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Most of you will know the format of 'The Voice' programmes on TV.
This season's The Voice UK has just moved into the 'Battles' phase.
One of the 'judges/mentors' is Paloma Faith.
One of the chosen performers to join her team had to withdraw due to personal reasons, so Paloma chose Jordan Gray, who had previously been 'rejected' by all four judges - and all four admitted to having made a mistake afterwards - as her last-gasp replacement, reinstating the performer in the show.
In the 'Battles' tonight, Jordan sang with Theo Llewellyn a duet of a Kate Bush song 'This Woman's Work'.
Most of the judges and most of the audience were in tears after their performance, and it was a very tough call for Paloma to make a decision as to who would go through.
She chose Jordan. (Theo was 'rescued' by another judge).
Why is this relevant?
Because Jordan is a MtF transgender who has come out to the entire nation on National TV, having insisted on telling all her audiences up front in her recent years of performing.
She is currently on hormones (as a first step to surgery) and presents brilliantly.
And sings brilliantly!
*** Tissue Alert ***
If you are registered with the BBC site, the performance can be seen here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03krtpf (Jordan Gray and Theo Llewellyn – This Woman's Work (Kate Bush))
or, on YouTube,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr4MejWd5pY
I stand in awe, as it happens!
Just a little heads-up for you all.
Julia
There was another tear-jerker performance this evening too - Chloe Castro and Alaric Green doing 'Hope There's Someone' from Antony and the Johnsons:
Comments
A bit too over the top for me ...
Still, the voices speak to the power of vocal training. Please take note.
Gwen
Yes, vocal training plays a good part
Though we don't know what Jordan's original range is. Me, I was your garden variety Baritone (best guess at around 110 Hz) though my speaking range is about 208 now. I could not hope to hit the notes these singers can achieve though my quality of sound is very good, singing and speaking so I won't be quitting my day job ^_^. What singing talent I have now has been clawed back from the ravages of testosterone :-P. I envy those who has enough natural talent to make it look easy or made it easy to overcome T.
Singing talent is a whole separate issue from speaking talent. Listen to Harisu, the Korean singer. She sounds immaculate singing but if you were to hear her being interviewed, it is not nearly as good.
I might have cheated a bit
I think my original pitch was a bit high for a male, but over the years I worked very hard to sound like John Wayne, "Got that pilgrim"? I was constantly clearing my throat and had lots of sore throats.
In 2004 all that ended, and I went to a speech pathologist at $60/hour for a half dozen hours. The money ran out but I kept working and it seems the longer the testosterone is gone, and the Estrogen is present, the better it gets, though I don't have a good singing voice and perhaps never will. So, no Katherine Jenkins impersonations then.