OK, so I'm a mini-review hound. I like to read some feedback on an artist before I go mucking around with mp3s and samples, even if I end up completely disagreeing with the reviewer. So if you don't know who the heck I'm talking about in my "Artists You Should Know" section...
Rebekah Del Rio (sometimes spelled Dehlrio) caught my ear with her rendition of "Llorando," speaking of unexpected covers. The title means "crying" in Spanish, and as you can likely guess, we're talking about Roy Orbison's hit.
"Llorando" takes many pacing and dynamic cues from the original, though Del Rio's version sports a throatier vibrato and more modern percussion elements, particularly via synth and techno additions Viro used in their remix. But the background doesn't overpower Del Rio's voice as so often happens in such compositions, partly due to the native power of her voice. If you're familiar with Ofra Haza's work, a similar balance is struck here, though the flavor is quite different.
I'd upload an mp3, but I'm new and unsure of permissions -- and I tend to rent, not buy, mp3s. However, most if not all my recommendations are available through Napster.
UPDATE: The only scrap left of Del Rio on Napster is her singing the Star Spangled Banner for the movie Southland Tales. Pleh. I can't even find the Viro remix online, though you can find downloads of several other versions of the song here. I'd post a clip here, but the sampling doesn't match the player, so it sounds like a Chipmunkette instead....
Lea DeLaria is something else again -- comedienne, actress, and jazz singer. You may know her from the soundtrack of Rocky Horror Picture Show, though she didn't actually appear in the show itself.
While her album Play it Cool is less than representative of her range, the piece "Welcome to My Party" serves as a good introduction to not only her vocal style, but also her brash, beguiling sense of humor -- though her inveterate raunchiness is toned down for the album as a whole. And don't miss her "Ballad of Sweeney Todd," both for its own merits and as a tribute to the upcoming Burton/Depp movie.
My Trusted MOGs
ooh the cover of crying sounds intriguing. too bad it's nowhere to be found?
My Trusted MOGs
Maybe I wasn't clear, sorry. In the "update" paragraph, I say there are downloads of Llorando available "here" (that word is a link). The link works for me; is it working for you? Also, I should warn you the bit rate is kinda low on those downloads. :p Lemme know if you can get to them OK.
My Trusted MOGs
oh cool. yes, the link works. thanks for pointing that out/clearing that up. she does a great job with the song!
My Trusted MOGs
She does indeed. :) Glad you got it to work! Honestly, I like the acapella (movie version) one best. She doesn't need any backing, frankly. Apparently that recording wasn't even really meant to be used, as it was something of a tryout. She walked into the studio, the director asked her to do what she felt best with it to show what she could do, and then she blew everyone away on the first go.
My Trusted MOGs
straight up talented.