Blog | Leah Natale

0 Why Are Some Musicians So Shy?

“I’m very shy, and I shy away from people. But the moment I hit the stage, it’s a different feeling. I get nerve from somewhere; maybe it’s because it’s something I love to do.” – Ella Fitzgerald

While many of my peers have no problems mingling with the crowd as soon as a set is over, I will strategically start wrapping chords and putting away equipment just to avoid making eye contact with the crowd. It’s not that I have someplace to go or I don’t want to be bothered. I am simply shy.

When I’m on stage something takes over and this fear of people or the shame of having an inflated ego disappears. It’s as though my alter ego comes out and I allow my heart to soar. This feeling, however, takes so much energy and after giving so much of myself to the music and the audience I often have very little left by the time the set is over.

There are many theories why so many musicians share this same feeling but I think Tony Bennett says it best in this lost interview.

I especially appreciate his remarks about preparing for a show by relaxing with a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine – how did he know my routine?

Looking for a fun date idea or a night out with the ladies and a glass of wine? Join me at Vino’s At The Landing the second Saturday of the month! Our next show is on 4/12, 8-11pm.

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0 Happy Birthday To You?

Have you ever wondered why you don’t hear the waiters sing Happy Birthday while celebrating a birthday at a chain restaurant, like Red Robin or Buca DiBeppo? Instead they gather round the table and clap while singing a peppy celebratory song, either of their own creation or possibly another traditional song like For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow. The reason for this is simply Happy Birthday is not in the public domain; it’s actually copyrighted and, in short, money is owed to those who hold the copyright when the song is sung in public.

According to the 1998 Guinness Book of World Records Happy Birthday is the most recognized song in the English language. The origins of Happy Birthday date back to 1880’s, when two sisters, Patty and Mildred J. Hill introduced this simple tune to their kindergarten class using the lyrics Good Morning to You. As time went on, informal lyrics such as Happy Vacation To You, Good Bye To You and eventually Happy Birthday were added.

In 1893, the sisters officially published the tune Good Morning To You in the songbook Song Stories for the Kindergarten by the Summy Company but they did not include the lyrics of Happy Birthday. The first publication to include the Happy Birthday lyrics in the second chorus wasn’t until 1912 in The Beginners’ Book of Songs, published by the Cable Company, a piano manufacturer. Even as the song gained popularity the sisters never published or copyrighted the lyrics of Happy Birthday.

In 1935, Happy Birthday was officially copyrighted and the Summy Company won the rights to the song. The Summy Company was soon taken over by Birch Tree Group Limited, who continued to enforce the song’s copyright. In 1988, Warner Communications acquired Birch Tree Group Limited along with 50,000 other titles for $25 million. Warner Communications continues to insist one cannot sing the Happy Birthday lyrics for profit without paying royalties.***

In 2008, Warner collected over $5,000 per day ($2 million per year) in song-related royalties. Warner claims copyright for every use in film, television, and radio, anywhere open to the public or “for any group where a substantial number of those in attendance are not family or friends of whoever is performing the song.” ***

So the next time you see a movie and there is a scene celebrating a birthday or you are at restaurant marking a milestone occasion, you may hear For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow or an original birthday song, but not the most recognized song in the English language.

sources: *** / general

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1 Another Way To Listen To Music

Have you listened to the latest American Idol contestants or watched a Katy Perry video? There seems to be one thing missing from these singers’ voices: tone.

So what is tone? And why does it matter?

Tone is color and texture of a sound. For example, an instrument produces a different range of “colors” than the human voice. The metallic brightness of a flute sounds very different than the warmth of a skilled soprano singer, though each may have similar pitch ranges.

Many of today’s singers unconsciously create a thinner metallic sound by singing though their nasal passages rather than singing from the diaphragm or core. While singing from the nasal passages can often create power in the voice, the warmth in the tone disappears.

An American Idol contestant singing from her nasal passages, demonstrating power but lacking a warm tone

Many vocalists also rely on “auto tune,” a computer program that automatically corrects a voice’s pitch after a recording session. When this program is used, it can be very difficult to recreate the human element of a rich warm tone and as a result an electronic thinner sound is created. To the average listener it can be very subtle and often go unnoticed, but when songs are slowed down and the instrumentation is taken away the technology used to “clean up” the song becomes obvious.

Listen for Katy Perry’s electronic sound and the use of “auto tune”

As technology continues to change the sound of today’s pop music, masking the true essence of the human voice it is important to be aware of vocal skills such as breath control, pitch and tone. One example of and artist who naturally exhibited all of these skills without the use of an auto pitch program was Karen Carpenter.

Karen Carpenter’s pure tone with no “auto tune”

Even though there are numerous performers today who use auto-tuning, there are those who refuse. Fiona Apple is a prime example of someone stays away from the “Botox of the music industry” and exhibits a natural warm tone similar to Karen Carpenter.

While I enjoy listening to the flawless pitch of Katy Perry songs, and the power behind the vocals of the American Idol contestants, I prefer the natural warm tones and subtle nuances that Karen Carpenter and Fiona Apple bring to their songs.

Just another way to listen to music.

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0 Not Afraid

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0 Reminiscing about the Kobe Jazz Queen Competition

Tonight I’ll pass my Kobe Jazz Queen Crown to next winner of the annual competition at Jazz Alley. I wrote the following last year after returning from Kobe. Enjoy!

I just returned from a trip of a lifetime. In February I was the winner of the Seattle-Kobe Jazz Audition and this past May through the Seattle Sister City Association I had the opportunity to travel to Kobe Japan where I was a guest vocalist for Kobe’s equivalent competition.

The journey started as soon as my name was announced at Jazz Alley. Standing there holding my plaque, being interviewed and having my photo taken was just a taste of what was yet to come.

Two weeks before leaving for Kobe, I attended a meeting to prepare for the journey abroad. I was instructed on customs of the country from handing out business cards with two hands to giving small gifts rather than tipping. This meeting was extremely helpful because if I had not been warned about the taxi doors opening out towards the hailing passenger, my Kobe tour would have ended on the first day.
Upon arrival at the Kobe airport I was warmly greeted by my host Yumi Imai and escorted to the Crowne Plaza Hotel where I would spend the next four days. After a day of recovering from the time change and long flight, I was invited to one of the finest jazz clubs in Kobe, Sone. At the club the owner warmly welcomed me, and introduced me to the musicians and the vocalist scheduled for the evening, who graciously offered me a chance to perform a song. The singer, along with the other performers, I watched at other clubs focused on the traditional sounds of the jazz standards. There was very little scatting and most of the songs were performed in English close to their original melodies. The audience at Sone and the other clubs were also extremely welcoming and attentive. It was not uncommon for people watching a performance to spontaneously start clapping to keep time with the swing tunes.

This feeling of jazz appreciation was felt throughout my tour of Kobe, especially the next day during the Kobe Jazz Queen Competition. In Shinkaichi, a music festival was happening outside the studio where the completion was being held. On one corner you could hear a high school jazz band playing American jazz standards and on another corner a small trio was performing The Girl from Iponima. Even the lampposts, which had speakers built in were projecting a light serenade of songs like Autumn Leaves and Bewitched.

The completion itself was a true tribute to the American Jazz Standards. Not only was I impressed by level of talent from the ten Japanese competitors, I was once again amazed by the attention and appreciation the audience paid to each performer. From 3pm to 7:15pm a crowd of 250 people diligently sat without an intermission. As the last performer of the evening I was concerned that no one would be in the audience by the time I my name was called to sing. When I walked onto the stage, felt the warm lights, the mist from the smoke machines and the powerful energy from the audience, my fears dissipated and I knew I was in the right place surrounded by people who love and appreciate the art of jazz.

At the end of the evening, when the new jazz queen was crowned and the interviews and group photos were once again taken, I was a bit saddened my journey was coming to an end. But I was also filled with gratitude and hope knowing that jazz is strong and vibrant in Kobe, our sister city, where I hope to one day to return.

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