Finding the musical fountain of youth
I was looking at one of those “then and now” rock music videos, in which there are a series of clips of rock singers singing one of their old hit songs when it was new and then singing it again much more recently.
Sometimes the person has lost his or her voice, but sometimes the singer sounds as good as ever. The same for looks. Some of the singers look as though there are about a thousand intervening years between their two clips rather than a few decades. Some look forever young(ish).
Case in point—someone named Peter Cetera. I’d never heard of him before, but I had heard the hit song he sings here. In the first clip he’s 42 years old (already a little bit long in the tooth for a rock singer) and in the second he’s 73. But he looks pretty darn good for 73—although he’s dressed like a corporate businessman, and he’s taken on an eerie resemblance to Bill Clinton:
Another singer I’ve never heard of is Susanna Hoff. But again, I know the song she sings here. In the first clip she’s 37 and in the second she’s 59, but not only does she look good, but she seems to have retained much of the quality of her very distinctive vocals. Despite this, though, she seems like a very different person, and the song has a much more contemplative and introspective quality:
And here’s a change of pace. It’s from Britain’s Got Talent, and the guy singing here is a 64-year-old parish priest from Ireland. I include it because I’ve always liked this song, but I also think this illustrates a number of things, among them how a voice can sound younger than a person’s years although the person may not look especially young, and also how an older person can convey a depth of feeling and experience that is difficult for a younger person to achieve:
Oh man, Peter Cetera was one of the lead singers for the band Chicago which was huge in the 70s and well into the 80s. Had several solo hits afterward also. Susannah Hoffs was the lead singer of the Bangles one of the greatest all female bands in pop/rock history. Their recording of the Prince written song ‘Manic Monday’ lives on forever
And that was Cetera singing ‘Glory Of Love’ from the Karate Kid II and Hoffs singing ‘Eternal Flame’ one of the Bangles biggest hits.
1970s and 1980s music is right in my wheelhouse.
Sadly, my favorite artist of all time Paul McCartney is one that at 76 has totally lost his voice. Seems fit and sharp as a tack in other ways but all the smoking has done him in vocally. But it’s also just age and years of unbelievable stress on your voice.
Since we’re on the topic, how on earth is Ozzy Osbourne still alive?
zomg, you didn’t know the Bangles? Walk Like An Egyptian?
hmm….
Griffin,
McCartney lost me when he gratuitously insulted George W Bush when Obama gave him the Mark Twain award to which he was not at all entitled,not being an American entertainer. He said to Barry “It’s nice to see an American President that knows what a book is.” Needless to say,hilarity ensued.
Now, George W Bush, whatever you or I may think of him is married to a (m’f’n) librarian FFS! He probably has,at least, some dim idea of what a ‘book’ is.
Fuck you, Paul. I’m done with you.
Interesting; I just saw Steely Dan a month ago. Basically, that means I saw Donald Fagen with some backup musicians, because Steely Dan was always Fagen, Becker, and some backup musicians, and then Becker died. Fagen is 70. The first few numbers he sounded a little croaky, but then it seemed like his vocal chords loosened up and he sounded pretty good. He did take a break or two during the show, and he doesn’t dance like Mick Jagger once did, but all in all, I was impressed. I hope I’m doing that well at 70.
Nick Danger,
Yeah I know and he sang ‘Michelle’ for Michelle Obama but I choose not to allow these things to deprive me of things I really like. One of THE most damaging things to happen to our culture has been the politicization of everything and I just try not to play that game. Now I will think differently of someone if they are flat out crazy or really cross a line but I’m not going to let my enjoyment be affected by some other person’s misguided beliefs if the music, movie, tv show or whatever is non political in nature.
By the time he was in his 60s, Frank Sinatra’s voice had gone way downhill. Sarah Vaughan’s voice, on the other hand was still good in her 60s.
Somewhat on topic, as there is a singing priest in the post, here are Les Prêtres Les Trois Cloches (The Priests sing Three Bells.) Those of a certain age may recognize the song from The Browns singing Three Bells. The song was originally French. The rendition of Edith Piaf is the best.
For me, the one who always had a very strong voice, and has only gotten better with age is Ann Wilson:
then:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cw1ng75KP0
and now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLpsy3Bal3M
Never heard of most of these people, though in re some I can remember the song. No clue why people are complaining so-and-so has lost their voice. If a rock singer has a fine voice, that’s gravy, but that’s not the source of their appeal. The one person on this line up whose vocal quality is such that she really ought to hang up her shoes is Lynn Anderson, who is known for what was called 40 years ago ‘adult contemporary’, not rock.
Your indifference to Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore, &c. noted.
“Your indifference to Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore, &c. noted.”
Art, WHY do you assume we are indifferent to the above singers??? Neo started the thread with people who most knew from the late 70’s to early 80’s and are still alive and performing today. I myself greatly appreciate Clooney, Shore and their contemporaries. Stop insulting us.
physicsguy,
Yep, you’re right about Ann Wilson. There is a clip on youtube (don’t have time to find right now) of Heart performing ‘Crazy On You’ at their Hall of Fame concert where her vocals were very impressive for a sixtysomething year old.
Stop insulting us.
I wasn’t addressing you.
Art Deco:
Who were you addressing?
Rosemary Clooney had a truly mellifluous voice.
I have loved Jethro Tull since my older sister bought Think as a Brick. I saw Ian Anderson in concert seven years ago. His voice was gone. It was so sad. Plus, he was performing TAAB II, which is based on the premise of whatever happened to Gerald Bostock. I cried though the whole thing.
“Shine a Light” (2008) was Martin Scorcese’s Rolling Stones concert film and it was magnificent — IMO the best of all the Stones concert films.
Mick Jagger was 65 then. From what I’ve heard, backstage he was huffing pure oxygen during costume changes to keep up his energy, but it worked.
Sadly, the exclusive small-venue concert was a benefit for the effin’ Clinton Foundation. Bill and Hill were in the audience. Wadd’ya gonna do.
Here’s a glimpse of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gGBRB7_FQA&list=RD2gGBRB7_FQA&start_radio=1&t=160
The Stones were still strong at Glastonbury, a huge rock festival held near Stonehenge, in 2013:
“Gimme Shelter”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxPoCgk7A90
The Moody Blues are still in business. They just celebrated the 50th anniversary of their landmark album, “Days of Future Passed” — a big fave of mine. They’ve gone gray and filled out, a few are missing, and the vocals aren’t quite as supple, but they’re still here.
“Tuesday Afternoon”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEGNsc89rBA
One thing I respect about the Moodies is they don’t mind being an oldies band. They play for their fans and their fans still love them, so they will keep on playing.
One of THE most damaging things to happen to our culture has been the politicization of everything and I just try not to play that game.
Griffin: Likewise, but I do get weary.
I find it difficult to listen to Bruce Springsteen anymore, since he took to being the Voice of the Common Man who lives in multi-millionaire-dollar houses and will boycott performing in states with gender-designated restrooms.
huxley,
I’m helped on that by the fact that I never much cared for Springsteen. Always seemed so damned depressed and musically not very interesting to me at all. I think where I draw the line in my mind is if I have liked someone before I have any idea what their politics are then I can separate the two but someone new, not so much. Of course, there are some tough calls like John Lennon. Great respect for him as lyricist but the hypocrisy of his words and his lifestyle always made it hard for me to fully buy into him. But others, like my brother, worship him so to each his own.
Griffin: Geez, John Lennon.
It’s hard for me to hold his politics against him. For my money Lennon was one of the most angry, tormented, screwed-up rock stars ever — which is saying something.
Yet he helped manufacture the Fab Four image of the fun-loving Mop Tops, and then he had to live within that image for years. It must have been very painful, which occasionally peaked out of his lyrics in songs like “I’m a Loser,” “I’m Down,” and “Nowhere Man.”
According to the bios by those who knew him, in spite of all his success Lennon was not a happy man, not at all.
So his life became a classic sixties/seventies journey from one Big Answer to another — from Love to LSD to Transcendental Meditation to Primal Therapy to Peace to Working-Class Hero to househusband.
And when he said he was “Starting Over,” he got that wrong too. He was killed three weeks after the album was released.
“peeked” … Comment re-edit comes and goes.
huxley,
Yes, yesterday was 38 years since he was killed.
That’s why I say I’m a little conflicted by with him. In my opinion ‘Girl’ is one of the most amazing songs ever. It may be my favorite Beatles song. And it was the contradictions between John and Paul that made the Beatles truly special. I always use ‘Getting Better’ as my example. Paul says ‘you have to admit it’s getting better’ and John answers ‘it can’t get no worse’. For me that is Lennon/McCartney summed up in two lines.
But ‘Imagine’ is the worst song ever. EVER. Hate it. The man with multiple mansions including a Park Avenue apt. going on about no possessions. That is my problem with him. But the good far outweighs the bad for him.
Griffin: Spot on with “Getting Better.” I noticed that too.
“Imagine” is pure leftie, ideological poison, yet embraced as a utopian anthem answering the big questions.
Lou Reed’s “A Perfect Day” (in which I believe Reed is winking at Salinger’s “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” as not a “perfect day” at all) has become another peculiar anthem, at least in Europe.
BBC did a big glitzy production of it as a benefit for a children’s charity, complete with Reed, Bowie, Bono and Pavrotti.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDirNhQ1Gq0
Susan Boyle has even covered it, apparently with Lou’s bizarre blessing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrQobQMZYnY
I can’t tell whether the song is about a bad relationship or heroin or both — Lou will never tell — but while it’s got a majestic melody and superficially happy surface, it’s a deeply troubling song.
Sorry to go on in this obvious tangent, but “A Perfect Day” drove me crazy when it was retooled as an anthem.
Susan Boyle put it on a Christmas album! It was the first song, followed by Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” then a raft of Christmas carols.
What are people thinking about when they push “A Perfect Day” like this? Are they listening to the lyrics? I guess the hipsters like putting one over on the squares. I’m sure Lou Reed was amused.
But geez louise, this is a depressing song. My money is on the narrator overdosing later that night after the “perfect day.”
FretlessT on December 8, 2018 at 7:09 pm at 7:09 pm said:
zomg, you didn’t know the Bangles? Walk Like An Egyptian?
* * *
I used to be in a group that did an exercise routine to that song.
Never knew who sang it.
The lyrics make absolutely no sense at all.
Which doesn’t matter a bit.
They would be arrested by the PC Police today for Culture Appropriation and Racisss.
“how a voice can sound younger than a person’s years although the person may not look especially young, and also how an older person can convey a depth of feeling and experience that is difficult for a younger person to achieve:” – Neo
* * *
The disconnect between appearance and sound was amply demonstrated by Susan Boyle’s competition on (IIRC) the same program. And then there is the Jim Nabors / Gomer Pyle disjunct. What a voice that man had!
I also note that the priest’s very noticeable Irish accent completely disappeared when he sang; I don’t know whether that “means” anything deep, but it does demonstrate that a musical idiom can be so well learned that it effaces the normal speaking voice.
Henry Higgins might know something about that.
Neo’s last point is generally correct, but it is amazing how much passion a younger person can sometimes bring to a song that might be more “routine” to an older one after singing it for decades.
Mark Steyn makes a point of mentioning that Sinatra put a lot of personal angst into his songs throughout his career (I personally never cared all that much for Frank in his later years, FWIW).
I also note that the priest’s very noticeable Irish accent completely disappeared when he sang;
AesopFan: I got a real shock when I heard the lead singer for Simple Minds (“Don’t You Forget About Me” from “The Breakfast Club”) interviewed on NPR. He had a thick Glaswegian accent near unintelligible to my American ears.
Terry Gross asked him about his accent and he said he learned to sing rock from listening to American records.
Re: Jim Nabors — I too was surprised when I heard him sing, really sing, in a tuxedo on one of the variety shows back them.