Author Archives: Karmyn Tyler

Karmyn you look like Vera Farmiga!

Posted in Acting by

When I was in LA, on my acting journey, I was fortunate to be a very successful utility stand-in. Meaning, I was the one they trusted to fill any stand-in role. I moved from several shows, one being Desperate Housewives, and then settled in with an amazing crew on the set of Private Practice. (Love shout out to Charli @crazypixie16 and Rhonda @LuvRhondaMari!)

Well, one day, while on location, Tim Daly came up to me and said, “You look like an actress.”

He couldn’t remember her name, but he kept looking at me and saying that he was trying to remember. FINALLY, he ran up to me and said “Vera Farmiga!” Immediately after he told me her name, I heard a yell for second team and honestly half heard him. Since the name wasn’t recognizable to me (at the time) it didn’t stick.

All through out the day, Tim kept asking me to Google her.

“Seriously Karmyn, have you Googled her yet? You HAVE to see a photo! You look JUST like her!”

I had to have him spell her name out and everything. At the time I didn’t have my cool iPhone to quickly search so I had to continue to apologize to Tim while I tried to find a place to plug-in my clunky phone – so as not to lose battery power – and attempt to search Google. I remember Charli and I both attempting an image on our respective ancient devices.

THEN I we saw her! Vera Farmiga!

Wow! She’s BEAUTIFUL!!

Now, when my hair was short, I was told that I looked like Ashley Judd so many times, I was known as the Ashley Judd look-a-like in Dallas, TX. Even here in New York (last month) during an acting class, I was told that.

Seriously! Both Ashley and Vera are just BEAUTIFUL! And I am floored to be in a beauty category that I honestly would have NEVER seen for myself.

A few months after that, Aimee (our amazing P.A.) ran up to me having just seen Up in the Air starring George Clooney and of course Vera Farmiga. She told me that she couldn’t watch the movie without seeing me!

“You DO look like Vera Farmiga! I kept seeing YOU kissing George Clooney!”

Hmmmm… 🙂

Being an actress – looking like another actress – is not the worst thing especially when they are as beautiful and talented as these women!

Here’s what I want to know. What do YOU think? Leave me comments and give me your thoughts! Do I look like Vera Farmiga?

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Why Harry Connick Jr. Couldn’t Sit Idle During ‘Idol’

Posted in American, Hale, Idol, Rachel by
This is the BEST article I have read on contemporary singing!! Thank you to my husband for finding it via our friend Tom Schuneman.

Why Harry Connick Jr. Couldn’t Sit Idle During ‘Idol’

by John Stark

The star couldn’t stand hearing young singers mangle the Great American Songbook

posted by John Stark, May 4, 2013 More by this author
Harry Connick Jr. defends the Great American Songbook.

John Stark is the articles editor of Next Avenue. Follow John on Twitter @jrstark.
 
 
 
Those of us who grew up in the 1950s and ’60s got to constantly hear — on radio, TV and vinyl — the Great American Songbook sung by the likes of Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Sarah Vaughan. … The list goes on. These were singers who belonged to our parents more than to us. Still, they set a high bar for crooners, even if we didn’t fully appreciate it when we were kids. Besides having intonation, perfect pitch and beautiful voices, these artists respected a song, its melody and lyrics.
 
They made singing sound easy, which it isn’t.
 
My favorite singer as of this week is Harry Connick Jr., but not for his vocal talent. As a guest mentor on Wednesday’s American Idol, he did something I’d never seen done on that show — and it was long overdue. He made it clear why, despite the impressive vocal abilities of the four finalists — Candice Glover, Angie Miller, Amber Holcomb and Kree Harrison — they probably will never be truly great singers in the mode of those who came before, like Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Vic Damone and Billy Eckstine. Again, the list goes on.

(MORE: Singing the Praises of a More Satisfying Life)
 
Idol‘s theme on Wednesday was “Then and Now.” Each contestant was asked in the first hour of the show to perform a current hit song. They chose newly released tunes by Pink, Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Carrie Underwood, who won American Idol in 2005. In the second half, they were asked to sing a classic from the Great American Songbook.
 
During the mentoring sessions, Connick would listen to the singers perform the songs they had chosen and advise them how to do it better. He was a kindly coach throughout the “Now” portion of the show, teasing, praising and hugging the contestants. But when it came to the “Then” segment, the joking stopped. His demeanor changed.
 
Songs of the past are an essential part of Connick’s repertoire. He loves, respects and understands their exquisite craftsmanship. He knows how to make them sound “now” without losing what they were “then.”
 
As Amber started to sing Rodgers & Hart’s “My Funny Valentine,” Connick stopped her. He asked her what the song is about. “What does it mean, ‘Your looks are laughable?'” he asked her, or “‘Is your figure less than Greek?'” Amber looked blank — she had no idea. She struggled for words. He told her to go do some research on the lyricist, Lorenz Hart, a physically diminutive, closeted homosexual who died of alcoholism at age 48. Before singing the song, Connick sternly told Amber, you need to understand what Hart was writing about.
 
Kree also got stopped shortly after she launched into Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” She was singing in a loose, bluesy manner, like she said she’d heard Etta James do the song. But for Kree to do those fancy runs, Connick said, were diluting the meaning of the lyrics. The woman in this song, he explained, is sad and depressed; she’s lost her man. “You don’t sound depressed,” Connick observed. He wanted Kree to do it more like Lena Horne, who introduced the song in 1940. No frills needed.
 
Not one of the contestants took Connick’s “Then” advice when they got on stage. Substance was thrown out the window for pyrotechnic vocal tricks. Angie sang Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me,” an ode to vulnerability, in full-power voice. She hardly came off as “a little lamb who’s lost in the wood,” as the lyric says. More like a John Deere tree cutter. 
 
The judges loved Candice’s version of Billie Holiday’s “You’ve Changed,” giving her a standing O. Not Connick, whose tip to “Keep it simple” went completely over her head. “One of the worst things that can happen in a relationship is when the other person starts to drift away from you,” Connick told Candice. She needed to express that feeling. Her blaring version had no poignancy.  
 
Connick squirmed in his front-row seat during the “Then” performances. I haven’t seen such facial contortions since Linda Blair got anointed with holy water in The Exorcist.
 
(MORE: How Learning to Play Jazz Piano Kept Me Sane)

His breaking point came when Randy Jackson implied that Connick’s advice had hindered Kree’s vacuous rendition of “Stormy Weather,” which none of the judges liked. He thought she should have sung it more like Etta James, as she had wanted to do. As it turned out, her rendition was neither Etta nor Lena, nor even Kree. It lacked any personality or feeling. You could see Connick about to pop his cork. That’s when Keith Urban went into the audience, took Connick by the hand and brought him to the judge’s table. Taking a seat, Connick proceeded to school a very defensive Jackson in the art of singing standards. The point Connick tried to make, which Jackson didn’t want to hear, was that the show’s contestants didn’t know these classic songs well enough to take liberties with their melodies and lyrics. In doing so, they were murdering the music.

To me this made an even bigger point. Since its debut in 2002, Idol has always put value on over-the-top vocal performances. Subtlety and intimacy gets you the boot. If minimalists likePeggy Lee or Billy Holiday were to compete on Idol today the judges would eat them alive. 
 
I was friends with Hal Schaefer, a famous vocal coach who died last October. He’s credited withteaching Marilyn Monroe to sing. I once asked him what he thought of Barbra Streisand. “When she was a teenager she came to my apartment on Riverside Drive to see if I would give her vocal lessons,” said Schaefer, who was then living in New York. “I was blown away not just by her voice, but her knowledge. She knew who every composer and lyricist was. She knew the entire American songbook. I told her after she sang for me that I would not work with her. She didn’t need me. But I told her she had to promise me never to take vocal lessons from anyone, because what she did was completely right. Once in a while that kind of talent comes along.”
 
On a recent NPR interview Streisand talked about how, when interpreting a song, she never violates its melody or lyrics, even when putting her own distinct spin on it. That’s why she’s so great. And that’s why Connick got so frustrated with the Idol contestants.

He listened to them, but they wouldn’t listen to him.
 

Waiting for Spring…

Posted in Acting by
Everyone told me that when you move to NYC you will get sick a total of 3 times within the first year. Really sick. Not just a cold or the regular flu. And a lot of things could factor in, I suppose. Change in weather (from California to NYC…huge difference whether I like snow or not….), more smog(? – come on LA is BAD!) and/or new flora & fauna. Whatever “IT” is, this is my third time! (Chris’s too BTW.)It’s the sick were you can ‘keep going’ but eventually end up flat on your back. Being a woman, I push and push until I HAVE to stay in bed. The last time I remember LIKING to stay in bed all day was grade school!I have found small beacons of hope sans antibiotics. It’s Mushrooms! Shrooms Baby!! 😛 And Xylitol. Yes, the sweetener.

First Xylitol, which I have used for a long time, but only to help with dryness. I read a little article that suggested (dont-cha love that) that Xylitol does not allow “germies” (my term) to attach to mucus membranes. I DO like that no matter how gross it sounds. I DID notice that my “throat on fire” feeling stopped once I used my Xylitol spray. (**sigh**) At least I could sleep with out Benadryl!

Then, whilst looking for more Xylitol on drugstore.com, I found Mushroom Immune Defense. The reviews were good and hearing that shrooms were good for you anyway…I ordered. It’s been interesting. I honestly felt very good after I took the Shroom pills. I even ventures out to get groceries the following day to have the experience knock the ‘feel good’ out and put me back in bed. (well crap!) BUT, the congestion started breaking up. Kinda like when you take an antibiotic and it starts killing the infection and you cough up your lungs. Yep, that’s me! Sounds bad…makes me feel better. Being an asthmatic I thankfully have inhalers out the wazoo!

I ‘think’ I’m on the road to recovery….at least I still have my sense of humor! Ha! 🙂

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American Idol – SHAME ON YOU!

Posted in 2013, American, arthur, card, Hale, Hudson, Idol, janelle, Jennifer, Rachel, season, ten, top, twenty, wild, wildcard, Zoanette by

I quit watching American Idol when Grammy award winning and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson was kicked off back in 2004-05. I should not EVER have to explain that statement. I’ve consequently NOT encouraged my students to try-out. It (American Idol) isn’t about talent. Honestly….it’s NOT! So, I’m sitting here watching the female finalist of American Idol this season on Hulu. (No, we don’t have cable.) Well, if you follow my Facebook Page or Twitter, you KNOW that I teach Rachel Hale, the young artist who was voted off idol last week.
Now, I do understand that there are some FABULOUS female vocalists, BUT 70% of America thought that she (Rachel) should have continued on the show. I have nothing against the little girl she was (apparently) up against. She (Janelle Arthur) just happened to have a bad night, but she IS talented! BUT…as I mentioned before, American Idol is ALL about a story. (NOT talent!)
So, let’s talk Zoanette. Now, personality and story she has! And her charisma is addictive!! BUT, her last performance was sad. I really WANTED her to be good….GREAT in fact…because she’s such a sweet, nice girl with a great story and she’s CRAZY zany! That, said, NONE of that will alter my ears enough to think that she sounded fantastic. Honestly, I wish I could give her voice lessons FOR FREE to help her harness what she DOES have.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid, this is going to be a total embarrassment for her and SHAME on American Idol producers for not directing her and getting her to a vocal teacher NOT a vocal coach! Contestants that are top ten worthy should have their technique BEFORE hand as well as consistent pitch! (Bad performances happen….but this is NOT that situation!) Come on American Idol! Don’t crush this girl’s spirit by putting her in a place she’s not ready and not giving her the tools to sound better.
Now, back to Rachel. Randy mentioned the other night that they will have to get a wild card because the talent is so good. Fine. WHY NOT RACHEL HALE? If you have a twitter…let’s do it!
This will be my post:
@americanidol @rachelhalemusic #idolwildcard #rachelhale – WE WANT A HALE STORM!
Side note: Since I’ve not worked with someone on X-factor or America’s Got Talent, I have no idea how to compare.

2013 Vlog #3

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And yes, I’ve fallen down on the job of Vlogging, but I’m being too hard on myself! Right? This was the trap I got into with my Podcast! (eek!)

So no, I didn’t vlog when I was in Texarkana. 😦 BUT, When I got back, and found myself in the middle of beautiful Central Park with my husband, I asked if he could help! 🙂

It was loud so I ended up having to “subtitle” it! And Sony Vegas was GREAT in editing mode, but poopy in the rendering phase! Ah well! C’est la vie! (anyone remember that song?) Just in case, I FOUND THE VIDEO!!

Spotifiers click here!

Enjoy the video!