The Olympics started off with a horrific tragedy during a Luge practice run, which resulted in the loss of young Nodar Kumaritashvli from the country Georgia..

The Ceremony had already been a beautiful display of art and music, educating us about the history and bringing together the many aboriginal nations that inhabit Canada. And the ceremony became even more potent with the many reverences in honor of Nodar Kumaritashvli, such as when the audience stood up honoring the small delegation from Georgia as they entered the stadium.

While the word love was never mentioned, on display these coming  weeks are people who truly love what they do, and fearlessly do what they love.

I give John Furlong the first gold for his excellent performance.  Here is his speech:

With Jack Poole and Nodar Kumaritashvli in our hearts, and standing on the shoulders of every Canadian, I commit that the men and women of Vancouver 2010, our partners and our friends, are ready to deliver the performance of a lifetime.

Adam Lambert  – Mad World

Adam does it again.  I’ve never though of the original version as a great “vocalist” song, but Adam turns it into a one-of-a kind vocal performance. Once again he uses his vocal range and dynamics not to show off, but to express truthfully. 

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_mad_world

Allison Iraheta – I Can’t Make You Love Me

Allison had me before she opened her mouth.  When she looks down and up again she is already completely into the emotion context of the song (And it’s not because she looks down – I don’t care where she looks). From when she sings the first line (turn down the lights) until the end I truly believe here.  I really empathize with her when she sings “I can’t make you love me if you don’t”.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/allison_iraheta_i_cant_make_you_love_me

Anoop Desai  – True Colors

This was my favorite performance form Anoop.  Last week he just went for attitude rather than truthful expression.  I still don’t understand why he hasn’t chosen a song that is more fun where he can use his natural charisma. The problem with Anoop is that although he has a beautiful voice he doesn’t fully grasp what he is singing about.  In this song he is singing to a person who is down and sad. Why does that mean that he needs to be down and sad?  In fact, if you were to inspire a friend to make them feel better because you see their true colors, would you sit on a stool and look like the world is coming to an end?

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/anoop_desai_true_colors

Danny Gokey – Stand By Me

I am surprised Danny chose the mic stand again this week.  Last week he admitted it was out of his comfort zone and he became noticeably self-conscious with his fiddling around with the microphone – or the “I-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-my-hands” syndrome.  This week it is much better. However, not surprisingly, the song and his performance goes to a whole new level when he steps away from the stand.  Had he done I earlier this whole song would have been sensational.  It was still great though.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/danny_gokey_stand_by_me

Kris Allen – All She Wants To Do Is Dance

I’m liking Kris more and more. He’s cool. He’s Fun. He’s quirky. He’s charming. He let’s his charm and likeability come through in his songs – exactly what I wished for Anoop. I can see why he has many fans.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/kris_allen_all_she_wants_to_do_is_dance

Lil Rounds – What's Love Got To Do With It

When they announced she was singing Tina Turner’s ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It”, I said to myself “please don’t come out looking like Tina Turner”. This is becoming uncomfortable to watch. Four weeks in a row she has turned into a karaoke rendition of the original artist.  I don’t know who the real Lil Rounds is and I don’t become as emotionally involved in her song as I would like.  It’s a bummer, because she sure has a great voice. This I also why it’s great for singers to take acting classes. I mean real acting classes where the training is about learning to be truthful, spontaneous and vulnerable in the moment – i.e to stop acting.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/lil_rounds_whats_love_got_to_do_with_it

Matt Giraud – Part Time Lover

One of Matt’s best performances.  The best thing with Matt is that he is unpredictable.  Sometimes it hasn’t worked, but sometimes it’s great.  It very much comes down to song choice for him.  I’m excited to see what he does next.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/matt_giraud_part_time_lover

Scott Macintyre – The Search Is Over

Not so sure about the guitar. The problem here is that the song becomes a little “shouty”. It’s a tendency Scott has that compresses the sound rather than makes it rich, warm and powerful. If he would discover how easy it is to get more power with far less effort, he would become far more dynamic and passionate in his expression.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/scott_macintyre_the_search_is_over
 

Matt Giraud  – Let’s Get in On

Matt is improving every week.  He starts off great by the piano and I feel he’s honest when he says: “been trying to hold back this feeling for so long”.  He gets up and, again, I believe he really honestly does want to “get it on”.  Great performance.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/matt_giraud_lets_get_it_on

Kris Allen – How Sweet It Is

Kris had a wonderful performance last week.  This time he does a great job again.  Great groove. Great musicality.  He’s having fun and allows his personality to shine. Sometimes playing an instrument can lock up the artist.  Here I felt his guitar playing enhanced his performance because he was so loose.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/kris_allen_how_sweet_it_is

Scott MacIntyre – Can’t Hurry Love

I wished he went wild on the piano.  We heard a couple of riffs that gave a flavor of what he can do on the instrument.  I feel he sings this song unnecessarily nice and polished. He’s holding back a tad and it doesn’t quite come alive. Part of this was the song choice. I hope he finds a song where he feels comfortable to really let loose and surprise himself.

www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/scott_macintyre_you_cant_hurry_love

Megan – For Once In My Life  

The main issue here for me is that she sings the song without any dynamics.  It’s a very one-level-calling-out approach – borderline yelling – all the way through. I do like her personality though and the cool depth in here voice. I also like the fact that she approaches the audience and becomes quite engaging.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/megan_joy_for_once_in_my_life

Anoop Desai – Ooo Baby Baby

Anoop can surely sing.  He’s got a great effortless way of using his voice and sings the song with great dynamics.  When he really makes a song his own, he’s going to become phenomenal.  However, so far he’s acting the songs rather than living them (although acting them very well). This is why he becomes more serious this time than what is really called for.  This is also why he becomes a little self-conscious about the camera.  His eyes wander throughout the song, which is just because he’s not hundred percent involved in the song. I would love to hear him sing a song where his fun, charming personality can really blossom.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/anoop_desai_oo_baby_baby

Michael Sarver – Ain’t Too Proud To Beg

Hmmm.  This gets a little strange.  The reason is because he becomes a dual personality.  The song is about begging this girl for a last chance, but at the same time he is smiling, flirting with the audience and trying to be charismatic.  It’s not working because he doesn’t believe in what he is singing about. If he wants us all to dance along, a different song would have been better.

www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/michael_sarver_aint_too_proud_to_beg

Lil Rounds – Heat Wave

Lil has a remarkable voice. The thing with Lil is that she is too busy paying tribute rather than making a song her own.  She mentions that she wants to sing it to make Martha and Diana Ross proud.  Last week she talked in the same way – she said she wanted to honor country music.  This comes across in her performance. She sings great, but it is hard to completely identify with her. I agree with the judges that a slow song would have been better for her. The bottom line is that she sings great but there is no real “heat wave that is burning inside” her (as the lyrics say). If she allows herself to be spontaneous and become surprised throughout a song, she could be sensational.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/lil_rounds_heat_wave

Adam Lambert – Tracks Of My Tears

Adam is doing the very thing that I mentioned was lacking in the last couple of singers.  Adam is about the absolute truth (which is why he is also a good actor).  Last week, he was not into trying to sound country, but chose to do something completely his own. This week he certainly wants to honor Smokey Robinson and his creation.  So what does he do?  He asks the songwriter: “What inspired you to write it?” Adam wants to get into the skin of a song. Adam completely feels a song and allows himself to experience spontaneous emotions – i.e. real emotions within a rehearsed song.  Notice that he never looks into the camera even once.  There is no need to, because that’s not what the song is about.  He is completely absorbed in the song. When he sings “I need you”, he really means it.  As a result, we are moved and he gets a standing ovation from the songwriter.  That is how you honor the writer.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_the_tracks_of_my_tears

Danny Gokey – Get Ready

Very good again.  Great energy.  Great fun watching him. His first line is “I’ve never met a girl that makes me feel like you do”.  I feel he could have done even more with that line and the rest of the song.  He could have used the “here I come” sections to get the crowd on it’s feet and have the house rocking.  Then he would have been the memorable performance of this week.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/danny_gokey_get_ready

Allison Iraheta – Papa Was A Rolling Stone

I love Allison.  That was some powerful ending. Talk about putting an exclamation point on your performance. She owns the stage, moves great and has a very unique voice. I hope her voice holds up.

www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/allison_iraheta_papa_was_a_rolling_stone

What do you think?

The Serenader – How To Sing To Win The Girl…

Ouch…

Hey, having a litle fun and taking ourselves not so seriously is okay once in a while.

This is actually a clip from a film from many years ago with the terrific actors  Michael Erger and Anne Wells .

Can anyone learn how to sing on key?  Not only do I think it is very possible, but it is possible mych faster and easier than most people know. The clip is really more an example of the fact that a forceful voice goes hand in hand with a forceful personality.  The off key singing is only a biproduct of that and a somewhat lack of awareness – i.e lack of self awareness as well as lack of awareness of others.  A little preparation and training goes a long long way.

Maybe you saw the video clip in the last blog post of Mister Rogers testifying in the US Senate? I thought I’d follow up that clip with yet another fascinating speech by Fred Rogers. And I think you’ll agree that this applies just as much to the rock singer, lawyer or salesperson as it does to the speaker.

Growing up in Sweden, I never saw "Mister Rogers Neighborhood."  I’ve seen some programs here and there, since I moved to the U.S., but I never grew up following his programs. Too bad perhaps. After seeing the video of his 1969 speech in the Senate, which I addressed in the last blog post, my admiration for him has grown even more.  Not only for what he has done for childrens education, but also for his communication skills. If you haven’t read that post and watched the video of Mister Rogers speak to the senate, do so first.

So to follow up on that blog post, let’s address what is going on here, why he is so effective, and what we can learn from it – like I said, whether we are rock singers, negotiators, speakers, or any kind of communicator…

A comment from the last blog regarding him testifying in the Senate reflected on his voice.  (Great comment by the way.. thanks.. keep them coming).  My response is that is not about how someone sounds, it is about why someone sounds they way they sound. Is his voice restricted? Not really. Is it forced? Not really. Is it free? I would say so. Is he a great singer? Some would say not. I would say he is absolutely great for what he does. He speaks and sings just the way he does, with freedom.

As you watch Fred Rogers’ Lifetime Acheivement Award speech, notice what he does.  While many would speak of "I… I… I", he turns it into "you… you… you".  Everything he says is in regard to how it applies to others. Is it a trick? No, he is genuinly interested in other people – this was his life.  Watch how he relates to the child in the song, how his presence is all about communicating. His goal is not to "sing the song well", to hit pretty notes or show off his voice, His goal is to communicate with the child. And he succeeds fantastically well. Therefore, he is in my mind a great singer – perhaps one of the greatest in his genre. 

Even in his speech to the senate, he turns it into "you" and other people (the children in this case). He is undoubtedly deeply passionate about the subject matter. He is genuine and authentic and we get a sense of his knowledge and strength in children’s education. Yet, most of all what makes him so effective is that he relates to the Senator. He speaks to him – no, he speaks with him. 

In the first couple of sentences he relates to the senator  with "I trust you" in a completely non-threatening way. He doesn’t become distracted by the Senator’s questions, he welcomes them, takes them in and he feeds off them. He relates to the Senator’s goosebumps. He turns the Senator into his ally – his friendly neighbor if you will.

Next time you sing a song, recite a poem, deliver a speech or presentation, ask yourself:  "How does this relate to my listener?" -  "How does this relate to you – the audience?"

Here is Fred Rogers in his Lifetime Achievement Award speech