Season Eight of American Idol has kept duelling piano player Matt Giraud searching for what the judges are looking for. The judges seem convinced that Giraud has a voice that is tailored made for soul. Could they be right?
Roots of a Piano Player
Kalamazoo, Michigan native Matt Giraud is no stranger to soul. His favorite music is gospel and he grew up in a state that has a city which holds a special fascination for R&B fans – Detroit, home of Motown.
Giraud has been singing most of his life and taught himself the piano a few years ago. He played piano professionally at the Monaco Bay Piano Bar and Grill in downtown Kalamazoo.
Great Beginnings, and Then?
Giraud first impressed the judges with his rendition of "Georgia," a song made famous by Ray Charles. He clearly demonstrated great vocal range for the song, riffing it up and down lyrically. But when he tried a bluesy touch with the British band Coldplay's song "Viva la Vida" it apparently didn't translate. Judge Simon Cowell said "it verged on being a horrible performance...You turned from someone very cool behind a piano singing Ray Charles, into a wannabe pop star in a very jerky way, and it has really put me off of you."
Motown Week
Contestants were to choose a Motown tune for this week's theme on American Idol, and all contestants were flown to Detroit, Michigan to get in the mood. From the back drop of the urban decay of the motor city, the contestants were coached by Smokey Robinson, singer/songwriter and record producer.
Giraud chose Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On." and Robinson, a native of Detroit, said "Matt did more than justice to the song." Robinson also stated that Gaye would have loved it, would have "been floored by it."
Enter the Soulful
Enter piano player number two – Stevie Wonder, who was Giraud's next Motown inspiration. Giraud chose Wonder's song "Part Time Lover." Giraud made good use of his leather hat for the performance, pulling it down over his eyes in a clearly clandestine pantomime. Not only did Giraud wear the right apparel for this particular performance, something the judges had reprimanded him for before, but he imbued the song with a sexy and soulful spirit clearly all his own.
Motown Magic
The Motown record label was founded by Berry Gordy, in Detroit, Michigan. The Motown (short for motor city) label pays homage to Detroit's car building roots. Gordy founded the record label back in the late 1950's and was instrumental in giving many talented African American singers a break when these musicians would have found it difficult breaking into a predominately white industry. Motown helped bridge the gap between what was considered "white" or "black" music; music became more racially integrated.
Today people all over the world recognize the magical Motown sound. Not only did Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder find great success with the Motown label, but other groups such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Jackson Five, and The Temptations; among many others, achieved greatness with this record label.
Although the label is gone now, Motown was sold in 1988, the music still lives for those with enough soul to sing it. Matt Giraud, soulfully, is making the old songs his own.
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