Preview
HOLLY COLE
Friday, December 10
Jack Singer Concert Hall (Epcor Centre)
Saturday, December 11
Eric Harvie Theatre (The Banff Centre)
The words that have been used to describe vocalist Holly Cole can’t be disputed: seductive, provocative and sultry. However, after speaking with Cole about her upcoming tour across Canada, I would also add decisive. There is no doubt that her passion is music and, whether in conversation with her or listening to her music, you can tell she stands behind the choices she makes and the things she says. And there’s a reason for that – she believes in them.
"If a song doesn’t touch me emotionally I can’t sing it," says Cole. Her emotional attachment to every song and moreover, every lyric she sings ensures that she chooses her material carefully and with purpose. That motivation has also been applied to her new career-spanning collection Holly Cole Volume 1. Each song meets the needs of the song that precedes and follows it, and together they tell the story of Cole’s 15-year career as a singer.
"I’ve gone through so many changes musically and I wanted to represent that," she says. Ultimately Cole wanted the album to be nothing short of comprehensive. "I wanted it to represent me. It’s like finding a tune like ‘Que Sera Sera.’ It’s not a brilliant song, but it has historical significance. The fun in singing songs, for me, is being able to turn it around. When I am able to dispel any preconceived notions and take the song to its most interesting place, that’s when I feel I identify with it."
Over the past 15 years, Cole’s diversity has helped her escape labels as a singer, for the most part, but one label she can’t seem to shake is that of a Christmas crooner. Her first name binds her to the holiday season and it’s something Cole is still puzzled by for the most part.
"Generally Christmas is a stressful time," she says. "My feelings about Christmas are both skeptical and positive." The skeptic in her sees the commercialism of Christmas – the need people have to buy more than at any other time of year. The optimist in her sees that there truly is no other time of year in which people value their friends and families as much or are as willing to extend themselves to the community.
"A few years ago I tried to cook Christmas dinner for my friends. I remember being on the phone with my mum for two days having her walk me through all that needed to be done. Two days of hard work and it’s all over in 15 minutes. I just remember calling up my mum that night and thanking her for all the years growing up that she had cooked Christmas supper without batting an eye. She made it look effortless and she did it because she loves us. I will forever have a new appreciation of my mum and never cook Christmas dinner every again."
Since cooking Christmas dinner is not on her to-do list, she often tours Canada peppering her music with songs that are sung only at this time of year.
"I try to poke fun at Christmas because it’s so important to laugh at it rather than criticize it," says Cole. "I enjoy poking fun and so does the crowd. We share a good laugh and it sets a great mood for this time of year."
This visit sees Cole joined by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
"I have so much fun singing with those guys," she says. It’s the kind of show that I look forward to and I select songs on purpose that will suit the night." She’s coming prepared for her Calgary performance because when you sing with a philharmonic there isn’t much room for flexibility.
"You have to let the orchestra know what the songs are," she says. "I remember this singer in Halifax was singing with the philharmonic out there and halfway through the show they ran out of tunes. So the singer turns around to the orchestra and says, ‘Give me "How Sweet It Is" in B flat.’ I won’t be doing that on Friday night."
As in her career, she chooses her songs wisely and with reason. |
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