2013 Academy Awards Overview

Last year I did a comprehensive 3 post review of the Academy Award nominees in the major categories. Well this year I don't have time to do all of that, so I'm just doing a shortened version of the same thing.

Best Supporting Actor:
Alan Arkin in Argo
Robert De Niro in Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master
Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln
Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained
Who Will Win:
This is a tricky and sort of unpredictable category. Christoph Waltz won the Supporting Actor Golden Globe, but Tommy Lee Jones won the Supporting Actor "Actor" at the SAG Awards. My guess is that it will probably go to Waltz, but I would not rule Jones out by a long shot.
Who Should Win:
My personal pick would be Alan Arkin. I feel like he plays his role very well. I would be fairly happy if it went to Tommy Lee Jones as well, because I felt like he played his role well. To be fair and honest I have not seen Philip Seymour Hoffman or Christoph Waltz's performances so I can't say anything about them.

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams in The Master
Sally Field in Lincoln
Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables
Helen Hunt in The Sessions
Jacki Weaver in Silver Linings Playbook
Who Will Win:
Anne Hathaway. I have no doubt in my mind that she will take this award. First of all, she has been a darling of the Academy for a while, already having been nominated for an Oscar in the past and having hosted (or maybe butchered would be a better word) the Academy Awards in the past. The other reason is that there is a ton of emotional appeal to the role, even if it did require minimal acting.
Who Should Win:
I'll preface this by saying that I have not seen Helen Hunt (for personal reasons) or Amy Adams performances. I feel a little sorry for Adams because this will be her fourth nomination in this category and she is yet to win an Oscar. That being said, I can't make much of an argument for someone to win this award over Hathaway. Sally Field and Jacki Weaver both gave good performances, but they were not large roles within their respective movies.

Best Actor
Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
Denzel Washington in Flight
Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables
Who Will Win:
Daniel Day-Lewis. Lewis has won every award he has been nominated for up to now. He is also a two previous Oscar wins and this nomination makes a total of five nominations. Many have been calling Lewis' interpretation of Lincoln an amazing embodiment.
Who Should Win:
Daniel Day-Lewis did a good job, but in my opinion Bradley Cooper deserves this award. Cooper's role required a greater range of acting skills. That's not to say that Lewis did not do a good job, but, "if it's me reading the signs" Cooper gave the best performance this year. (That last part was a little Silver Linings Playbook reference) Joaquin Phoenix's performance in the only one I have not seen.

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
Quvenzhane Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild
Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
Naomi Watts in The Impossible
Emmanuelle Riva in Amour
Who Will Win:
This is easily the tightest race of any of the acting categories. Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence both won Golden Globes for their performances, while Chastain won the Critics Choice Award, and Lawrence won at the SAG Awards. The Academy has a tendency to give awards to actors portraying real people and historical pieces, so that might be a slight lead for Chastain. On the other hand, actors who are a part of the Academy are the people who vote on this award, so maybe the SAG given to Lawrence is a better indicator. 
Who Should Win:
In my opinion, Lawrence gave the acting performance of the year, male or female. She was outstanding in her performance. That being said, I have seen all of these acting performances, and every one of these actresses gave good performances. If the award were to go to anyone other than Lawrence it should be Quvenzhane Wallis who at age six showed acting skills that far surpass the skills of actresses four times her age. Interestingly enough, I felt like of the five Chastain's performance was the least worthy of the award.

Best Animated Feature Film
Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph
Which Will Win:
This one is a little harder to predict, mostly because there is less of a president. Brave won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, but it was one of the less favorably received Pixar movies in the span of their career, so I wouldn't necessarily say it's a sure thing. The other president is that things with Tim Burton's name on them tend to get attention, so Frankenweenie way also have an edge in this department.
Which Should Win:
Brave is a good movie, but in my opinion the competition it received from ParaNorman and Wreck-It Ralph this year makes it the second or third best. Personally, I believe that Wreck-It Ralph is the best of the animated features this year.

Best Picture
Amour
Life of Pi
Argo
Lincoln
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Silver Linings Playbook
Django Unchained
Zero Dark Thirty
Les Miserables
Which Will Win:
Best Picture is always a bit of a wild card category. I would say there are three frontrunners: Lincoln, Argo, and Zero Dark Thirty. Lincoln is a biopic about the country's most popular president abolishing slavery. It also helps that Lincoln has Spielberg's name on it. Zero Dark Thirty's advantage is the same as Lincoln's in that it's a true story (or so the writers say) and that the director, Kathryn Bigelow, has had a movie of a similar nature win Best Picture in the recent past (That movie is The Hurt Locker). Argo has many things going in its favor. It is based on a true story, and it took home the Golden Globe for Best Picture in Drama, and Best Ensemble Cast award at the SAG Awards. On the other hand, a movie hasn't won Best Picture without the director also being nominated for Best Director since Driving Miss Daisy, and Kathryn Bigelow and Ben Affleck were both passed up for that nomination this year.
Which Should Win:
My favorite movie of the year is easily Silver Linings Playbook. It has a nice blend of humor and drama that I think gives it a more human touch than many of the other nominees. That being said I've seen all but one of the films (Django Unchained, mostly because of violence and language issues) and I think they are all good films. I would say it was a stretch to have Amour nominated for best picture. My second favorite of the films is a tie between Beasts of the Southern Wild and Argo. Honestly I would be happy with any of these three films winning best picture.                   

Black History Month: Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson is probably the closest thing to an Aretha Franklin or Etta James to come from the current generation of singers. Her vocal range is amazing, and the sheer power behind her voice is what reminds me of vocalists such as Franklin. She's not the most popular singer out there today, but with Grammy and Oscar wins under her belt, she had certainly proved her ability.

If This Isn't Love

Jesus Promised Me A Home Over There

Black History Month: Cee Lo Green

Cee Lo Green is an odd and eccentric singer. That being said, he can also be a very talented individual. What I like about Cee Lo is his ability to bring back the sound of Motown, but also to make that sound relevant to current generations. His song Forget You brought that Motown sound to a whole new generation and was wildly successful.

Forget You

Satisfied

Black History Month: The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers had a little bit of controversy in their career. Mostly revolving around creative disagreements between them and the Motown producers. That being said, their most popular hit, It's Your Thing, is still a very recognizable song to this day.

It's Your Thing

Black History Month: Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is an iconic artist. He started out as a Motown sensation, and has continued to produce hits throughout the years. His strong, soulful, voice has gained him notoriety, as well as his well written songs and well orchestrated instrumentals.

Uptight (Everything's Alright)

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

Black History Month: The Jackson Five

I know most people probably recognize Michael Jackson before The Jackson Five, but being a bigger fan of Motown, I tend to prefer the sound of The Jackson Five. They weren't the most prominent Motown group, but they gained quite a bit of popularity and had a number of hits in their time.

I Want You Back

ABC

Black History Month: The Temptations

The Temptations are maybe the most popular of the Motown groups, and definitely the most popular of the male groups. Their vocals are clear and crisp, but still emotive enough to fit easily within the R&B/Soul genre of Motown. The proof of their success is the long list of songs that are noticeable hits still to this day. On a personal note, Ain't Too Proud To Beg is one of my favorite songs because of the emotion in every lyric and the perfect harmonies.

My Girl

Ain't Too Proud To Beg

Black History Month: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were another successful female group of the Motown era. Though not as successful or enduring as The Supremes, The Vandellas were able to produce some lasting hits during their prime such as these:

(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave

Dancing In The Street

Black History Month: The Four Tops

When you think male Motown groups, The Temptations are probably the first to come to mind, but The Four Tops also had a strong impact on the genre. Their sound isn't revolutionary by any means, but The Four Tops had strong vocals, and were able to coin some hits in their day.

I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)

It's The Same Old Song

Black History Month: The Supremes

The Supremes are easily the most successful female group of the Motown era. Honestly they rank among Motown's most successful solo or group artists. While the past of the group may be sordid (see the movie Dream Girls, which speculates on the issue if you don't know what I'm talking about), they have proved to be an enduring group.

You Can't Hurry Love

Black History Month: Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye is often seen as one of the greatest singers. It's no wonder why. He has a great range and a very emotive voice. Many of his songs are considered classics and range in topics from love to anti-war protest.

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

Black History Month: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Smokey Robinson was one of the people that really made the whole Motown movement big. As a performer he had a distinct voice that could not be matched. Beyond that however, Robinson was the writer behind many of Motown's greatest hits, even if he wasn't the one to sing them.

The Tracks of My Tears

Cruisin'

Black History Month: Mickey and Sylvia

Mickey and Sylvia are an often under-recognized duo. Many of their songs take a sort of Blues meets Pop style. Like I said, they aren't extremely well known. Their most famous song is called Love Is Strange, which gets its popularity mostly from being featured in the movie Dirty Dancing.

Love Is Strange

 

Black History Month: Melanie Fiona

Melanie Fiona is one of those modern artists that is helping to reestablish the influence of Motown on current R&B. That's not to say that she doesn't still have a modern sound. What makes Fiona great is how she blends raspy, soulful, vocals with 60s/70s styles and yet still makes it sound relevant.

This Time

L.O.V.E.

 

Black History Month: Mandisa

Mandisa is the Gospel/CCM artist that first got me interested in the genre. What's great about Mandisa is the way she mixes Godly messages with amazing vocals. Each of her three albums has been nominated for a Grammy. The shame about Mandisa is that she really has an amazingly powerful and well controlled voice, but the music industry often neglects to recognize the talents of Gospel singers.

Lifeline

Only The World

 

Black History Month: Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong easily has one of the most distinct voices in the entire music industry. It's not the most crystal clear or technically perfect voice, but it does lend itself well to his jazz styling. Not only is Armstrong a famous singer, but he is also noteworthy for his trumpet playing. In fact, many consider him to be one of the leading developers of jazz music. Here are a couple of his songs:

Hello Dolly

What A Wonderful World

 

Black History Month: Etta James

Etta James had an amazingly powerful voice. It was deep, and drew listeners in whenever she sang. I would argue that she really deserves about as much recognition as Aretha Franklin got, but I don't think she ever did get as much as she deserved. However, she clearly had an influence on the industry. Her song At Last is one of the most easily recognizable songs, and even rapper Flo Rida used samples of her singing in the background of one of his latest hits.

At Last

I'd Rather Go Blind

 

Black History Month: Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill isn't the first rapper, and her canon is certainly not huge. That being said, Hill's ability to mix fast paced rapping with meaningful messages warning listeners of the woes of sin and heartbreak. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was the first Hip-Hop/Rap album I ever bought, and it is worth mentioning that it was the first Hip-Hop/Rap album to ever win Album of the Year at the Grammys.

Everything Is Everything

Tell Him

 

Black History Month: Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke is a great, and I think often under-recognized, artist. First of all, the man has one of the most soulful voices I've ever heard. Second, he knew how to sing songs that had popular appeal as well as songs that had strong messages. Perhaps his most famous song is the Civil Rights anthem A Change Is Gonna To Come. Here is it and another great song of his:

 A Change Is Gonna Come

You Send Me

Black History Month: John Legend

John Legend is probably my favorite current male R&B/Soul singer. His voice is smooth and soulful, and his songs often throwback to Motown, which just so happens to be one of my favorite movements in music. Not to sound cheesy, but Legend has studied the legends. His fascination with singers like Marvin Gaye shows through in his music, and it makes him stand out in the crowd. In fact, his song Slow Dance is one of my favorite songs ever. Here are by far my two favorite songs of his:

Slow Dance

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

 

Black History Month: B.o.B.

Rap is not a genre I know a lot about. There is some rap that I like, but whatever I do like has just been what little I've picked up over the past few years. One of the more recent names to come along is B.o.B. Rap has become very influential in the music industry, and B.o.B. is one of the people currently influencing that growth.

Chandelier

 

Black History Month: Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae is a little bit of a lesser known artist. She is fairly new in the industry, but she certainly has a lot of talent. It's also kind of cool that she's from Kansas City, Kansas. But beyond that she represents a rise in some very talented R&B artists. Her style is a mix of modern Rap/Hip-Hop and old school R&B. Here are some of her songs:

Cold War

Tightrope

 

Black History Month: Jamie Grace

Jamie Grace has been pretty new to the CCM scene, but she has made a big impact in a short amount of time. Why? Well her music is pretty infectious. She has a great personality that shines through on her songs. They are clever, well written songs that are reflective of a person that leads a God centered life. Here is Jamie Grace's first hit song:

Hold Me

 

Black History Month: Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald is one of those iconic singers. Like Billie Holiday, Fitzgerald really popularized the idea of a strong female jazz singer. That being said, her style is actually very different than Holiday's. She has a notably more cheerful tone to her voice. Sometimes it's hard to tell when her songs are supposed to be sad, because her voice just exudes a bright quality. I'm not too familiar with Fitzgerald's songbook, but the one I'm posting is a song that I first heard in an old movie (unfortunately I can't even remember the movie's title). It's not a song that I necessarily relate to, but I do think that Fitzgerald sings it beautifully.

Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered

 

Black History Month: Nat King Cole Trio

Another jazz great, Nat King Cole had a voice unlike any other. As someone I know once said, "His voice is just like pure gold." It's warm and inviting, which plays to his more upbeat songs, but it also can show a tenderness that really goes well with his slower, more emotional, songs. I personally think that his best work is with the Nat King Cole Trio, and so here are some selections from them:

Deed I Do

Hit That Jive Jack

Black History Month: Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was one of the first female jazz singers to rise to prominence. She has remained an influence on many singers throughout recent history, because in many ways she was a maverick. Holiday's vocals aren't necessarily the most clean or technical, but they do express great emotion and life. In this way, Holiday herself reflects jazz, a music which often lacks order, but exudes feeling and emotion. Here are a couple of songs she sang:

I Love You Porgy

Easy Living

 

Black History Month: Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker was one of the most influential jazz saxaphonists and composers in the entire genre. Many of Jazz's most prominent names saw Parker as one of the key people in developing the genre. I also think it's noteworthy to mention that Parker was born and raised in Kansas City.

The Bird

 

Black History Month: Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys is one of those singers that I would classify as having an extremely high music IQ. What I mean by that is that when it comes to music, she performs with an almost technical clarity. Messy is the last adjective that comes to mind when I think about an Alicia Keys song. That being said, Keys is also one of the most soulful singers around today. She's not afraid to bring emotion to a song, and that's one of the qualities that makes her great. Her song "No One" is the perfect mix of soul and emotion. Not to mention the vocals she displays on the song are amazing.

No One

How It Feels To Fly

Black History Month: Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is possibly one of the most recognizable and highly praised singers of all time. Her voice in a word is stunning. It's not just that Franklin has range or can belt the high notes, it's that she has complete control over a voice that exudes confidence, emotion, power, and vulnerability all at once. Aretha Franklin is also notable for her work in the gospel genre as well as the Soul/R&B genre. Here are a couple of songs that exemplify Franklin's artistry:

Respect

Hello Sunshine

 

Black History Month

So I had this idea a few months back to do a series focusing on black singers and musicians during the month of February, seeing as it is Black History Month. Well I know I'm a few days late getting started (I was getting over a cold for the last few days), but I figure I can do a little catch up. So here goes my feature of 28 notable black singers and musicians. Granted, this is by no means a comprehensive list, and this is not a list ranking the artists against each other. This is just a daily feature. You might ask why I decided to focus on singers/musicians. The answer is, I feel that America pretty much owes its musical heritage to black singers and musicians. Any modern form of music heard today can pretty much be traced back to Gospel, Blues, Soul, Jazz, and R&B. For that reason, I want to spend the month honoring these contributions and some of the artists who made and are still making them.