I noticed that Ciara was Letterman's musical guest and Fantasia was Leno's.
Since both shows use approximately the same time slot for the music (between 12:25-12:30), I figured i'd check on the status of female vocalists currently being sold.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ciara...



...(Promise):

The first thing I noticed was how, visually, her stage presentation must have been taken from the same cookie-cutter pattern being used by "MySpace Star" Cassie. (Female dancers non-stop writhing and hunching the air)

Extremely weak voice and even weaker on personality. The further she got into the song the weaker the performance became.
Toward the end when she strayed away from the melody (a possible attempt at an adlib?) things really got dicey.

The good point - Live band including background singers.

I have nothing against this woman personally but if I was the record exec responsible for green lighting this project and saw this performance and thought to myself, This is the best I could come up with., I would be extremely disappointed in my ability to select talent.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
I flipped over to Leno and Fantasia was already into her performance.
The transition sort of startled me for a second going from Ciara's weak warbling to Fantasia's power.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Fantasia...



...(Hood Boy):

Almost the same setup minus the female dancers. They're not needed on Fantasia's set as she knows how to work a stage.
The woman can sing but snarled her way through the section of vocals I heard to the point where I couldn't understand the lyrics.
Very good band and a high energy performance though.

Again, as the record exec I would've thought, With the right material and some coaching, i've at least got something to work with here.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Check the performances and tell me if i'm trippin'.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Your spot on with both. Ciara is a 'recording' artist (one that I dont actually mind) but all live footage she be avoided like the plague

Ciara all the way. She is at her best when she is ripping off Michael Jackson's moves. And damn she is ten times hotter. (I know that sounds like a cliche.)

Fantasia would wipe the floor with Ciara performance-wise, IMO. Even with her tight, unflattering dress, dyed orange 'do, boobs flopping all over the place and looking like they are about to spill out any minute, and screaming her way through her song, the girl at least puts on a show.

Ciara.....Lawd. I liked the live music and melody of the song, but that's it. I wished they (whover wrote it) would've saved it for someone with a voice. I found myself getting really annoyed with her "do...do...do..." ugh. It's one thing to have a um, limited range, but it's another to have a limited range and an unappealing tone (unlike say, Aaliyah). Ciara just didn't stand out as a major. She needs to ALWAYS highlight her one and only strength--dancing. Otherwise, I think even Ashanti comes across more talented...and that's saying something.

Fantasia all the fucking way. My gawd.

Don't get me wrong, CiCi is nice & everything..."Promise" video is haaawt! But she cannot sing a lick....choreographed dancing is her only strength. I take natural charisma over routine acts (which becomes VERY boring), dancing does not impress me like that. It shouldn't take precedence over "singing" if you are calling yourself a singer. Fantasia doesn't NEED the extra stage hype when she can just sing & waltz all over the stage. I love it.

Fantasia is more beautiful

twink69 said:

I know a lot of people compare her to Janet and Aaliyah. I don't think she has the presence of either one of them. I tried, but just can't get into her. Nice instrumentation but her wack/weak voice distracts. The performance was fine, but I mostly noticed how gigantic her feet are.

Fantasia's got a distinct, interesting voice but her material - including this new one - never keeps my attention. She's beautiful, has presence and can work a stage. It was a good performance of a mediocre song. That autumn sunrise haircolor and and potato sack she had on wasn't working for me.

TommyRoss said:

co-sign.

As for Ciara, she's a dance artist to me, and my criteria is totally different.

I tried to hang in there with Ciara--cringing here and there but that off keyness was horrid. Poor thing.

I'm not into Fantasia either altho I like her energy when she performs.

I guess Ciara is great for video and Fantasia for live stuff but I'm not running for either one of them right now.

No comparison. One is a dancer/performer and the other is a singer.

I didnt catch Ciaras performance, but I did see Fantasia's. The band eneded on a blistering high note. I liked the energy of the song, but wasnt really feeling the song itself. I couldnt understand what she was saying. Something about dudes in wife beaters(t-shirts) . She's a good performer,though and and I liked that her song sounded organic and funky instead of the syncopated blip blap that hurled at the public these days.

It's sad that Aaliyah is not singing "Promise" and it's sad that Fantasia is not given good material.

tA's critiques of those specific live performances are on point though.

VoicesCarry said:

Hmm, never thought about Aaliyah singing Promise. That's gonna haunt me for awhile.

Fantasia's song is interesting but the lyrics are a major turn off.

JackieBlue said:

Co-sign, groove is bad, but the lyrics are cringe-worthy.

JackieBlue said:

Aaliyah certainly had the range for it. Also, Ciara tries to do smooth but she just can't. I think the song itself (the arrangement, at least) is okay, although I definitely would have compeltely rewritten the bridge and maybe tried to add a bit more melody.

Now as for Fantasia, I agree. Although her voice is not my thing (it's too reedy to me), what is WITH these songs they keep handing her? They may have some good elements but the lyrics are terrible. She hasn't had one memorable song yet.

Ciara is trying too hard and doesn't know her limits (vocally).

The only time I can really take Fantasia's voice is when she's singing gospel. It's just too much hollering in any other context. She does have stage presence, though.

JackieBlue said:

what does it sound like? another slow r&b jam? damn, i wish she would make a funk album!

She looks like Aaliyah

dancerella said:

I posted links to both songs. I guess you skipped my post.

dancerella said:

No there are a few dance tunes and like Cee said if you like that Miami Bass then this should be right up your alley. A couple of songs that are similar to Get Up and One, Two Step.

I thought it was going to be broader but she stays in the same lane. The songs by Rodney Jerkins sound like Rodney and one particular what he did with Brandy.

I like the one that I’m pretty sure is by Neptunes.

Apparently she didn’t get the memo that interludes suck and there’s really no need for her to have them on there. Personally I like about 4 along with Promise and Get Up but there’s nothing really outstanding. One song, I'm Just Me has is mid to slow, nice arrangement but I think she's saying that she's g-h-e-t-t-o.

Anyway, I think there's enough uptempo for your liking.

MikeMatronik said:

She's got Aaliyah's look but not her beauty. Not close. Then again, I think Aaliyah was one of the all-time entertainment beauties.

TommyRoss said:

yep ur correct

BlaqueKnight said:

And links to the performances are in my original post.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

JackieBlue said:

Ah, shoot. I got this mixed up with the Ciara Evolution thread. You're probably asking about Fantasia...

theAudience said:

dancerella can't see youtube at work!

JasonStar said:

It sounds like you're aligned with the "It's better to look good than to sound good" school of modern day performers.

Her dance moves were even tentative.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

TommyRoss said:

Straight up vicious.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

MikeMatronik said:

Aaliyah... I miss her so!!!!!