From: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org (harbinger-digest) To: harbinger-digest@smoe.org Subject: harbinger-digest V6 #2 Reply-To: harbinger@smoe.org Sender: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk harbinger-digest Thursday, January 18 2001 Volume 06 : Number 002 HARBINGER DIGEST To post, mail harbinger@smoe.org To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger-digest To get list info file, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info harbinger-digest Today's Subjects: ---------------- (harbinger) Article on Singer Songwriters [steven.stewart@nokia.com] (harbinger) If you ALMOST liked AMEN... [steven.stewart@nokia.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 13:07:52 +0200 From: steven.stewart@nokia.com Subject: (harbinger) Article on Singer Songwriters http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/music405.htm Though this article doesn't mention Paula, everything in it seems to talk about some of the challenges facing artists today. It was interesting to see Joan Osbourne's record company dropped her after her Grammy nods and wins even before she released another followup. BTW, does anyone know the recent final sales figures for AMEN? Did it ever go gold? Steven http://www.mp3.com/fakefinn - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 13:28:40 +0200 From: steven.stewart@nokia.com Subject: (harbinger) If you ALMOST liked AMEN... In alot of my rantings about AMEN, one of my biggest problems wasn't the content of religious themes, but that the songwriting wasn't up to the previous standards Paula had set for herself. It was like she wanted to be bold and talk about what she believed, but in the final lyrics for some songs ended up backing away from the specifics. I found a really interesting artist on mp3.com that turned my head around. http://www.mp3.com/juliadavisallen This lady is obviously heavily influenced by Paula Cole and it shows up even more on her whole album...which I ended up buying and loving. (not the EP on mp3.com, but the one from her website) http://www.juliadavisallen Listen to the lyrics of the song I SEE GOD ANYWAY and compare them to AMEN. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot about the song AMEN. I just see Julia's song as being more Paula Cole than Paula...even down to the listing of the great minds. The similarities are eerie, but I think I SEE GOD is a better constructed song with a stronger message and hook. (And compare the bridges...AMEN'S never seems to catch fire, while the other song kicks.) Then check out the lyrics and groove of I REFUSE and compare it to BE SOMEBODY or LATONYA. It's a similar topic, yet the lyrics and music just thow out that hope and joy that Paula's songs seem to lack. Lastly, try MOVE and compare it to GOD IS WATCHING. Both are about men in prison, but I think MOVE'S approach is more like the writing of Paula that I loved...take a stock situation and give it such a unique perspective that the listener becomes involved with the story. Now, don't get me wrong and don't get mad. ("RAAAAAH!!!! HOW DARE YOU COMPARE MY GODDESS! I'LL KILL YOU FOR DISSING MY HOME GIRL PAULA!!!!" ) I am in NO WAY saying this artist Julia is better than Paula or trying to tear down Paula's art. It's just that when I've listened to AMEN, I kept feeling there was something missing that was there in her older albums, but not in this one. I rambled about lyrics, and conviction, and passion and what it came down to was that I never had another current artist to compare her to. Other than saying Marvin Gaye did it well with "What's Going On?" and Michael Jackson didn't do it well with "The Earth Song", I couldn't list another artist who was doing what I wish AMEN would have done. NOT to convert to some religion, but just be great songs that made me think about the topics she was bringing up and CARE. Trust me, I really really really wanted to love AMEN. I love Paula's music. I was overjoyed with IBIL and the amazing remixes. I liked a lot of the heart of the songs on AMEN. But after all this time, I still don't think it is her best record or as a whole, the best follow up for THIS FIRE. (Though the B-sides she released sure were perfect. Night and Billy Joe (and in a lesser way Ring Finger) show she hasn't lost her touch.) Again, I'm not looking for a flame war. Just passing on a link to an artist that is worth looking into...especially when comparing to AMEN. http://www.mp3.com/juliadavisallen Thanks, Steven from Helsinki - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ End of harbinger-digest V6 #2 *****************************