J Music – Page 8

J Events: Danity Kane performing at Irving Plaza in New York City

June 22, 2014January 30, 2024ayminor

Video is no longer available.

>>If you are a real Danity Kane/MTB fan, you know you remember this scene.

When I was 14, I never missed an episode of Making the Band 3. My friends and I would sit together at lunch and analyze everything that happened with Danity Kane and Day 26, perform choreography, and yes, harmonizing badly (vis-a-vis the above).

Needless to say, when I watched the group crumble in the season finale, I took it personally.

I was definitely disappointed the whole group couldn’t work out their differences (and don’t get me started on Aundrea backing out just months after they announced their reunion), but I’ll take what I can get with the newly dubbed “DK3” — Dawn, Shannon and Aubrey. Who ever liked D. Woods anyway…

Nine years after MTBIII’s premiere, let me get to Danity Kane’s performance at Irving Plaza in NYC.

Danity Kane Irving Plaza — Image via deji0812’s Instagram

My 4 takeaways:

1. I expected Dawn to be the star of the show — she wasn’t. Out of the five members of the group, Dawn has been the only one to consistently put out music and retain some buzz in the industry, so I assumed she would be the frontman, but they were very diplomatic with lead vocals and the choreography. No one got more shine than the others.
2. The sound was TERRIBLE. I don’t know if it was the sound engineer or the venue’s system, but good Lord. I couldn’t hear anything the girls were saying from the moment they stepped on the stage, and what’s more, I couldn’t really hear what they singing either. Major factor…
3. Lip-synching and backing track… why? Throughout the show, they used back tracking complete with ALL of the pre-recorded vocals. I can understand why some of the high-energy performances (perhaps) required lip-synching but it made it impossible to hear what was (meant to be) live and what wasn’t, to the point where I can’t make one single comment about how they sounded, vocally, because I have no clue.
4. The crowd was HYPE, and they had every right to be. Despite the sound issues, DK killed the performance. I just knew Dawn was going to come out and outshine everyybody, but all of the girls held their own. You can tell they are taking this seriously, and they’ve been working hard. I can’t imagine doing more than 5 minutes of their choreo, let alone doing it while carrying a baby.

With their latest releases “Lemonade” and “Rhythm of Love,” it would seem the girls are shifting their sound away from the R&B-influences of the past, but I hope they can find that hit single to get them back on top.

I would love to see what they could do on tour with a budget… slayyage.

BONUS: For anyone who wants to take a trip down memory lane, you can watch the final season with the whole group on YouTube. Anyone else here for a new MTB season?

2014, The Year I Stuck to My New Year’s Resolutions | “Almost Is Never Enough” (Cover)

February 24, 2014January 28, 2024ayminor

I can finally cross off one of the top 3 items on my bucket list — I performed at my first open mic!!

Every year at Penn, the Inspiration and the Excelano Project collaborate for a night of love talk and slow jams. As an Inspiration alum I had already planned on attending the show, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to take on one of my greatest fear — performing solo.

For once, right after I decided to perform, I had the perfect song in mind. “Almost Is Never Enough,” a power-ballad on Ariana Grande’s debut album Yours Truly was instantly one of my favorites off the top-charted release. The song, a duet with The Wanted’s Nathan Sykes, is the perfect mash-up of 90’s-inspired R&B, with the flair of a contemporary anthem.

Additional photos and video from the show coming soon!

J Events: Cherry Tree Massacre and Battle of the Voices

February 18, 2014January 28, 2024ayminor

Super late post! Despite being in an a cappella group on Penn’s campus for three years, two weeks ago was the first time I was able to see some groups from a different school perform at the “Cherry Tree Massacre” hosted by the Georgetown Chimes.

I wasn’t able to get any video (I was dying to pull out my phone, but for once there wasn’t a phone in sight), so I’ll skip my analysis/comparisons (for now), and focus on my stand out performance for the night by the Georgetown Phantoms!

I was blown away by their “Chain of Fools” soloist, Enushé Khan (she killed it!), and the arrangement was great as well.

In looking for some video to share from the event, I came across audition footage of Enushé (below) for a talent competition presented by the Georgetown University’s Black Student Alliance. “Battle of the Voices” will be the first Washington metropolitan collegiate singing competition!

Check out their site to see additional audition footage for all the competitors — I wish they had something like this at Penn when I was an undegrad! If you’re in the DC area, Battle of the Voices will be held on Feb. 28th at Georgetown University.

J Music – Beyoncé: Audio Visual, Audio or Visual, Visual and Audio?

December 16, 2013January 28, 2024ayminor

I didn’t originally plan to write a post on Beyoncé’s self-titled album, figuring by now everyone is “Beyonced” out, but a comment I made to a friend earlier today led to a few questions I want to pose to the universe…

As consumers we have grown somewhat accustomed to hearing music before we see the videos, TV specials, documentaries, etc. and the music has to stand on its own.

I mentioned to her that I felt my opinion of the music was biased because I had chosen to watch the stunning visuals first, prior to listening the audio portion alone (a decision I struggled with). Now, it would seem, my thoughts of the music are instantly tied to my opinion and understanding of the visual piece.

That brought me to the question — what is the “right” way to consume an audio visual album? When you go to listen to the music for the first time, should it always be accompanied by the visual?

After watching the video Beyoncé released on her Facebook shortly after the album hit iTunes on Thursday, it would seem she would answer “yes” to the latter.

“I see music,” Beyoncé said in the video. “It’s more than just what I hear. When I’m connected to something, I immediately see a visual or a series of images that are tied to a feeling or an emotion, a memory from my childhood, thoughts about life, my dreams or my fantasies. And they’re all connected to the music.”

The questions I struggle with based on that assumption: should the music be able to stand on its own, and does it? Isn’t a part of music allowing the consumer to paint a picture with your words — is she cheating us out of an experience by providing a packaged picture for us?

After I finished “watching” the album, I felt (and feel) an attachment to what the songs means to her, and her experiences, but I wonder if I will ever be able to make my own connection to the deeply personal and reflective elements showcased on the album.

Thoughts?

J Music: The 20/20 Experience Tour (Hartford, CT)

November 18, 2013January 28, 2024ayminor

What you didn’t get with the Legends of the Summer Tour, you get 10x over with the 20/20 Experience Tour. As far as overall production — full-band, choreography, spectacular visual element, set list and design, ebb and flow — only show that almost touches Beyonce’s I Am… Tour (the best show I’ve ever been to two snaps). The show didn’t end until almost 12 a.m. in Hartford (on a weeknight) — the arena was still at capacity, with fans on their feet, until the end.

J Music: Stacie Orrico Performs First Show in Five Years

October 22, 2013January 28, 2024ayminor

Exciting news!

Following the 10-year anniversary of her hit singles “Stuck” and “(There’s Gotta Be) More to Life,” Stacie Orrico has announced she will perform a 30-minute set via online venue Stage It. The ticket is pricey — considering most Stage It concerts are “pay what you can” – and during most people’s evening commute, but if you can get to a computer you will witness her first performance in over five years!

(Sidenote: I know she has drifted toward more of a jazz sound after stepping away from the industry, but I am hoping she performs her pop, R&B-influenced classics — I want to hear “Is It Me” and “I’m Not Missing You”!)

Stacie Orrico Live from the Nomad in NYC | 70 “notes” (or $7) | 5:00 p.m. EST
Buy your ticket here.

Her official announcement from the show venue, the Nomad: