Josiah Leming, ex-Idol contestant and newly signed Warner Brothers recording artist, dropped by the MTV studios for an interview. While there, he played a brand new song. I thought I’d share it here. I think it’s beautiful.
After the Jump…
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Ya know, I think this kid is a great lyricist. Not sure he has the chops to actually pull this off vocally. And the music is okay. I don’t hate him or the new song. The jury is still out for me on the whole about him, I guess. I still wish him success. Oh, and I do think he’s kind of full of himself, at least from comments from him I’ve read elsewhere.
I actually just got done watching this… elsewhere. :shifty: The song itself is stupendous, just truly beautiful. I just wish I didn’t find his singing voice so affected as to be distracting. Perhaps it’ll be an acquired taste…
Cheer up, emo kid!
I feel like teenage girls will be cutting themselves to this song any day now. Will he replace Death Cab as the emo kid album of choice? I suppose only time will tell.
My previous assessment of him still stands, and the fake accent is just so ridiculous. He has songwriting talent, but it needs to be further developed because his songs are plodding and boring to my ears. He needs to become himself instead of trying to be someone else. I don’t get a genuine vibe from him at all. His voice is terrible, but he does know how to sell the song. I feel like I should listen to ACTUAL Coldplay instead of this knockoff version in order to cleanse myself. Swallowed in the Sea, maybe.
I can’t get it to play the full song, but I liked it. I guess I can forgive his fake accent (he is from TN, y’all. Has no one else realized southern accents have a lot in common with English accents?)
Passion is enough for me. I don’t need perfect vocals. I’d much rather listen to someone who feels a song than someone who sings perfectly.
I hear him! I love his lyrics and his passion. Most singers I love don’t have perfect voices. I see a future for Josiah.
uh…ditto. Lyrics good. Singing okay. Courtesy of one of my daughters I’ve heard better emo music. I’m sure many will like it along with his sob story.
Don’t like his trashing of AI- a show which actually put him on the map. Watched a video which showed his desperation to get into the AI finale party (TMZ- yeah I know)
Wonder what his “in” is at MTV?
I like the song for Josiah’s mom. I can relate to the lyrics and the sentiment. Sigh. Josiah is a little too dramatic sometimes but I like him and I’ll probably buy his CD when it comes out.
I think his voice is very very average…I have a feeling if he did make the show (thank the good Lord he didn’t) we would all hate Randy even more because we would have been hearing, “Dawg that was really pitchy,” about twice as much this season.
pj, I totally agree. I don’t like Josiah, but we can agree on this. Hell, I just admitted I’ve got Coldplay on my iTunes (which I never, ever do) and Chris’s voice is a hot mess. In fact, over half the singers on my playlists would fail at American Idol. Music is very much an emotional thing for me. For me to love something, the artist has got to make ME feel something, not just feel it themselves. If Josiah makes you feel something, that’s awesome. That’s all that matters. He just doesn’t connect with me personally. I can tell he’s selling the song with how much HE feels it, but my heart ain’t buying.
Thought the lyrics were haunting, in a good way. He’s telling his story, spilling his guts. The lyrics will sell.
But not his singing. I hope he’s grateful for what he truly owns, his ability to share his life in music. But, at this stage, should he sing it? No.
No “in.” They just love him.
Jim Cantiello sent me the lyrics. The kid is a very good lyric writer.
I listen to a lot of alternative music. The thing is the passion and the lyrics. Fantastic singing? Maybe not so much. As long as the passion and the feeling are there, so am I.
Should Josiah sing his own music? YES! It’s his story to tell. He should tell it.
Having said all that, I happen to like his voice. I also couldn’t care less what he thinks of AI at this point.
He’s actually quite good. There is TONS of room for all kinds of artists out there. He’s not the only artist MTV likes and frankly, they play anything that is getting good radioplay. I don’t think Josiah is a singer. He’s a songwriter and a good one. When he got booted you can hear Michael Johns tell him as much in the video. There is a future here.
Re: His take on AI, I think people are taking offense because they feel that he’s attacking their favorites. He’s not. He recognizes talent like anyone else, but he does realize that AI is glorified karaoke…and doesn’t represent what the contestants can really do.
Good for Josiah. Like I said, everyone can succeed at this.
good one.
i cant get the vid guess its only accessible in the us
Ugh… I feel like a storm cloud is chasing me.
I’m sorry, but I just cant listen to anyone but Cookie right now. And I dont remember Josiah being THAT great during AI, am I wrong? But good on him for not having to live in his car anymore.
The lyrics are haunting, but his voice really grates on me. I find it annoying and hard to understand. I could not possibly care less what he thinks of AI, but obviously, none of us would have heard of him without it. He’s young and I’m sure he’ll develop. Right now, I don’t think I could willingly sit down and listen to that voice for the length of a cd no matter what it was singing.
actually like the lyrics very much, but Josiah’s voice is so affected, and depressing, I feel completely exhausted listening to him, it is so angsty emo draining it is difficult for me to be moved. Have to agree that listening to a entire cd would be grating…
found it on you tube
sorry but i still dont get the allure of this kid
hes affected, arrogant, and nothing to back it up but a squeeky voice
and questionable song writing skills… quite frankly i dont think anyone would have given him a second listen if not for the lengthy play he got on AI… so for him to bash AI puts me off him even more!
he doesnt want or need the money AH YA RIGHT lmao
but again this is JMO
I think Josiah is mad talented. The professionally recorded song will be very good. I’ve been his myspace friend since I saw him on Idol and he has had his ups and downs emotionally - he really IS an emo kid! LOL There is definitely a market out there for his kind of music and I wish him well.
Voice not the best, he needs to turn his songs over to someone who can sing like Alanis. The jury is out whether little Teen girls (his age group) will flock to this type of music, because teen girls are into Hana Montana, Jordin, and Alicia Keys….in other words — other girlz singers.
MJ, thanks for posting this.
That’s a powerful song, and very poignant, knowing his and his family’s circumstances. It’s very moving.
I’ve been reading his mom’s blog. It goes a long way to humanize Josiah and provides quite a frame for Josiah’s songs, especially this one. She’s been fighting a horrific battle against her cancer for half of Josiah’s life. The kid’s not emo for nothing.
ETA: I have cousins in East Tennessee. In large part, Josiah’s accent sounds like theirs, though there is a little affectation. I have no problem understanding him, but then, I’m from just across the border in E KY.
Okay…I take back what I said yesterday. Sod development, vocal coaching, blah blah. Just you howl your heart out Josiah, because that’s who you are, and I get it…I absolutely do. That was so beautiful.
I’m in pieces now…
Personally, I never got all of the Josiah hype and still don’t. Does he write beautifully? Yes. Does he play the piano beautifully? Yes. But I just cannot stand the way he sings. Just not my cup of tea at all. But hey, if people like him and buy his music, then good for him.
He’s definitely excellent on the keyboard.
The rest, I don’t personally care for.
mj,
Did you see that comment from the guy complaining about the unfairness of the songwriting contest? I wouldn’t be surprised if he posts here shortly! It’s the second time I seen the same post online. He seems to be blitzing the internet.He posted in the comments on the MTV page under Josiah’s songs.
He signs his name - SimonSays
He makes an interesting point about the “untapped” songwriting talent, though.
Well said.
Well I live with a teen girl who listens to a lot of alt/emo. She really likes Josiah. Wouldn’t be caught dead listening to Hanna Montana however.
I thought the song to his mom was beautiful. His voice is fine to me. I’d rather hear someone with an authentic emotional connection do a song. Sometimes “imperfect” is perfect.
I love Josiah’s songwriting, his playing AND his warts-and-all voice. I am thrilled that a major label took notice of his talent and can’t wait to buy the album!
I thought it was fantastic. The imperfections in his voice don’t detract from the song at all for me - there’s a lot of passion there, a great melody, and amazing lyrics. I wouldn’t call this ‘emo’ music - this is more along the lines of the indie style. This song actually reminds me of Regina Spektor in a way.
I loved the song. I, like others, don’t need a perfect voice. I love hearing the passion and connection to the lyrics in the song. I didn’t care for Josiah’s attitude on the show, and the fact that he was in tears all the time; however I’m sure editing had something to do with that. I do love this song, though. Congrats, Josiah!
The best I’ve ever heard this kid sing was “Grace Kelly” during Hollywood week.
Nevertheless, this song is nice.
Lyrics and performance are better.
He could be going places.
However, he comes across as a very “affected” 19-year-old musician.
For that reason, I want him to close himself up in a closet somewhere for a year and let the real Josiah come out.
I don’t think we’ve seen him yet.
Ok…I liked the song the first time I heard it, but after listening a few more times, I find I LOVE it. Does anybody have an mp3 of this? Please, please share with me. Thanks. :)
I used to think I didn’t care much for emo music, either, but I am really loving Josiah (even if I didn’t care for his cover of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, heh) and his music. Just like jersey said, I love Josiah’s passion and connection to the (lyrics in the) song.
Our tastes are all subjective. Some artists that I like, others don’t etc. Personally, eh…the kid might end up doing really well, or maybe not. Hard to tell yet. He’s full of himself and has lots of growing up to do(he seems much much younger and more immature than his age)..but, credit is given for being very creative and possibly someday a big hit. I may even end up liking him, but will wait-see.
I love his lyrics and I love him- warts-and-all. My favorite vocalist ever? No, but I tend to prefer musicians over vocalists anyway. I loved Brooke’s voice and as she said on LKL, she sang all five notes she had while on the show. (Compared to vocal gymnastics.)
I’ve also heard people here (who know a lot more about hitting notes, etc.) say that John Mayer is not that great of a singer, but his voice to his own lyrics, just gets to me, so…
I find him a tad off-putting, not just the accent, but the barely hidden feeling that he’s about to spin out of control. that being said, he’ really compelling. and I, agree, the song is haunting, his to sing and shows great great promise.
I’m sorry but Josiah is… just… bleh. It seems as if he takes himself way too seriously.
Not crazy about him. I like the music & the lyrics, but his accent and singing voice are just really REALLY annoying to me. It basically makes me cringe. Even if he did sing on key, he still has that weird affected voice/accent and that really fast shrilly vibrato that just sounds so nerve-wracking, I can’t relax listening to his voice at all.
And if it matters, I don’t really always go for the awesmoe vocalist, .. I love John Mayer & Dave Matthews Band, this kind of music. They are just so much easier to listen to than this kid’s voice. I don’t know.. I’m reading all of your comments and am trying to have an open mind, maybe his recording voice will sound better.
Yup… same thoughts here. I think he called American Idol a glorified karaoke. I just felt like it was sourgraping. I mean, if it weren’t for Idol I dont think producers would sit up and take notice. I just hate people like that who are so full of themselves that they think they did this all on their own.
Yeah, Simon found it weird as well why he sings in British Accent. I just felt like he is a good singer but not much range. Maybe if the judges gave him the chance to make it to top 24 he wouldnt be able to get past top 12
ra,
I hightly doubt he would have made the top 12. His vocals can not last in this competition. His popularity during hollywood week would have gotten him a few rounds, but beyond that, i don’t think so.