Singer [Live]

Diamanda Galas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 1992)
• Original Release Date: April 7, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B000003Z5Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,783 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A chanteuse back from Hell, May 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Singer (Audio CD)

The Singer

Operatically-trained AIDS activist/performance artist Diamanda Galas plays the "it's the song, not the singer" game here, and wins. Accompanying herself on piano, Galas gives thoughtful, impassioned= readings of these songs (mostly standards, many previously recorded as parts of her performance pieces), leaving behind for the moment her infamous 8-octave vocal gymnastics and beyond-the-pit-of-Hell moaning.= Maybe not as personal an album as "Plague Mass", but certainly accessable to those afraid of her earlier (and scarier) works.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A landmark recording, May 11, 2004

By 

Amadeus 888 (Athens) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Singer (Audio CD)

Galas' performance of these songs is simply awesome. Many have sung them before her, but who will dare to sing them after her? Her performance somehow transfigures these very familiar classic blues and spirituals, bringing out a depth of emotion, an awesome power and force, a wonderful subtlety of feeling that was hitherto unknown. Her voice blends perfectly with the piano, her vocals are perfectly balanced, each "scream" and intonation neither too much nor too little, but just perfect. I don't think I will ever again be able to listen to someone else's interpretation of "I put a spell on you" or "A balm in Gilead" without somehow finding it lacking in comparison with Diamanda Galas' performance. She simply outshines them all.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best..., January 25, 2002

By 

P. Fester (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Singer (Audio CD)

I've been a fan of Diamanda's work for quite a while. I must admit this isn't the best Diamanda Galas album, but it does have some wonderful songs. The Singer consists of performences performed on the Judgement Day tour, however, if you can find a copy of the Judgement Day VHS you'll find a better example her amazing work. This album is not as beautiful as Malediction and Prayer but is still a good example of her work with her voice and her piano. The best tracks include Gloomy Sunday and Judgement Day!