Be Not Nobody, and Don't Use No Double Negatives

[vovat]

I've always mentally associated Vanessa Carlton and Avril Lavigne. They both came onto the scene at around the same time, and both seemed to have songs geared primarily toward teenagers. While Avril's music was for the Bad Kids, though, Vanessa's was for the shy girls who write poetry and dream of Prince Charming sweeping them off their feet. Or at least that's what the record companies who signed them were hoping; I'm not sure how well that worked out in actual practice. Anyway, Vanessa's lyrics struck me as rather trite teenage poetry stuff, and her vocals were kind of...exaggeratedly sweet, or something. She was a talented pianist, though (she apparently started at the age of two), and her instrumental parts were genuinely enjoyable, so I couldn't help but kind of like songs like "A Thousand Miles" even though I'd heard the same basic sentiments expressed in a million other songs. Vanessa is presumably still recording, although I get the impression that she's one of those artists who will only be recognized by the general public for her early work.

And since it's apparently Doppelgänger Week, I might as well mention that I've always pretty much figured Vanessa and Michelle Branch were the same person.

The thing is, however, that while I know I've heard some of Michelle's music, I can't for the life of me remember any of it. The conspiracy-loving part of my brain thinks that Michelle was an alter-ego that Vanessa created as an outlet for her more boring music, as well as to play a different instrument (guitar instead of piano) and pose for Maxim.

Comments

[revme.livejournal.com]

I've met Michelle Branch before (though not Vanessa Carlton, unless your theory is true) -- she came to work with the Wreckers (her country duo). She was pretty nice, actually. She seemed like a cool person. Musically -- well, I like the Wreckers. Her solo stuff, though, eh.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I can't recall having heard anything by the Wreckers.

[revme.livejournal.com]

They had a couple of hits on Country Radio, but they didn't cross-over at all. "Leave The Pieces" was probably the breakout hit, though IIRC, "My Oh My" and "Tennessee" did decently, if you're curious to check on YouTube or sommmink.

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's an uncanny resemblance.

I've got "A Thousand Miles" on my iPod; I could listen to it over and over, partially because it speaks to me from a long distance relationship standpoint, as does "Hey there Delilah" (which might be one of the most simplistic but catchy pop tunes in history.) Also, I'm a sucker for good instrumental moments, which explains my love of "Boston".

*wanders off to find that copy of Maxim*

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

I always notice music before lyrics, although often the music is so unimpressive that the lyrics become more glaring, too. Since I am a sucker for piano and the music is kind of cool, I can listen to Vanessa Carlton without cringing (or complaining), though I do think it's sort of a shame that the vocals are so bland-sound-like-everyone-else-ish. Then again "even though I'd heard the same basic sentiments expressed in a million other songs" is kind of a duh, because MOST songs are just the same sentiments over and over again, it's just the EXECUTION that makes each one unique... then again (again), you listen to a lot of geek rock, they do hit the weirder topics more often.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I guess it isn't just the general sentiment, but that the specific idea of being willing to do something impossible to see a person you love has been done before. And I'm sure there are other ways of expressing the same ideas that don't sound so trite.