But, in another sense, it connoted a shortage of ideas on Bayley and his band’s part, a feeling that’s hard to shake off listening to Dreamland. In some respects, well, kudos: far better to synthesise the stories of passersby than tell the world how dreary and soul-sapping the mundane side of the touring is or how the service station coffee always tastes like dirt, one of the more novel ways to combat an ideas shortage in time-honoured Second Album Syndrome fashion.
SOULLESS SONG 2016 HOW TO
Chief songwriter and frontman David Bayley, during tour promotion of their 2014 debut Zaba, secretly recorded the anecdotes of everyone from fans to random strangers to cabbies onto his iPhone and used them as the basis for the narratives on the songs to 2016’s How to Be a Human Being.
Maybe unwittingly so, but the conceit of the last Glass Animals album hinted that they don’t have any original ideas themselves. Thanks to all the judges and performers for showing us what works and what doesn't (and what REALLY doesn't) on stage, and how to emotionally engage our audiences.Traumatic and life-changing events inform the Oxford quartet’s second effort, but to what degree? In the midst of all the capably done Top 40 pop pastiches and dubious dips into trap rapping, it’s hard to make out ★★☆☆☆ AI has been a great inspiration to me over the years, providing numerous examples for connecting speakers with principles of performance. I'm a little sad to realize that this is probably my last ever American Idol-inspired post. Nor will they respond emotionally to your robotic flawlessness.īut an "inspired attempt?" Yes! Let's all seek to be inspired when we perform, and to inspire our audiences to take action in the process, by being true to who we are and fully embracing that person. There's not one speaker, singer, musician, politician or performer who benefits from exhibiting "soulless perfection." And your audience certainly doesn't benefit. Keep working, keep reaching, keep blossoming.Īnd in the meantime, your #1 goal is to be real, to be 100% YOU, and to connect with the audience in your own genuine style, with your own genuine personality. You have plenty of time to grow and improve as a speaker. You're not as funny as the next guy? Your stories could use some work? Your knowledge still has some holes? You're still gaining experience and don't come across as polished as some others who've been in the trenches longer?
But what Dalton and others demonstrated was that a performer who doesn't necessarily have the best skills can overcome those limitations with personality and connection.Īs Keith Urban said after one of Dalton's performances: "I'd always take an inspired attempt over soulless perfection any day of the week."
Guess what people were voting on (besides the singing): Connection.Īh yes, there it is again. And as Simon Cowell used to remind us (frequently), "This is a singing competition."īut no, singing ability was not the top concern of the judges or the millions of fans who voted each week. But he didn't have the chops of season 15 top two performers La'Porsha Renae or Trent Harmon. Sure, he's cute, and he's got a great look for the stage. Here's the thing about Dalton, and about many of Idol's top contestants over the 15-year run of the show: He was imperfect. In fact, the judges came up with a new word for Dalton's take on each week's song: "Daltonized." Anyone who watched the final season of American Idol will recall Dalton Rapattoni, the blue-eyed, blond-haired, baby-faced, guy-liner-wearing rocker who took third place in the show's final competition.ĭalton was memorable for his unconventional delivery of surprising song choices, like show tunes "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You," which he performed in his own unique style.
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