Pop music, thanks partly to; the unremarkables of American Idol, warbling Mickey Mouse Club graduates, and Broadway-show-tune-infested animated movies, has grown as bland and predictable as a Mc-D hamburger sandwich. Problem is I can’t seem to get up an appetite for a sentimental McPop Quarter-brainer with extra melisma – and that’s about all that’s being served by electronic media these days. Unless you’re a white-boy hungry for hip-hop or what passes for C&W.
Pop hasn’t been as domesticated and uninspiring since before race music’ led to rock n roll - putting an end to the almost unendurable white-ages. And I’m superannuated enough to recall the creepy How Much is That Doggie in the Window days before the hillbillys who hung about my uncles home-recording studio switched from sports coats and high-side haircuts to leather and long sideburns.
Strangely enough a whole lot of the music I love was written by Jews (sometimes aided by Italians) and sung by Black Folk.
Case in point was/is It’s Gonna Take a Miracle written by the Brill Building team of Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein, and Lou Stallman in the mid 60’s.
Folks like the aforementioned crafted songs that had only to be simply sung (as opposed to infinitely ornamented) to put a crack in your world so the light could get in.
The string of videos (+1) loaded below give you the Royalettes, Denise Williams, Laura Nyro, and an Asian guy (with ukelele) named Chris singing It’s Gonna Take a Miracle. And, Glory Be, they just sing the fucking song.
The last video is rare live footage of Laura Nyro singing her tune He’s a Runner. Nyro’s voice is like single malt scotch – for some souls it takes getting used to her perfect pitch and melodramatics. I’ve added this song simply because I want to and in hopes of inspiring and encouraging others (who might be otherwise inclined) to Just Sing the Fucking Song.
