"Duke of Earl": Past Vs. Present

After hearing a neighbor's radio streaming the oldies doo wop classic, "Duke of Earl", I went on YouTube to learn the name of the artist and view a performance. Gene Chandler is the vocalist and what I found were two very different videos of the same man: one when he was young and the second, a more recent performance. 

The two different videos are really great to compare. The one from Chandler's youth is very solemn and a deliberate drama to his performance. He almost looks like he is lip syncing because he - and the audience - appear to be very serious until the applause.

Now, in this next video, there is vibrant energy and fun throughout the performance. To see a before and after of a musician does not always turn out so favorably. However, in this video, Gene Chandler hits the high notes like a eunuch. This performance has seasoned flare and panache that retains the drama, but in a more interactive way. 

I thoroughly enjoy these examples from YouTube, as the website acts as an public library of pop culture artifacts. I was inspired to research this song as it is a great wedding track. Which I will be posting my growing wedding DJ song list in an upcoming post. 

Have a great day!