Singing genes
I’m not much of a Streisand fan. She’s just not all that much to my taste, but I recognize her outstanding talent and understand why for many people she’s their favorite singer.
I noticed that Yahoo is pushing a video of Streisand talking about her son’s singing, and singing a duet with him.
Now, that interested me. Mothers and sons interest me. And of course I was curious: what kind of voice does Jason Gould, 47-year-old sometime-actor son of Streisand and her first husband, actor Elliot Gould, have?
Well, it’s not like Streisand’s. But it’s good, not just passable or okay (like some of the Sinatra kids) but really good. Jason Gould’s voice may represent a regression towards the mean, but not very far towards the mean.
I think the story is interesting as well. It makes sense that he kept his voice under wraps all these years. Streisand would be a tough act to follow:
He has a different style from his mother’s. More subdued, but still expressive:
Musicality and singing voices seem to be highly hereditary, although it’s hard to separate nature/nurture because children of singers tend to grow up surrounded by music. Children of singers often try make it in the music biz, too, although the spawn of great singers almost never make it as big as their famous parents (Liza Minelli comes to mind as a big exception, but I still don’t think she’s as good as her mother).
It works both ways, though. Famous singers often have a less-famous singer-parent, one who had a lovely voice but didn’t make it all the way to the big time. Or, they have sibling singers, sometimes very successful—the Everly brothers, the Pointer sisters, and countless others. Here, for example, are some singing sisters not everybody knows are sisters:
[NOTE: Yes, I know you don’t like Streisand’s politics. This isn’t about her politics.]
Here’s another collection of great singers that are all related: Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, DeeDee Warwick, Leontyne Price (an early African American lead singer at the Met) and Cheyenne Elliot (not famous but great voice).
If you’re talking about singing sisters, there are the highly-underrated Roches:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEtSkJDA61g
Then there’s singing the genes.
I read that Barbra had a grandpa who was a cantor
so there seems to be a genetic link there, she has kind if a voice geared to musicals, loud volume &
very expressive.
I also read that Judy Garland was jealous & felt threatened by Liza becoming successful, even pushed her off stage when they were taking bows after a duet they had done.
And while I am dishing the dirt, Don Everly is reported to be the sticky wicket in what was their relationship.
He thought Phil was the better singer & resented him for that reason.
look up the genetic studies of CANTOR
they found that the jewish cantors are mostly from a single line of singers…
Artfldgr:
How interesting!
Jason Gould definitely has a better voice than any of Frank Sinatra’s children. I wonder if Elliot Gould had any singers or cantors in his family tree.
I recently read Gregg Allman’s autobiography (I know, sounds like a waste of time, but the guy is one of the best white blues singers of all time, and it was fascinating). He has five children (acknowledged) and at least four of the five are respected professional musicians.
Steve Earle: Justin Townes Earle.
The three Hank Williamses, and Jett.
Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle: Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright.
Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche: Lucy Wainright Roche.
etc etc
The McGrarrigle sisters were such wonderful pair, not truly great vocalists, but together they were very special to me. And their songwriting talents covered the range from whimsical to exquisite. Btw, everyone who has not done so should give Karen Savoca a listen… you will not be disappointed.
There’s also the wonderful Webb sisters who do a beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “If it be Your Will”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1gu4YdA6tE
As any frequent church attendee can tell you, there are a lot of amazing unknown singers out there. (There are also very few people who are tone-deaf like they depict them in the movies, but there are a few. I sat next to one yesterday. You could raise cattle in the space between the notes he was aiming for and the notes he hit.)
My bet is, great singing requires some genetic gifts, but also early training and a sense of musicality. Success in show business requires some completely different skills.
Don’t know how genetics plays into the abilities of off-spring of great singers. Based on personal observation, it must play a role. I used to sit as far from my Dad as possible in church. Sadly, I sing just like him.
Neo wrote: [NOTE: Yes, I know you don’t like Streisand’s politics. This isn’t about her politics.]
The problem, Neo, is that people like Streisand weave their politics through their talent and celebrity, so that you can’t separate them. Just teasing you.
Back when Larry King had the overnight radio show (which I listened to back then) more than once expressed his opinion that Streisand sang the most beautiful rendition of the Christmas carol Silent Night that he’d ever heard. I always found that interesting, a Jewish man appraising a Jewish woman’s performance of a Christian song, and a fairly religious Christian song at that. Not that I disagree with him, she does it beautifully.
Politics, for me, has consequences. I don’t care if her son is the new Bennett, who I also don’t abide after I realized he was a heavy political activist. Let the left and idiots pour money into leftist coffers through these cretins, I won’t.
Talent is god-given. That’s ridiculous. Some people just have it.
Artists always amaze me.
there is always autotune
@ G, Barbra also does “Ave Maria”
People talented enough to be great singers, & musicians think it quite natural to perform the *classics* even though religiously themed.
Don t forget there are classical pieces out there that are written to accompany Catholic Mass, I have never heard of a genuine talent being reluctant to share their special gift with the wider world because its origins are religious. Ditto great art masterpieces
& stunning medieval cathedrals & the Sistine Chapel
these are all enjoyed & exalted by people of all faiths & no faith. I guess only Jihadist radical muslims would like to rid the world of these for the cause of Allah. Recall the ancient Buddah, was it ?
that they blew to smitherines (sp) in Iraq (I think).
Being short, stocky, and gray haired, I am built like, and actually look rather like a Badger. Alas, I also sing like one.
took me a while to find it… (you may or may not be surprised at how many doctors have the last name cantor, and so make searching for things about cantor harder)
[i nearly memorize everything i read and can usually recal the substance. the internet allows me to use the substance to refind the source easier]
The Cohanim – DNA Connection
The fascinating story of how DNA studies confirm an ancient biblical tradition.
http://www.aish.com/ci/sam/48936742.html
George M Cohen
Eddie Cantor
etc…
🙂
except, @art , George M Cohan was an Irish catholic !
“…This isn’t about her politics.”
I recognize a great talent when I see or hear one, and Barbra Streisand has a great talent. However, as others have pointed out, she also uses her talent and celebrity to push her leftist political viewpoint, a viewpoint which I vehemently disagree with. Therefore, I forgo the enjoyment of her talent because I do not wish to contribute to her politics.
Artfldgr – Yes all kohanim are descended from Aaron on the male side but cantors are not kohanim.
I think it is too bad that she is horning in on this guy’s project, probably thinking she’s “helping”, but once again, the attention will go to her. Poor guy having her as a mother must have been awful.
Works the oposite way, too, G Joubert —
My grandmother and great aunt (and millions of others of their generation) used to wait with great anticipation every year for Perry Como to sing “Kol Nidre”, the introductory prayer to the Yom Kippur liturgy, on his TV show.