Renée Fleming's new pop album

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 11:49pm

Ordinarily I eschew this sort of thing, and even though there are a couple of obligatory songs included (Cohen's "Hallelujiah" of course and Tears for Fears "Mad World," Gary Jules arrangement lifted in its entirety by Adam Lambert, Gabriel's "In Your Eyes," NATCH), the very fact that Renée Fleming chose to record Arcade Fire's "Intervention" has me scratching my head and shouting "brava!". She sort of speak-sings on the excerpts I heard (I have no idea what else a legit singer would do with the ecstatic ritual of Arcade Fire), it kind of works.

On the other songs I have to say, she sings with great mouthsful of consonants, not unlike Chrissie Hynde crossed with Shakira.

Dark Hope

Updated On: 6/7/10 at 11:49 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 10:54am

I have to confess the idea of this intrigued me (and I'm not her biggest fan as a soprano).

She was on GMA this morning; I TiVoed it but haven't watched yet. I'm eager to hear what she sounds like.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 11:10am

I still can't even get over the choice of an Arcade Fire song. I could daydream all day about how that may have come about. "I don't want to do 'Wake Up' because three people might recognize it from some sports talk radio show... how about 'Intervention,' it has an impressive church organ intro?"

I heard the full version of "Mad World," and though her vocal line is like the Gary Jules arrangement, the synthesizer bleeps and bloops are like the Jetsons meets LCD Soundsystem.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 11:43am

Someone sent me a video last week of her singing Leonartd Cohen's "Hallelujah."

She's no k. d. lang, but you have to give her credit for trying. And she obviously likes these songs well enough.

But it's still more weird than good--and I'm a fan.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 11:44am

Decide for yourselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghYpcdH4FCw

[tazber]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 11:46am

This is almost as strange as Liza's cameo on My Chemical Romance's Black Parade.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 11:54am

Hmm. It's a really interesting sound. Not like when Kiri or Jessye used to do crossover albums and it was basically the same voice, only singing Irving Berlin instead of Puccini.

I'd be interested in hearing more.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:12pm

I am a fan of weird. So I think that's why this collection intrigues me.

I'll be seeing Arcade Fire in August. And thinking of Renée Fleming!

Maybe she saw them do "Intervention" on SNL three years ago?
talk about your walls of sound

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 3:58pm

I thought her performance was respectable on GMA, but there was nothing in the sound or interpretation that would make me rush out and buy it.

In general, though, I always think these crossovers are wonderful. I thought Rondsadt's work in PIRATES and BOHEME, both of which I saw on stage, deepened her as an artist (while freely admitting she's no actor). And I love Aretha's Nessun Dorma. And Gary Morris -- country star -- made a fine Jean ValJean (and was opposite Linda in BOHEME).