In the last three weeks I have attended my first two concerts. Though very different, both events shared a space full of people who love music. It is ironic that in my life my first two concerts happened within just a few weeks of each other. All this shows me is that as I get older I appreciate music more and more.
Years from now I will look back and see these two concerts somewhat differently. The first was a concert by Jane Monheit – a jazz singer who performed at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. The second was someone you will definitely know – Taylor Swift, who I saw at the Bell Center in Montreal during her 1989 World Tour. I believe that both singers are equally talented, so after seeing both concerts I wondered why it cost $45 for three people to see Monheit while the cost for two people to hear and see the speck that was Taylor Swift was $320.
There were different virtues to both concerts. At Monheit’s concert we could sit where ever we wanted. We were able to sit just a few rows back, and at some points it seemed that she was staring right at us. We were so close to the speakers I could feel the sound brush up against my neck.
Years from now I will look back and see these two concerts somewhat differently. The first was a concert by Jane Monheit – a jazz singer who performed at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. The second was someone you will definitely know – Taylor Swift, who I saw at the Bell Center in Montreal during her 1989 World Tour. I believe that both singers are equally talented, so after seeing both concerts I wondered why it cost $45 for three people to see Monheit while the cost for two people to hear and see the speck that was Taylor Swift was $320.
There were different virtues to both concerts. At Monheit’s concert we could sit where ever we wanted. We were able to sit just a few rows back, and at some points it seemed that she was staring right at us. We were so close to the speakers I could feel the sound brush up against my neck.
At Swift’s concert there were more effects. There were, for example, light-up wristbands that were synched to her microphone so they would light up at different times. The whole stadium became part of the performance as the wristbands changed colors to the music.
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I’m sure that everyone would have their own opinion about which concert would be more enjoyable to them. It may mostly have to do with your age, or maybe what kind of music you like more. I have no opinion on the matter because after watching both, I love each performance equally.
I suppose that the atmosphere at each show was related to the popularity of the performer. I believe that if it was the 1920s Jane Monheit would be more popular and would therefore perform at a bigger venue. Taylor Swift would have been less popular and would have played a smaller venue.
Taylor Swift was born at the right time. In a different decade she might not have done so well. I know that she is talented, but I think that maybe popularity is shaped by the era and how receptive people are to a style of music at the time. I think Taylor Swift is like one of those painters who are appreciated their whole life, but that Jane Monheit is more like one of those painters who are only appreciated later, maybe because of the decade and not because of their talent.
I suppose that the atmosphere at each show was related to the popularity of the performer. I believe that if it was the 1920s Jane Monheit would be more popular and would therefore perform at a bigger venue. Taylor Swift would have been less popular and would have played a smaller venue.
Taylor Swift was born at the right time. In a different decade she might not have done so well. I know that she is talented, but I think that maybe popularity is shaped by the era and how receptive people are to a style of music at the time. I think Taylor Swift is like one of those painters who are appreciated their whole life, but that Jane Monheit is more like one of those painters who are only appreciated later, maybe because of the decade and not because of their talent.
Header art and photos by T. Guzzio.
CONNECT WITH MIRREN:
Mirren Guzzio will be 12 in two weeks. She lives in upstate New York. She loves singing, dancing and – more than anything – she loves to write. Mirren has many ambitions and goals for the upcoming school year, and for the rest of the summer. She is in a couple of musicals this summer, and is also enrolled in an Irish dance camp. By the way, her father is the editor of Prodigal’s Chair. She hopes that you enjoyed the article you just read, and she plans to write more for PC in the future.
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