Wow -- this is an awesome thread! Thank you so much, nationalglampoon, for putting this together. I'm not a music expert, but I have a basic ability to read music, and I think the analyses that you have put together are fascinating (and easy to understand). Your efforts are very much appreciated.
And also a "thank you" to Cassie for her added insights.
Post by PostFestumPF on May 30, 2012 18:02:05 GMT -5
So beyond awesome!!! I'm loving the long posts; to have all these cherry-picked moments presented like this. So wonderful that both Cassie & Nationalglampoon are willing to share their knowledge with us.
Hah, the only "downside" for me is, that I fell into the rabbit hole; gotta rewatch some GNT-shows... LOL.
With every fiber of my being I know you are going to be iconic. Yes, you are. - Paula Abdul
This is, for me, the most wonderful "find" I've seen on any Adam fanboard, bar none. I don't care (much) what Adam wears, how he styles his hair, whether or not he can dance, etc. etc. etc.
What the man can do with his voice is like vocal porn, nationalglampoon. He's a force of nature, and his singing voice is so rare it's almost like a freak of nature.
There are some big jumps where Adam goes down by almost an octave from Aó3 to hit a Bó2
That's just one of the things that's astonished me from the beginning - the way he can jump up or down an octave, cleanly, and land right in the middle of the note.
In the final bar Adam scales seamlessly through his passagio from an Fò4 up an octave to the climactic Fò5!
So often when I listen to his live recordings I'm asking myself, "Where are the breaks in his passagio? Where?"
Adam usually hits just one F5 and/or G5 on this passage. Here there are EIGHT F5's and THREE G5's! Another passage a soprano would be proud to sing, all in full voice!
Oh my! Holy shit. I tried to keep up with most of the youtubes from the Glam Nation Tour, though sometimes I might only single out a favorite song or two. Somehow I missed this performance. Now I'm speechless all over again. When I say I'm sitting here with my jaw on the floor, it's hardly hyperbole. That is simply one of the most astonishing things I've heard, even from Adam.
Thank you more than I can say for this perfect contribution to Adam's fandom. It feels like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one.
There are some big jumps where Adam goes down by almost an octave from Aó3 to hit a Bó2
That's just one of the things that's astonished me from the beginning - the way he can jump up or down an octave, cleanly, and land right in the middle of the note.
His control is just out of this world, even when it comes to awkward interval jumps like that!
So often when I listen to his live recordings I'm asking myself, "Where are the breaks in his passagio? Where?"
I've tried to work out where his passagio is. I just can't! Listen to the verse of Sure Fire Winners and he goes from an A♭3 to a C♭4 without a break. Surely his passagio can't be in the fifth octave so I think he must just disguise it incredibly well!
Adam usually hits just one F5 and/or G5 on this passage. Here there are EIGHT F5's and THREE G5's! Another passage a soprano would be proud to sing, all in full voice!
Oh my! Holy shit. I tried to keep up with most of the youtubes from the Glam Nation Tour, though sometimes I might only single out a favorite song or two. Somehow I missed this performance. Now I'm speechless all over again. When I say I'm sitting here with my jaw on the floor, it's hardly hyperbole. That is simply one of the most astonishing things I've heard, even from Adam.
Thank you more than I can say for this perfect contribution to Adam's fandom. It feels like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one.
Glad you're enjoying it :D Just added another, maybe you've seen it before maybe not...
Thanks for that one! I missed it also. It really helps me to appreciate what I'm hearing when you put the technical words and descriptions to it.
Here is one that's really stuck with me for a long time.
2:50 - 3:10 Sure Fire Winners - Washington D.C.
While the off-stage antics that inspired him to this crazy improvised riffing were incredibly entertaining, I watched that section over and over, just asking myself “What the hell is he doing with his voice? That’s insane!” If and when you might be so inclined, you are probably just the person who could answer that question – what the hell is he doing with his voice?
In the first two bars Adam climbs up the F♯ natural minor scale but with a lot of trills put in, reaching F♯5 on the fourth note of bar 2 and then singing it twice again! After that, I think he's belting "GET OUT" at the security guy? Am I imagining that? ;D Either way the end of bar 3 / start of bar 4 is what he's doing when chasing the security guy off, and it's an E5 climbing to a sustained F♯5, same for the end of bar 4 / start of bar 5. Bar 6 is just the "oh oh yeah big time hitters" line but a bit more trill-y than usual. At the end of bar 7 he takes a two-note sequence of notes in a shuffle rhythm (the fourth and fifth notes) of bar 7 and starts taking that sequence up the F♯ natural minor scale, eventually going up to F♯5 again(!) but then he trills it up to an A5(!!!) before resolving back down to F♯5.
Awesome awesome awesome. I've wanted an explanation of this for the longest time, and now here you are.
Yes, he's chasing the security guy while belting those notes, which I now know are sustained Fò5s. What a stretch that would be for anyone just standing still in one place and focusing their concentration. Adam just tosses them off like nothing while simultaneously engaged in confronting and running after the interloper. It's so effortless for him!
Then he follows it up by climbing to an A5? LOL! He really IS an alien. I had a slight hope he might have hit a Bó5 there, but I'll sure respect an A5 that comes after a brisk jog. This was one for the ages, and holds a treasured spot in my memory.
Thank you again. I hope others will have questions about more of Adam's performances. I'm still giddy over what you've done here.
I am not sure what adrenalin does to the voice but I think that particular sequence is an incredible example of riding an adrenalin rush. He was already starting out big and obviously physically ready for a display of vocal prowess (slide drop to knees) but when he sees that guard it just went to a whole other level.
He expands, attacks, and then preens. Just f*ucking wow! I have always thought the vocal runs were an equal display of dominance. See what I can do ... top that ... no, OK ... final victory chant.
With most of Adam's runs he does something and you're like "whoa bet he'll stop the run there though", but no, he just keeps going and takes it to another level :D
Nirvana harmonies: [soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/nationalglampoon/nirvana-harmonies[/soundcloud] (Can't you imagine a load of Tibetan monks singing the no-piano version? ) i.imgur.com/Hjokb.png (large) i.imgur.com/Hjokbl.png (small)
With most of Adam's runs he does something and you're like "whoa bet he'll stop the run there though", but no, he just keeps going and takes it to another level :D
Nirvana harmonies: [soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/nationalglampoon/nirvana-harmonies[/soundcloud] (Can't you imagine a load of Tibetan monks singing the no-piano version? ) i.imgur.com/Hjokb.png (large) i.imgur.com/Hjokbl.png (small)
Okay, now you are just messing with us. The key of C flat???? What the hell is wrong with the key of B??? Well, granted, that ain't that much better. 7 flats or 5 sharps. Maybe I should just complain to Adam. I mean, how hard would it be to just raise the sucker up a half tone? Or down a half tone?
But, seriously, that harmony is lovely, as is your idea to do it ala Tibetan monks. Or, in a more modern setting, one of those luscious male choruses?
Thanks a bunch.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - Gandhi
Okay, now you are just messing with us. The key of C flat???? What the hell is wrong with the key of B??? Well, granted, that ain't that much better. 7 flats or 5 sharps. Maybe I should just complain to Adam. I mean, how hard would it be to just raise the sucker up a half tone? Or down a half tone?
But, seriously, that harmony is lovely, as is your idea to do it ala Tibetan monks. Or, in a more modern setting, one of those luscious male choruses?
Thanks a bunch.
I know right?! He's trolling us all over this album. Five songs with six flats or more!
A luscious male chorus sounds nice. I prefer the idea of a hundred monks belting it out though ;D
With most of Adam's runs he does something and you're like "whoa bet he'll stop the run there though", but no, he just keeps going and takes it to another level :D
Nirvana harmonies: [soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/nationalglampoon/nirvana-harmonies[/soundcloud] (Can't you imagine a load of Tibetan monks singing the no-piano version? ) i.imgur.com/Hjokb.png (large) i.imgur.com/Hjokbl.png (small)
Okay, now you are just messing with us. The key of C flat???? What the hell is wrong with the key of B??? Well, granted, that ain't that much better. 7 flats or 5 sharps. Maybe I should just complain to Adam. I mean, how hard would it be to just raise the sucker up a half tone? Or down a half tone?
But, seriously, that harmony is lovely, as is your idea to do it ala Tibetan monks. Or, in a more modern setting, one of those luscious male choruses?
Thanks a bunch.
I wondered the same thing until I realised it is actually the key of A flat minor- hence the C flat key signature - which is the relevant major key isn't it? (Hopefully my music theory knowledge isn't too rusty! ;D)
It sounds so beautiful sung this way - how amazing would it be to hear a full choir singing it like this? (Of course nothing will top Adam's version tho! )
I wondered the same thing until I realised it is actually the key of A flat minor- hence the C flat key signature - which is the relevant major key isn't it? (Hopefully my music theory knowledge isn't too rusty! ;D)
Right you are! Both are a nightmare though cause they have 7 flats. But I'm a harp lover and C flat is the best key for harps(cause all its pedals are in the lowest position - best sound from each string), so I can forgive Adam as long as I hear a harp version someday
vivlite: We should call shoutbox, Atop 2! I didn't know there was a separate thread going on down here..I'll have to visit more often. I see posters here I don't see on the thread. I hope that doesn't mean you feel alienated on the main thread..
May 31, 2013 19:31:04 GMT -5
lorraine: I don't know what PM"d means and OI don't know how to post on the adamtopia thread> I am hopeless!!!
Jun 3, 2013 2:38:11 GMT -5
SophieB: Hi Lorraine!Have just seen your shout out. I'll try to help with my reply on page2 of today's thread.
Jun 3, 2013 5:17:47 GMT -5
lorraine: Thank you SophieB. I hope I have followed your instructions correctly and that you receive this message. I will also have to figure out how to post on the regular thread.
Jun 3, 2013 5:51:59 GMT -5
SophieB: Lorraine I sent you a second PM with those instructions in it...perhaps you didn't see it. It's there somewhere
Jun 3, 2013 9:50:46 GMT -5
vivlite: LOL...I sent Lorraine a PM too..look for a balloon above your messages. Or click on messages and any
Jun 3, 2013 17:53:07 GMT -5
vivlite: new ones will show up as NEW in purple. The balloon doesn't always work.
Jun 3, 2013 17:53:37 GMT -5
QueeenAl: Sometimes I am happy when a day or two on Atop passes me by .... THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM ...
Jun 7, 2013 15:40:44 GMT -5
halogirl: Hi! I just stumbled upon this webpage and registered......Now it's almost 2 a.m. I'm gonna get some shut eye for several hours. Good morning and I will do some shouting later if and when time allows this weekend.... I
Jun 8, 2013 0:41:47 GMT -5
halogirl: I'm watching ET late at night. They are showing Reese Witherspoon getting arrested. Embarrassing!.... I'd be too...only I don't drink. I missed part of it because I was busy writing this....I better get my hiney in bed and to sleep! Next nastiest feuds
Jun 8, 2013 0:47:03 GMT -5
thelambertluvva: Welcome, halogirl!
Jun 8, 2013 0:53:54 GMT -5
Q3: Proboards is aware of and working on the vanishing avatar problem. I will keep you posted.
Jun 9, 2013 9:39:46 GMT -5
vivlite: Q3..I posted on page 8 about Atop freezing this afternoon and I tried again later to log in. Took forever. I posted on the thread in case others are having trouble. Do you want us to PM you?
Jun 9, 2013 17:25:16 GMT -5
Q3: Viv -- I got it from the thread. On the list.
Jun 10, 2013 0:01:17 GMT -5
vivlite: Thanks, Q3!!!
Jun 10, 2013 12:27:22 GMT -5
mszue: I did not want to try editing my earlier post Q3 but I tried again on Safari, just now, and had no problem!! ~shrug....fyi
Jun 11, 2013 14:32:22 GMT -5
mszue: And then, when posting the shout out, I got an error message...with the lined out 'angry bear' message, but the shout posted....call me confused....but they need to seriously revisit their hiring criteria as they are not getting it right, at the moment! :(
Jun 11, 2013 14:35:39 GMT -5
Q3: They are working on the Member Search function -- if you are looking for someone use the page numbers to move thru to the person you want. That is working, database look-up is not working.
Jun 17, 2013 16:16:26 GMT -5
bet he'll stop the run there though", but no, he just keeps going and takes it to another level :D
