This week´s karaoke challenge is one for lovers of the classics, even if the artist is barely in his 30´s. The song is Feeling good, and the artist is Michael Bublé, just off the recent high of his #1 album debut, Crazy Love.

 

 

While Michael Buble may be the hot item on the billboard charts, performing with the likes of Jennifer Hudson, and dating celebrities like Emily Blunt, he´s far from any of the pop sensations we´ve come to expect from the American music scene. And while the Canadian born singer certainly appreciates what´s current, his influences fall more into the realm of classic voices like Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra.

 

 

Bublé has attributed his ear for the oldies to his grandfather. ¨He was the one who opened me up to a whole world of music that seemed to have been passed over by my generation. Although I like rock & roll and modern music, the first time my granddad played me the Mills Brothers something magical happened. The lyrics were so romantic, so real the way a song should be for me. It was like seeing my future flash before me. I wanted to be a singer and I knew that this was the music that I wanted to sing.”

 

 

Bublé has been succesful in channeling the feeling of old tunes, while still maintaing a current enough sounds to make it in the pop world. His first few albums have reached multi-platinum success, with recognizable singles like Home and Everything. But the real success for Bublé seems to be in his ability to perform, where his cocky but oh so smooth style truly does channel that of Sinatra or Dean Martin.

 

 

Bublé has even admitted his desire to join the ranks of those golden age entertainers, "I've said it a million times: I would love very much to be known as one of the great entertainers. If that's me having a big ego, then sorry. I'm shooting for the stars and if I miss I'll hit the moon and that's pretty high."

 

 

Crazy love, Buble´s recent album release, which debuted at number one and beat out even the New Moon soundtrack (despite the fan crazed obession) is, according to Bublé, even more true to the feeling he wants to achieve.

 

 

¨I dug way deeper and was more introspective on this one. Basically, I sang the truth - made each song autobiographical - and you can definitely hear the difference. I went back to the way my idols made their records.¨ Bublé told Reuters. ¨I wanted an organic feel - so people could feel like they were in the studio with me… It's not contrived. Not too perfect. It just feels really good."

 

 

The album is named for Van Morrison´s 1970 hit, Crazy love, and includes a cover version, as well as Buble´s own renditions of songs by the Eagles and Ron Sexsmith. There is also plenty of original material, including the first single, Haven´t met you yet, inspired by a period of singledom after Buble´s very public breakup with actress Emily Blunt.

 

 

¨I think the message is that all of us can relate to this feeling, this emotion called love and it's a complicated feeling.¨ Buble said, explaining his idea for the album that he calls the ultimate record about the inevitable roller coaster ride of relationships. ¨It doesn't just come with butterflies in the stomach and happiness and sunshine and lollipops, it comes with heartache and jealousy and sometimes rage and sometimes insecurity and sadness and regret. It's a beautiful, complicated, and really special feeling that keeps us all connected.¨

 

 

Bublé is now gearing up for his 2010 tour, which will hit the states in May, his first time performing for us Americans since 2008, as well as preparing a rerelease of Crazy love with a few tracks that haven´t left the recording room yet. Until then he´s busy on the publicity circuit, including a performance of his new single, Haven´t met you yet, as well as this week´s challenge, Feeling good on Dancing with the Stars.

 

 

Feeling good is a throwback to classic hollywood and feels like it came straight out of a James Bond film. It´s certainly no breeze, but there are definitely a few Red Karaoke users up to the challenge. My suggestion? Be like Michael Bublé and listen to the songbirds of the golden age before taking on this challenge. Once you´ve recorded your rendition of Feeling good, make sure to post it in the forum, and you may end up featured in next week´s newsletter!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 22:31 and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.