[Vocal Profile] Emeli Sandé

Emeli Sandé

Vocal Type: Mezzo Soprano
Vocal Range: 2 Octaves 2 notes (D3-F5)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Her lower range, which sits just above the second octave, doesn't produce the healthiest of sounds, being foggy and pushed, but it quickly gains a surer footing as it climbs.

Being somewhat of a vocal chameleon, Sandé can change the tone and timbre of her midrange: lightening and imbuing it with a breathy, airy quality [Breaking The Law]; or keeping it fuller, darker and with a maturer quality to it [Read All About It Part iii], all depending on what is needed. Sandé can also play with her intonation to give her delivery a different sound: for instance the jazzier inflections in Daddy contrasted with the more contemporary delivery heard in Next To Me. These qualities work together to give the midrange brilliant dynamics and impressive versatility, all while highlighting the musicality and sensitivity of the singer.

Sandé  is equally as comfortable in her belting range as she is in her midrange, with songs like Heaven being sung almost entirely in the belting range of her voice. The quality of her belt is one that is clear, cutting and clearly well supported. Due to her excellent "mix" (between her head and chest voice), Sandé retains a fair amount of weight, character and texture even up to an F5. Her ease within this part of the range shows a brilliant technique is at work.

Her head-voice isn't used for protracted periods but instead Sandé switches to and from it to add interest to her melodic lines. The fact that she can do so at all, apparently with ease, suggests she has the skill to sing in this part of the range, but chooses not to. The notes themselves sound more akin to falsetto, being light and breathy.

Vocal Negatives: Underutilised head-voice, and weak lows. At times the chameleon like quality of her voice, though showing skill, makes it harder to immediately identify- for instance sounding like Leona Lewis here, and Beverly Knight here.

[New Music] Lana Del Rey Slays Us All With Great Gatsby's "Young & Beautiful"!

Ergh, Lana Del Rey you are just too perfect! Just released is her Great Gatsby contribution Young and Beautiful, and it's everything you (and I) hoped it would be.

Moody, broody with a melody- particularly at the bridge- that can take a listener's breath away, this song has already established itself up there with other classics like Video Games and Born To Die- and that's just after one listen! I really don't understand how people can get her talent twisted when she keeps writing sumptuous songs like this. Lana, you've done it again!

Take a listen to Young and Beautiful, below.

[New Music ] Lana Del Rey "Summer Wine"

Lana Del Rey keeps on doing her own thing, putting out music randomly. But let's get real, ain't no one complainin' about that!

Her newest release is a cover of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood's Summer Wine, which comes hot on the heels of last month's Chelsea Hotel No. 2. It's another vintage slice of musical pie from our lovely Lana, and should keep those of us who are dying for new (original) music ticking over until we can get our greedy hands on The Great Gatsby soundtrack! On a selfish note, it's also the perfect accompaniment to this beautiful spring day!

*Runs back outside to enjoy*

[Review] American Idol Does Divas (Plus Theme: "Year They Were Born")

Season 12 of American Idol has officially become a sausage free zone, with the remaining five contestants all being of the female persuasion - it's almost enough to make me watch! This being the case, or not (I don't know how far in advance they pick these themes), yesterday's episode was Divas night! In honour of that, each singer was asked to pick a song by a famous female to perform in front of the judges. But how many were heroic enough to pick a Mariah Carey or Nicki Minaj song? Find out below- along with my two pennies on each performance!

(I've also posted each of their second performances of the night, which were supposedly chosen from their year of birth. Might help those of us who don't watch the show get a better grasp on the contestants.)

[Discuss] Are We Liking Iggy Azalea? (Also, Check Out The Orchestral Version Of "Work")

I initially listened to Iggy Azalea's Work and hated it. But now I can't get enough of it! How does that happen? It's not like I kept listening to it over and over until my sense of taste relented. It was more like one second I hated it, the next I LOVED it. Stupid subconscious, always subverting my concious thoughts!!

From the compelling lyrics documenting her far from easy struggle to relevance, to the 1st Down and The Invisible Men trap-pop beat, Work is a tasty piece of pie that is as easy on the ear as it is on the eye- just check out the super hot video! I just wonder why I never noticed all this goodness the first time round. There's no denying there is an abrasive and grubby side to the whole project (and the rapper, herself), but that's something that only puts me further under Azalea's spell. After all there's nothing more boring than a plastic pop/rap/whatever star. 

So what's are your thoughts on Work, and more importantly Iggy Azalea? I know she's been on the scene since 2011 releasing mixtapes, but I honestly haven't paid her any mind until this song. As of now, I'm cautiously excited about her and am currently resisting the urge to dig up everything pre-work (lest I be bitterly disappointed). Instead, I'll wait until this year's Glory EP- which Work is taken from- is released before I come to any firm conclusions about Iggy.

But don't let that stop you guys having your say!

[Watch] Kelly Clarkson Performs "People Like Us" @ American Idol And Mariah Carey Acknowledges Her Greatness!

After our Kelly Clarkson love-in during yesterday's comments [here], it looks like our devotion was seen by the Gods and was justly rewarded with this live performance of People Like us @ American Idol. Yes. It was just for us, Devotees. Others will DEAL!

Performing the new single, Kelly gave us all kinds of life with her amazingly fluorescent  rendition of the call-to-arms anthem for freaks everywhere (including me)- this is despite claiming to have been nervous performing in front of Mariah Carey.

But it was after the rocking out when the magic really happened for me. That's when the world changed forever: Mariah actually got up from her seat- something I don't think I've seen her do this series of American Idol- and embraced the Idol alumni! EEEEK! Kelly being Kelly of course kept it super together, throwing in the word "crap"; telling Mariah to "shhh" at one point so she could ask Randy a question; talking about throwing-up; and then saying to Mariah, "I'm so glad you're not mean"! But we'd expect nothing less from our down-to-earth Texan! Seriously, can she be any more adorable?!

[Music Video] Demi Lovato "Heart Attack"

Having wrapped up her judging gig on season one of The X-Factor (USA), MS. Demi Lovato is back to the day job- AKA releasing great music!  

Produced by The Suspex, new single Heart Attack continues to demonstrate Demi's knack for releasing hot singles and delivering great vocals- seriously, that layered harmony on the bridge is impressive. And it seems people are sitting up and taking notice, as the track has enjoyed the third largest first-week sales of any single this year! So congratulations are in order! 

Also, are Demi and Kelly Clarkson related, somehow?  The physical resemblances between the two only became apparent to me while watching the video for Heart Attack. But now, when I combine that with them both having awesome voices, the only possible explanation (that I can come up with) for the similarities is that they must be family.... Right? No?! Well screw you guys, I'm going to start spreading it anyway!

You all enjoy the video while I start working on my pitch to the National Enquirer.