The music world, and music buyers, responded unexpectedly positively to the release of Tamar Braxton's RnB ballad Love And War, earlier this week. Clearly hoping to capitalise on the buzz of said song, the Braxton Family Values star took it to The Wendy Williams Show for a bit of live promo.
But how did the baby of the Braxton clan manage such a tricky song in a live setting? Watch below and find out!
My thoughts: It's crazy how much Tamar sounds like Toni in her lower range! Unfortunately, though the timbre is similar, she doesn't have the control, or the ease that her sister has on the lowest notes. As a result of this, the low pitched verses were the weakest parts of the performance: being breathy and shaky.
As soon as Tamar moved out of her lower range things quickly improved- though there was still some dodgy notes littered throughout. But Tamar showed she is more than capable of delivering where it matters: on those big, "money" notes. These notes did sound slightly pushed, but they also sounded akin to the vocals laid down on the studio version, so it was impressive to hear them recreated live.
The vocal-run at 3.43 was cute too, and the performance as a whole convinces me, that once her nerves are sorted, Tamar Braxton will be delivering live vocals that'll have other Divas quaking in their 6-inch Louboutins!
Not sure about that thin vibrato though...
How bout you guys? What did you think?
It's decent. I enjoyed it. Her tone is lovely but her voice sounded kinda shaky throughout and her phrasing isn't as distinct as I'd prefer but I think that's nit picking. But I agree with DD, her upper chest is where it's at. I'm becoming a huge fan of Tamar and this performance was just lovely.
ReplyDeleteAs for her dodgy lower range, I still am impressed by it. I think its my insanity, but she did sound almost like Toni except for the volume of course. Her placement seemed good, too. I think she was nervous though. I know I would have been. This aint an easy song to sing....have any of you tried singing it? It is an endurance buster just like love on top by beyonce. lol
Best vocalist around at the moment!
ReplyDeleteFor a soprano, her low notes are still decently placed although they lack the vigor and clarity of the higher notes. I agree her ease is clearly in upper chest into parts of the head voice. Her timbre reminds me of Toni quite consistently with the key observation that her voice is not as weighty, thick, or dark, instead having a more incisive, bright, warm color in its stead.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, she and Toni are perfect examples of how a two different voice types can have a simualar sound and sing in the dame octives, what chacteristic define there voice type. however her low notes at some points sounded a bit muffled and light. But as soon as transitions into her mid to higher range, clearity and power came in. I don't know what is but something about her voice reminds me a lot of Mariah's even the song I could sound like something she would sing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your review. I also agree that she's got pipes that are missing in the current contemporary market. Well, the contemporary mainstream, anyway. Melanie Fiona has an amazing voice as does Elle Varner. But, back to Tamar. As someone familiar with her, it's easy to forgive how messy/shaky the performance was from beginning to end, but I'm concerned for those who may not have the benefit of prior knowledge of her vocal prowess. It's also time for her to step up her look. She resembled Wendy Williams, and that's not a compliment.
ReplyDeleteShe did great :)
ReplyDeleteForgot to add a lot of times showing emotion and vulnerability matters more than being technically on key. Also she has a great look and stage presence to her.
ReplyDeleteGreat mid-high pitch control.... Awesome voice Great Song, but maybe It will be great if she make-up some high-pitch tone with her Whistle-Register voice .... #JustImagine
ReplyDeleteWell, she is going to do well I am sure. She already has the stans. ''Greatest vocalist'', '' on key is not important but she looks good'' , ''nerves''.
ReplyDeleteAnd the right connections in the pop buzz.
To me she sounded shouty and shaky and far from impressive.
*Cough* Brandy *Cough*
ReplyDeleteI LOVEEE Tamar or as I like to call her Slaymar, but this performance was hot as a damn mess. Her showcase was much better than this, but she seemed so nervous here. She always said that she sings better when sitting (and she does), so I guess standing up, being nervous, first live performance on major network will take a toll on you. I just expected better because I know she can. This performance has NOT changed my opinion of her or her talent, but as her first live or debut (it's been a while but it's a debut), this is wasn't good to show to the masses.
ReplyDeleteWtf ''debut'' ???
ReplyDeleteShe has been a professional singer for 22 years already. Give up soon the excuses already!
Though I have to admit that ''sings better when sitting down'' does get high marks for it's originality as well as hilarity factor.
Have you even heard her... Different people have different comfort zones when singing. Some can sing lying down (weird imo), sitting, standing and she's stated it herself and on her show has gotten into arguments with producers over her wanting to sit rather than stand because she's more comfortable sitting. I only say debut because it's been a long time since she's had a solo single and last time wasn't really a success, so I don't really count it. Technically this isn't a debut, but it's not like she was it was that big of a debut back then. I look at now as a new begging for her musically.
ReplyDeleteNo one sings better sitting down. You might feel more comfortable, which may be what she meant, but she can't access her full lung capacity that way.
ReplyDeleteUgh, still not hearing the similarity between her and Mariah. Mimi was never this screechy with her high notes, and always had... a creamier texture to her voice.
ReplyDeleteWell compare that performance (of her standing up) and the one at her showcase (sitting down). Compare her national anthem (standing) and her in the studio sitting on a stool. That's all I'm saying.
ReplyDeleteYes I heard her and I gave my opinion on her performance already...shouty, shaky and far from impressive. And I am not even a singer but even I can feel the difference when I sing sitting down and standing up. Your/her claim is utter nonsense and utterly laughable.
ReplyDeleteAs is your second attempt at that ''debut'' excuse.
However you choose to define this single, fact remains no 22 year veteran can claim debut jitters.
Main difference no doubt being the presence of autotune lol
ReplyDeleteOh yes, because everyone is wired the same. Also, you seem a bit pretentious and hostile. I gave my opinion, that was it. Whether you think what I'm saying is right or wrong, it obviously bothers you to be so hostile, so sit down.
ReplyDeletewe just agree to disagree no biggie
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H0q2PL_HE0 a better live performance where she is just relaxed while singing.
ReplyDelete''So sit down''??? That makes about as much sense as all your excuses.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I am hostile agains stans. But no, it doesn't bother me at all to be hostile toward fools. It comes extremely natural to me to not suffer fools gladly. :-)
And you sure qualify.
Of course it doesn't really matter whether you are right or wrong. I am just exercising my right and ability to expres my opinions.
"I am just exercising my right and ability to expres my opinions." as am I. The difference is, I could care less about your opinion or what you think is "qualified" as correct, just know that I'm going to say what I want, so yes; sit down.
ReplyDeleteROFL yes, I am sure you could care less. Way less!
ReplyDeleteIf you in fact would, you would for instance stop with the inanities.
You seem to think I want you to. No idea why except possibly that you equal someone calling your statements nonsensical with someone telling you to shut up.
Well dude,that just tells me a lot about your mind but nothing about mine. I welcome discussion.
AND....I can do so both sitting and standing. Hell, I can even do it lying down or walking,hopping on one foot or standing on my head.
So please do continue to demonstrate what a silly Stan you are.
Any day now I fully expect one of you stans to reach te ultimate level of inanity and claim your favorite to be a great vocalist who just happens to have a poor voice and little singing ability but who has overcome those unfortunate disadvantages for a singer by his/her amazing ability to follow a stylist's guidance as well as master a few simple dance moves after months of practicing. :-)
Oh wait...that actually happened several times already.
ReplyDeleteI think people are judging her too harshly. Yes this wasn't her best performance. What most people haven't realized is she hasn't really done that much without her sisters. She talks big game all the time but she's probably nervous about succeeding. IF you are a fan of her you know this is not her best. This performance is much better http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H0q2PL_HE0 Let's not forget that she's only human. Let's give her time, after all she just NOW released music for the first time in like 10 years.
ReplyDeleteJust because it seems to work for her doesn't mean it actually does. Perhaps she's just more comfortable sitting, and therefore more capable of delivering an acceptable performance. In that case, it's nerves, and not a case of singing better sitting down.
ReplyDeleteTechnically though, she should do better standing,
That's insulting to real, relevant vocalists like Beyonce. She's MUCHMUCHMUCH better than Tamar. Others are out of the picture (like Celine lol, and Charice.) I'm pretty sure Mariah's still better than this imitator....
ReplyDeleteLOL I could name an even longer list of vocalists that was insulting to.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how Celine is not relevant as compared to Tamar here?
Pretty sure she still has more fans and also sells better than Tamar at present. ( assuming that is what you refer to with that term ''relevance''? Salesnumbers)
why do u argue so much with everyone on here? ive seen you argue against so many people here and for what? it feels as if almost every post i see here on this blog has u on the comments bar talking crap about the singers and the fans that offer up their opinions - and you seem to take it so personally which i do not get. there is no need to be so hostile here - disagreeing with someone is fine but u cross the line sometimes and personally attack people calling them stupid; insulting people as if they did something horrible to you.
ReplyDeleteLOL do you at all realize the irony of you coming on here and your first post being a complaint likely to start an argument about a person you feel argues too much?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, nobody is forcing you to read my posts, there is, for your covenience, a name next to each post. I would advice you to do what I do with people whose opinions/posts I am not interested in...skip them!
If you do insist on reading them, at least do so for real so that next time you can be a tad more realistic instead of focusing on the in your eyes negative only.
Let me guess..a Tamar fan?
ReplyDeleteMy tagname and avatar are right next to each comment I post. Judging by your ''questions'' you are reading them cursory anyway so why not simply go the whole way and stop reading them altogether.
Pretty sure nobody is forcing you to read them.
Fyi you just in your first comment, me never having directed any comments at you, got pretty personal plus called my opinions on singers ''crap''.
But hey, let's just ignore that shall we, or I would called hostile again.
Nah, I mean in terms of latest release. Celine hasn't done too much in a while, iirc.
ReplyDeleteAha. I get it now. But actually she had two albums out in 2007 and as recent as the past year. And another supposed to drop this yeear. Seems a normal rythm for an long running established career to me.
ReplyDeleteoh lol. I thought her last one was Taking Chances. I don't pay Celine too much attention tbh.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully...other than while on this blog, neither do I. Had to look it up. :-b
ReplyDeleteOnly one of all the divas I was ever really a fan of was Streisand.
And frankly,all in all, none of them could match the standard she set....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i39GivtPZx0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
WOW!!! thank GOD for a real singer!!!
ReplyDelete