.............................................................................................................................................................................

REBECCA

It was rash of Neil McCormick in The Telegraph to give Rebecca Ferguson's debut album Heaven a 5-star review and to compare her to Nina Simone  -  but his heart was in the right place and he was responding to what he sees in her, rather than, as so many have done, dismissing her without listening or viewing, simply because she emerged via The X Factor and is entangled with Simon Cowell's Syco machine.

The videos for her two singles are boringly formulaic and almost identical, and her album disappoints  -  only three strongish songs, too much high-end voice  -  but she doesn't. She's a thrilling singer, a beautifully nervous live performer whose integrity shines out through her inventive phrasing when she does covers (I tried to describe this once before, when, on The X Factor, she tackled one of my least favourite Dylan songs). Musical integrity shines out no less on this, the acoustic version of her first single, Nothing's Real But Love (and if the video disappears again, you'll find it here on YouTube):




What a voice! And the woman has dignity. If I were in Britain (or Dublin) in the next few weeks I'd go and see her like a shot. More than once. Especially at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. (It's a good small venue, by rock concert standards; it's just across the street from the wonderful Philharmonic Pub; and it's in Rebecca Ferguson's home town.) Her tour dates are:


Bridgewater Hall Manchester
Mon 20/02/12
19:00
           
Sage Gateshead
Tue 21/02/12
19:00
           
Clyde Auditorium Glasgow
Wed 22/02/12
19:00

New Theatre Oxford
Fri 24/02/12
19:00
           
Sheffield City Hall
Sat 25/02/12
19:00
           
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Mon 27/02/12
19:00
           
Portsmouth Guildhall
Tue 28/02/12
19:00
           
Symphony Hall Birmingham
Thu 01/03/12
19:00
           
York Barbican Centre
Fri 02/03/12
19:00
           
Blackpool Opera House
Sat 03/03/12
19:00
           
Waterfront Hall Auditorium Belfast
Mon 05/03/12
20:00

Grand Canal Theatre Dublin, IE
Tue 06/03/12
20:00

St David's Hall Cardiff
Thu 08/03/12
19:00
           
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Fri 09/03/12
19:00
           
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Sat 10/03/12
19:00
           
Colston Hall Bristol
Mon 12/03/12
19:00
           
Theatre Royal Drury Lane London
Tue 13/03/12
19:00
           
Plymouth Pavilions
Thu 15/03/12
19:00
           
Hexagon Theatre Reading
Fri 16/03/12
19:00
           

Liverpool Echo Arena
Sat 17/03/12
19:00
___


7 comments:

  1. In deference to Neil McCormack, he composed a very well written review of Leonard Cohen's fine new album in The Telegraph recently. Worth reading. Sorry, my tech ignorance means I don't know how to fo links on an IPhone but easy to track down via Google if anyone wants to read it.

    Regards,

    Judas Priest (1st post since the switch Michael, good luck with it all)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Judas. I agree completely about Neil McCormick's review of Cohen's "Old Ideas" (the URL is http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9041805/Leonard-Cohen-Old-Ideas-CD-review.html) and wasn't trying to be dismissive of him re the Rebecca Ferguson: merely using his excessive praise for her album as a way in to giving her her due. As I said, his heart was in the right place and though the album disappoints, she doesn't.

    As for McCormick's review of the Cohen album, I could wish for a new Bob Dylan album that would be as worthy of such praise: for its "depth, precision and judgment, the exacting standards of poetic genius."

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree; a fine record from Leonard Cohen. The care he has taken is very obvious and beautiful. His recent work stands well alongside his early records.
    I think your comparison with Dylan's work is fair. To highlight a specific aspect of Dylan's current performances-I think of his horrible harmonica playing-which, I think betrays laziness- often sounding like a beginner sucking & blowing random notes. I find it surprising listening to Dylan's old records and be reminded,that whilst primitive, his harmonica playing was powerful, effective and at times, beautiful.
    Jack

    ReplyDelete
  4. Leonard Cohen's album is fairly formulaic too - the songs could easily sit on any other album he's made over the last 25 years - but I guess ole Lenny works from a higher formula!

    I agree with you, Michael, it would be great if Bob Dylan could sit down and write an album as reflective and true-sounding as Leonard Cohen - or Paul Simon. Both these septuagenerians have written work as engaging and interesting as any of their work in their heydays.

    But Rebecca Ferguson?! I'm surprised! I wouldn't listen to that kind of thing (I know, I see the word X-factor and change channels). I much prefer Lana del Ray - her new album is wall-to-wall catchy hooks. Classic pop!! :)

    As for Neil McCormack, I don't trust anything he writes. Nothing at all...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lana del Rey - yes, I thought her 'Video Games' voice was striking, and so though I found the lyric tiresome, I had momentary high hopes of her. Then I saw her, and she seemed completely manufactured, and "attractive" in a completely unindividual Hollywooden way. And now there's much discussion about her denial of having had plastic surgery on her lips... No. Whereas Rebecca Ferguson is not manufactured. She's real. The defence rests.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hope the defence enjoys its rest! It would make an interesting essay, who's "manufactured", and what does this mean. And is it such a bad thing? I mean, what's the opposite to manufactured?

    Is Bob Dylan manufactured? I think so, though I wouldn't blame him for it. I think most popular entertainers are far removed from their source and merely act a part. There's nothing wrong with this.

    Of course, some draw from greater sources and have greater abilities, but they're no less manufactured than popettes.

    People have improved their lips and aren't singers. What's appealing about Lana is that she's simply pop music, catchy hooks galore. Not so manufactured as the egregious Madonna, but capable of singing and writing good pop music.

    If Rebecca's 5 stars aren't merited, then Lana's 4 stars from the same paper probably are. Manufactured? Possibly. Disposable? Most likely, but not less a pleasure for all that...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Really like that song of Rebecca Ferguson's. Thanks for drawing my attention to her - she had completely slipped under my radar. I think there's an Aretha Franklin-ish(esque?) tone to her voice.

    ReplyDelete