JLSC INTRA-FORUM CONTEST #6

CRITIQUES OF MARKUS' PERFORMANCE OF

LULLABY by TOM WAITS & KATHLEEN BRENNAN

 

JUDGE

COMMENTS

Iggy What a beautiful song. Being primarily a keyboard player, I could really appreciate the piano playing. I am sure this is one of those songs you love to just sit down and play as often as you can.

As I mentioned, I thought the musicianship you displayed with the piano was very good; no excellent. Your backing vocals were also very good, lending themselves, quite nicely, to your lead. Your lead vocals sounded, at times, like you were searching for the right pitch. (I can relate!) I admit I'm not familiar with the song, but you sounded, at times, off pitch.

Overall great job and a nice choice in material
Christina Markus, this is a great song for your repertoire. You have a very unusual singing style totally suited to this, very soothing, the way a lullaby should be. And the piano is enchanting. Superb job. I dare say that it's way nicer than Tom Waits' original version who sounds totally stoned or drunk in it (did I just commit a sacrilege?)...
Kneena Your piano playing is beautiful! Your voice has a strong but yet gentle quality about it. This song sounds very touching to me, not only because of your ability to convey feeling through your piano but through your voice as well. Perfect for a lullaby.
Kris-S Markus:

I loved the piano arrangement you came up with to perform this song. I know Tom Waits, but have never heard this song. Did you say it was originally done with guitar? Well I loved your version. Soothing and very dark at the same time....as Tom Waits normally is. Great song. Thanks for sharing it with us. This time "the piano was not drinking."
Nigel Not familiar with the original....

I really like the piano only arrangement. The thing I like best about your performance is the way you use hesitation, if that makes sense....The piano moves along but it's almost as if your hands are heavy and there's a reluctance to get to the end. Reluctant to go to sleep? How's that for reading too much into it??

Anyway, very nice. I like your voice and delivery of this song. I'm going to have to find the original so I can compare.
EED (Emily) As with several entries, I don't know the original. The musicianship is excellent. I love the piano. The backing vocals are great--they blend well and add so much. Somehow at the end of a phrase(it'a a certain line of the melody) your vocals sound sharp. But your vocal style sounded dead on with the song--it was a great pick.
David T Nice piano playing and voice. Top notch job. The song almost put me to sleep, but in this case that's a good thing! I enjoyed this offering very much.
Tim W Markus
Very Cool rendition, dude! I know Tom Waits but I'm not sure I knew this song. The opening vocal didn't grab me, but as the song progressed you drew me in. A very soulful and moving performance.
I love the simplicity of the arrangement. Now I want to hear tom waits do it to see if his version is as good as yours!

Nancy G Great song to do. It is extremely comforting and soothing to me because I have a restless heart most of the time. You calmed me down. It reminds me of a child-like prayer. A beautiful lullaby. Your vocals and all around sound is
tasteful. Thanks for bringing me some peace of mind. Great job on this cover song. Heartmusic rules!
Todd First off, the piano is beautiful. Obviously, nobody is going to pull off Wait's voice, but you carry the spirit of the song well. Love the harmony parts. Great job.
James Ok, I admit it. I'm a huge Waits fan. I almost submitted my version of The Piano Has Been Drinking. Incredible work. I got chills when the two part kicked in. I've probably listened a half dozen times. Thanks!
Hoaby When I think of Tom Waits, I see a man in a corner bar on a dim lit street, with a bottle of scotch and a cup of gravel to keep his voice right....and a scratch pad to write on. He is a gifted writer....never really in the public eye, but enuf so that he can inspire those of us who really hear what he is all about. Everything you did with this song was totally true to him (except the cup of gravel)...and probably true to yourself as well. The music was lovely...and the vocals were second to none. Great job!
Meikow I really love the sound of your voice, kinda like Tom Petty, great harmonies made this song really nice to listen to.
Solpig Great Vox,great Piano.How come all the Brits do american songs and vice-versa?I haven't heard the original,but I have heard Waits.You do as good a version as he does albeit different.Excellent choice for your voice and an absolutely beautiful song.
Great work.....Piggy
Dave C Instrumentation worked beautifully with your vocal styling and Ill just say your vocal styling is an interesting interpretation. I experienced the original version as a dark interpretation and yours as a soothing lullaby (my apologies for the circular definition). Yet both used the same macabre lyrics.
Hazelglow I almost did a Tom Waits song myself, glad I didn't now because you would've seriously showed me up. Love the acoustic feel of this, the piano backing is gorgeous as are the matched vocals and harmonies. It all comes together really nicely. This song made me close my eyes, slow down my breathing into the moment, and just listen. Thankyou! Teensy bit of off-key singing down low in your register, but hey, if I'm going to be that picky I can hear a hundred worse things going on in my own recording!