Last week Device debut album was released and I've been perusing it on a daily/nightly basis so I thought to tell you a little story.
It is funny how we choose people we love. Even funnier if people in question are celebrities.
Consider this:
One of my favorite male vocals of all time is David Draiman.
In November 2006. he was even voted number 42 on the Hit Parader’s "Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time" but I knew nothing about this when I started listening to his music with Disturbed in 2007., I just loved his voice. In 2008., when they played at Boogaloo in Zagreb, ticket for this concert was peace-offering from my then estranged husband, with which he hoped to get back into my good graces. It did not work. It could not work, not that it was apparent at that time, but in retrospect it most definitely could not work.
What differs Draiman from others is load of small, seemingly trivial stuff:
We share birthday, even if he is exactly five years my senior.
We have a difficult time letting go of our preconceptions, even if we possess ample knowledge on the subject and rational choice making logistics. Just see how cute he is in replying why doesn't he have any tattoos:
We choose our words carefully and enjoy being surprised. One of the loveliest examples for this was recorded during that same 2008. Disturbed concert in Boogaloo - see here:
During the gig Draiman talks a lot and he was very pleased he can speak English and be understood here and how Croatian audience is very attentive and enjoys his jokes and instructions. At the end of shows Draiman usually shouts "We are..." and audience should reply: "Disturbed" (as a lovely pun, since the band is called Disturbed and also "We are disturbed" is a cute emotionally intelligent way to build connection and to acknowledge belonging to same subculture) but this did not happen here.
He shouted: "We are..." and the crowd repeated: "We are" and even when he changed the wording into "We all are..." to psychologically point out that we're in the same boat and that it is not derogatory to say "disturbed" crowd did not budge. It was exhilarating moment of sheer pleasure of surprise and existential wonder!!
So he finished his act laughing and saying: "Much respect to you Croatia. We will most certainly have to come back here to see you U crazy motherfuckers again!"
And then, there is his music: as a lyricist he is really dear to me because he is so unpretentious in his theatrics. Even if there is inherent silliness and exaggeration he so effortlessly pulls it off it is an honor and a privilege to take part in that magic.
Like Stricken:
"That I am stricken and can't let you go
When the heart is cold there's no hope
And we know
That I am crippled by all that you've done
Into the abyss will I run"
But wait, there's one tiny thing more - why exactly would he be my favorite male vocal of all time?
Well, Draiman is known for his distorted voice and percussive singing style with occasional growl.
Long time ago I went out with a guy who used to produce this quiet, low pitched, guttural, ultra-virile growl accompanied by a particular smile as a sex proposition. If there ever was information package packed densely than a black hole that was it.
Its gravitational field was absolutely impossible to ignore.
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