Man on the Street with Greg Kristapovich
“Stevie Nicks! She’s beautiful, and she’s awesome; and I’ve always loved her since I was thirteen or fourteen! Don’t make me sing. “Gypsy,” yeah, definitely!…I just love Stevie; I just love her! I can relate with her! My second favorite singer is Willie Nelson. He has soul! He sings his soul. Stevie’s awesome, and Willie has soul, man!” – Melanie Slavin, Arnold, (waitress/mother)
“Vince Gill! Country singer; amazing control over his voice! And he sings in the higher ranges, and it’s just beautiful! It’s absolutely beautiful! I love it! BUT, it would be a tie with a local singer who comes in our Karaoke shows – and I’ve heard her sing down at the Black Bart Playhouse, Jessica Mouser! When she’s at her best, it’s just, it’s angelic! It’s really beautiful! So when I think of the very best singers I’ve ever heard, I think Vince Gill – and then immediately, Jessica Mouser! What can I do? There’s a tie there! She’s cuter than Vince, so I don’t know; maybe that’s the tie-breaker!” – Steve Henderson, Murphys, (Karaoke company owner/D.J.)
“Otis Redding! He moves me! The first time I heard Otis sing “Try A Little Tenderness,” I was so young. But I remember, really like, re-living it and experiencing it. I’d heard that song before, but when I was eleven or twelve, I actually put on the album and, like, listened to it thoroughly and that’s when I first got captivated by Otis Redding! Otis has been dead for years. He died in a plane accident. But, if there was one person I could see, it would be him! “ – Kenyea Brooks, Copperopolis, (bartender/gift shop sales)
“Is this for real? O.K., my favorite all-time favorite singer is Ian Curtis of Joy Division, from Manchester. He had so much conviction and passion in his vocals, and he portrayed them in an artistic, clean, concise way! He sang really really well! He was my idol. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” was his most famous song. And “These Days”; that’s my favorite one. My older brother, he’s 30 – I’m 25; he always loved Joy Division, so I just remember it when I was a kid. But he killed himself in 1980. Hung himself. He was like the Curt Kobain before Curt Kobain. But he, like, started the whole Manchester music scene, dude!” – Michael Black, Arnold, (restaurant server)
“Axel Rose, of Guns and Roses – without a doubt! He shaped my childhood! He’s a rebel. His singing was so cutting edge at the time, with his pure aggression. Nothing else had been done like that! I play in several rock bands, and I just always have loved Guns and Roses and Axel Rose, and everything they stood for. I like “Welcome to the Jungle”! The song’s very aggressive, just right in your face! This is me; love it!” – Bob Milliaire, Murphys, (wine maker/rock star)
“My favorite vocalist of all time is Mariah Carey – tied with my twin sister, Amber! She’s the only person I know who can hit Mariah’s high notes! Not even I can hit her high notes. I discovered Mariah Carey as a young teenager, who like, listened to love songs. One of her songs that comes to mind is “Forever”! Amber sings Karaoke gigs and stuff, or with me. We do singing telegrams!!” – Jessi Mouser, Murphys, (health club desk clerk)
