Posted 1 year ago
Other People’s Clothes
Working on this cover project is like discovering a trunk full of exquisite vintage clothing and trying on one beautiful jacket or outfit after another to see what fits, what doesn’t, what works and what makes you look a fool (will that short stewardess costume from Britney Spear’s Toxic look good on me? I’m thinking “yes!”) It’s like a Project Runway episode, “Make it work”
The trick is to discover what the right amount of tweaking is - how far can I go with an arrangement to make it work for me and my cello? Another other issue is how much of a song’s success is the performance and the arrangement. For instance, I had “Father Figure” on my list (George Michael), a song I like very much, but I’m finding it tough going. I haven’t given up, but more often than not, it’s a it-works-or-it-don’t situation. I’m keeping that one on the back burner.
Imogen Heap’s Hide & Seek is great but too rich harmonically for just a solo performer and I’m wrestling with some Dylan and George Jone’s songs that are both strong lyrically, and have powerful performances—the question remains do they work without the power of the lyrics, a crucial element to be sure.
Toxic, which I mentioned, is working great and Wish You Were Here is too. I’m having fun, the question is, will the audience have fun too.
Come by my show and see how I do:
Wednesday, October 13, 7p
The Tank
354 West 45th Street$10
