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June 8 - June 15,2003 |
The Multilingual Vannelli
The opera-influenced Canto revives career of Montreal singer
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2003-05-25
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Gino Vannelli
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Considering that he is now celebrating 30 years of an often internationally successful recording career, it comes as a shock to hear pop balladeer Gino Vannelli explain that he recently took vocal lessons
"I really had to unlearn some things to sing this kind of stuff. It is different. I didn't want to have that typical Americanized type of accent for this material."
He is referring to his brand new CD, Canto. It is a boldly ambitious and accomplished work that finds Gino exploring new musical territory. The richly orchestrated album has a strong operatic element, mixed in with pop, flamenco and Celtic strains. It features deeply emotional songs sung in four languages, English, Italian, French and Spanish, and it shows that those lessons paid off.
"I just know I am singing better now," he stresses. "My range has improved, the quality of my voice in the upper range has improved, and of course the bottom has, just because of my age. I feel more effortless in singing than I ever have, but that takes conscious work. It is a muscle. If you want to be on the cutting edge of your own ambitiousness as a composer, then as a singer you have to keep yourself well-tuned."
Vannelli has also retained the handsome looks that made him a real pop heartthrob back in the '70s, a time when he topped world charts with such smash hits as "I Just Want To Stop" and "Living Inside Myself." Gino's trademark big hair and bared chest image is long behind him, though, and our recent interview at a Little Italy bistro reveal a thoughtful, intelligent and mature artist.
He has long been known for his willingness to explore new musical terrain. For instance, his big comeback hit in 1985, "Black Cars," was an irresistible slice of synth-pop, while his 1995 (Yonder Tree) and 1998 (Slow Love ) albums were jazz-oriented.
"I do get bored very quickly if I repeat myself. I thought it may have been that because I wanted more success, I would try another genre of music, but even with successful albums, I still wanted to move on to something original with the album after that."
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