I recently learned that the backing singer who featured on The Rolling Stones\u2019 epic track, \u2018Gimme Shelter\u2019, was just 20 years old and pregnant during the time of recording. Merry Clayton provided one of the most iconic vocal takes of all time, soaring above Mick Jagger\u2019s voice with natural power and range.<\/p>\n
The greatness brought with it tragedy, as Clayton\u2019s fierce and dynamic vocal performance sadly gave way to a miscarriage after recording. The sheer brutal force packed into the take has widely been attributed as the reason for the sad turn of events, which Clayton has since been able to move forward from.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took it as life, love and energy and directed it in another direction, so it doesn\u2019t really bother me to sing \u2018Gimme Shelter\u2019 now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Even if Clayton delivered that as not just a feature, but a standalone song of hers, we would undoubtedly regard it with the same kudos. It was a once-in-a-lifetime performance, that\u2019s for sure. But it was paled into greatness through its relationship with Jagger\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n
His London-infused vocal stabs are sprinkled around Clayton\u2019s unbridled power, with typical Jagger-esque character. Because really, alongside Clayton, that was all he could do. His genius and charm was in his performance, his ability to contort his own dialect and intonation to help tell the story of whatever Stones song he was playing.<\/p>\n
He wasn\u2019t a vocal powerhouse who could flutter between ranges with technical dexterity and Clayton\u2019s performance ultimately framed that. As much as he tried, Gimme Shelter was ultimately Clayton\u2019s.<\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t make him a bad front man, oh no. That\u2019s arguably what made him one of the very best. His ability to maximise what he had and still be as captivating as anybody on the planet. To be a storyteller, an orator and an engager without leaning on the natural advantages of vocal power.<\/p>\n
That was something those who truly understand the value of art could see. But nevertheless, as the frontman of one of the world\u2019s biggest bands, Jagger was fair game for criticism and for those with an axe to grind, his vocals were always where they started.<\/p>\n
But even his peers, who understood the nuance of his vocal performances, were still eager to flag them in thinly veiled digs. Most of them did so out of the necessity to punch upwards and take a shot at the man at the top, but a select few did it alongside him. Rod Stewart, who certainly swam in the same circles as Jagger and even reportedly shared beds with him, was one who highlighted his vocals as a means of improvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cMick\u2019s a fine blues singer, but technically not as good as me,\u201d he once said. He understood the brilliance of Jagger and his ability to utilise his skills though, explaining, \u201cHe\u2019s made the best of what he\u2019s got, but I don\u2019t think he could do standards and he may not want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
I would agree with Stewart, Jagger isn\u2019t as good as him vocally. Stewart is more soulful and captivating from a technical sense. But Jagger is ultimately the frontman of one of the most successful bands of all time, and I guess that speaks for itself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I recently learned that the backing singer who featured on The Rolling Stones\u2019 epic track, \u2018Gimme Shelter\u2019, was just 20 years old and pregnant during … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n