!SING - DAY OF SONG: Bobby McFerrin and the singing masses

2010LAB.tv talked to Bobby McFerrin one day before the big !SING - DAY of Song-Concert on June 5th 2010 in the Ruhr Metropolis - Capital of Culture 2010.

We´ve asked him about his intentions to be a part of this extraordinary event and why we postmodern people seem to forget what singing means for our culture.

Bobby McFerrin - The exceptional artist

What's so special about McFerrin? You can't categorise or characterise him musically. As a singer, vocal artist and conductor, he easily combines and connects musical genres from Jazz via Gospel to classic compositions. Bobby McFerrin simply is music, and the music emerges from him, no matter which roles or genres he uses.

His body and his voice are his instruments. For years, vocal artist Bobby McFerrin has been fascinating and entertaining his audience all over the world. His energy is unique, touching people, and generating choirs and choruses wherever he performs live.

He is a very successful singer, a busy vocal coach with clients all across the planet, and conducts several orchestras. He had to work hard to achieve the credibility and acceptance - especially in the so-called high culture sector - he has today. To accomplish these feats, he had to be confident and had to concentrate on the essential. He didn't give in to the "world full of chances", losing his focus in the process, but was his own source of power. Brimming with this energy, he'll be giving the key-note to the world's biggest choir in Gelsenkirchen – on !SING - Day of Song.

photo: Carol Friedman

Related links:

• !SING - Day of Song - Bitten by the singing bug
• Choir project "!SING" - The reactivation of an old popular culture

go to Channel: !SING - Day of Song