The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #142157 Message #3285166
Posted By: GUEST,matt milton
05-Jan-12 - 07:08 AM
Thread Name: M. Carthy on The Critics Group - Radio 4
Subject: RE: M. Carthy on The Critics Group - Radio 4
"I'm pretty sure that the claims the John K. and Peggy S. use song sheets cannot be substantiated from the many times that I have seen both. With the high energy that John puts into his performance, it is doubtful that he would be still enough to read whilst performing."
Not suggesting either were literally reading from song sheets for every line of every song.
I am, however, stating as a point of empirical fact (as opposed to making any "claims"), that the former had lyrics at his feet (whether he actually consulted them or not I have no idea) and the latter had lyrics on a stand (which she glanced at occasionally) and on a piano's music stand.
I agree that if a singer is literally scrutinizing lines to the extent that they never even look up, it's not exactly a thrilling performance. But millions of guitarists have tiny sheets of "prompt words" tacked to the top of their acoustic guitars, and unless you're an audience member right up close in the front row you'd never notice.