The new concerts

[Fixty Sixty]

Originally Posted by Martin

In Amelie Ma dit for instance, I always thought the refrain was a bit boring and melow but now it becomes interesting with the guitar/bass upfront. About her not singing the high notes (before the refrain), iirc those were sung by the backing singers in en concert? She makes the same move, holding the microphone back and taking a breath for the longish chorus.

She doesn't get help from the backup singers with the verse in the en Concert version, and the call and response phrase at the end of the verse doesn't contain the highest notes in the verse. The acoustic guitar and restrained bass in the verse is to highlight the vocal, and contrast with the full ensemble, including electric guitar, accompanying the refrain. The refrain is sung in the middle part of her range.

After listening to the new version again, I see that the arrangement pitches the verse lower than in the original. The bass seems very loud, but might be hall acoustics. I thought she was just singing off key, but it seems intentional. She's either out of practice or can no longer hit the high notes she could 4 years ago.

Originally Posted by Martin

L'Alize is ok, just a bit simplistic for my tastes. Atmopshere and accordance to the lyrics is partly gone unfortunately.

I thought she sang fine in this song, but the refrain isn't as powerful as it was on en Concert with the larger instrumentation and the backing vocalists doubling her. There was a missed opportunity for a blistering guitar solo during the extended instrumental ending of this song. I was hoping that she would have a very good band for this tour, but they seem to be average at best based on what I've seen so far.

Originally Posted by Martin

I'm still waiting though to see a glimpse of the old, mesmerizing, lively Alizee. No dances, no costumes, just that fullness in her eyes and voice.

She definitely has mastered the slow songs such as L'Effet and Sound of Silence which are beautifully rendered. I guess the fans who attend are going to have to help her out, and maybe she will respond by becoming more expressive and animated. Also, if improvement can be made in the stage show, that will boost her confidence as well.

The cover of the Psychedelices CD shows two Alizée persona. One is sophisticated and the other mischievous. If she can tap into that second persona and show it during at least part of the concerts in Mexico, I think it would work very well. I don't know if Alizée is a comedian, but doing some stuff to mess up those clowns would be funny; carefully choreographed of course.

[muttonchops80]

I'm pretty sure a few people here remember Billy Joel's tour he did several years back in Russia. The lukewarm response he got, the deadpan stares from the audience, etc. It was a documentary or some such on VH1 I believe. Most of my professors in theatre had been to Russia during the recent years and told us in our theater design class that Russian Auditoriums have absolutely horrible acoustics. Most of them were built during the cold war and were very basic. Acoustics were the last things on the minds of the designers and builders. Her venue I know nothing about, It just sounds to me that she really needs to take some time back with a voice coach. Every singer goes to a voice coach to keep in practice. Her natural singing voice is beautiful, though, I'll not argue that.

[mal]

Originally Posted by Max

At least some choreography.

So I saw the Moscow performances on youtube.


Everyone knows I take up for Alizee at every corner. Im not a negative person.

She has taken the "i want to be taken seriously" too far. Shes so serious its boring.

the best best best musicians put on a show - Kiss, the Stones, Her fav Madonna etc etc.

Alizee is just standing in one place rocking back and forth looking uncomfortable.

She really really really needs to put some pizzazz in her show, she needs to dance.

[tbailey]

Originally Posted by mal

So I saw the Moscow performances on youtube.


Everyone knows I take up for Alizee at every corner. Im not a negative person.

She has taken the "i want to be taken seriously" too far. Shes so serious its boring.

the best best best musicians put on a show - Kiss, the Stones, Her fav Madonna etc etc.

Alizee is just standing in one place rocking back and forth looking uncomfortable.

She really really really needs to put some pizzazz in her show, she needs to dance.

i agree for the most part but there's two sides to the story. First, Alizee might have have been coaxed to go to Moscow - she might not have liked the idea from the beginning. Second, the crowd was rather dead and that affects the performer. Third, maybe after that drunk guy got on the stage Alizee felt even more uninterested in the performance - perhaps even fearing further security breaches. Fourth, Alizee is rusty and hasn't done a concert in several years.

I think her performance in mexico will be much better

[Tchaikovsky]

You think she visited Lenin's Mausoleum? LOL

[mal]

Originally Posted by tbailey

i agree for the most part but there's two sides to the story. First, Alizee might have have been coaxed to go to Moscow - she might not have liked the idea from the beginning. Second, the crowd was rather dead and that affects the performer. Third, maybe after that drunk guy got on the stage Alizee felt even more uninterested in the performance - perhaps even fearing further security breaches. Fourth, Alizee is rusty and hasn't done a concert in several years.

I think her performance in mexico will be much better

Not wanting to be there is no excuse.

[heyamigo]

yeah who cares about the logistics and how she ended up there? she's a professional singer and once you're at a concert, you should do everything you can to put on a fine show. i'm so sick of all these excuses everyone brings out all the time as if she can't possibly be the fault for these things. it's time she takes control of her act or she won't be around for much longer.

[Max]

Choreography is something that's rehearsed well in advance.

It doesn't have to be very complicated. You can see how in some of her old TV performances she's not doing much, just singing in front of the microphone, but some little details (like the hand gesture in l'Alizé) prove it's still rehearsed. Pretty much everything was.