Billie or Ella? Maria or Renata? Technique or feeling?


I stand back to no one in my admiration for Ella Fitzgerald's technique but all the vocal fireworks make for precious little emotion. Billie Holiday on the other hand makes you feel she's singing just for you.

Technique vs emotion also goes in listening to Renata Tebaldi (superb technique) and Maria Callas who like Lady Day makes you feel she's singing just for you.

David Oistrakh was a violinist who combined flawless technique with raw emotion. Sviatoslav Richter was his counterpart on piano. Their modern day successors are Julia Fischer on violin and Daniil Trifonov on piano.

chowkwan

Showing 2 responses by danager

@chowkwan 

Thanks for the vid. I don't want to be disrespectful and listening to the  differences   only proves I don't know  anything about opera.  To me it was like which cat food do you prefer?

i don’t buy your assumption at all regarding jazz singers. I don’t know about opera or violinist but I’m a huge fan of Early Jazz vocalists.

Billie Holiday - April In Paris

https://youtu.be/F45if_7o10Q

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - April in Paris (OK she does have a little help)

https://youtu.be/K764er7D20s

Fine and mellow Billie

https://youtu.be/jjv0N2GhfEo

Ella

https://youtu.be/Ch39_zQfxiM

And just to switch it up Hurrah for the Riff Raff

https://youtu.be/mFDO5MLn9ZM

I wouldn’t say there is more emotion just different emotions. Ella has a lilt of happiness as a compared to the sadness Billie portrays.