he is seen on a bicycle (rinse/repeat).
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“And I did watch to the end of the video. I saw Haley sadly kick the boytoy out. Okay, good. Not total slavery to the man. It reinforces the independence routine, and so on and so forth.”
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Prior to that, you literally saw her in the driver’s seat.
New York Times review of "Listen Up!" (Haley's album):
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The signature shift in the post-Cowell era of “American Idol” is the show’s long-overdue reckoning with the marketplace. With Jimmy Iovine, the chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, as a mentor on the show, guiding contestants each week and underscoring their most appealing qualities while aiming to bang out their idiosyncratic dents, “Idol” is as primed as it probably can be to build a modern pop star.
Last year, when Haley Reinhart climbed her way to third on the show’s 10th season, she appeared to be anything but that. A gritty rock belter with an outsized voice that felt as if it needed boundaries, she often looked uncomfortable and unnatural onstage and uncertain about why pushing her voice to extremes wasn’t always the right idea.
If Ms. Reinhart is still overexerting herself on “Listen Up!,” her debut album, you can’t tell. “Listen Up!” is all shape, all fixed-data points for Ms. Reinhart to adhere to — a taut album full of meaty, thickly arranged pop-soul that suits her booming voice extremely well.
Ms. Reinhart still isn’t a pop star, but that’s fine. Produced primarily by Rob Kleiner and busbee, these songs hark back to the 1960s and ’70s, when Motown girl groups were ceding ground to soul-driven rock. It’s singers’ territory that shows off both the smooth power of Ms. Reinhart’s voice and its engine-revving churn. She lingers elegantly over notes at the end of lines, as on “Now That You’re Here,” and can tighten up into a growl when needed, as on “Liar.”
In contemporary pop terms, this is territory staked out by the likes of Bruno Mars, and the long shadow of Amy Winehouse hangs over the more wrenching soul numbers like “Wasted Tears” and “Oh My!,” on which Ms. Reinhart sounds comfortable, even flirty. That song is saddled with a nonsensical verse from the toothless rapper B.o.B, an absurd concession to the times and the only glaring misstep here.
On “Hit the Ground Runnin’,” Ms. Reinhart easily channels the Supremes, blending melody and sass:
If you think that I’m sweet
Sugar in your teeth
You better watch your mouth, boy
’Cause I don’t miss a beat
And you don’t know a thing about me.
It’s convincing and fresh. In a sense, this is what Cowell’s “Idol” had long been advocating — a return to standards and classic pop modes. It’s unfashionable and a bit out of touch, and what a smart thing that turns out to be.