Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2012 17:05:12 GMT -5
Since there has been some feedback on the Regina Spektor song I posted (a VERY unusual song for her, to be sure), I thought I would just give an quick overview of this remarkable artist..
Regina come over to the US at about 9 1/2 during the era of 'perestroika' (circa 1989)...the basic facts:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Spektor
She showed musical interest at an early age, showing an unusual aptitude for classical piano... which still shows in her music as we shall see later. Regina branched out from her classical training and showed an interest in a wide range of work, including folk, punk, and hip-hop. She was associated with the so called 'anti-folk' movement in the lower east side of NY (a stupid label if I ever heard one).
Regina has tried to write all of her songs in their own style, which accounts for the amazing authenticity shown in emulating the genres she writes in. She shows an outsider's interest in the language, playing with their pronunciation and spelling (she is fluent in Russian, English and Hebrew - no small feat).
A quick 'person of the week' shows a little more about Regina's background,..her intensity and dedication is shown by her practicing on a windowsill when she couldn't afford a piano!
Her first two albums (11:11 and Songs) generated some buzz in 'hipster' NY circles, but
her third album (Soviet Kitsch) reached a much wider audience and one song 'Us' was used in the background for the popular comedy '500 Days of Summer:
However, it was her next album (Begin to Hope) which really widened her audience, being certified Gold.. The first single 'Fidelity' was covered widely, understandably so, with its haunting melody, and Regina's unique vocal styling:
Her fifth album 'Far' continued Regina's growth, with such staples as 'The Calculation; 'Eet'
'Laughing With' and 'Dance album of the 80s'.. The album was produced in part by Jeff Lynne who made an exception to his rule of not producing newer artists when he heard the demos,, One of my favorites from this album is 'Dance Anthem of the 80s' which is a lot of fun, but as is common with her work, has a darker undercurrent:
Regina waited three years until making her latest album 'What We saw from the Cheap Seats' which continued her musical growth and fan base'... A prime example is the single
'All the Rowboats, which showcased her classical piano training along with lyrics outlining art masterpieces imprisoned for the 'crime' of their beauty:
And just for fun, her updated reinvention of 'Ne Me Quitte pas:
It is not my intention to 'convert; anybody but I feel this is much enjoyment to be gained by becoming acquainted with this most talented artist. I STRONGLY recommend her excellent 'Live in London' CD and DVD which is a steal at both for $20 US and has not left my DVD or CD player in 2 weeks..
enjoy!
Robert
Regina come over to the US at about 9 1/2 during the era of 'perestroika' (circa 1989)...the basic facts:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Spektor
She showed musical interest at an early age, showing an unusual aptitude for classical piano... which still shows in her music as we shall see later. Regina branched out from her classical training and showed an interest in a wide range of work, including folk, punk, and hip-hop. She was associated with the so called 'anti-folk' movement in the lower east side of NY (a stupid label if I ever heard one).
Regina has tried to write all of her songs in their own style, which accounts for the amazing authenticity shown in emulating the genres she writes in. She shows an outsider's interest in the language, playing with their pronunciation and spelling (she is fluent in Russian, English and Hebrew - no small feat).
A quick 'person of the week' shows a little more about Regina's background,..her intensity and dedication is shown by her practicing on a windowsill when she couldn't afford a piano!
Her first two albums (11:11 and Songs) generated some buzz in 'hipster' NY circles, but
her third album (Soviet Kitsch) reached a much wider audience and one song 'Us' was used in the background for the popular comedy '500 Days of Summer:
However, it was her next album (Begin to Hope) which really widened her audience, being certified Gold.. The first single 'Fidelity' was covered widely, understandably so, with its haunting melody, and Regina's unique vocal styling:
Her fifth album 'Far' continued Regina's growth, with such staples as 'The Calculation; 'Eet'
'Laughing With' and 'Dance album of the 80s'.. The album was produced in part by Jeff Lynne who made an exception to his rule of not producing newer artists when he heard the demos,, One of my favorites from this album is 'Dance Anthem of the 80s' which is a lot of fun, but as is common with her work, has a darker undercurrent:
Regina waited three years until making her latest album 'What We saw from the Cheap Seats' which continued her musical growth and fan base'... A prime example is the single
'All the Rowboats, which showcased her classical piano training along with lyrics outlining art masterpieces imprisoned for the 'crime' of their beauty:
And just for fun, her updated reinvention of 'Ne Me Quitte pas:
It is not my intention to 'convert; anybody but I feel this is much enjoyment to be gained by becoming acquainted with this most talented artist. I STRONGLY recommend her excellent 'Live in London' CD and DVD which is a steal at both for $20 US and has not left my DVD or CD player in 2 weeks..
enjoy!
Robert
