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CD: Rhydian - Waves

CD: Rhydian - Waves

Welsh pop-classical TV talent success story makes a bad smell

by Sunday, 24 July 2011
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The problem with the apparently endless success of musical TV talent shows is it normalises them, validates them. Thus we end up with critical forums grading sonic diarrhoea rather than dismissing it all as banal overblown Brave New World kaka. Snobby and elitist? Sure, if that means I don't have to spend a second longer listening to best-selling platinum Welsh pop baritone Rhydian Roberts.

This isn't the place to assess the qualities that breed X Factor success. Suffice to say that what makes for flashy TV froth hasn't given us a single act worth passing mention. All right, Girls Aloud had their moments but that's it, whatever Will Young's apologists might say. Rhydian came second on The X Factor 2007 and has since sold hundreds of thousands of his two albums and recorded with Kiri Te Kanawa and Bryn Terfel. Now he brings us an album of Eighties-centric covers done in a style that combines light classical vocals with Mogadon Euro-pop.

If you want a good laugh rather than to be bored to tears, go straight to his version of The Mission's "Tower of Strength". It's so cartoonishly awful I could only giggle helplessly. In Rhydian's hands The Mission's cabaret Goth shtick blooms into something utterly lost, ridiculous and without purpose. He tackles songs by Blancmange and Black, and his version of Annie Lennox's "No More I Love Yous", already a song I'd leave a best friend's wedding to avoid, is akin to a satirical masterclass in po-faced emoting.

Waves is a truly dreadful album with nothing to recommend it - just like most of the material that results from these shows. Cut loose from their carefully rehearsed back stories and hokey karaoke showbiz, it's just a lot of broken cardboard scuzzing along pop's sidewalk, forgotten the moment it's passed. Oh, but did I mention Rhydian has a simply outrageous shock of blonde hair? I did? He's played for the royal family on several occasions, you know.

Watch the video for "Parade"

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Comments

Submitted by craigs (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 03:50
O,dear, what am I suppose to do if I admit I like the song and the video? Does that mean I am not snobbish as the author of the above written peace of art, lol? I am just a normal person who loves a good voice not produced in studio, but given by God and a nice, melodic music which sounds different than all thousands of album which come out every single day. Above song and above voice give that pleasure and it's enough for me and I might even buy the album.

Submitted by Carol (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 05:33
What a dreadful and pompous critique. Rhydian is classically trained, and has a good baritone voice enjoyed by many. If he had not come to light through the x factor you might have an entirely different opinion. I think we are all sick of reality shows, however, it is very snobbish to write a singer off for this reason alone. How strange to end this piece with, "He’s played for the royal family on several occasions, you know". How does this add to the critique, or is it meant to be a rather poor attempt at sarcasm? A rather nasty and small minded review IMO.

Submitted by Mike Hendry (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 06:45
Ah, another self obsessed critic, who, in the process of carrying out his janitorial duties for what he believes to be a highly acclaimed part of high societies' reference library, is hoisted by his own petard. This ludicrously inaccurate critique generalises that all who seek fame and fortune via the lucrative reality television market, are nothing more than useless amateurs. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the only useless amateur on show at this moment in time, is the pompous critic, whose article I had the misfortune to read. Not only is Rhydian an amazing talent, but he is also constantly eager to improve and diversify within his field. The fact that there is a rather backhanded mention of the singer's popularity within Royal circles, puts to the sword this extremely lame attempt at belittling one of Britains' rapidly emerging baritones. Fortunately for his vast and ever growing fanbase, Rhydian Roberts is not merely a one-trick pony, as this new album will most certainly indicate, especially to the extreme discomfort of a sneering, jealous and inadequate critical 'arts' writer ......

Submitted by Jacob (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 08:31
'Self-obsession' anyone? So he'd 'leave a best friend's wedding to avoid listening to Annie Lennox's 'No More "I love you"s'? Puh-leeze! This is just ill thought-out ranting and not to be confused with a review.

Submitted by Angela (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 13:15
Hmm - as a review I'm afraid the above tells me more about the prejudices of the reviewer than about the merits or otherwise of the singer and the CD. I think that I will make my own mind up.

Submitted by Sarah (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 14:43
If you weren't so blatantly against all things X Factor, maybe people would think your review more credible. Oh, and Rhydian never had a carefully rehearsed backstory; he got through the show on pure talent alone. One minute in his presence, singing or talking, i can assure you he would win you over with his charisma and friendliness.

Submitted by LuLu (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 14:56
Oh dear! I loved this review - just confirmed what I thought about X Factor - and decided not to touch it with a barge-pole. The I decided to watch the video just for a laugh. My god, I am laughing on the other side of my face now! The song is amazing and Rhydian's voice is to die for. I'm off to look up his other albums. I guess if they've sold hundreds of thousands they must be good. Thanks for the introduction to Rhydian!

Submitted by Vanessa (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 15:09
Don't know Rhydian at all but I watched the video and it seemed pretty good to me. What's the problem? The review does smack a bit of pop snobbery, which I hate.

Submitted by Nigel (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 18:34
Ha ha, Rhydian's press office is out in force. Come on, it's fair comment. It sounds like an awful Eurovision attempt, which is I suppose where X Factor positions itself.

Submitted by Isobel (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 19:40
Well. at least I knew who Rhydian is, I have never heard of Thomas H. Green not that that bothers me. I love Rhydians voice, to me he is one of the most accomplished singers ever to come to our attention through the X Factor and I am pleased to hear that he has another album coming out. I loved the video and I shall definately be buying the CD.

Submitted by Amy (not verified) on Mon, 25/07/2011 - 23:15
You would leave a best friend's wedding just because of a song you don't like? how shallow!! Rhydian has such a unique voice and this album is excellent. The fact that you mentioned he played for the royals makes me think he's worth a lot more than your shallow little brain thinks. Merits in journalism seem to have certainly gone down, or else you wouldn't be qualified to write.

Submitted by Maggie (not verified) on Wed, 27/07/2011 - 13:52
Oh Thomas, what a strange review of Rhydian's new album but I have to thank you for it as I wasn't aware that he was releasing this album - am now off to order my cd - many thanks sweetie x PS. Loved the video of Parade - looks like the Showman is back!

Submitted by Me (not verified) on Fri, 29/07/2011 - 06:41
Thomas H Green...would that be green with envy, by any chance?

Submitted by sandra (not verified) on Mon, 01/08/2011 - 15:02
exactly never heard of thomas 'h' green before,and if he was actually a legitimate music reviewer he would also know 'no more i love you's' was not even annie lennoxs song-she was covering it herself strange 'jealous of rhydians success man'so leave any wedding you please ,no one would notice you were there anyway my love. your opinion means nought,rhydian has a massive fan base and a voice gifted from god-x factor or not.tower of strength does not have the deepest lyrics known to man but who cares when he sounds like that?! clearly your preferences lie with girls aloud as you mentioned,and we all know how arresting their lyrics and performances are.you have done a great job in exposing yourself with you piffy and vitriolic 'review'though-well done ,we have just profiled you as a sad little man who will seek any vehicle to unleash his undersexed existence onto-i dont blame you for hating rhydian as he represents an almighty masculinity with that voice and presence that few men will ever own,in particular yourself and you know it. have a good day! x

Submitted by paul gould (not verified) on Thu, 25/08/2011 - 04:40
really sad great voice for classical like bring him home and that sector sorry rhydain really mad cd go back to what you good at.

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