Quote:
Originally Posted by FinnishFan
(Post 1230813)
...Let's just say that the recent interview for Australian TV was nothing compared to this event... But what I do want to say is that I absolutely loved the musical performance! What I want is to hear him sing and give the best of him, and that is what happened.
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I agree with the first part. I wish Richie would drop the stand-up comedy and just be who he is.
Sometimes, like last night, he comes across as incredibly insecure; and it makes me sad. It would be nice if he could realize that he's enough, just as he is. He doesn't need to keep bringing up his successes or try to impress people. I understand that it's promotion and he's got to put himself out there; but I'd like to see him practice the art of understatement for a while, and let his accomplishment speak for itself. He's done a lot of good stuff over his career, both on his own and with the band. The people who matter recognize that. Let the others figure it out for themselves.
Without "feeding scripted lines to talking heads" he could still decide ahead of time how he wants to answer the questions he's asked, especially the awkward ones about BJ and the HoF, to communicate whatever it is that he wants to say. That way maybe he wouldn't think he had to make jokes or sound so defensive. Just chill-ax a little. Breathe. And let Ori answer the questions asked of her, without dragging attention back to himself with sideline antics or jumping in.
I can't say that I agree that the performances last night were among their best. They were much better in Chicago. At first, I thought it was perhaps because they had a full band that night; but the fundraisers in LA and SF were acoustic, too, and they seemed much more at ease during those shows as well.
Richie seemed particularly nervous last night, for some reason. Even his comments introducing "Take Me" sounded more over the top. I mean, in Chicago, he got the same point across but he sounded less aggressive. He just said that a lot of people got pissed off because he left and they wanted to know what happened and why. Then he said, "And I ain't tellin' that!" He added that he did need to be with his daughter; but, within the context, it was pretty clear that she wasn't the primary reason. Nor is anything else we've heard to date. And while he said emphatically that "Take Me" 'ain't no damn apology' he just implied the FU part by saying "What you see is what you get". Either way, though, it sounds to me like he's done with the criticism. People can take him or leave him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FinnishFan
(Post 1230813)
I don't know if they ever gain any success, but I know that I will follow and listen to them as much as possible. The first EP was different for sure, but over time I have learned to like it more and more. ...
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Me, too. I'm looking forward to what else they have. Richie's vocals are sounding better and better and his guitar skill is getting closer to what it was before.
People aren't necessarily going to like everything they do, but I think if they give the music a chance and listen to RSO for who they are now, and not try to lock them into who they used to be, they'll be more inclined to like some of the new stuff. But if they continue to let disappointment or anger or even preconceptions based on the past lead them to expect the worst, that's probably all they're gonna get. As long as people continue to view RSO thru shit-colored glasses, all they're gonna see is shit. It's their loss. And that's their problem; not Richie's and Ori's.
