Soul vs Technique

[datura800.livejournal.com]

I hope he won't mind me quoting him, but I read an interesting assertion in Alex's review of the new Mariah album (today's Guardian):

"Carey's voice has been mocked, bizarrely, as being a triumph of technique over soul - an argument that fails to comprehend that technique and soul are intertwined, that technique primarily exists as a means to convey emotion".

I thought this would be a good discussion to have here - it's a point I quite strongly disagree with (generally, not specifically with relation to Mariah), but I'll wait to see if anyone is interested in commenting before launching into it.

Comments

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

Accept or believe, I mean. That's why you get accusations of "lacks soul" or "triumph of empty technique" or whatever, its a slightly mean-spirited but understandable trick of using someone's proudest attribute as a stick to beat them with.

[datura800.livejournal.com]

I personally really don't think her behaviour comes into it at all. I think the public are very forgiving of the behaviour of pop stars as long as they're seen to be delivering the goods.