I am going to see Beth Orton this weekend.....YEAH!
I am really excited to be seeing her. She is very sweet, constantly says "Thank you" to her fans and she puts on a nice long show even when she is feeling under the weather like she was feeling back in February when I saw her last.
I always go with a certain bud of mine who shall remain nameless.... We talk about performers a lot and of course I am just wrong about everything most of the time, but I am starting to get used to it. When we talk back and forth about like's and dislikes, I always mention Dido as someone I find very similar to Beth Orton and I am immediately greeted with abject rejection! HOW DARE I compare the two. I just want to know what I am missing here. Another friend said that Dido is just trying to be another Beth Orton. That doesn't clue me in any better I am afraid. So here are a few performers that I find similar
Beth Orton Dido Jem Rachel Yamagata Kathleen Edwards Cat Power Sarah McLachlan
I could probably find more if I tried, but you get the idea. All these women produce Coffehouse style music although they may differ a bit in timbre, tempo ....but not a lot.
Now I almost got a degree in music, I think that my ear is not all that bad. Maybe I just know enough to get me in trouble. I think though that what sets one performer apart from another in our likes and dislikes is more to do with the circumstances by which we learn about them. If a particular loved one liked someone....then you might like them....or hate them if your relationship soured. Or it may be that you had a good concert experience with one and not the other. Also, some people hate all performers who achieve commercial success, like Dido for example. Although I don't understand the last one because commercial success is a good thing. Who wouldn't want to give up their day job to support themselves doing only what they love?
I am still learning.
My Trusted MOGs
interesting post.
i personally think that beth orton is miles above all of the above in terms of talent and songwriting prowess. i do like cat power, but i still think beth orton is by far the artist that we will look back on in 20 years and hold in highest regard of all of those mentioned. cat power, definitely is close second in my opinion.
personally, i'm not so crazy about dido and don't think of her in the same caliber as orton. same could be said for the others. again, that's just me, but i bet you would find most folks would agree.
My Trusted MOGs
oh, and i do really like kathleen edwards, but her second record didn't quite live up to the promise of 'failer'.
My Trusted MOGs
likes and dislikes do have a big influence when comparing artists. when you're comparing them just on sound you will find many more similar artists, but when comparing on "principles" or "sell-out-ness" then it's much different. nice post.
My Trusted MOGs
hmm if i had to choose, maybe cat power and sarah mclachlan.
My Trusted MOGs
I keep wanting to check out Rachel Yamagata, and now that you've grouped her with that bunch, I want to check her out even more...