Music reactions by Dax

Wow, a Carpenters song I'd never heard of. Turns out it was never performed by Karen because of her tragic demise. It was written by Richard, and Tori has now done her rendition. She does a bang-up, moving performance, but the song, unfortunately (for me), is rather mediocre. I hope you enjoy.

Has anyone written more sublime music poetry about that fickle, reckless love who just won't grow up and not just up and leave "come a colder season"? Perhaps not. But Natalie and the Maniacs turn that rather depressing situation into an almost romp and defiant optimism. Just love these guys!

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How is it even possible that a group's rendition of their own song could be THIS much greater than the original? Wow. We are treated a full 2-minute riff shred by the amazing Terry Kath, and even Cetera's voice has extra edge and funk. You gotta watch this if you're a Chicago fanatic -- or even if you ain't!

This is my second reaction to Tori, and I'm even more impressed with how she conveys emotion with her husky contralto and higher end voice, sounding quite similar to Karen Carpenter but with some exquisite differences. She and James Wilkas (instrumentation) took me back a half-century with their remarkable rendition of this classic beauty.

Yes, James Taylor made this song HUGE, but Carole wrote it and gave it a different kind of jazzy soul on her famous 1971 Tapestry album. Here, she goes on her piano and vocal riffs, infusing this wonderful song with even more soul and meaning.

SO much personality and extra soul/jazz in this 1971 performance of this famous song from the enormous Tapestry album from the same year. Carole delights us with some extemp piano riffs and elongated vocal sounds, sending emotional vibes through our very souls!

Nina doubles the length of this fabulous Bee Gees song, instilling her indomitable and soulful spirit into every syllable, punctuating moments with piano runs, and setting fire to any spirit listening. The back-up guitar work accentuates the jazzy blend of the virtuoso. Just wow!

This anthem to hope and love in a relationship was the last song these elegant ladies did together, the last of their 12 #1 songs, and the last Hot 100 hit of the 1960s. Wow! As usual with the Supremes, an exquisite orchestral arrangement adds a wonderful bouquet to their sublime sound. Simply divine music right here!

In May of 2020, Grace grabs her guitar, gets on Instagram and starts strumming and grabbing at ideas to (maybe) create a song called Little Things, but it more turns into a sort-of funny gab-fest and reflection on the way of the world, of adults not being adults, on schooling and more. Still interesting to listen to her grasp at straws and try to find that perfect spark.

One of the coolest, funkiest, sassiest songs of all time, with an infectious confection of guitar/drum work and one of the most identifiable and chic lead singers ever (Mariska Veres). Try to stay still during this famous 1969 vibe by the Dutch band.

Is it a robot gurgle -- or Miley's actual voice? Hell, I don't know. You tell me. Is this a semi-naked workout video -- or a badly written anthem of independence? Hell, I don't know. You tell me. This mindless self-indulgence won the Grammy on Sunday for best pop song. If this is the best that the pop world has to offer, I've got a few recordings of myself singing Bohemian Rhapsody in the shower I'll sell ya.

Nobody does it better. Raw. Emotional. Vulnerable. Brilliantly poetic and sublime. A tapestry of experiential landscaping. These are four short clips from 2023 in Brooklyn -- just Grace and her acoustic guitar. Four compelling stories of life and love, told and evoked by a master of authentic expression. Extraordinary.

Early 90s grunge never sounded so good, outside of maybe a few Nirvana tunes. Good guitar work on a simmering jive that you expect is going to break out into a wall of drum/guitar attacks but instead stays steady and gets across the sort-of depressing lyrics about being down in a hole that you can't get out of. Not too bad for post-1990 rock.

This infectious and seriously clever vibe is a melting pot of many of the historical Grace vocal perfections -- smoky, raspy, rock scream, simmer. "Baby, man up ... or the next man up." LOL Only Grace can do THAT! This funky confection was probably just a throw-away by genius Grace in June 2023, and yet it deserves top billing around the world. Just so damn much fun, coolness and lyrical masterwork! Wow!

I DARE you to stay in your seats during this sensuous romp about living your happy life while others see lust and hate as the "candy." Hey, hey, what the hell, "give 'em what they want!" With perfect accentuation by horns, Natalie's bouncy vocals and lyrics burst out in technicolor!

How much fun are you having with that special person? Well, Natalie and the rest of the Maniacs think it's a whole helluva lot. This song is SO incredibly infectious! I almost couldn't sit still during my reaction. Natalie's gorgeous, meandering vocals and the wonderful drumwork and production. The video also shows off Natalie's unique, lovely dancing! Yes!

Remember that time -- that brief year in your past -- when life was big and somebody was your emotional connection to the world? This song captures the spirit like few others have, with the lyrics and Natalie's exquisite, transporting vocals, as well as the wonderful cello and her bandmates' perfection.

I'm pissed that we have not had even ONE single album produced by Grace's label in the last FOUR YEARS -- even though she's sung dozens of great covers and created dozens of originals! So, I'm going back in time. I've not done any album reactions on my channel, but that's going to change. And I'm starting with the masterpiece Letters Volume 1 from December 2019. This is a revolution in musical sound and writing -- nothing like any music that's ever been produced, even by the greatest artists. I hope you'll join me on this short journey into the genius of Grace V.

It ain't easy doing a multi-song medley on anybody's music, but Tori takes up the challenge to do one (a la The Carpenters) on Bacharach/David songs, and she acquits herself quite nicely. She's got an exquisite low range and a lovely high-range vibrato, and extraordinary clarity of sound. Her mixing and harmonies add terrific texture and feeling. Nicely done.

Man, I'm not sure there's ever been a male singer who expresses pure, raw emotion the way Bruce does. This extraordinary love song builds on us, starting with a little bit of bass and piano and some subtle vocals, and then slowly ascends into that unique raspy, buoyant growl/vibrato that hits us in the gut, and is accompanied by an extraordinary complement of violins, piano, guitar, synth and chimes. Wow, the 8 minutes fly by, leaving you begging for more -- if your emotions are still intact!

Ride that ineffable Eva voice into eternity! The Gordon Lightfoot lyrics tell us that she's stuck, away from loved ones, and the plane is taking others to their loved ones, but there's hope -- lots of hope in the ascending acoustic guitar and Eva's vocals -- telling us that she will see her loved ones soon.

I don't know of any singer who puts as much gut-grabbing emotion into this 110-year-old song as Eva does. Just wow! Her acoustic guitar perfectly accentuates her ethereal voice to create a rawness that captures the feeling of love and desperate separation.

Possibly the greatest pop/rock voice of all time singing about the lonely -- but "maybe tomorrow, a new romance." I love how this song eases into the heartache and hope, with lovely guitars and a soothing baritone vibrato building to a crescendo of emotional deliverance in the final stanza. Just wow!

Of course Randy Newman wrote this rollicking feast about a neophyte scandalized by the drug scene at an L.A. party. But Randy sang it straight, whereas these boys have an off-the-chains funky, fun time with this 1970 release, with Cory Wells digging for all the dripping deliciousness he can muster -- oh, and that electric piano!