Bobby McFerrin.... oh lord here we go

Not sure how to start this thread. should I begin as just a music fan in general or as an owner of two of his albums?

either way, in a world that eventually gets ruled or lumped by the law of averages, I guess I want to thank an "outlier" such as Bobby McFerrin.
I completely see him and his style as a necessary challenge to the arts and music we all appreciate. yank that center bell curve out of whack and keep on doing so.
I wont defend or put his actual talent down on this initial thread starting post. but I am defending the ideal that artists like him from time to time are necessary.

there ya go.. rip me apart, lol I really don't care. I believe the wiser will understand what I mean here. <big smile> and ty

 

and yes, im a brave fella for doing this. lmao

 

Who?

 

This.

 

Don't worry be happy.....

 

wha?

 

I truly like his cover of "Blackbird".

You didn't think this would actually get to ten posts without a Beatles reference did you?

 

I like his contribution to the Weather Report album Sportin Life.

 

That was the part where people brag about not knowing an artist.

 

Yes, The Voice is an excellent album.

 

If all anyone knows is the song that shall not be named, I'd argue that they don't really know his work, which is the midpoint between Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and Meredith Monk.

But that song -- and especially its video -- is terrible.

 

All I’ve ever heard is Don’t Worry Be Happy. I know he performed at the Bill Graham Memorial but that was a long time ago and didn’t leave any impression.

 

I saw him live twice before DW,BH. Both were great shows, especially the second which was a double bill with Wynton Marsalis's quartet and he sat in with them on a blues at the end. Lost track of him after that other than performing a religious piece he composed that I did not like a lot.

 

Fun fact: he's on Laurie Anderson's "Strange Angels" album.

 

Is that all you got? Do you even know what he's been doing since being the Artist In Residence for the Minnesota Orchestra? Have you even heard of Voicestra? Do you have any idea how smooth his transitions into (and back from) falsetto are, no matter which of his hundreds of character voices he's doing? Go ahead - pick a soul singer with a great falsetto...Bobby can match it, imitate it, beat it...and then show you all the other things that soul singer's voice could do.

Those "Don't Worry Be Happy" days are so far behind him...because he's upped the game quite a lot. Those dense arrangements are shockingly fresh. And while he still does the lions' share of performing on stage with nothing but a mic, there's a real sense of adventure to how he sees his art, both for him, and his audiences. This is improvisational vocal a quantum leap above singing a simple song, or scat. A musical evangelist, evangelising...music.

BAM! BAM! BAM! THAT's who Bobby McFerrin is:


Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale
Bobby McFerrin + SLIXS & friends - VOCAbuLarieS - Wailers (Treece/McFerrin)

 

That song that shall not be named is probably the difference between him having a nice house/comfortable retirement and being a struggling musician. Can't fault him for that. Some of his more jazzy material is really good.

 

TY!!! the man is a very odd unique powerful force. I also happen to like "the Voice" album as well as the others who mentioned it. im glad I started this thread. Bobby was way overdue for some love.truly on his own plateau.

 

Wasn’t he the guy who made funny noises with his mouth in the Police Academy movies?

 

not even close, that would be Michael Winslow.

​

 

Bobby mcferrin did some great stuff. If people only know one of his songs, that's on them, not him or you.

 

and there it is... what I was hoping to achieve.... appreciation for those who have immense vocal talents. big thumbs up for Mike Winslow too, that was bitchin"

 

yep the dude is a Phenom.... and if even known just for 1 song( which is ludicrous) I doubt Robin William would have agreed to be that the video at the peak of his career if he was just a 1 hit wonder or not worthy.

 

He did all the music and most of the vocals for the excellent Wizard Of Oz On Ice ice show from the mid-90's that I really liked.

If you're a fan of the 1939 movie, the (very rare) soundtrack CD to the ice show is well worth getting if you can find it.

 

Personally I like the song, I like the video. I like the message.

Omfg. That is phenomenal!!!