Voices of Liberty--Ick!

[BluewaterBrad]

We love the Voices of Liberty. Usually try to see at least twice per trip!!

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Wait a minute.
2) Can you hear it coming?
3) My 2¢ rolling, rolling, rolling down hill.
4) You KNEW I'd have an opinion.
5) Didn't you?

6) In my singular opinion
. . . the singers have pretty darn good voices
. . . they harmonize quite well
. . . they sometimes are generous with the hand gestures
. . . the songs have been arranged "creatively"
7) Overall
. . . I really enjoy their singing
. . . sometimes I would prefer a different arrangement
. . . we will continue to go back to hear them each trip

[ShanPooh]

Didn't someone do a disco version of that in the seventies?

Hooked on Classics - brought to you by K-Tel Records

Pardon me, my age is showing

[maxrebo77]

I love the VOL. A perfect beginning to the AA show which always brings a tear to my eye. They always remind me too of the "pretty part of the show" at HDD.
Excuse me, I have to listen to my cassette of Golden Dreams now.

[Granny Jill A]

Didn't someone do a disco version of that in the seventies?

Oh yeah.... I forgot about that one. Darn - now I can't get it out of my mind.

[LauraF]

I and my BF both enjoy listening to their harmonies (and we're both professional choral singers). We know VOL's arrangements are contrived - that's the POINT. The chord progressions are very predictable, and often one or both of us are humming lightly under our breath the next modulation. (Quietly enough not to bother anyone, thanks.)

It doesn't make them any less fun. Just because my director would shoot me if I tried any of those vocal acrobatics makes it a naughty pleasure to go listen.

[big blue and hairy]

Hooked on Classics - brought to you by K-Tel Records

Pardon me, my age is showing

Actually, I think the reference was to A Fifth of Beethoven, by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band.

[TikiGoddess]

Like many others on here, I *love* VoL, and I too am a musician (in my case, I'm choral singer and I'm also being classically trained as an opera singer) Yes, there are a few scoops that wouldn't have been used in traditional arrangements, but they aren't playing to a traditional audience either.

They're playing to a bunch of people in a theme park, most of whom would probably not be popping "Shenandoah" or "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair" into their CD players at home. They're there to entertain a crowd of people who are most likely hot and tired, waiting for the show to begin, people from around the USA, and the world, many of whom probably prefer hip hop and rap to choral music. The music has to hold the attention of the crowd without losing the authenticity and historic feel that makes it traditional American folk music- and that's what Derric Johnson's arrangements do; it updates the music- utilizing beautiful harmonies, excellent dynamics and, yes, the occasional scoop that makes every classically trained musician's brain backfire- so that it touches the hearts of the sweaty, impatient theme park crowd and brings that music and the history that makes it so uniquely American just a little bit closer to them... And I think it's wonderful.

I cry every time I hear VOL sing. Can't make it through "When You Wish Upon a Star" without a tissue. I'm a choral singer -- music teacher -- trained vocalist... and I just love the group.

Kathy

[Goes4FastPass]

I think criticizing the VoL and/or explaining why I have the credentials I think I have would put no zipadee do dah in my day.

If I told my old voice teacher that VoL scoops he'd say, "When did you forget how to relax and have fun?"

[Rhetoric2000]

I'm glad I'm not alone in this.

I actually used to like Voices of Liberty - they never did it for me like 4 for a Dollar - but they were enjoyable.

But a few years ago I don't know whether something changed or its just me but - as the OP said - everything just started to sound uber-saccharine; and including singing impressive passages purely because they sounded difficult and not because they were actually serving the song. This Christmas I actually went into the museum part to get away from it.

I will readily admit that they remain flawless in the actual execuation - but what they are executing these days is something that I find really, really difficult to listen to.

[Gator]

Dude, I've been singing fourpart gospel for over 20 years. And not some lousy wannabe band - we've had nationwide recognition for countless years....so you could say I'm an expert in the field of harmony. And you're TOTALLY WRONG about the Voices of Liberty. I hear great groups all the time and they barely move me. But the VOL bring me to tears nearly every time. You think their version of Shenhendoah is bad? That's crazy. That's their best song. They're incredible when they do it. Why would I want to travel to Epcot to hear someone just sing the way a song was written...plain and bland? I can hear any local part time choir sing plainly and poorly. Maybe that's the stuff you like. Do you really enjoy junior high school bands?

[deedeenmickey]

I know nothing about music but I love the VOL. I am usually embarassed by the tears rolling down my face.

[brad192]

You have to understand it's all about the delivery of the performance.

I've sung in choruses as small as 4, and as large as 250 since I was 13. What was impressed upon me in each & every situation was -

1. You've got to tailor your performance for the audience you're performing for.

2. You've got to be technically wonderful.

3. Ya Gotta SELL IT!

VOL does ALL of these things with their performances, and the arrangements are a big part of that. Derrick Johnson's arrangements are perfect for the venue they were created for. Indeed, they are NOT anywhere near "choral perfection", but they convey a distinct message.

* Choral music can be fun.

* The messages conveyed within American music are both beautiful & moving.

* They evoke an distict, strong emossion from the audience.

What more could a performer, or arranger, want?

Sure, VoL aren't the perfect "Choral Group", but I still think they're one of the best in delivering thier product.

VoL ROCKS!

[Wendy on Pixie Dust]

VoL are okay but I agree with Capt Smee - we really loved American Vybe and wish they would return!

[Floridian Yeti]

Cripes, people--you're technically very good! Just sing the darn songs straight!

Personally, I think you nailed it. Just my two cents, but I have Peter's back on this one.

It seems I enjoy VoL's style less every time I hear it. If I were watching TV and a choral group with a similar delivery came on, I'd probably change the channel, but only after making some snide (yet very witty and insightful!) comments.

[Mickey91]

Gee Wiz... lighten up a little...If you don't like VOL then don't go when they are singing. They only perform at certain times and aren't hard to miss. But, you are missing the point of the group. They bring life into the old folk songs of our beautiful country for both Americans and those just visiting. The fact that you have started a thread about them proves that they are unforgettable as are their songs. I hope their message lives on in all of those living in and visiting the US. It is a beautiful history of where we started and where we are going.

[maxrebo77]

Well said.

[AHOTE]

I'm neither a professional singer or a music major but I know what I like. I've always enjoyed hearing the VOL sing but the most memorable performance I ever witness was on 09/11/2008. They sang as part of a wreath laying ceremony at the flagpole on Main Street. There were very few dry eyes that day and their voices added something very special to that event. I'll never forget that day.