AmericanPapist Comments
Do we know which Ave Maria?
If I had to guess, I'd say the Schubert. It's the one that more people are familiar with, I suppose.
If I had to guess, I'd say the Schubert.
It's gotta be. And it's schmaltziness and an America idol winner are a match made in...well, I'm not sure.
I am pulling for Gounoud... I won't get it, but I can dream.
All in all, I have to say this isn't the worst choice out there. As pop stars go, she manages to be pretty clean from what I have heard on the radio (and to my chagrin, top-40 is what is heard at the office all day...) Being treated to top-40 radio, I am also treated to "top-40 radio news" which is to say celebrity gossip and rumors... Kelly seems to have stayed out of that loop always touring and being good (or at least not caught being bad!)... No pictures of her getting out of cars showing the world her lack of britches, or otherwise all "tarted up."
Now had this been Christina or Britney... Eh, I would not be so indifferent.
Well, Bobby McFerrin is apparently able to get a crowd involved with Ave Maria. The Gounoud, even.
I really hope she doesn't "jazz" up her rendition of this beautiful song like so many artists do to the National Anthem for the Super Bowl. That always grates on me, the best performances are always the ones most traditional. We don't need to see how "artistic" she can be. If she can sing it so clearly and beautifully that we forget where we are and who is singing and simply think of our Blessed Mother, then she will have succeeded. It will probably boil down to how go of advice she gets from her manager and the production director.
Now had this been Christina or Britney... Eh, I would not be so indifferent.
Sinead can do it!
Just kidding.
Scott,
Nice Sinead O'Connor reference. Although, it tears me to pieces just thinking about her again . . .
Tom - when does the contest end? I hope I have time to work on it on my honeymoon. Maybe my little sister's singing of Bach's Ave Maria at the wedding will give me inspiration... hmm...
Oh, it's definately the Schubert she's singing. (insert eye-roll here)
I don't mean to upset any of the readers who like that setting of "Ave Maria" but I'm a classical singer who often gets hired to sing at weddings. I am sick and tired of that piece. First of all, it not even the best setting out there. Second, Schubert set a 3 stanza German poem of a maiden's prayer to Our Lady, not the "Ave Maria" (which is why the words don't scan very well). Third, it's so overdone. There needs to be a 50 year moratorium on that setting so that we can appreciate it again. Oh, and you can bet that Ms. Clarkson will sing it in a pop style as all pop singers do who tackle that piece, thus making it even schmaltzier than it already is. I hold nothing against Kelly Clarkson - I actually like her and own one of her albums. *Sigh* I suppose I will just offer it up when I hear her sing it at the Youth Rally.
NOOOOOO!!!!
*hangs head in dismay*
I've had the misfortune of hearing her perform in person (standing only 30 feet away) a couple years ago at a convention in Anaheim. My goodness, she's so tone deaf she couldn't hit the right notes to save her life. She was pulled from the booth's stage after only one song. I saw her again on TV during last Thanksgiving during the half-time of the Dallas football game. Same thing... horribly off key.
UGH!
I just hope she doesn't end up like Charlotte Church, who sang for the beloved John Paul at 13, and now specializes in ghastly parodies of the Catholic church.
Oh for Petes' sake people. Kelly Clarkson will do just fine.
Let's hope she doesn't try to 'jazz up' Ave Maria...that's what drives me crazy when I hear the National Anthem at sports events.
Let's hope, too, that she dresses modestly....
What's sad is that they originally had John Angotti to sing at this event. A man who makes no bones about the fact that he is a CATHOLIC singer and not just Christian. No one is even sure whether or not Kelly is Catholic. If she is, and was as proud of her faith as John is, you think we'd know. John Angotti would have brought those in atendance to their feet and lifted souls even higher, but I guess that is not what the Archdiocese of New York wants. Saying no to John Angotti in favor of Kelly Clarkson? Shameful. And a diservice to those young people in my opinion. Chicago would not make the same mistake.
I'm a huge fan of Kel's. She did a poor job on this song. Her version was breathy and hoarse. The less said about her dress the better.
John is not as he seems. He needs to have a talk with Tracy. He is quite the ladies man. Trust me.
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