She is a pro. 0:42 Notice how she sustains the note beyond the end of the phrase into the next measure, at which point she sings the word "you", after which she takes her breath. Pop singers don't know how to do this. Only professional jazz and opera singers do this. Her vibrato is wonderful, and she increases the intensity of it as she crescendos a note from soft up to loud. Again, a professional technique. Her mom taught her really well, and it's such a pleasure to see and hear her. She was a knockout on American Idol, and deserved to win. I didn't think so at first, but after watching and listening to her over a few shows, I came to realize this girl has depth, range, and deep soul...in addition to her incredible chops. (singing ability) She's a good actress too, but acting is a lower art form than music. Why act when you can touch the hearts of audiences by singing a simple song. She's beautiful in every way. David Foster better treat her well, or else he will have a million angry women after him...which is only a fraction of the men who are equally in love with Kat who would be even more upset with Foster. Kat is a treasure !!
Lyrics : [Blame It On My Youth:] If I expected love when first we kissed Blame it on my youth If only just for you I did exist Blame it on my youth I believed in everything Like a child at three You meant more than anything All the world to me If you were on my mind all night and day Blame it on my youth If I forgot to eat and sleep and pray Blame it on my youth If I cried a little bit When first I learned the truth Don't blame it on my heart Blame it on my youth [You Make Me Feel So Young:] You make me feel so young You make me feel like spring has sprung And every time I see your face I'm such a happy individual The moment that you speak I want to go play hide and seek I wanna go and bounce the moon Just like a toy balloon You and I We're just like a couple of tots Running around the meadow Picking up lots of forget-me-nots You make me feel so young You make me feel there are songs to be sung Bells to be rung And a wonderful fling to be flung And even when I'm old and gray I'm gonna to feel the way I do, today 'Cause you make me feel so young You make me feel so young You make me feel there are songs to be sung Bells to be rung And a wonderful fling to be flung And even when I'm old and gray I'm gonna to feel the way I do, today 'Cause you make me feel so You make me feel so You make me feel so young
I'm also trying to find out who is playing piano on this recording. But more important is the arrangement. I hear the harmony of Keith Jarrett (who also plays a version of this tune) along with some Bill Evans voicings. The pianist is carefully reading an elaborate arrangement, so somebody wrote this piano accompaniment. I doubt it is Katharine's husband, producer pianist David Foster, since I have never heard him play these kinds of voicings or expressed this kind of harmony. I suspect Foster hired a great arranger to harmonize this accompaniment, as well as the horn parts for her demo You-Tube video of her C.D. "I Fall in Love Too Easily". On that video, she sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow with Foster playing piano and a strings section. The arrangement is good but Foster's piano playing is not at the harmonic level we hear from the pianist on Blame It On My Youth. These harmonic chord voicings on this arrangement of Blame It On My Youth are wonderful, and after listening to over twenty versions of this old standard, I'm convinced that the piano voicings this pianist plays on this tune completely reinvents the tune. Same goes for Keith Jarrett's harmonizations on all of his standards. Evolved, sophisticated, elegant, sublime harmony can take a simple or rather mediocre tune and make it into a gorgeous thing of magical beauty. Harmony goes straight to the emotional heart and has the ability to instantly paint mood, texture, colors, and feelings that nothing else in music can. As a fellow piano player, I am now transcribing this piano part to play as a solo piano piece. This harmony is far to gorgeous to ignore. It must be played and shared with as many hearts as possible. Now if I could only find a singer who could express the melody and lyrical intent....but that's another challenge all together.
I was just about to comment the same thing. Her style does not fit the genre. Her country-style singing sounds odd with her jazz piece. Runs are not necessary on a very beautiful jazz ballad. :(
