It's been a while since I've listened to anything other than instrumental, solo piano. S here's one recommendation of piano in pop music from me. If anyone else has any to share, please do! (BTW "pop" music here is a very loose term. I think I'll change the title to "popular")

The other day, one of my students recommended this song to me, by Regina Spektor:

the Genius Next Door, by Regina Spektor

The lyrics are... eery, but I really like her voice and how she uses piano in her music. A quick search through YouTube reveals other music by her as well.

Wasn't it Vanessa Carlton who had a song with a great piano part to it? Can't for the life of me remember the title...

Ok, who's next?

"1000 miles" is probably the Vanessa Carlton song you're thinking of. I like Spector's Youtube performances at ACL also.

Ed

Vanessa Carlton, A Thousand Miles

Ok, here's that song I was thinking of. In listening to it again (after however many years) I don't like the production. It would be more to my tastes if the piano was more at the front and some of those other instruments (synths) just weren't there at all. I bet it would be great to hear just her and the piano.

How about some Norah J:



JF

Alicia Keys and Tori Amos are always worth mentioning.

Oh yeah, Norah Jones is someone whose name I have heard for a long time, but I think she must have gotten big while I was in Japan, because I've never really heard her music before. JF, that video is very nice!

Alicia Keys I've heard, but it seems like mostly (at least from my memory) her piano gets covered up. Less Rubato, any tunes you recommend?

And Tori Amos? I thought her music mostly featured acoustic guitar? (But see, I was in Japan for 12 years, and then the last year and a half I've had my head in a book, so that's why this thread!) Please recommend a tune.

Bruce Hornsby:

My favorite contemporary singer/pianist is Vienna Teng. All of her work is heavily piano-centric (she often tours by herself with only a piano) and it's all good:

Ben Folds / Ben Folds Five

It's hard for me to really choose a particular song to link to because my favorites of his change dramatically depending on what mood I'm in. Everything from romantic ballads to the kind of stuff you might want to listen to when you're PO'd.

Her first Album "Little Earthquakes" was great.
I like the song "Winter"

Other good one's. "Silent all these years", "Crucify"
She also does a nice cover of Nirvana's "Smells like teen spirit"

(OT -

Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain - Smells Like Teen Spirit

End OT)

Cathy

I'm right there with you about "Winter"
and all of "Little Earthquakes". What a great CD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXTWDsmOpJI

Dianna Krall is another one who really incorporates her playing into just about everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GmrBeCgcAY

Yes! Diana Krall - I agree fully - I have 5 of her CDs but couldn't remember her name - my senior moments are turning into senior hours

Excellent song selection LR - that's an old Peggy Lee hit from way, way back (and please don't ask who Peggy Lee is )

JF

Tori Amos - A Piano - The Collection

6.4 hours of Tori Amos music that includes the piano

In Ireland there are two songs that always come up in conversation if they know you play piano. "The Island" by Paul Brady and "Into my Arms" by Nick Cave.






R&B
A lot lighter, a popular wedding song a few years ago.


He has a bootleg cd where he performs a gig totally on the piano. Way better than the studio versions which followed. It is called "live at the knitting factory".

The sheet music for these songs are unsurprisingly not the same.

ps

Queen - You take my breath away. Been a favourite since I was a kid. Only recently heard this live version.

I tuned for Regina Spektor a couple of years ago. Had no idea who she was, but got a call from the venue. When I asked my teenage daughters if they had ever heard of her, they freaked. They sure knew who she was. They had tried to get tickets, but it was sold out. So, when I was doing the tuning, the manager came over to talk, and I mentioned that my daughters were disappointed that the show was sold out. He said, "if they want to come to the show, I'll get you in". He put us on the guest list. So, I got to be the hero to my kids that day! The crowd was almost all teenage girls. And a few parents. But, it was great to see a popular act using a piano so heavily.

Oh I know who Peggy Lee is I grew up in a household full of music from ALL eras. It was a true gift from my parents.

This morning I have this song from the 70's on my brain . "Misty Blue" by Dorothy Moore.

This thread =

Thanks everyone, I am really enjoying this thread!

I can't watch that Nick Cave video, all those people crying, it's so painful! (very well made though!)

What no "Antony and the Johnsons" in this thread?

Soon fix that

One of my favourites

Sorry, I have to pimp them again...

Keane

I just this morning finished watching the movie "In Bruges". I loved the music and watched the credits at the end. Regina Spektor did one of the songs, which song I don't remember. I sat down at the computer to look at the soundtrack on Amazon and it's made up mostly of music by Carter Burwell, a sountrack composer. I forgot all about Regina. I sat down and read this after not being on the forum for months. Wierd coincidence. Now I've made a note to listen to Regina Spector. Thanks.

I like Ben Folds and Randy Newman solo at the piano.
Diana Krall is spectacular. Sarah Barreilles plays piano. My daughter plays a couple of her songs.

A couple recent favorites:

Gabe Dixon Band


Jamie Cullum

A favorite R&B artiste of mine is John Legend. In the song "Ordinary People" from his debut album "Get Lifted" you really hear him playing the piano.

From what I've read, Tori Amos has a custom Bosendorfer with extra bass keys. You asked for a recommendation? My favorite of hers is "China".

Sheryl Crow:

Skirting the edges of "popular", but still :-) Here's Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer, whose music played a big part in attracting me back to the piano:



And here's fellow Norwegian Ingrid Olava:



Putting this thread on my watchlist :-)

My boys (all age 13 now) and I are fans of Coldplay and one of them learned to play Clocks on the piano this summer. It's always the piece they choose when their friends want to hear them play, even though it's way easier than some of the classical music they have learned.

Nancy

Let's not forget Muse. Check out a song called "Butterflies and Hurricanes" on youtube. Matthew Bellamy is a genius :-)

The second one is really nice.