Okay. Since I basically know every Bee Gees’ song ever, I’m going to actually do a breakdown of tonight’s performances.
Melinda — We love her. Singing “Love You Inside and Out.” Uhm, dear heart? Not great. Some of these Bee Gee songs are just meant to be sung falsetto. That’s all there is to it. I don’t know how else to explain it. You need to tread lightly with certian Bee Gees’ songs. Literally. They had this lush lightness from their combined falsettoes that just isn’t easily shaken or forgotten. So — full voice here, just …. didn’a work.
Blake — Singing “You Should Be Dancing.” Okay. Well, I do like your hair darker. So keep that. The beatboxing? Thought it was too much Mork from Ork. But that’s me. Na-a-A-a-A-nu-u-U-u-U Na-a-a-a-nuuu-U-u-U-u-U-u-UUU.
La Kisha — Singing “Stayin’ Alive.” Okay. Look. All you guys — you final four — should be picking other Bee Gees’ songs. Not such megahits. Barry Gibb — the dude can write a song, so there’s a lot to choose from. How ’bout “Words” or “Fanny” or “How Can you Mend a Broken Heart” or “Love Me, Please” or something else? Not these. Not these iconically FALSETTO songs sung full-throttle gospel choir voice. No. Nope. Sorry, babe.
Jordin — Singing “To Love Somebody.” Okay. This one has a chance. I’m so rooting for her in this. Waaaait for it. Ooooh. She mixed it up, riffed it a bit. It was good. Really good. That one worked. They give her the love, all three of ’em.
Just an aside here. A helpful list of songs not to pick, kiddos, because I think I can turn back time and make you change your minds:
Night Fever
Jive Talkin’
Tragedy
Nights on Broadway
Round 2
Melinda again — “How Can You Mend …” Okay. Now watch. She’ll nail it. This song will work. Betcha. And see? Great. Told ya. They love her on this one.
(Wow. You know, this is really a stellar review. I am on FIRE! Things like “Nope” and “Betcha” and “Told ya.” Don’t be stealing my quotes!)
Blake — Singing “This is Where I Came In.” Oh, Barry. I love you. Just sit there in those white pants forever, please, but I do not like this song. Maybe they’ll like his modern take. And his argyle sweater. And the omnipresent beatboxing. The whole thing was truly deeply weird-O. But I still like his hair.
Commercial break where I predict what La Kisha will sing: Ummm, she’ll do “Words.” Let’s see if I’m right.
I’m not. Drat.
La Kisha — Singing “Run to Me.” But she can do this one. I think. Okay. Uh. Seemed all right to me. Again, a heavier voice just doesn’t work on some of these. Mostly my problem with her is, well, I am always aware of her totally extreme boobins. The way they track the camera. Like the way The Mona Lisa tracks people who stand in front of her and it’s all eerie. And I say this as a woman with large boobins myself. However, there are boobins and then, there are BOOOOBins. You know? I know you know.
Hm. I sense yet another post getting slightly away from me.
Okay. So.
Jordin — Singing “A Woman in Love.” She’s gonna be amazing, I think. Let’s see. Listen, shall we? She’s had some crackles here and there and I’m not sure — uhm, is she pitchy? Still, it’s dramatic in a sort of “Oh, Lord, what’s gonna happen?” sort of way. A little out of her range, I think. Beautiful dress. She so purty. Randy said, “Pitchy.” Told ya. Poorla said, “You’re beautiful.” Told ya. She’s had the best night, definitely.
Okay, well, I’m done here, thankfully, and really …. “it’s only words and words are all I have … to fill a blank blog paaaage!”
I was reffing and I missed the Bee Gees. :::miffed::: And wait until Sheila gets here! We had the huuuuuge love-in for the Bee Gees over at her blog, back in the day.
If I were to desecrate the American listening audience with my caterwauling, I’d have gone after two of these three:
“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”
“Spicks and Specks”
“Too Much Heaven”
Yes, the last is a falsetto classic, but I can’t help it. It CAN sound good in high tenor. In general, you’d have to try to keep away from the harmonies that were such a strength for them.
Bonus – “Don’t Forget to Remember,” which I would have broken out for Country Night. (Well, that or Steely Dan’s “With a Gun.” I like the non-country acts with country songs. Actually, “Digging” by Seatbelts is a great song too. Curse my nasally voice!)
Too Much Heaven!! Oh, love that. You can always do an audio file on your blog. 😉
I remember being obsessed with ANDY Gibbs’ version of “Don’t Throw it All Away.” Listened to it over and over and over, wondering how anyone could ever throw away his love, promising I never would.
Then he died. And who’s throwing what away, Andy? I’m so mad at you. Still.
Have you ever heard Robin Gibb’s version of “Love Me, Please”? Yvonne Elliman — I think — had a big hit with it lonnng time ago. He has the weirdest voice of the three, I think, but I really really like the quavery-ness on that particular song. He’s totally begging to still be loved and it’s really quite pathetic, on and on, and then at some point every time I listen, I’m like “All right, already, Robin. Please calm thyself.” But, the thing is, I actually LIKE getting to that moment where I’m unresponsive and sick of his begging.
Which seems sadistic now that I write it out.
“Calm thyself.” Ha! Robin’s is the version on the 2-CD greatest hits collection I have.
As for audio… I have considered a podcast, but gracious, I can’t SING on it. Trust me.
We must have the same CD, NF! Hahahahaha!
Bummer I missed it. I actually am one of two guys that will publicly admit that I like the Bee Gees. “Too Much Heaven†say no more, love it.