Choirs on records Classic or Dud?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

― hamish (hamish), Sunday, 9 March 2003 10:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I like the ones on Charlie Haden/Liberation Music Orchestra's Dream Keeper and on Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden and Colour of Spring. I think Scott Walker may have used one to good effect at some point. I can't name any of the numerous duds because I've excised all the culprits from my brainspace.

― hamish (hamish), Sunday, 9 March 2003 10:04 (twenty-three years ago)

If you are talking about choirs as in real choirs (i.e. with lots of singers etc.) I dunno.

If you are simply speaking of all kinds of multi-voice backing vocals, then classic without any doubt.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 9 March 2003 11:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Beethoven - Symphony No 9 = classic.

David Hykes' Harmonic Choir also = classic.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 9 March 2003 15:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Generally, when speaking of pop or rock music, pompous dud. With exceptions...

― matt riedl (veal), Sunday, 9 March 2003 16:07 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree with Geir - the manipulation tactic works best. Witness the last song on the New Pornographers record.

Does Polyphonic Spree count?

But overall, I think it's pretty pompous, but can be done correctly, and has many many times.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 9 March 2003 17:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Gunter Kallman Choir's 'Daydream' is classic.They did a great version of Jimmy Webb's 'Where's the playground Susie?'with Mike Vickers on production.Ray Conniff Singers also have their moments,as well as The Johnny Mann Singers(Up,Up & Away,Yellow Balloon).Les Reed also did some quite nice choral pop(Colour Me)& The Laurie Dean singers version of 'Mamy Blue'is fabulous.

― Paul R (paul R), Sunday, 9 March 2003 23:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Usually dud if you're talking straight-up, classical
choirs.

Gospel choirs, OTOH, are totally classic. I'm a sucker for them, really.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Monday, 10 March 2003 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" = DUD DUD DUD DUD DUD DUD DUD

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 10 March 2003 00:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Adam F ft Redman 'Smash Sumthin' and Zero 7's 'Lifuanekele' = classic

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 March 2003 00:55 (twenty-three years ago)

also, the choir use on Doves' 'Satellites' isnt as bad as someone else will inevitably suggest

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 10 March 2003 00:56 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not quite sure what the question really is. There's plenty of great choir music on CD, of course.

But if you mean on rock and pop albums. Hmm, it can be nice. I like Devil Doll's use of choir, haha. Then there's Magma! Yeah, choirs are the greatest.

― Øystein Holm-Olsen (Øystein H-O), Monday, 10 March 2003 07:24 (twenty-three years ago)

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" = DUD DUD DUD DUD DUD DUD DUD

I agree. And I love the Stones like a moron. But when that choir comes in it takes a poignant song and ruins it.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 10 March 2003 08:13 (twenty-three years ago)

To clarify, "like a moron" = I own Voodoo Lounge, Stripped, Mick and Keef solo albums, Jamming With Edward, about 10 boots, etc. etc.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 10 March 2003 08:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh, and Bill and Ronnie's lps too! Not Charlie though. He might be me fave Stone but I could never get with that Charlie Parker tribute shit he did. Oh I saw 'em three times last year on tour too.

But yeah, choir on YCAGWYW =DUD.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 10 March 2003 08:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Spiritualized - ladies and gentlemen... The choir makes it, totally.

― neil simpson, Monday, 10 March 2003 11:43 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not quite sure what the question really is. There's plenty of great choir music on CD, of course.

Anyway, none better than The Choir's classic single "Baby It's Cold Outside". :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 10 March 2003 11:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Hmmm, that would be "It's Cold Outside". Mixing it up with Pezband here..

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 10 March 2003 11:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' and Stockhausen's 'Microphonie part 2' are great examples of strategic choir use with modern but in each case very different technolgical 20th parity (but 'can't always get what you want' and the spiritualised efforts are _so_ phoney it's not even funny)

Hearing choirs in the flesh and it's not all christmas carols or gospel. I once sung in Faure's Reqium (and i have the quadraphonic lp waiting to re-kindle the experience when i find someone with the right quad system in the 21st century) and i loved it

Schoenburg's 'Kol Nidre' -- don't know whether i'd want to be in that choir, but experiencing that live would be surreal

― george gosset (gegoss), Monday, 10 March 2003 12:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I would actually claim that "Will You Be There" was among the better tracks on Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" album.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 10 March 2003 12:06 (twenty-three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.