Sonja Kristina Vs Annie Haslam
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Topic: Sonja Kristina Vs Annie Haslam
Posted By: Rick Robson
Subject: Sonja Kristina Vs Annie Haslam
Date Posted: October 22 2014 at 19:46
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I open the thread with a vote to the beautiful Sonja, her exotic style shines higher for me no doubt, well I have to admit that Curved Air has become one of my favourite prog bands so far. -------------  "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Replies:
Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: October 22 2014 at 20:46
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Haslam by far. ------------- A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!! |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 22 2014 at 21:31
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Cannot help you about the show from which you linked that Curved Air performance as I am not that clued into their work. Prefer Haslam by far. Also agree about Touching Once at Albert Hall. But she also gave some incredible performances of Ashes are Burning, especially from the late 70s onwards. There's the one at Chicago in 1983 that probably every Renaissance fan knows of. But music vault allow you to view this great performance from a 1979 concert. Audio/video are both pretty dire. But the vocal pyrotechnics at esp the 18 1/2 minute mark are incredible. http://www.musicvault.com/renaissance/video/ashes-are-burning_1011787.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.musicvault.com/renaissance/video/ashes-are-burning_1011787.html |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: October 22 2014 at 22:52
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Annie ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 00:48
| Undoubtedly 2 great singers here. Voted Annie because she is just soooooo pure. Sonja is almost there, but not quite..... |
Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 01:03
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Nothing against Sonja, she has a great voice and all, but Annie is, well, Annie. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 01:24
Sonja had a bit more of a punk thing going while Annie is a prog angel. I love both although Sonja is the one I would have liked to meet
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 03:43
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I cannot stand Annie Haslam's singing, never could. Something about them that makes me cringe everytime. Like finger nails on a blackboard. I do like some of the early Curved Air releases, so I guess my vote is for Sonja. I deliberately chose to stay away from the 'other' option, as I felt it was a bit of a cop out. Safe to say, I'm more of a Diamanda Galas, Pascal Son, Catherine Ribeiroux, Dagmar Krause, Anna Meek, Renate Knaup and Annisette Koppel fan 
------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 04:19
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Sonja is a great singer, but Annie is a god. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 04:20
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...............if I could, I would vote for the amazing Christina Booth.......... .........whom incorporates the best traits of both these gorgeous Prog angels............. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 04:30
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Annie is indubitably a great singer and there is no denying her influence on later female Prog singers who are mere imitators by comparison. While I prefer the Renaissance (and Renaissance Illusion) albums with Jane Relf, Annie was the ideal voice for the more successful version of Renaissance and it could be argued that they changed their sound to better suit the tone of her voice and her vocal range, which in turn resulted in their increased popularity. But for me it's Sonja by quite a long way. She is a one-off talent that has no comparison or equal and few imitators. There is a certain indescribable essence and character to her voice that I find more interesting and more appealing. Unlike Renaissance, Curved Air didn't adapt their sound to fit Sonja, she adapted her voice to fit the music they were playing, which was a lot harder and louder and required a voice that could rise above the music rather than fit neatly in it. This means we didn't get to hear just how good she really was or discover the range and depth that we get when listening to Annie and Renaissance, but we do get to hear that in Sonja's post-Curved Air music. I saw Sonja in a one-woman show in 1979/80 performing folk songs and acoustic versions of Curved Air favourites and she was wonderfully good, giving a warm and engaging performance that was a far cry from the 'rock-chic' image that graced the cover of NME and Sounds in the 1970s. I couldn't find a live performance video from that time (there are some acid folk vids of Sonja on YouBoob but they are more recent), but here is a track from her début solo album from 1980: I'm going to be cheeky and post another video, (because there isn't enough Sonja-love in this thread). This one is more recent, from Sonja's collaboration with Marvin Ayres called M.A.S.K (Marvin Ayres Sonja Kristina) ------------- What? |
Posted By: b_olariu
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 05:54
| Annie Haslam, but there are lots more that I like, strictly from this list Annie Haslam |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 06:12
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Two of my favourite singers, a tough choice but Annie just nicks it. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005  |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 06:18
That 1980 track actually sounds a lot like Jane Relf/Maddy Prior to me, so I am not surprised you voted for her. And while I'd agree that generally speaking, Curved Air's music was louder and harder, Annie's voice rises above a full orchestra when she vocalises with strings on Scheherazade, even in the live performances. Was it that the bed was always nicely made for her (I doubt it, given their struggles from the 80s onwards) or that she simply had a powerful and flexible voice? More likely the latter, I think. Camera Camera (the track) is about as far removed as can be from the glorious pastoral beauty of Ashes Are Burning but Annie's singing is about the only thing that makes the track worth listening to at all, to me (and I am pretty sure I am not alone in saying so).
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Dean wrote:Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 07:00
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Seeing as there is the 'other' option, I thought it was fair play to show a clip of the aforementioned Diamanda Galas. Talk about range - and not only that, a will to stretch her own vocal chords to the edge of torture. This clip floors me every time - for quite different reasons no less. Captured on the Jon Stewart show waaay back in 1994 you get to see Diamanda with legendary Zep bass man John Paul Jones performing a tune off the joint venture they'd just recorded. The performance is earth-shattering, literally. It blows my mind each and every time - mostly because the music is sooooo experimental and mad for an American mainstream tv show, but perhaps even moreso because the musicians know this.....and then purposely take it up a notch  Man I would do anything to have been a guest at that show (I was 12 at the time and had already purchased my first Samla Mammas Manna album, so I was no stranger to music with a twist of the bizarre.) ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Imperial Zeppelin
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 07:28
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I'll take Haslam Annie day. ------------- "Hey there, Dog Man, now I drink from your bowl." |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 07:33
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Cute ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 07:59
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Wow! Seeing here so many references to check out that I'm literally driving knots! But hey, can you believe it? the God damned internet connection here at my work is gonna continue forever denying any YouTube access for all of us... OK I get it, this is the so called third world 'bankers' administration politics hahahah ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 10:34
Very entertaining performance with a great demonstration of vocal prowess. She's a female Mike Patton for sure. Like Patton, she never does anything for me emotionally but it, intentionally or otherwise, sounds funny enough in a weird way that I still enjoy it.
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 10:39
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Sometimes Annie sounds a little too sweet at times, but it's Annie easily over Sonja. I can imagine Curvrd Air without Sonja but not Renaissance without Annie. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 10:51
I imagine that's how it is for most. The vast majority though runs screaming for the hills. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 10:53
| lol, I can't even imagine what unsuspecting regular mainstream-listening folk must have made of it. |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 11:00
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My thoughts exactly. Oh well, they do get two of their favourite things with that performance: something familiar in the rock legend of John Paul Jones and of course sex with Diamanda's crazy SM outfit The rest probably scared the living daylights out of them. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 11:03
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To my Asian ears, a lot of it actually sounded very Arabic/Oriental, though mixed with some harsh portions. She didn't get out her full death metal voice in that set, that would have really caused some jaws to drop.
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 11:07
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That's actually what I fell for in the first place. She has that same kind of omni-influence as Lisa Gerard has. Asian, Middle-Eastern, South American you name em. I've always looked at her as an Anarchistic and infinitely more provocative version of Lisa. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Evolver
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 11:21
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I love them both, but Annie Haslam's voice is perfection. ------------- Trust me. I know what I'm doing. |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 11:59
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Haslam ------------- |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 15:29
Yes, Annie day
 , me too |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 15:41
Wild stuff. Incredible voice. I love the bass/drum groove. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 15:43
Another vote for lady day... er... Annie. no contest. ------------- 
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Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 19:55
It's being now quite impossible for me to check out, thanks to my bad internet connection at the moment, but hopefully later. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 19:59
I'd already listened to her performance in some Magenta tracks, and enjoyed it especially on the track 'Envy'. By the way I'm suprised no one mentioned here another one: the female singer of Mostly Autumn - was she Heather Findlay or Angela Gordon? ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 20:03
Right on, I'm with you on this, and needless to say that I definitely love her timbre! Thanks for these links Dean, I found her 1980 track a pretty romantic tune. I'm sure that some day I get to be in England, Sonja will be the first one I'll be looking forward to meet About Annie I get your point, and am going to check out Jane Relf. But I agree with what was said here that Annie sings like a prog angel, even though sometimes it seems as well for me too that they adapted their sound to better fit the timbre of her voice. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 20:06
Same on here, but I think also that if she did get her full metal voice and put on more rythmic speed she would have really caused some Judas Priest fans to drop ... just joking------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 22:49
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Aforesaid Ashes are burning performance on youtube. |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: October 23 2014 at 23:46
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: October 24 2014 at 06:35
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 24 2014 at 06:48
The album they did together does come across more palatable. Well maybe it's the condition of that Jootoob clip too that adds to the slightly 'grating' expression the music has. On this baby  there's absolutely none of that  Perfectly recorded and JPJ is in great form delivering some of his most 'awkward' bass lines to date. They zoom on perfectly though and don't ever feel forced or convoluted. Sign of a great musician: the ability to adapt to every new thing being flung at you and still maintain something that unequivocally screams it's YOU who's playing.------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Rednight
Date Posted: October 24 2014 at 12:04
| Haslam, but Kristina certainly didn't lack for looks. I just wonder what happened to the latter; is she now a housewife outside of 29 Palms, Calif. with a rug full of kids and all. |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: October 24 2014 at 12:53
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Annie, of course. ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: October 24 2014 at 15:18
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: October 24 2014 at 18:24
.....and Christina is just beautiful, so beautiful..... |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 24 2014 at 20:45
Ha ha ha. Seriously, why would somebody irreverent enough to be the singer of a prog rock band and a band like Curved Air at that want to just settle down and breed like rabbits.
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: October 25 2014 at 06:16
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Sonja was involved with Stuart Copeland for quite some time (lucky bugger.....). She already had a child when she hooked-up with Curved Air (hence, I believe, the piece 'Young Mother' was inspired by....). This means little, as I'm sure Sonja would make make a fine parent, and follow her musical career with no problems....... Marie Antoinette and Elfin Boy are just gorgeous............ .........and I love Running Hard, Mother Russia, A Trip To The Fair, Okichi San, Flight .......etc..... ......and more recently, Christina from Magenta. ..........but my dream-gal will always be Grace Slick (circa-67/68) - both for voice and looks (coz I'm a male......) |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 25 2014 at 16:04
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Wasn't Sonja Kristina in the British stage production of Hair before Curved Air? Perfect grounding for prog in some respects. Darryl Way met Francis Monkman in a record shop and they decided to form a band later inviting Kristina to join. There was a lot of record company hype surrounding them apparently. That's the sum total of my Curved Air knowledge.  Tom, I've seen Christina and Magenta play live about 4 times. I first saw them at the London Astoria at a weekend prog festival just before Seven was released. They were the opening band and people were gradually funnelling into the venue so it wasn't ideal for them. I wandered in and immediately made eye contact with Christina as there probably only about 50 people there at that point. I was hooked by her and the music which was captivating. BTW you should check out her very nice solo album which is better than most recent Magenta albums imo. |
Posted By: O666
Date Posted: October 25 2014 at 17:29
| HASLAM |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: October 25 2014 at 17:35
- love her voice, love the music, and of course, she's hot. I've been told by Aussie Byrd (Michael) that her solo is a must. So I've got some Prog shopping to do.....
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Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: October 25 2014 at 20:32
Right on Richard, this is what I just read on Wikipedia: "In 1968, Kristina auditioned for and won the part of "Crissy" in the London stage production of the stage musical Hair. She features on the original cast album singing the song "Frank Mills", also released as a single. She also briefly sang with The Strawbs, following the departure of Sandy Denny." I find stunning that she is still gigging at the age of 65! ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: October 25 2014 at 21:36
| Yeah...so does Annie actually. There are at least a fair few prog rock greats from the 70s who have aged well. More so in the case of these second tier bands whose members did not enjoy the massive lifestyle that the likes of ELP probably did in their prime. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: October 25 2014 at 21:52
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........could never see Annie making her way down to the end of a whiskey bottle, nor toking on a spliff......of course shell be healthy as. Sonja was probably a rebel in her early days, but she's come through it all in tact. Grace Slick is another matter entirely........painting her white rabbits whilst sitting on her ass...... |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: October 26 2014 at 05:46
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Sonia Kristina's unique voice seems a little underappreciated. It blends in like magic with the other instruments. Annie's great too but there's also a lot of too precious Julie Andrews kind of singing that doesn't always work as well in rock. ------------- 
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: October 26 2014 at 08:43
That was pretty much what I was going to say..! ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: October 26 2014 at 08:46
pretty much my thoughts on it. I'll take naughty over nice any of the week and twice on Sunday! |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: October 26 2014 at 15:02
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Joanne Hogg. Elaine di Falco. Carolina Prieto. Anneke van Giersbergen. Petronella Nettermalm. I love Annie but when I want to console my soul these are the voices I want to hear. ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: October 26 2014 at 15:14
Good call on Elaine Di Falco  . Her performance on Empty Days' self-titled album is nothing short of sublime. Joanne Hogg also has a great voice, though Iona's music does not exactly float my boat. Anyway, if you want to treat your ears to something fantastic, give a listen to Ut Gret's marvellous Ancestor's Tale (released in the first half of this year), with Cheyenne Mize's career-defining performance. And, of course, both albums by MoeTar. Moorea Dickason is a true force of nature!That being said, I like Sonja Kristina for her charisma, but voice-wise Annie is clearly superior, and her voice has also held up very well. Renaissance's classic albums make for a very rewarding listening experience, especially when one is in need of a break from more demanding fare. |
Posted By: proggman
Date Posted: November 01 2014 at 13:01
Annie Haslam.------------- When he rides, my fears subside. For darkness turns once more to light. Through the skies, his white horse flies. To find a land beyond the night. |