Louis Armstrong has captured so many hearts with this beautiful song. His low, rumbling voice perfectly suited to the mood being set. The words and emotions are equally powerful yet the real magic for me is the character of the man. Just watch this video...
Character is a trait that most modern musicians lack. Sure they have incredible vocal talent, killer looks, platinum album sales and hoards of mindless teenage fans. It's all a bunch of 'A' grade crap if all those things come without that most fundamental of all desirable human traits, to have a personality. Case in point...
John Legend... he is really just an empty vessel channelling commercial manure in the right direction to cash in on album sales from image conscious girls. I can't even watch the whole 4 minute video without dozing off from the lack of life in his performace. I'm pretty sure his manager is standing at the edge of the stage with a "smile now" sign he picks up as a reminder every 15 seconds. Bleugh!
Don't dispair masses, not all new millennium musicians are trash, if you look hard enough some successful bands have Ooodles of personality (feel free to link me up to your favourite post Y2K 'musicians with personality' in the comments or on this thread in FB).
I leave you with my nomination:
I leave you with my nomination:
