That Shimmering Song
Dec 13, 2017 22:11:12 GMT -5
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jrchico, bounderdriver, and 4 more like this
Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2017 22:11:12 GMT -5
I purposely didn't use the NASA video because I thought it might detract from what Jackie did in this song and I don't think the audio is as good either.
I know shimmering refers to light, but I couldn't think of a better adjective to convey what Jackie does vocally in this song, at least to my ears. I'm open to a better suggestion from any English expert (which I'm not) out there.
I first heard this song a few years ago sung by Chloe Agnew of Celtic Woman. She does a nice job and I think I like her accompaniment a little better than what's on Jackie's Album. I believe she was also 14 when she recorded it.
Right away you can hear no vibrato and she maintains an even bright tone throughout the song. It's very sweet and pleasant sounding. With that said, I think the accompaniment elevates her otherwise somewhat plain singing.
Jackie's version on the other hand is alive and vibrant. The whole song just....well...it shimmers. I don't know of a better description. She actually elevates the accompaniment, instead of the other way around.
Her version is actually a full step higher and at age 11, is singing with full control of her vibrato.
Her variations in timbre also add to the shimmering effect. For example, when she sings "midnight blue", she goes from soft to bright back to soft. Very bluetiful, lol.
When phrases end with words like sky, fly, by, she changes the "y" sound to an "e" sound to create a jingling bell tone. I didn't catch this till after several listens, but I could definitely hear the Bell tones she was tacking on to the end of longer notes. Amazing. Is this something that is taught in voice lessons? If she was not taught this, then it is even more amazing.
I know there is a video of her singing this at a concert at age 13, but she seemed to have smoothed it over so much that she lost some of that shimmering effect even though I like her 13/14 yr old voice better. I would still rank that version ahead of Chloe's but behind her 11 yr old one.