Review: Songs of Robert Burns (Eddi Reader)

Subject: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 08:07 AM

Just watched the Eddie Reader Burns concert on BBC in Scotland 9don't know if it was broadcast down sowff). Wondered what peopke think. The concert had rave reviews and was sold out last year. I watched and at times cringed. She (Reader) has a fine voice but I felt there was a tad too much over inflection and also shades of Norma Waterson Syndrome of singig the melody just of microphone when the instrumental bits were being done. The songs of Burns have such beautiful words and melodies that they should (in my opinion) be done straight and overembelishment in singing style is not needed. The band by the way and the orchestra were terrific.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,scabby douglas
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:21 AM

Ahhh... yeah...
I saw this the first time it was on, and then was alerted to the re-run (for 25th Jan) by all the trailers and ads on BBC.

Ummm .. I really like Eddi Reader's voice, and the way she sings.
I also really like Burns. And I don't see too much problem with varying the delivery - either in tempo, or setting , or even using different tunes. After all, many of them have been set to a variety of melodies over the years.

To me, though, the point of doing Burns songs is to use his words as far as possible. If you start messing about with the words, then you are really starting to diverge from the source material. She does take some liberties with the lyrics.

And yes, I'd agree about the "cringe" factor for some of the songs in that collection - "Charlie Is My Darlin"? ...eek.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 12:13 PM

I think there are better singers of Burns material. Eddie Reader is too pop oriented, in my opinion. It's not a question of voice quality - it's inflection, etc. I guess I would say she's showcasing her voice and in this case it's the words that should speak for themselves.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 06:12 PM

It was billed and trailed as a Burns concert, and contained thigs which were not as trailed. I too like Edi Reader very much, but think she misjudged the content on this one, and the orchestra though v. good were too loud in the mix of some songs. I thought the later programme with Sheena Wellington et al, was wonderful. Talk about chalk and cheese.
John

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 07:03 PM

I think Eddi is a fantastic singer who can convey great emotional depth, and I really enjoyed most of the concert, including the two or three songs of her own she stuck in. I'm especially fond of Boo Hewerdine's waltzy "Wings On My Heels" -- great music hall feel!

I love her sassy take on "Charlie Is My Darling", and I particularly enjoyed "The Winter It Is Past" and "Of All The Airts". The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the "bye bye baby"s at the end of "Ae Fond Kiss".

Eddi Reader can't be faulted for being the kind of singer she is (sure she's pop, but brilliant), and if she feels the need to take on Rabbie, who are we to tell her she can't? I look forward to her next album.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: akenaton
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 07:48 PM

Eddie Reaader ???I dont care for her voice or her style...Alway seems to be trying too hard to project herself and not the music. to my mind there is a false, empty feeling to her songs,although I seem to be in the minority in this.
Miss Reader has no real "Folk cred", and I remember her early on, as a failed pop singer,who is now embracing Folk, as some others embrace Country music...Sorry to be a "Grumpy old man" Again.    Ake

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 08:01 PM

Ah don't worry about it, Ake..

Somebody's got to be the grumpy old man...

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: akenaton
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 08:24 PM

Aye thats right Doug...Especially since you retired!!

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 09:36 PM

i think eddi reader is really nice, so dont say any bad stuff about her, and you speld it wrong as well, [there is no e in eddi.john

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Matt_R
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:42 PM

I love Eddi Reader, as well as her brother Frank Reader's band The Trashcan Sinatras.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 10:43 PM

WHO!! Never heard of her, but then I live in Arsetraylya, however I do feel that Burns was meant to be sung without music or with a fiddle accompaniment at best
Geordie frae Perth (Scotland, that is)

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Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: michaelr
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 01:20 AM

"...a false, empty feeling..."

It's in the eye of the beholder, ake.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 01:38 AM

About to up the grumpy old man quota a tad: ER is a decent singer but should definitely leave Burns alone. I've heard her sing other traditional stuff where she's obviously misheard the original and put in her own words which were meaningless - in my opinion, if you can't be bothered to take the time and trouble to get it right, you ain't worth listening to.

wr

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 02:28 AM

Well, now, Geordie frae Perth who lives in Oz, you must have missed a number one chart hit some years back, both in Oz and the UK, from a band called Fairground Attraction.Eddi was the lead singer on that one. As for her "pedigree" in music, I can assure one and all that the very first time I heard Edna [oops, Eddi!] sing was as a floor singer in a folk club; I was the m.c. who put her there. In a quiet conversation later, I compared her voice favourably with that of Barbara Dickson when Barbara was doing the folk circuit. Eddi never forgot that comment, and eight years later I had a special invite to her concert in Govan, when she celebrated her Number one chart hit.
She sang both country and pop over the years, and her Burns interest, while intense, is fairly recent. Being an auld codger [like a wheen o' youse yins], her Burns renditions aren't quite to my taste [although this depends on the piece being sung], but tastes change, and the younger set are very appreciative of Eddi's style in general.
And, Matt R., not only Is brother Frank a good performer, but her Ma is a rare singer, and her Dad, Danny, [now deceased]was a creditable performer of Presley material. A talented family. Eddi is now pretty well permanantly domiciled in the city of her birth, Glasgow.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 04:57 AM

Interesting comments see that most folks sort agree with the 'cringe' factor. Interesting that she has some 'folk' pedigree.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 05:47 AM

She's OK - I have the CD but some tracks are dodgy. But its not rubbish and quite nice just to have on in the background - but Dick Gaughan singing Burns now that is class.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Beardy
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 10:04 AM

I have seen Eddi on many occasions and much prefer her non-Burns concerts especially with her right hand man Boo Hewerdine. Saw her live Burns concert/showcase twice during last year and did not enjoy it very much. I was given her Burn's CD for my birthday last year and have only listened to it 3 or 4 times. Cannot get into it.

A great entertainer live but if going to see her try and avoid the showcase concerts.

Stewart

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,Strollin' Johnny
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 11:41 AM

Sarah - Dick Gaughan singing anything is class!

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 12:43 PM

Myself and my father both thought that it was great, and I'm glad that she did other songs by other people or else it would get rather boring YAWN!!!
She is a pop singer and when she does these wee 'baby' things that's her style.
and if you din't like it then why watch it.

Tom Frae Saltcoats Scotland (Ayrshire) and I'm not a great fan of Burns, I like McGonall intead, Burns is a wee bit too flowery for me.
Good Poems and songs though, no many laughs though.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Grab
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 12:44 PM

The "songs" of Burns? I wasn't aware that Burns wrote any songs. I thought he just wrote poetry, and a whole bunch of someone elses (during the Victorian obsession with things Scottish, and more recently) put tunes to them?

Graham.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,Van
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 01:44 PM

Grab,
Apart from his poems he also collected folksongs and in some instances wrote words to the tunes he either collected or knew. Not all Scots history was invented by Victorians.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: yrlancslad
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 07:09 PM

Well if you like a pop singer with a pop backing singing a mix of songs in a pop style and calling it "singig Robbie Burns"I suppose its passable

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Matt_R
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 08:15 PM

"I've heard her sing other traditional stuff where she's obviously misheard the original and put in her own words"

Um...pardon me, but ISN'T THAT WHAT FOLK MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT??

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 10:01 PM

Tam the Bam frae Saltcoats----I take it ye mean "McGonigle"? The man who penned such gems as "As Ah wis walkin doon the road, Ah met a coo----a BULL b'Goad!!"? I share your appreciation of the often unintended humour of McGonigle, but hey, c'mon! Burns was a poet. McGonigle was a comic. By the way---were you present at the Irvine folk club's new venue Wednesday of last week, in the Golf Hotel?
Guest artist Michael Marra. Good entertainment, a good song writer with real pawky humour.

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 01:51 AM

Matt,

I agree with you in principle about the nature of the tradition but my point in this case is that words were misheard and the singer put in what she thought she heard, and which in the context of the song made no sense at all. When learning songs from recordings, if I cannot make sense of what I believe I'm hearing I wouldn't sing the song until I get an accurate version.

wr

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 03:44 AM

Yes indeed Strollin Johnny and rumour has it that God ....oh sorry Gaughan ....is coming to Croydon FC in June.I've got my ticket already!!!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Eddie Reader Burns Whatdyathink
From: Nerd
Date: 29 Jan 04 - 05:26 PM

Grab,

Burns fequently wrote songs to tunes he already knew, from political campaign ballads to love songs. Indeed, many of the items in the Scots Musical Museum were collected as tunes without words, and Burns added the lyrics. So yes, he was a songwriter as well as a poet.