Why so many Sarah Brightman detractors?

[Carnac the Magnificent!]

I enjoy much of Sarah Brightman's singing, but realize many can't stomach her. Since her "Phantom of the Opera" debut, Brightman has been on the receiving end of blistering criticism from stalwarts in the theater (and, later, operatic) world.

Some critics alleged she was a success only because husband Andrew Lloyd Webber foisted her on the public. And, yes, her speaking voice is rather girlish and she's become increasingly flamboyant. Last, I will admit she's no Bartolli, Netrebko or Fleming, but then she's not an opera singer.

All that said, she's easy on the ears, begging the question: Why all the smirking and sharp criticism?

[Kizarvexius]

Because artsy people are snobs, and that's very hard on artists who try to cross genres.

Sarah Brightman has a voice that is way too good for popular music, but not quite good enough for opera. So the devotees of these respective genres heap scorn upon her when she tries either one.

[Anaamika]

There are detractors? Man, people are picky. I don't think she's bad at all...as the OP says, she is easy on the ears and I love her "Contempo partiro"...we (the SO and I) find her voice rather charming.

[Antinor01]

Originally Posted by Kizarvexius

Because artsy people are snobs, and that's very hard on artists who try to cross genres.

Sarah Brightman has a voice that is way too good for popular music, but not quite good enough for opera. So the devotees of these respective genres heap scorn upon her when she tries either one.

That right there is most of it I would say. I personally love Sarah B, I have a bunch of her music and anxiously await the chance to see her live. (If I hear she isn't going to tour again I might cry)

She has a beautifully expressive voice that flows wonderfully from pop, like Deliver Me from the Brokedown Palace soundtrack; to broadway, where she gained most of her fame; to opera standards like Nessun Dorma. As far as I'm concerned the detractors are more than welcome to take a flying leap.

[Baron Greenback]

IMO it's all been downhill for Sarah sinceI Lost My Heart To a Starship Trooper

[dalej42]

Isn't a lot of it just a continuation of the anti-Andrew Lloyd Webber hatred?

[Clothahump]

I'm a fan. That gal can sing!

She's on my list of the best 5 female vocalists in my lifetime.

[Nonsuch]

The trouble with Sarah B isn't so much her voice — lots of pop singers really don't sing all that well — but the irredeemable cheesiness of her music and her stage shows. From what I've heard of her music, it's hollow and bombastic, with little real feeling to it; in a previous thread, someone compared her to John Tesh, and that's spot-on.

[don't ask]

But Tesh is cool. How can you not like a guy that says, of his own concerts, "Some of them are dragged there by their wives or girlfriends but then they'll come backstage and say, 'Wow, this was far less boring than I thought it would be.'"

[Carnac the Magnificent!]

Originally Posted by Carnac the Magnificent!

And, yes, her speaking voice is rather girlish and she's become increasingly flamboyant.

BTW, it's pretty self-evident that Sarah Brightman is flamboyant because flaboyance lands prime media spots, gets people talking, and sells CDs and $150 concert tickets.

Talent takes you only so far. Clever packaging does the rest.

[lissener]

Sarah Brightman is the Michael Flatley of cheesey popera.

[kelly5078]

Her normal voice is a bit too girly for me, but not really a turn-off. When she does opera, her voice is kind of brittle (I can't really describe what I mean here; it's just the word that comes to mind). Also, she has an annoying tendency to scoop notes. She may have gotten better.

That said, I credit her with getting me into opera. I was watching her special on PBS four years ago or so, and I thought it was cool the way she'd go from her normal voice into operatic mode in some of her songs. Something sort of clicked in me, and I suddenly decided I liked operatic singing, which I never had before. So I have a real soft spot for her, since I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of opera since that time.

I don't mind her show. It's bombastic and silly, but she's awful purty, so she can get away with a lot in my book.

[Carnac the Magnificent!]

Originally Posted by lissener

Sarah Brightman is the Michael Flatley of cheesey popera.

Perhaps, Lord Lissener but much of opera is liberally sprinkled with cheese and saccharine, drenched with flamboyance, accented with silliness, and crowned with middlebrow production values. All that's missing is, well, Michael Flatley.

[fachverwirrt]

I think for many of us "artsy snobs" it has more to do with her artistic choices than her voice. To begin with, someone who is "not quite good enough" for opera should therefore not sing opera. That's a pretty basic tenet in the industry. Beyond that, when she tries to sing opera, there is a considerable something missing. When she sings Nessun Dorma , the problem is less that she's singing a tenor aria (although it is considerably less effective as a soprano aria), it's that she doesn't appear to have the least clue what it's about. It's very "nicely" sung (except for the B, which is pretty weak), but it's not a nice aria. There is more to singing, especially opera, than making pretty sounds. There is no passion in her interpretation. It's a failure to understand the entirety of the art, and those of us who appreciate and even live that art find it offputting, even insulting. On the other hand, we all appreciate the need and desire to make a buck, so really, as long as people pay her, what is there to complain about? I don't have to listen to her.

[Antinor01]

Originally Posted by fachverwirrt

I think for many of us "artsy snobs" it has more to do with her artistic choices than her voice. To begin with, someone who is "not quite good enough" for opera should therefore not sing opera. That's a pretty basic tenet in the industry. Beyond that, when she tries to sing opera, there is a considerable something missing. When she sings Nessun Dorma , the problem is less that she's singing a tenor aria (although it is considerably less effective as a soprano aria), it's that she doesn't appear to have the least clue what it's about. It's very "nicely" sung (except for the B, which is pretty weak), but it's not a nice aria. There is more to singing, especially opera, than making pretty sounds. There is no passion in her interpretation. It's a failure to understand the entirety of the art, and those of us who appreciate and even live that art find it offputting, even insulting. On the other hand, we all appreciate the need and desire to make a buck, so really, as long as people pay her, what is there to complain about? I don't have to listen to her.

I wouldn't disagree with that assessment. I mentioned it mostly because it was the first aria that came to mind when thinking of her body of work. But at least it was better than Michael Bolton's rendition!

[lissener]

Originally Posted by Carnac the Magnificent!

Perhaps, Lord Lissener but much of opera is liberally sprinkled with cheese and saccharine, drenched with flamboyance, accented with silliness, and crowned with middlebrow production values. All that's missing is, well, Michael Flatley.

There's nothing in this post that I didn't already know, so I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at. None of what you pointed out in any way disproves--or even really disagrees with--my opinion that Sarah Brightman is the Michael Flatley of cheesey popera.

Which is, of course, an opinion, so I don't have a problem with your disagreeing with it. But pointing out the obvious, that there are some Great Operas (although 'opera' itself is plural, so 'operas' always looks wrong to me) with major elements of camp. Nonetheless, Sarah Brightman is the Michael Flatley of cheesey popera.

[lissener]

Originally Posted by Antinor01

I wouldn't disagree with that assessment. I mentioned it mostly because it was the first aria that came to mind when thinking of her body of work. But at least it was better than Michael Bolton's rendition!

Funny; I almost said, in my first post above, that Sarah Brightman is the Michael Bolton of cheesey popera. She should tour with the two Michaels, and maybe with Phil Collins. That would something to stay away from.

[fachverwirrt]

Originally Posted by Antinor01

I wouldn't disagree with that assessment. I mentioned it mostly because it was the first aria that came to mind when thinking of her body of work. But at least it was better than Michael Bolton's rendition!

True; but anything is better than Michael Bolton's rendition of anything, including Michael Bolton.

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by lissener

Funny; I almost said, in my first post above, that Sarah Brightman is the Michael Bolton of cheesey popera. She should tour with the two Michaels, and maybe with Phil Collins. That would something to stay away from.

With John Tesh on piano, Sting (the modern Disney version of Sting, not the one who was really cool in 1981) on bass, Kenny G on the sax, and featuring guest vocalists Gloria Estefan and Norah Jones, all performing the works of Christopher Cross. The highlight is a 27-minute rendition of "Sailing."

Opening act is the cast of "High School Musical."

[lissener]

Originally Posted by RickJay

With John Tesh on piano, Sting (the modern Disney version of Sting, not the one who was really cool in 1981) on bass, Kenny G on the sax, and featuring guest vocalists Gloria Estefan and Norah Jones, all performing the works of Christopher Cross. The highlight is a 27-minute rendition of "Sailing."

Opening act is the cast of "High School Musical."

Jointly sponsored by CheezIts and Kaopectate.

[C K Dexter Haven]

Originally Posted by Carnac the Magnificent!

Perhaps, Lord Lissener but much of opera is liberally sprinkled with cheese ...

This forum is for polite discussion, Carnac. That means (as you well know) that personal insults are not permitted in this forum. You may say what you want about the actors, directors, singers, whatever under discussion. But you may NOT insult other posters. You may direct sarcasm at whatever work/entertainment/art is under discussion, but NOT at other posters.

For reference: Forum Rules and please note Post #3.

[Carnac the Magnificent!]

Originally Posted by C K Dexter Haven

This forum is for polite discussion, Carnac. That means (as you well know) that personal insults are not permitted in this forum. You may say what you want about the actors, directors, singers, whatever under discussion. But you may NOT insult other posters. You may direct sarcasm at whatever work/entertainment/art is under discussion, but NOT at other posters.

For reference: Forum Rules and please note Post #3.

Huh? You gotta be kidding. I wrote that post with complete tongue in cheek, knowing that anyone as savvy as Lissener would discern my invisible winking eye. I had no beef with him whatsoever. Must I really dumb down my responses so that they are evident to everyone?

[Cervaise]

Originally Posted by Struan

I Lost My Heart To a Starship Trooper

I don't know what's more troubling: the fact that I had never seen or heard that or frankly even known of its existence, or the fact that now I do not know how I have survived to this point without knowing of it. I will be eternally grateful.

[Miller]

Originally Posted by Cervaise

I don't know what's more troubling: the fact that I had never seen or heard that or frankly even known of its existence, or the fact that now I do not know how I have survived to this point without knowing of it. I will be eternally grateful.

I like the part in the beginning where a shirtless black man with handfuls of glitter comes out and kicks the lead singer.

[Whifton_Polekitty]

Much as Mrs. Polekitty loves Sarah B., she destroyed Whiter Shade of Pale and Dust in the Wind for me. Her lack of anything resembling talent and reliance on what has in previous posts been described as cheese makes her wholly unremarkable. She comes off as a discount-bin Bernadette Peters to me.

Plus she's apparently married to Andrew Lloyd Webber, a man who could be nailed to any number of things and I would simply laugh.

If I may, I'd lik to turn the question around and as why there is such LOVE for Sarah?

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Whifton_Polekitty

Plus she's apparently married to Andrew Lloyd Webber, a man who could be nailed to any number of things and I would simply laugh.

They divorced in 1990 (check the end of the Stage Career section).

[Elendil's Heir]

I don't mind her. I actually like her "Pie Jesu" from Lloyd Webber's Requiem.

[Raguleader]

Originally Posted by Struan

IMO it's all been downhill for Sarah sinceI Lost My Heart To a Starship Trooper

That... IS THE GREATEST THING EVER

The 70's have been redeemed!

[Little Bird]

Originally Posted by Raguleader

That... IS THE GREATEST THING EVER

The 70's have been redeemed!

Agreed. How can I have that video tattooed to my face?

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by Struan

IMO it's all been downhill for Sarah sinceI Lost My Heart To a Starship Trooper

Dear Jesus Baldheaded Christ in a chicken basket.

[lissener]

Originally Posted by Elendil's Heir

I don't mind her. I actually like her "Pie Jesu" from Lloyd Webber's Requiem.

Jesus Pie? And my band is named.

That video, hilarious as it is, points to one of the many reasons SB gives me the icks: she's stolen as much from Kate Bush as Tori Amos ever has. Witness.

[lissener]

Eesh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zTikBbkNP4

[lissener]

Oh come on. How can you watch this performance and not want to kill yourself just to have it end?

[Cervaise]

Originally Posted by lissener

this performance

Wow, whoda thunk she'd be reduced to performing in an Ikea showroom.

[kelly5078]

Originally Posted by lissener

Oh come on. How can you watch this performance and not want to kill yourself just to have it end?

While not carried to the ethereal heights that she seems to be shooting for, I think I'll keep on living.

[garygnu]

Originally Posted by lissener

Oh come on. How can you watch this performance and not want to kill yourself just to have it end?

It's the vacant look in her eyes that bugs me.
That and the glitter.

[Elendil's Heir]

Ze goggles! Ze do nozzing!!!

[RickJay]

I wasn't aware that Sarah Brightman was a zombie.

I'm looking forward to her next double CD release, "Brains" and "Brains."