Reality TV Shows

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Reality TV Shows

korriban · Challenger level

Bob in Spain wrote:
OK. So I am not really into the modern trend of Reality TV and Talent shows. Most of them make me cringe, at best.
But whilst I have been over here in Brazil, I have got into X Factor USA, mainly because it is one of the only shows that is in English and subtitled rather than dubbed. The vast majority of the contestants are classic karoake wannabes with limited talent. But then came this.
So if you are into the more oldfashioned type of music, where singers can actually sing (and be heard above the "noise" of the backing track), I thought you might like this. Call her a cross between Diana Ross, Whitney and Shirley Bassey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3U4kxuBfIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnYWsaWmXeY
These are her two audition performances. I had never heard the songs, but now I can't get them out of my head.
Hope you enjoy them. And if you don't, then you are probably much younger than me.

Impressive! Problem is that whilst the itunes using, music downloading younger generation might be impressed with her, they will probably never buy any of her music. The style is old fashioned - more our age range - and there is no edge or angle whatsoever. In some ways, that may have been the one of the problems for Whitney Houston (amongst many) - too "nice", too "boring", no "edge" - the other diva style global women singers have all done other stuff to appeal to a younger larger audience - such as........not wearing very much (Carey, Aguillera), superb dance routines (Beyonce), controversy (Gaga, Aguillera), fashion (Gaga), kookiness (Gaga, Perry), collaborations with rappers/newer kids (pretty much all the above).

Reminds me of Beverley Knight - awesome voice, very good looking, but absolutely no charisma, no edge, no ability to relate to a younger audience, no angle - and therefore stultifyingly boring.......she's got a great voice, but that's where it ends.

I'll wager you that by the end of the series the public will get bored with this woman, there will be a backlash, and she won't win.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Totally agree Korri. At the moment, to most of the younger voters, she is a "novelty act". But the novelty will wear off and they will go back to voting based on looks, personality and the stage production that is designed mostly to hide a singers lack of ability. The music industry these days is very little about singing talent and all about marketing - or more precisely, marketability.

She will make it through to the last 3 or 4,but no further.
Then she will do a couple of quick albums covering some timeless classics
Then obscurity and back to being a Grandmother.

But it won't stop an old fart like me from enjoying listening to her voice.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Well, if nothing else, Bob, she'll make a fortune in promotions for skins care products and what have you ! 54 - you what ?

I agree with korri re the youngsters but I think that at 54 she's not competing for that segment and I think the music market is now so huge and diverse that there is plenty of room for her.

The Christian music genre is HUGE in the US and very profitable - she obviously has a natural affinity with it (seeing her choice of song) and, with a good 'family' story behind her, will have many doors open to her.

Musically I prefer her softer, lower range, which is lovely - the higher range is a bit forced.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bah, you old fogies. I'm a young old fogie LOL

Spiritinthesky · Improver

I'm hoping that these shows are now on the way out.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I wonder how many current or former Test Match cricketers can do this.

www.youtube.com/watch

Such a great guy and so humble. But despite his cricketing and singing ability, he will always be remembered for standing up to Robert Mugabe and being exiled from Zimbabwe as a consequence.

For those interested in the background to this story, you can read here how he and Andy Flower (later to coach England) wore black armbands at he 2003 Cricket World Cup to "mourn the death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. As a result "Olonga was charged with treason, an offence punishable by death."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_armband_protest

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Monday 3rd of June 2019 10:25:38 AM

Jan · Hall of fame

A few years ago Henry came to an event at our church and sang. He was amazing!

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

That was superb. Him and Andy Flower were insanely brave to do what they did. He was a much better player than he is letting on.

JonH · All-time great

Radio 5 live ran a series of programmes focusing on past world cups in the run up to the current one. I'd forgotten about this, how England refused to play their matches in Zimbabwe and th icc awarded the points against them, there was also some problem with Kenya as well, who where playing.

Flower and olanga wrote a wonderful letter explaining their decision, their love for Zimbabwe and why they had to do this and both realised they'd never be allowed home again. Stirring stuff.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Jan wrote:
A few years ago Henry came to an event at our church and sang. He was amazing!

That's awesome.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Not a reality TV show this time but an impromptu performance in a roadside cafe that was doing the rounds on Twitter today. If I age as well as Dick van Dyke, I will be extremely happy.

www.youtube.com/watch

Strongbow · All-time great

Are we really down to this? confuse

indiana · Tennis legend

In the chat section "pretty much anything goes"

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Strongbow wrote:
Are we really down to this?

Hi Strongbow.

I get it. I honestly do. Different strokes and all that.

When I was a child, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was the first film I ever saw at the cinema and one of my earliest childhood memories. I would have been 6/7 at the time. Here we are 50 years on and seeing this yesterday just fired off a host of memory electrons in my brain and being a sentimental old sod, I just thought I would share this.

It's not for you and that's cool. Just think of it as the stuff that ends up in your "junk mail" folder on your email account.