Encore

Yesterday, I posted a video of a wonderful young singer Sara Niemiez enthusiastically performing with the PostModern Jukebox with a lively big band-like arrangement of the song, "Love Yourself."  Well, one good turn deserves another.  And here she is with them again with the same song.  But there's a reason for it.

I had come across this second version, which is an in-concert performance, before posting the official music video and was unsure which to use.  I went with the music video since it's the most professional video with the best sound, best lighting, visuals and pure vocals.  

But this concert version may well be the best performance,

There's something about singing in front of a live audience that can bring out the best in a performer, and it sure does here with Ms. Niemietz.  Perhaps it's helped by her being a trained stage actress.  Perhaps it's because by comparison the music video wants her to largely stand in front of the microphone and just sing.  But cut free of that constraint and with a big crowd in Austin, Texas, there -- she just lets loose and takes control of the entire stage.  And the result is just an exuberant, joyous performance.  One that recognizes there's an audience there and plays to them.

(Know that at one point, it looks like the performance is over.  But it's just a dramatic pause, in part too because it waits for applause, and in part as well I suspect to give her a chance to catch her breath.  You'll see.)

And so...this second version of the same song.  Hey, one good turn deserves another.

As I noted yesterday, if you live here in Los Angeles, Ms. Niemietz will be having a launch concert for her new CD on July 7 in Hollywood.  Ticket information is here.

So, why post the same singer, band and song two nights in a row?  From the moment of her entrance on stage, you can see that this will be different.