Introduction
What is one thing that Rihanna, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Leona Lewis, and Celine Dion have in common? It is a piece of the heart of a music phenomenon Laura Pergolizzi, also known as LP, who wrote their hits. A successful, prolific songwriter, she took over the world overnight as a singer with her ubiquitous hit Lost on You, which has become number one in 17 countries since then. She writes her material, plays a number of instruments on her albums and on stage, and electrifies the listeners with her vibrant, powerful vocals.
Main body
I was lucky to have a chance to attend LP’s concert some time ago. The crowd seemed to be just as anticipant of the singer as I, erupting in roars as she appeared on the stage. She exuded an aura of love, freedom, and power that overwhelmed the audience. It seemed that every age, ethnicity, and gender was represented in the room. The well-crafted setlist was a mix of LP’s hits, namely Dreamcatcher, When We’re High, Tightrope, Recovery, Strange, Shaken, Other People, Dreamer, and Lost On You (LP, 2016). The songs were performed with a unique combination of tambourine, ukulele, and harmonica, by Laura Pergolizzi herself, and her accompanying band.
The elements of LP’s music were employed in a perfect blend that left a wonderful sensation of listening to highly professional music. It was the rich sound of diverse timbers of wind, string, and percussion instruments, that thrilled and swayed. The cymbals, tambourine, and other percussive instruments were effectively switching between playing the rhythm, the melody, and the harmony, adding to the expressiveness of the overall sound. Possessing a vast vocal range, LP appeared to have no restraints, as she executed every note. Exploiting rapid changes in the pitch, Laura Pergolizzi skillfully used her vibrato to express a wide spectrum of human emotions and feelings, from the devastation and grief of a broken heart to the thrill and excitement of new hope.
The overall performance was a dazzling experience of witnessing a highly talented music professional at the top of her game. From the second she walked onto the stage and launched into her first song, and until the final track faded away, she seemed in celebratory form. What I particularly enjoyed was the constant shift in the sound, the way her distinctive whistling was interwoven with the fluctuation between the acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, and tambourine. Some of LP’s well-known songs were brilliantly performed acoustically solo and as a duet with her guitarist and sounded even more soaring and powerful than the studio versions. Another thing that captured me was the feeling of being intimately united with a crowd of over two thousand people due to the atmosphere that LP so competently created with the confidence and ease of someone who truly belongs where they are.
While the music and the performance were close to perfection, a technical setback created a minor disappointment. It was caused by a short moment of unsynchronized audio streams at the beginning of the concert, which spoiled a few minutes and could have ruined the mood. Luckily, the glitch was quickly fixed by the organizers and forgotten by the audience and did not affect the overall impression of the concert.
Conclusion
To sum up, the concert was triumphant. The fascinating music and the soulful voice, along with sincere lyrics and heart-felt emotions, could not possibly have a single person remain indifferent. The characteristic whistling and the use of the ukulele took the listeners off the beaten track and made the music sound fresh. Whenever there is a concert of a famous singer and songwriter Laura LP Pergolizzi in town, it is definitely worth attending, for the fans as much as for those unfamiliar with her music.
Reference
LP. (2016). Lost on you. Youtube. Web.