Further to my last post about the final of Polka Dot Has Talent, here is a video taken on Saturday of Emily Murray, joint winner of the competition, singing Defying Gravity from Wicked. Have a listen to this stunning voice and make a note of her name for the future. As an amateur singer myself I have to say Emily’s power and range is quite amazing: I’m very envious.
Beware there is a huge screech from her family at the end of the song which will probably burst any tender ear-drums.
Very very good….wish I could sing like that, and I would have whooped just as loudly had she been mine!
@Libby – Isn't she brilliant? I wish I could sing like that too: probably explains why I'm just an amateur warbler. And yes, it's a cracking whoop!
Am envious. Wish I could sing half as well as that.
@Steve – She also sang duets in the heats and a great rendition of Queen's "Somebody to Love" in the semi-finals. A young lady to watch out for.
Beautiful, love that song. I'm travelling to New York next week and may even see Wicked for a second time
Oh WOW!
Sounds a fun evening! I'm glad you helped choose the right winner. What a responsibility!
@About last weekend – a musical I've not seen; must correct that!
@Tattie – Indeed.
@Sarah – I wish I had a clip of the two hiphop dancers who shared the prize.
I have to confess that I began to find it quite painful and had to quickly turn the volume down on my speakers. Maybe "power and range" aren't my thing in female singers. Doesn't compare to the video you posted previously of you singing "I don't know how to love him" which to me had a complete range where needed rather than being at full belt from start to finish.
Just my humble opinion though.
@Troy – Interesting point. Possibly the song itself requires a good deal of power to hit the notes? Emily sang "I Don't know how to love him" in the heats and it was excellent. My own performance of the song had a few dodgy notes! I'm not really a 'belter' singer so I think I try to add light and shade to make up for the smaller range in my voice.
Probably on reflection it is the song I don't like. Shame you haven't got a YouTube of her singing "Somebody To Love". I do like "belters" such as Tina Turner (seen her live several times) and melody singers such as Karen Carpenter (who in my opinion must be the best ever female singer) Also the haunting voices of Stevie Nicks on many Fleetwood Mac tracks or Christine McVie on "Songbird" which has power and range without strain.
I appreciate these are not your typical pub/club singers.
@Troy – If you google Emily Murray, youtube, somebody to love, then you can see her sing it at the semi-finals, also her other songs are on there, including the JC Superstar one which is beautiful.
I used to try and sing like Stevie Nicks and Karen Carpenter! Plus Songbird has always been a favourite. Have the live album of that somewhere in a cupboard…
Very nice stuff! As a hobby singer myself (lots of choir work in my background, but definitely not a soloist)I can appreciate how hard it is to move around the register without getting screetchy or flat and still have good control. Sounds so much better than so many of the folks you see on things like 'American Idol.'
And on a completely different note (ha), I thought of you yesterday when I was at a coffee morning for BAS (British Association of Seoul) to which I'd been invited (because it turns out you don't have to even be from the UK to attend.) The lady who was running the show (so to speak) was inquiring if we'd like to attend the Scottish Ball in November and all I could think of was what a shame that MrL doesn't have a kilt like Dougie's.
@Ms Caroline – I agree entirely about the singing and how hard it is to have control/not screech/stay in pitch.
Dougie's kilt has been a great investment, though the cost was huge initially! Scottish Ball sounds great, kilted or not.