I trained as a young singer in the classical repertoire, but was exposed to a variety of different genres and periods of music at home and in school..alongside that classical music. I am able to appreciate a good well written melody from whatever source or category it belongs. I’m particularly drawn to the human voice which of course is a musical instrument, and value great vocalists who have some quality to their voice which makes them unique and instantly recognisable. I find when it comes to band members many are pretty interchangeable and in fact very few bands keep the same members over decades, which is fine if the guitarist or keyboard player is swapped but not if it’s the vocalist. At least not if they’re a vocalist of any calibre except mediocrity and ordinariness. That’s why Queen can never really replace Freddie Mercury and any guest vocalist is left at a distinct disadvantage of being held up to comparison and found wanting. Other bands have changed vocalists and not too many people outside of their hardcore fans were any the wiser…because the vocalist was pretty unremarkable and well…interchangeable. Not the kind of band I’d ever be a fan of though. My favourite band has the best vocalist, the irreplaceable and uniquely talented Morten Harket, who is the only singer of the past 40 years if not more talented vocally than Freddie …then at the very least is his equal.

@Marionville I do know your range of musical likes are wide ranging more so than many others. Often one comes to appreciate what one is used to hearing. You, being a trained musician also helps. I once tried to take violin lessons in college but found it was too expensive, time consuming and later the military intervened and I lost my chance. I do like some jazz and even rock from my earlier days. My mother liked county music and played it often and some of us got to like it. One thing I have discovered is that loud drums rile me up and I need to escape.

Yes…Morten’s father was a doctor who originally wanted to become a concert pianist, Magne’s father was a classical jazz trumpeter in a band, and growing up Pal’s parents took him to classical concerts at the Opera house in Oslo every month.

@Marionville Wow! That's a really good foundation, and they've certainly put it to good use. Their parents must be so proud of them.

@Marionville I got curious about yourclassical which I have been listening for a couple of years. Here's a link you might like.

@pedigojr Very good choir….have you any information on them?

@Marionville Not really, it was just something I found on the site. I did look into the group and found this: [spelman.edu]

@pedigojr Yes…I can see they have a good pedigree….i will look into more of their music.

@Marionville When my aunt lived in France she looked up our 'pedigree'. We were from the Perigord region and a related family was the de Bergerac family. My aunt always told me (especially when she had too much to drink which was often) ours was a family of blue bloods.
Out of curiosity I looked up the Perigord family (one member is interned in the Notre Dame Cathedral.
[en.wikipedia.org]
That coat of arms stood in my aunts house.

@pedigojr Wow…le sang bleu indeed!