50 Great Voices: have you chosen yours? (NPR music)

[Bianca Lopes]

In January 2010, NPR will launch a year-long exploration of 50 great voices in recorded history. The series isn't an attempt to catalog the so-called "greatest" singers. Instead, we hope to discover and re-discover awe-inspiring vocalists from around the world and across time. We asked you to nominate artists for the series and we received thousands of options. NPR and a panel of experts are in the process of whittling them down to about 100 singers — a mix of familiar names and surprising discoveries. Explore some of the nominated voices below, choose five favorites you think should be included in the final 50 and tell us why.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114013402&...

[Antonio Celaya]

It was not a particularly good selection. Why did they pick Antonio Aguilar rather than Pedro Infante or even Jorge Negrete. I voted. I was pleased to Pol Placon and, Carlos Garde. Where was John McCormack? Where was Galli-Curci? Where was that most recorded fellow, Dietrich Fischer Dieskau? Where were the RAncherea singers?

[Greg Hooper]

no cathy berberian

[Joseph Benzola]

What the fuck is with NPR and Rolling Stone? Do we really need these stupid lists? Does anyone really care?

[Paul H. Muller]

A panel of experts? I usually listen and decide for myself.

But I voted for Joni Mitchell, mostly because I know Greg H. won't :=)

[Jeff Harrington]

Does anyone really know what time it is? (To riff on the Chicago vibe...). ;)

Joseph Benzola said:

What the fuck is with NPR and Rolling Stone? Do we really need these stupid lists? Does anyone really care?

[Antonio Celaya]

The list is far to dominated by relatively recent arrivals on the recording scene. Early recording, for that mater the first 40-50 years involved a broad spectrum of music. Romanians might be shocked that their beloved Maria Tanase was no on the list. There are incredible unique voices like the Rom singer Dona Dimitru Siminica. When recording got going it including many markets from the market for Delta blues to Cuban Danzon.

He may not be a household name in the US any more but the Irish tenor John McCormack made an incredible number of recordings, rivaling Caruso. While he's not heard much any more Bonci was stern competition for Caruso. Bing Crosby was certainly important in the American recording industry, but was he that important an item in the Caribbean or, AFrica or South America?

Perhaps we are moving back to an era of small recording markets. That would be a good thing. The once size marketed to all has not been healthy for any genre of music. IN "classical" music it means we get 37.000 recordings of the Beethoven Symphonies and composers who were important to 19th century audiences are all but forgotten. Why did we have to wit so long to hear Mahler's college roommate, Hans Rott. IN pop the marketing was even more destructive.

My problem with the NPR list is that it purports to reflect the importance of the whole of recording history but seems to focus on the last 30 years. Such lists are useful only to give some perspective on the course of recorded music and the enormous variety. When it becomes a tool to market the usual suspects it is worse than useless.



Neil Goodchild said:

Hi Bianca,

Thanks for this post. I'm not one for raining on the parades of otters; subjective commentary that sits outside of the status-quo (especially) on the page can easily appear to be negative; however, in regards to the perspective "50 Great Choices (?)" of NPR and their "panel of experts"... some Rants & Raves that may (or may not) be relevant. First a quote:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the (sic) universe." - Uncle Albert."

And now a chat:

So why would I quote Uncle Albert in regards to NPR making a "shopping list(?)" 2 reasons: 1) Because their statement is clearly and deliberately designed to excuse them of any public dismissive should their "panel of experts" come to make dubious choices from (the said) publics perspective. The fact that they sub-head this with a patronising rant to my mind says something: NPRS - National PR Stunt? Hey, nothing wrong with that but, again... The Internet has another title "The Inner Net". Once you (i.e. you, me, company, radio show, cat, wombat...) go online you no longer remain domestic, suburban, local and etc but become global. An obdvious observation - or is it?

And now my second reason: 2) If they're going to talk voices then they should talk voices form all over the world - not just well-grazed patches (see Antonio's comments). But also include people from each and every genre - including "POP". I've attached a vid of a great voice featured not in an Australian moment but a global moment.

"A voice is a voice is a voice." - Uncle Neil. :-)

[James Ross]

I think Neil hit it squarely when he referred to this as a "shopping list." And you can't please everyone--especially with the varied interests we have here on NNM. That said, where is Pandit Pran Nath? A massively influential voice ...

[Steve Moshier]

I agree with Joseph: Fuckin' bullshit!

[peter thoegersen]

Friedrich Fischer Dieskau
Larry Fisher
Flora Purim
Cathy Berberbian
Louis Armstrong

Lists are like awards. Popularity contests.

[Bianca Lopes]

Hi, Neil.

It maybe good to tell that I really posted this list to promote discussion (I have already posted it on a list that I participate too, and people didn't take it seriously).

First, my point is that making a certain number choices is a difficult point. How many 10, 20 or 50 moments of your life were the greatest, for instance? Or the worst? And what are the means to rank then, to built a list?

Of course, choices are subjective. The same logic that makes you choose something and abandon other is valid to this music lists. In general, I think these lists tend to be mediocre starting by the process of choice. Who is making that choice is an important and valid fact. What people take in consideration is and should be, at least, explained on the divulgation of the lists: you can make them based on historical facts, claims of the public, personal reasons or maybe just because you woke happy/sad/angry that day.

They cannot be seen as some universal kind of document, it's some opinion and always will be. May be the reflection of the society, personal mood, etc. The fact is that lists change in space and time, and the process through one makes its choice will always change such as Foucault explains the expression of "vontade de verdade" (something like "willing of truth"). From time to time, true discourses cannot show their "willing of truth" that are inside of them - it must be univocal from the beggining - and should be treated as some staple practices that may cross.

At last, I enjoyed pretty much the quotes you posted, specially the first one.

About the youtube you posted, I'm looking for more videos of this australian singer, liked it. And beyond her great voice, she's pretty beautiful too!



Neil Goodchild said:

Hi Bianca,

Thanks for this post. I'm not one for raining on the parades of otters; subjective commentary that sits outside of the status-quo (especially) on the page can easily appear to be negative; however, in regards to the perspective "50 Great Choices (?)" of NPR and their "panel of experts"... some Rants & Raves that may (or may not) be relevant. First a quote:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the (sic) universe." - Uncle Albert.

And now a chat:

So why would I quote Uncle Albert in regards to NPR making a "shopping list(?)" 2 reasons: 1) Because their statement is clearly and deliberately designed to excuse them of any public dismissive should their "panel of experts" come to make dubious choices from (the said) publics perspective. The fact that they sub-head this with a patronising rant to my mind says something: NPRS - National PR Stunt? Hey, nothing wrong with that but, again... The Internet has another title "The Inner Net". Once you (i.e. you, me, company, radio show, cat, wombat...) go online you no longer remain domestic, suburban, local and etc but become global. An obdvious observation - or is it?

And now my second reason: 2) If they're going to talk voices then they should talk voices form all over the world - not just several well-grazed patches (see Antonio's comments). But also, include people from each and every genre - including "POP". I've attached a vid of a great voice featured not in an Australian moment but a global moment - an historical moment that represents much more and goes far beyond "pop".

"A voice is a voice is a voice." - Uncle Neil. :-)

[Bianca Lopes]

And now the message (that should be some automatic signature): SORRY FOR THE BAD ENGLISH =/

[Bianca Lopes]

I agree with you, Antonio. Specially when talk about relevance. Bing Crosby may be important to US industry, while here in Brazil, for instance, it may be important to a restrict number of people. The access to music an its "spread power" should be taken in consideration too.

Antonio Celaya said:

The list is far to dominated by relatively recent arrivals on the recording scene. Early recording, for that mater the first 40-50 years involved a broad spectrum of music. Romanians might be shocked that their beloved Maria Tanase was no on the list. There are incredible unique voices like the Rom singer Dona Dimitru Siminica. When recording got going it including many markets from the market for Delta blues to Cuban Danzon.

He may not be a household name in the US any more but the Irish tenor John McCormack made an incredible number of recordings, rivaling Caruso. While he's not heard much any more Bonci was stern competition for Caruso. Bing Crosby was certainly important in the American recording industry, but was he that important an item in the Caribbean or, AFrica or South America?

Perhaps we are moving back to an era of small recording markets. That would be a good thing. The once size marketed to all has not been healthy for any genre of music. IN "classical" music it means we get 37.000 recordings of the Beethoven Symphonies and composers who were important to 19th century audiences are all but forgotten. Why did we have to wit so long to hear Mahler's college roommate, Hans Rott. IN pop the marketing was even more destructive.

My problem with the NPR list is that it purports to reflect the importance of the whole of recording history but seems to focus on the last 30 years. Such lists are useful only to give some perspective on the course of recorded music and the enormous variety. When it becomes a tool to market the usual suspects it is worse than useless.



Neil Goodchild said:

Hi Bianca,

Thanks for this post. I'm not one for raining on the parades of otters; subjective commentary that sits outside of the status-quo (especially) on the page can easily appear to be negative; however, in regards to the perspective "50 Great Choices (?)" of NPR and their "panel of experts"... some Rants & Raves that may (or may not) be relevant. First a quote:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the (sic) universe." - Uncle Albert."

And now a chat:

So why would I quote Uncle Albert in regards to NPR making a "shopping list(?)" 2 reasons: 1) Because their statement is clearly and deliberately designed to excuse them of any public dismissive should their "panel of experts" come to make dubious choices from (the said) publics perspective. The fact that they sub-head this with a patronising rant to my mind says something: NPRS - National PR Stunt? Hey, nothing wrong with that but, again... The Internet has another title "The Inner Net". Once you (i.e. you, me, company, radio show, cat, wombat...) go online you no longer remain domestic, suburban, local and etc but become global. An obdvious observation - or is it?

And now my second reason: 2) If they're going to talk voices then they should talk voices form all over the world - not just well-grazed patches (see Antonio's comments). But also include people from each and every genre - including "POP". I've attached a vid of a great voice featured not in an Australian moment but a global moment.

"A voice is a voice is a voice." - Uncle Neil. :-)