They say that big things come in small packages and Broadway singer and actress, Kristin Chenoweth, is the real deal. At only 4' 11", Chenoweth may be vertically challenged, but her magnificent voice makes up for her small-scale height. Her speaking voice, which is quite distinctive, belies the sound that emanates from her when she opens her mouth to sing. And sing, she can. A coloratura, which in lay terms means she can sing really high, her range has breadth and depth. I doubt there is a note she cannot sing perfectly.
Why am I writing about Kristin Chenoweth? Because (here comes a value judgement) she performed last night, live, on national television and showed the female vocal-wannabees of this world what a real singer sounds like. Granted, she sang a couple of Broadway show tunes, and Broadway is her principle domain, but I have also heard her sing gospel, rock, blues, and jazz and it all comes off flawlessly. The airwaves are filled with female (male, too) singers who can barely sing a pitch in tune, or carry a tune. True, the music that is written for them is what I have heard described as 7/11 music. Seven notes sung eleven times, over and over. Much of the music that the female wannabees sing leaves little room for vocal platitudes but does lend itself to bumping, grinding, pelvic thrusts, pole dancing, and rhythmic shuffling from side to side. Add a little raw meat to their already skimpy costumes and, voila! you have a pop star who shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Kristin Chenoweth.
Good singers, be they female or male, don't need cleavage or loin enhancements to wow a crowd. Hair length and gender identity has little to do with vocal prowess, either. Look at Freddy Mercury or American Idol's runner-up, Adam Lambert.
I'm all for pop, rock, blues, heavy metal and funk but give me good singers who sound good out of the recording studio. The litmus test is live, no lip-synching and no Milli Vannili.
Kudos, Kristin Chenoweth. Way to bring the house down.
Ancora imparo
