I hope this isn't too off-topic but I figured it might be a Broadway singer. Does anyone know who sings the song "Downtown" for the latest VISA commercial? I dunno how often they play it on TV but I see it sometimes when I watch ABC shows on ABC.com! (BROTHERS & SISTERS baby!)
Her voice is just so emotive and unique she just breathes new life into the song and I can't help but have this giant dumb grin on my face listening to it!
Well I'm back to answer my own question, hahaha. A simple search on YouTube shows that it is Niki Haris, Madonna's back-up singer for almost ALL of her tours and albums. They only recently stopped working together, but Niki's doing alright it would seem! Updated On: 5/15/07 at 04:14 AM
Am I the only one who wishes she would try singing at least a little of the original melody instead of putting a bluesy inflection on every single phrase?
"Downtown" has a lovely melody, but you wouldn't know it from watching this commercial.
"I have got to have some professional music!" - Big Edie
I also wonder who sings "Tomorrow" on all the Rooms to Go next-day delivery commercials. While some of them are terrible (most of the guys), some of the girls are actually really good!
Why don't they just use the Petula Clark original version? It's just as great today as it was back in the day.
"I've lost everything! Luis, Marty, my baby with Chris, Chris himself, James. All I ever wanted was love." --Sheridan Crane "Passions"
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"Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu"
from "Can't Stop The Music"
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"When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth"
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"Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.
i have to agree. when the recent "Barefoot In the Park" revival pumped out Petula before the show started, i looked at my friend and started annoyingly mouthing the words. haha
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
That's actually Elisabeth Withers-Mendes on the commercial. She's been doing voice over work for a while. It's actually VERY lucrative ask Julia Murney.
I love her rendition of the song too. I just downloaded it on iTunes (only available as a dance remix) and it's definitely Niki Haris. The vocals are slightly different on that one so check that out too.
"Downtown" belongs to Petula Clark. Always has. Always will.
"I've lost everything! Luis, Marty, my baby with Chris, Chris himself, James. All I ever wanted was love." --Sheridan Crane "Passions"
-------
"Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu"
from "Can't Stop The Music"
-----
"When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth"
------------
---------
"Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.