I know this won't go over well, but I think Ariana Grande has a great voice

[nadine_mn]

If you are saying "who is Ariana Grande" - she is a pop singer who is a huge commercial success. I sense eye rolling from some.

She and John Legend sing the theme for Beauty and the Beast in the new live action remake -- I just listened to it and I am just amazed at how much power she has. It goes without saying that Legend is awesome.

Let me defend my position: I personally like the "diva" singers: Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera - women known for their melismatic singing. Some people absolutely detest that type of singing - and it has been overused and abused by too many singers. So if you fall in that category you won't like her voice. One major drawback (that even she makes fun of) is that she isn't very articulate so a lot of times, you have no idea what word she is singing.

Currently her music is very pop-centric, much like Lady Gaga when she first started out so I think it is dismissed as top 40 fluff. But, again like Lady Gaga, when you listen to them sing a capella they are amazing.

I am just throwing this out there - at my age of 44, many of my peers have stopped listening to contemporary music, complaining that there is no good music out there any more. It is a huge pet peeve of mine along with the idea that popular artists are just all fluff and hype and that the only "good" music is from indie artists who haven't experienced mass commercial success.

I look forward to listening to Ariana continue to make music and evolve as another great voice.

[LOL Lib]

1. I love her voice and she is beautiful to boot!

Love LG too! BTW, you shouldn't feel like you need to "defend your position." If others don't like it they can fuck right off!

[TexasProgresive]

2. Thanks for the word, melismatic.

I never knew there was a word for that style of singing that so turns me off. It reminds me of lead guitarists so caught up in their self assumed greatness as they play riffs that have nothing to do with the piece. Jazz interpretations are a whole 'nother animal. I enjoy them immensely.

[nadine_mn]

3. Also found this from better White House days

Man, I miss the Obamas

[eShirl]

4. She does; she absolutely outclasses the material she works with professionally.

It blows my mind how that voice comes out of so tiny a person.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

5. I agree. I think she has an amazing voice.

I love watching her impressions of other singers too. She did a fabulous Whitney Houston on an SNL sketch. I'm just about 38. I still listen to top 40 radio and I like a lot of the songs. A lot people tend to get this attitude that the good music was from back when they were teenagers and then it all went to shit after that. I think there is always new good music being made and I have no qualms admitting that I like Ariana Grande. Some other recent pop music groups/singers I like are Twenty One Pilots, Sia, Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars.

[nadine_mn]

6. I agree with you that there is always good music being made

I think if you shut yourself off from listening to new voices, new genres, new music you are missing out not only on great new stuff - stuff you may even be surprised to find out you like; but you aren't 'hearing' new ideas.

Art is a beautiful expression of our community and reflects or inspires cultural change. To limit yourself to just certain decades, you miss out on what is happening now.

Plus I love the thrill of finding new artists to listen to!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

7. Absolutely, I totally agree with what you said. :) n/t

[littlemissmartypants]

8. Oh ye of little faith.

Last edited Tue Mar 7, 2017, 02:01 AM - Edit history (1)

Her voice is great. Sadly, her material doesn't always rise to the challenge. Thank you for the post nadine_mn. ♡

[BuddyCa]

9. I'll stick with A-Lans

here she is at age 90