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Penny
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
Posts: 94
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 Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| Nicola wrote: | I have both of their albums and their second album is definitely better than their first, I don't even like their first.
Since what you read was in a gossip mag... I wouldn't take it very seriously.
I'm pretty mixed about G4. I supported them on X Factor as I thought they were the only there. It's awful they didn't win but at the same time, they won it really, because where is Steve Brookstein now? Back in pubs I believe. I mainly just like Jon as he has a really distinct powerful voice whilst the others tend just to be back up singers. I never believed them to be a quartet. They are not equal at all. I know every band has its leader but I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way with an operatic quartet. Did you ever see The Three Tenors have a lead singer? Il Divo or even Amici Forever? They are an operatic group organised by Pop Gurus (yes I know Simon Cowell is responsible for Il Divo). Louis Walsh is a manager of boybands who can make something out of nothing (Boyzone and Westlife?!) Louis sets them up in a popular mainstream way instead of the way they are supposed to be. Also, they are not the strongest of classical singers. Whilst I love their pop covers their arias are quite poor. |
.........I am of the opposite opinion - love the classical pieces they do (Classic FM obviously don`t think they are "quite poor" as they get quite a lot of airplay)!!! The blend of their classical voices is just superb on pieces such as Nessum Dorma, Au Fond du Temple Saint and La Donna e Mobile. I find it hard to believe that some people would ever find them "quite poor" but you are entitled to your opinion, and I respect that. I`m less enthusiastic about some of the questionable covers Sony give them, ie Wonder of You, and the more controversial tracks ie Yellow. They are always going to create controversy by singing covers and I guess will never gain credibility in the pop music industry if they continue to sing covers and not originals. But in the classical genre it is quite acceptable to sing covers and even their harshest critics all agree that G4 are superb when they sing classical, so I guess this is maybe the route they should be following in the future, or at least an album with much more classical pieces on. |
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Molly
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
Posts: 642
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| Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Some interesting thoughts on G4 in here.
I think the joy of them for me is that they are different. That they dont follow the "expected" norm......it's their very "difference" that makes them special to me.
I'm not a lover of what I call "heavy" classical music and I'm not a lover of what I call "pop fluff" and G4 find the middle ground for me.....
I'm not very keen on groups that sing one line each and that sort of thing I like the fact that Jon takes the lead (although one or other of the others often does this if the song requires it) and I love the harmonies that the other three provide. That's what I personally particularly like about them.
Does the fact that they are still very young (compared to people like The Three Tenors/Il Divo and others) mean that their classical voices still have a lot of maturing to do?
I'm thinking of Aled Jones saying that his voice wont be properly mature until he is in his 40's?
I think with G4 they have often said in interviews that they are doing what they always hoped to do with music and I think part of that is becoming something quite different to anything else out there. Some people will like that; others wont; and hopefully some will be won over.
Talking about Jon only - I think he has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard. When I heard him live in Cardiff I couldnt believe the range and power that his voices possesses.
But the other three boys have lovely voices too and Matt (bass/baritone) in particular has a wonderful voice. The harmonies they provide have to be heard live to be really appreciated and as a whole G4 are to me, exciting, new, innovative and courageous.
Long may they continue. 
Molly xx |
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Nicola
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
Posts: 210
Location: Borehamwood, Herts
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| Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:10 am Post subject: |
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You and I are reading different articles Penny!  You can't take airplay as 'oh, that company loves them!' because they are a company just like any other and have to have listeners/viewers/readers so they play what is popular. I'm not saying that Classical FM doesn't like them (because I think they genuinely do) but you shouldn't take such 'evidence' so strongly. The music business is fickle.
I think what Classic FM likes about these boys is the exposure they bring to classical music, like Molly says they are very middle ground. Their albums won't scare off the mainstream buying public because they mix their pop and classical.
Don't misunderstand, I do like G4 and I have seen them live (they are incredibly good live). I have just heard so much better on the classical field. It maybe because they are young... but I doubt it. Listen to Jon... does his voice need maturing?! He is absolutely amazing. Loving Jon. |
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Molly
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Don't misunderstand, I do like G4 and I have seen them live (they are incredibly good live). I have just heard so much better on the classical field. It maybe because they are young... but I doubt it. Listen to Jon... does his voice need maturing?! He is absolutely amazing. Loving Jon.
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But doesnt the fact that Jon is so young mean that his voice must inevitably mature over the years? And as he is this amazing now.......just imagine what he is going to be like in another 10 years! WOW!
And mention should be made of Matt who has a fabulous bass/baritone voice which I think is going to mature into something even more special over the coming years.
Molly xx |
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xotic
ClassicalX
Joined: Jan 05, 2006
Posts: 467
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Nicola wrote: | | I never believed them to be a quartet. They are not equal at all. I know every band has its leader but I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way with an operatic quartet. |
Just out of pure curiousity, what qualifies a group for being an quartet in your opinion?
I'd say this definition really fits on those guys. They are a group of four men for the common purpose of singing. The term quartet does not give any information on how often a particular member of that group has to be in the lead to be an equal member. Anyway it is quite common - even in choir singing - that the highest voice (in that case Jon's) gets the most lead vocals. This does not make the rest of the group/choir unimportant or unequal. Every voice contributes to the unique sound and is as important as the one having the lead vocals, because without the background a song would only be half as good. And maybe the bass or baritone does not feel unequal at all, it might just be the impression an "outsider" could get.
| Nicola wrote: | | It maybe because they are young... but I doubt it. Listen to Jon... does his voice need maturing?! |
At school I learned about the physics of male and female voices. So I learned that the male voice does not fully mature till the age of 40. So how old are those guys? In their 20s? And if they sing like that now, who knows how stunning they'll be in the future?!  |
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Penny
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
Posts: 94
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:14 am Post subject: |
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| nkruemel wrote: | | Nicola wrote: | | I never believed them to be a quartet. They are not equal at all. I know every band has its leader but I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way with an operatic quartet. |
Just out of pure curiousity, what qualifies a group for being an quartet in your opinion?
I'd say this definition really fits on those guys. They are a group of four men for the common purpose of singing. The term quartet does not give any information on how often a particular member of that group has to be in the lead to be an equal member. Anyway it is quite common - even in choir singing - that the highest voice (in that case Jon's) gets the most lead vocals. This does not make the rest of the group/choir unimportant or unequal. Every voice contributes to the unique sound and is as important as the one having the lead vocals, because without the background a song would only be half as good. And maybe the bass or baritone does not feel unequal at all, it might just be the impression an "outsider" could get.
| Nicola wrote: | | It maybe because they are young... but I doubt it. Listen to Jon... does his voice need maturing?! |
At school I learned about the physics of male and female voices. So I learned that the male voice does not fully mature till the age of 40. So how old are those guys? In their 20s? And if they sing like that now, who knows how stunning they'll be in the future?! |
...............a very good post and one which I totally agree with. I was fortunate enough to have heard Jon`s solo album which he made when he was 18 - the difference and maturity in his voice from then to now is remarkable - his voice will continue to mature until, as you say, he reaches full maturity when he is around 40. |
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Nicola
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
Posts: 210
Location: Borehamwood, Herts
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:47 am Post subject: |
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My point was that his voice doesn't need maturing, it's brilliant as it is. I wasn't saying that the voice does not mature. Someone said that they thought I didn't think they were good enough because perhaps they were too young. I don't think that's the case as I think Jon is fantastic even at his young age now.
I didn't know he had a solo album? Very good!
Yes, I think a quartet to have effective equal harmonies that are in sync with each other. As they are now, they just remind me of a boyband. They have a frontman whilst all the others are background singers. Again, it's just my opinion, you can't change it. |
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Molly
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | I don't think that's the case as I think Jon is fantastic even at his young age now.
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Definitely agree with you there Nicola.
I was listening to a recording I was lucky to get from Carols at Cork over Christmas and G4 sang (with choirs and other soloists) Joy to the World. At the very end for the last line Jon soars up higher than everyone and his voice is so distinctive and heard so clearly over the whole ensemble - its quite spine tingling.
He's a fabulous singer and puts so much emotion into the songs. I cant listen to Remember Me without getting all choked up!
Love Molly xx |
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xotic
ClassicalX
Joined: Jan 05, 2006
Posts: 467
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Nicola wrote: | | Again, it's just my opinion, you can't change it. |
That wasn't my intention. I just explained my point of view. |
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Nicola
Joined: Jan 14, 2006
Posts: 210
Location: Borehamwood, Herts
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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I can see with that sentence on its own it looks really aggressive. That wasn't my intention neither  sorry. |
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xotic
ClassicalX
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Posts: 467
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Nicola wrote: | | I can see with that sentence on its own it looks really aggressive. That wasn't my intention neither sorry. |
I didn't interpret it as aggressive, just didn't want to quote the whole passage |
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