Regina Spektor – a Russian-American Singer and Song Writer
Essay Preview: Regina Spektor – a Russian-American Singer and Song Writer
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Regina Spektor is a Russian-American singer-songwriter, pianist. She was born in Moscow to a Jewish musical family. Her father is an amateur violinist, and her mother a music professor. Her family left the USSR in 1989 when she was 9 years old. Travelling first to Austria and Italy, then later were admitted into the United States. They debated whether to leave Russia or not, due to the seriousness of her piano studies, and the fact that she would have to leave the piano behind, but eventually left. Regina finished her schooling in the US, graduating from Fair Lawn public high school after attending several schools throughout her life. She also studied classical piano at the Manhattan School of Music until she was 17, practicing on a piano in the basement of her synagogue. Regina went to college and graduated with honours, after completing a four year composition program. She is also fluent in Russian, English and can read Hebrew. She often interestingly says words in different languages throughout her songs.
Regina Spektor wrote her first a Capella songs at age 16, then her first songs for voice and piano when she was 18. She has released 6 albums since 2001. She has been presented with three music awards. Spektor is influenced my Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco and several others.
Regina Spektors style shows characteristics of folk, punk, hip hop, classical, jazz, Russian rock and Jewish music, but she tries to make each of her songs have its own style. She also has a large vocal range and uses it extensively. She often also makes buzzing or clicking-like sounds with her mouth during her songs, which is quite unique.
Reina Spektors song Eet is written for piano and voice. The song is from Spektors fifth album Far and was released as a single in October 2009.
I believe the song is about losing something very familiar to you “its like forgetting the words to your favourite song” and you feel lost without it “you cant believe it” and then you try to get it back but you cant. you try to feel the beat” “spent half of your life trying to fall behind” youre trying to go back and find it. In the end she finds the beat “t – ts – t – ts – t – t – tp – p – p.”