The Hideous Cult of "Oversouling"

MysticMichael · #1 02-10-2011, 12:36 AM

Did you catch Christina Aguilera's performance of the national anthem at the Super Bowl last Sunday? Putting aside the fact that she muffed the lyrics, how do you feel about her actual singing style? You know: that extremely overwrought, melodramatic, way over the top overuse/abuse of melisma - first popularized by the likes of Whitney Houston (among others) during the mid-to-late 80s?

The legendary record producer, the late Jerry Wexler, had coined a term for it: He called it "oversouling", i.e. the flagrant, extreme overuse of melisma as "...either a substitute for real fire and passion, or a cover-up for not knowing the melody."

There was a great commentary on it at The Huffington Post the other day. Check it out:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-e..._b_819979.html

Are you as fed up with "oversouling" as I am? Feel that you could easily live the rest of your life without ever hearing another peep out of Jennifer Hudson? Or Beyonce Knowles? Or Mariah Carey? Or Christina Aguilera?

I'm jus' sayin'...

MM

bassteban · #2 02-10-2011, 12:46 AM

I feel the same way, have since maybe the late 80s or so.

Munjibunga · #3 02-10-2011, 12:55 AM

Yeah, very few singers can pull it off well. Whitney may have been the only one. It's really horrible when the American Idol contestants try it.

phatbass · #4 02-10-2011, 12:57 AM

Jeff's take...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m5sT...eature=related

Nev375 · #5 02-10-2011, 12:59 AM

Yeah, she had a little too much "think" in her "feel". So much that she forgot the words.

cassanova · #6 02-10-2011, 01:01 AM

I don't mind it when it's tastefully done, but most don't use it tastefully anymore. They use it in everything they sing and it's just ridiculous.

It's become so common place with younger generations that the girls in my college choir would try and do it in every piece of music the professor gave us. Fortunately, the professor nipped that in the bud very fast.

Jazz Ad · #7 02-10-2011, 01:01 AM

Woo oh oh yeah eh yeah hehe ohhhhhhhh. Add 2 tone wide vibrato and you show you're soulful baby.
Awful. I hate that.

GrapeApe · #8 02-10-2011, 01:05 AM

Yeah I hate all the vocal gymnastics these women feel they need to do to prove they can sing. They sing every single note they're capable of in 10 seconds, and it's downright unlistenable. I think this falls into the same category as the overwrought, not right for the song but look at me anyway masturbatory guitar solo

Theres something to be said for subtlety.

DennisRB · #9 02-10-2011, 01:06 AM

Not that I watched the superbowl at home in Australia, but I looked it up and found this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzlqbVNTWNQ

Absolutely Woeful.

MysticMichael · #10 02-10-2011, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

I don't mind it when it's tastefully done, but most don't use it tastefully anymore.

Whoa! For a moment there, I thought you were referring to "The Hideous Cult of Slapping"...

MM

bass12 · #11 02-10-2011, 01:24 AM

I've never been impressed by the ability to fit several notes into one syllable. That, to me, is not at all what singing is about. I'm glad that a few people have taken issue with this aspect of Aguilera's performance. I honestly couldn't care less if she messed up a few of the words (but then again, I'm Canadian

); what really bothered me was the way she stomped on the melody of the song and made the entire moment about her. But the masses are easily impressed, it seems, by the most clichéd musical malapropisms. It's like the sloppy slap syndrome - even the worst delivery, if done in a sufficiently flashy manner, will produce shrieks of approval by those in the audience who simply don't know any better.

faulknersj · #12 02-10-2011, 01:26 AM

Imo, Christina Aguilera has earned the right to sing however, and whatever she wants.

bass12 · #13 02-10-2011, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

Imo, Christina Aguilera has earned the right to sing however, and whatever she wants.

What do "rights" have to do with tastefulness/tastelessness?

Patrick the red · #14 02-10-2011, 01:33 AM

I just don't think anyone should sing the national anthem like that. There are plenty of songs she can sing anyway she likes. Nobody has earned the right to disrespect, or butcher that song.

GrapeApe · #15 02-10-2011, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

Imo, Christina Aguilera has earned the right to sing however, and whatever she wants.

Not within earshot of me, she hasn't.

faulknersj · #16 02-10-2011, 01:47 AM

I am sure Christina is incredibly concerned with your internet critiques fellas. Shouldn't we be practicing right now instead of caring about this?

GrapeApe · #17 02-10-2011, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

I am sure Christina is incredibly concerned with your internet critiques fellas. Shouldn't we be practicing right now instead of caring about this?

Well... she should be

. If she gets to hold me hostage and subject me to her nonsense during my football game, then I at least get to vent anonymously on the internet.

Funny That Way · #18 02-10-2011, 01:52 AM

Aside from the botched lyrics, I thought it was the perfect rendition for the event. A display of excess to kick off another display of excess. And I'm all for excess, so don't take that the wrong way.

-Tom

faulknersj · #19 02-10-2011, 01:52 AM

bass12, what I meant is; when was the last time that your talents and accomplishments warranted an invitation to perform at the most viewed television event of all time?

**dmonroe** · #20 02-10-2011, 02:49 AM

The clip of the men and women in fatigues, just the look on there faces said it all. You could tell they were thinking WHAT IN THE H*LL is she doing?!?!?!?!? Glad I missed the first few minutes.