It’s only been six months from the time 13-year old Greyson Chance was discovered on YouTube to the release of his first single, “Waiting Outside The Lines.” That’s incredibly fast turnaround — but hey, kids are only so cute (and marketable) for only so long, right? The Gaga fan performed his debut single on Ellen DeGeneres’ morning talk show, which makes perfect sense, as DeGeneres both introduced Greyson to the TV-watching world, and also signed him as the first artist on her eleveneleven record label. Listen below.
It’s a pretty decent piano ballad with a big finish, and we give Chance a lot of credit for not just rolling out another easily swallowed, sugary-sweet dance-pop song like his contemporaries Justin Bieber and Willow Smith. (Not that we don’t love whipping our hair to those decadant pieces of pop!)
But I think what we have here is an extremely talented 13-year old, not a professional singer. In a few years, and with more performing (and life) experience, Greyson will undoubtedly become a more polished recording artist. But really, is there any reason a 13-year old needs to be a famous pop singer if not for labels desperately searching for the next money-making machine to nab the hearts of the tween market?
Here’s the polished studio cut, which magically smooths out all of Greyson’s off-pitch and off-key moments apparent in his live performance:
Aha so, you are in favor of the slick, overproduced sound over the natural and quite obviously talented (and nowhere-near “off-key” and “off-pitch”) sound? Are you the one driving the industry toward bland, syrupy-smooth, auto-tuned pap?
Thought so.
He is obviously talented, as I said in my post. But his live performance WAS often off-pitch, and it was quite uncomfortable to listen to at times. I’m just saying he has years to go to perfect his vocals if he intends to have people PAY to go see him perform live.
the unpolished version is better than its overpolished counterpart. its not a matter of his voice being immature, his vocals are raw, and id much rather watch him sing before i listen to non talented hacks like justin beiber, just sayin’
If artists required a PERFECT voice just to get people to PAY to see them, there would be almost no live concerts anywhere in the world.
Check some of Queen’s live performances on YouTube. Even Freddy Mercury cracked up/screwed up in places, and not infrequently, particularly on the faster pieces when singing live. Granted, Greyson Chance is no Adam Lambert, but then no one is besides the Lambert.
For a very first live performance of a song no one but his team knew anything about until today — how can you say you know how it is supposed to be sung? Seriously, I think you want that syrupy auto-tuned sound. Rock is dead because something called “vocal perfection” is required by those wanting to live their lives vicariously through these singers: the thought that our surrogates aren’t perfect just rubs the non-performing ubercritics the wrong way; or, at least it gives them something to complain about while avoiding the undesirable task of actually doing a better job than their elevated surrogates/targets.
Ehh you people are taking it way too far. Its good to have both the bubblegum-pop and stylish pieces. But I really think that the people behind this kid are trying to bite off Bieber.
I totally agree he was off-pitch and off-key in many parts of the song, and to anyone who thinks otherwise, get a hearing aid. The writer of this blog was simply stating the truth. If you can’t handle the truth, that is not his problem.
If you want to support an artist, one has to be truthful about their abilities and not try to look for excuses or try to justify their mistakes.
The kid is only 13 yrs old. Hopefully, he will be able to improve his live performances as he gets older otherwise he will be another JB who has to rely on auto-tune, both in studio and during live gigs. At the end of the day, there are very few recording artists that can perform live like a Charice, Deborah Cox, David Archuletta, David Cook and the like.
I would like to hear this kid do a pure a cappella. I think that is the best way to assess a voice.
omg i hope he wiil be the next JUSTIN BIEBER that will be cool + JUSTIN BIEBER voice is like a girl + go on this
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=justin+bieber+ran+in+the+door&form=QBVR&qs=n&sk=&adlt=strict#
that is funny
what are you..a voice coach?to know he’s always off pitch and off key..flat or sharp whatever..this kids has know voice lesson at all and yet can sing live.and for your info he’s not “always” off pitch..go clean your ears and learn the do re mi…
hie sleaner hear i now go out with greyson chans not crappy bieber