It's natural to compare Mary J Blige's and Florence Welch's vocal spots on "Gimme Shelter" from last week's gigs (and with Lisa's from the last 20-some years).

I don't know Mary J's work very well, but she's obviously a great, commanding singer who always puts her heart into everything (that I've heard). And while not a great dancer, she's got quite a stage presence and looks terrific. But her take on "Gimme Shelter" left me a bit underwhelmed; I did expect a bit more. It seemed she didn't know the song very well (is that possible?), and tended to rely on the current gimmick of some very powerful female singers which is to over-sing and employ lots of vocal gymnastics to approximate "feeling". Too, visually she seemed a bit off with Jagger regarding "chemistry": maybe a bit intimidated (unlikey), maybe a tad arrogant (also seems unlikely, though I don't know much about her); maybe just shy; whatever, they didn't seem to click very well. A very fine performance to be sure, but...

Florence Welch - I do know her stuff with the Machine, and a few songs are really big deals. But she's still quite young and has a ways to go before really becoming consistent and finding her own "voice" (not litterally, but in the overall artistic sense). And I really didn't think she'd be up to the task on "Gimme Shelter". She lacks the R&B background of Mary J (and Lisa, and Merry Clayton as well). She is young and hasn't been at the game very long, so the possibilty of being intimidated by the event, being out of her depth, or just out-classed by the Stones seemed likely.

Boy, was I wrong. From the moment she walked on and got right in Mick's face there was a tension, and the song is about nothing if not tension, right down to the very chords and licks Keith and Woody play. And she kept it right up - advance, retreat, advance, retreat. Watching Jagger the way a fighter watches his opponent.
And when she got to Merry Clayton's original part - goddamn. It was the closest in tone, emotion, in SPIRIT, to the original that I've heard anyone pull off (including Alicia Keys). That song (like so many Stones' songs) isn't a "good times" party song, no matter how the band's presented it for the last few tours. The song's about - literally - life and death. And if it takes a somewhat artless bellowing or keening to express that - well that's what the song requires (and the hair-raising effect that Clayton originally brought to it).
It helped that the band were a little better that night, but that doesn't fully explain how she got over. Is she a great dancer? Not in the frequently cartoonish modern "pop" sense; she knows how to move her body, how to feel music, with subtlety, elegence and grace. And real animal sexuality. And you could tell Mick was just eating it up (albeit a littled startled, perhaps: my brother noted that L'Wren Scott might wanna have a word or two with Sir Mick about this performance!).

So there. Sorry to be so long winded, but Flo, unexpectadly, really blew me away.

Welcome back Mr. Yeats, Stones action always bring some good regulars back!

I'm gonna listen Forence once more, I have been very very busy so I just took a brief look at the video

I'm disapponted because this isn't a "catfight" thread.

P.S.: I do not like violence. I do like some drugs (tobacco, etc); but that's a subject for other thread

MrPleasant wrote on Dec 4^th, 2012 at 1:49am:


OK, here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih6W19KTlZo

I have to agree with the comments about Florence. She really went for it and seemed soooooooo happy to be there, even climbing on the riser and giving Charlie a hug. I had no idea who she was, but I think I'll search out some "machine" stuff asap  - blown away .


sc uk

LadyJane wrote on Dec 4^th, 2012 at 9:00am:

Jeez. Is that why, after Flo hugged and kisssed Keith, Woody, Mick twice, and was heading to the drum riser to kiss Charlie - Keith intercepted her to kiss her hand?
(she should have given Daryl some too).

Some people are afraid of unbridled passion and spontaneity, and, apparently, pretty girls getting down with their beloved pop stars (Springsteen also gets a lot of weird shit from some of his "fans" - mostly male - about the female musicians he works with, most notably his wife Patti. Who, come to think of it, looks a bit like Florence).

LadyJane wrote on Dec 4^th, 2012 at 10:57am:

Yeah, fair point, LJ.

But where's the evidence for his views? On the three or four YouTube videos of the song, clearly the band are digging the performance greatly. Not once can you see a smirk or look of disdain on any of their faces. And what, in his view, made Welch "ridiculous" (as opposed to, say, just not being very good or whatever).

The Wick wrote on Dec 4^th, 2012 at 11:05am:

Regarding Florence's "awkwardness" - yeah, I can see that. But I think she was right in step with Jagger, taking cues from him, playing off him, etc. And ya gotta admit - brilliant as he is, Mick does have some pretty peculiar moves himself!
High stepping is never outta style!

LadyJane wrote on Dec 4^th, 2012 at 11:19am:

Sorry, LJ. That must have been quite the frustrating exchange for you.
Does he think Florence (and all guests) don't rehearse their song with the band at least once, or at least meet the band and go through chord changes with Chuck and probably meet Lisa and Bernard (especially for a singing guest)?

Marketing? Sure. They're marketing the Rolling Stones. They give younger, newer, or just less well known guests a shot because they (at least Mick, but probably the others have a say) LIKE that act and want to give them a boost (they've been helping their fellow musicians this way since '69). They could have got anyone from Adele to a roadies' niece if they wanted to. They chose Florence.

Maybe Keith LIKES Christina Aguilera. Maybe likes her music, or at least her performance with the Stones. Does this guy think Keith just listens to Chuck Berry and Jimmy Reed and nothing else?
Does he know Richards? We've all read the same shit - the same books, interviews, articles, antecdotes. "You don't know Keith". You shoulda told him "yeah I do, and he told me he loves Florence and the Machine and Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake and Justin Beiber too".

And what's a "Stones purist"? Is that like those people who in '66 said 'how dare the Stones - a gritty R&B band - do a song like "Lady Jane" (or "Dandelion" or "She's a Rainbow" or whatever? (no offense to you, LJ).

And lastly: You all were on a Rolling Stones discussion board, discussing the Rolling Stones. I didn't see anywhere where you refused to indulge is "opinion" (misinformed though it was). He, on the other hand, refused to indulge your views.

Here's another of Welch and The Stains...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V7VkQKW6eM&feature=plcp

"Oh little Flo,
How I love you so,
Especially in your nightie.
When the moonlight flits,
Across your tits,
Oh jesus christ almighty".


Having said that - 'Flo' was maybe basing her performance a tdsy too much on Shezza 'Nipples' Crow's turn with the Stones (on HTW)
Personally I think Blige rode the Stones groove train perfectly and appreciate why & that she has been invited for saucy seconds.

I'm surprised this isn't a poll.

Edith?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW-mVsInr6Y

Im a Stones purist... and i thought she friggin rocked.  As will Gary Clark Jr.