h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Katie Melua - Singer - A2679672
Author: Donald - U641020

This just has to have the widest audience pssible.

Donald

Interesting, although a bit short. Any other information - either musical or biographical - you could flesh it out with?

And if 'Without You' is the song I'm thinking of - "Oh I can't forget this evening or your face as you were leaving", it's not "Mariah Carey's", it's Harry Nilsson's.


Scout

There is not a lot you can say about a nineteen your old that has only been in the music business for less than twelve months. She has only released on album and one single which are both mentioned in the article.

Although Harry Nilsson did record Without You, it was first recorded by the composers, Peter Ham and Tom Evens in 1970 by their group Badfinger. Harry Nilsson recorded his version shortly afterwards. Since then many artists have recorder the song including Mariah Carey in 1974..

It is therefore reasonable to compare a female version with another female singer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/c/carey_mariah/clips/without_you.shtml

Donald

Sorry, Mariah Carey recorder her version in 1994

Donald

Its still Ham/Evans not Mariah Carey's though...

How about mentioing the style of the album ? People who've only heard the single won't know about its laid back style, almost piano lounge.

>>There is not a lot you can say about a nineteen your old that has only been in the music business for less than twelve months.

I think, Donald, that you may have hit upon the main problem with this entry right there.

Not that it's a bad entry - I've certainly seen far worse - but I just don't think that there is enough to say about Ms Melua yet. Give it a few years, when, as you say, her voice will have matured nicely, and she may well be a good subject for a Guide entry. But I jsut don't think there's enough to say yet.

So, to sum up, I see no real problem with the writing, but I'm not quite sure about the subject matter.


Geggs

I'd debate that, we can always build on an entry with updates, and this is meant to be a guide thats is current and up to date.

If the entry falls down it is the references to "this researcher". Personally I'd do a bit of reading around and get together:
- A brief biog (you mostly have this)
- Musical influences [She will have mentioned this in some interview somewhere] possibly with a CD list if she mentions particular albums.
- Where you may have seen her (I think she's briefly on that BBC website advert, she will have appeared on tv in other places, interviews and so on. See if shes been on "Never mind the Buzzcocks")
- Musical analysis of her album (Read around, quote music journalists to give it weight)

I think that should make a good entry

Researcher PSG

Here is what a quick search has turned up:

http://www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk/entertainment/kendalceleb/display.var.479788.0.celebrity_interview_katie_melua.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/music/muze/index.pl?site=music&action=list_album&album_id=91927

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2004_11_tue_01.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/music/gigs/katie_melua_uea.shtml

Hello

Donald, I didn't mean to sound like I was dictating. I was only making some suggestions. However, have you any plans for expanding this entry, or do you feel it covers the subject as is?

Researcher PSG

Are you still working on this one, Donald?

The author last posted here more than two months ago. I think we could move this thread to the Entry. The author could resubmit it to PR at a later point.

HELL

Seconded (and e-mailed)

I don't like the idea of entries being written about artists so early in their career. One further album release, and the entry becomes horribly out of date.