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

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'Vision Of Love', 'Dream Lover', the remix of 'Heartbreaker' ft. Missy and Da Brat and 'It's Like That' are probably my favourites by her. The first two get the balance right in terms of vocal skills showcase and emotional tug without upstaging the production (either equally bombastic or groovy enough to rein her in) - the latter two are just nice jams but could be by anybody I guess.

[datura800.livejournal.com]

I think it's quite an interesting point to showcase two of her earlier songs, because I think she has (like, for example, Michael Jackson) become trapped by her own vocal tics now. For example, whenever she is doing a sad, intimate sound she always reverts to this breathy, floaty vocal (eg 'My All', 'Petals')which, incidentally, isn't a million miles away from her 'sexy' breathy vocal.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'My All' can die die die. She is worst when she's just boring.

'Loverboy' is probably her weirdest single, and not just for the bloke from Cameo's...cameo.