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When and/or where?
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In front of people?
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Professionally?
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What kind of songs?
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Are you any good?
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
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When and/or where? At my band’s shows, when we’re practicing, when I’m writing songs, driving in my car, etc
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In front of people? *Yes, and in back of the ones who face the bar the whole time
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Professionally? Yes, if you call $100 and some beer as pay being professional
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What kind of songs? Rock; sub-genre: Power Pop
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Are you any good? Nah (See sig)
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
You want to sing? Do you want to be in a band? Do you want to write music/lyrics?
If you have it in you, it comes naturally. It might take you some time in front of audiences to get used to it. I sort of go someplace else in my mind when I’m singing, mainly because I’m also playing guitar and you have to not think about it to be able to do it, if that makes any sense. I guess the main thing to do is own the stage and never stop playing/singing, no matter what.
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anytime…listening to my ipod, in the shower
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only my daughter…when I want to torture her.
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Nope…I wish
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Mostly rock
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Sadly no, (see #3)
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I love most music and I wish I could sing.
Do I?
Yes
Can I?
No
I sing in the car and the fact that the radio drowns out my voice makes me think I can sing OK. I also sing full blast at church if it’s a song I like. Again, the organ and other voices make me think I’m OK.
But I know I can follow the tune only on songs that are the exact right range, and the quality of my voice is no good. I could carry a tune by myself but as soon as I am in front of anyone I mess up, to the point where they can’t even recognize what I am trying to sing to them!
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When and/or where? I used to, in local bars and roadhouses with a band.
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In front of people? Um, yes.
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Professionally? Yes, and the pay was as lucrative as you would have guessed had you seen the establishments we played in. Of course, the beer was always free.
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What kind of songs? We were partial to toe-tapping rock / pop. Beatles, Stones, anything that would fill the dance floor or get the crowd singing along.
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Are you any good? I was never pelted with rotten produce, which–as anyone can tell you–is the universal and undisputed threshold for singing greatness.
Okay, I’m going to answer my own questions now.
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When and/or where? In the car, of course. Sometimes we get out my daughter’s karaoke machine, but not very often.
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In front of people? Only the kids, cats, and blood relatives. When my husband’s around, I hum.
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Professionally? Nope. I did have a solo in the school play in second or third grade, when I was cast as Mopsy in our production of Peter Cottontail. A proud moment.
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What kind of songs? I’ll sing anything I know the words to, but I particularly like 70s and 80s pop, Disney songs, and show tunes. I do passable karaoke imitations of Madonna, Cher, Pat Benatar, and Cyndi Lauper. (Okay, I’m stretching it a bit with Cyndi.) I wish I could sing Kate Bush or Karen Carpenter, but since I can’t, I listen to them in respectful silence.
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Are you any good? Good enough to have fun and enjoy my own singing, not good enough to regret that I didn’t pursue it as a career.
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! I’ve posted this before, but here it is again.
One summer when I was about ten years old, Grandma sent me to Vacation Bible School. I was put into a group which consisted of me (a girl) and four or five boys of about the same age. Our teacher decided to have us sing a song for the whole congregation on the last night. She chose “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and had us practice every day, although we repeatedly told her that it was pitched too high for us to sing. On that fateful evening, we got up before the assembly, and the piano player started to play, when shockingly, all the boys were struck dumb! Rather than let our teacher down, I bravely undertook to sing a solo. I squeaked and screeched my way determinedly through the song, s-ss-tr-ai-ning to hit the harder notes, while the boys tried to drill holes in the carpet with their feet. When it was over, the teacher said apologetically to the stunned congregation, “She kind of leads them in everything!” Said the preacher, “She certainly does.”
:o :o :o :o :o :o
An Arky, I’m just polling for the fun of it. By the way, my daughter just started taking guitar lessons, which I sit in on. When I see all that is involved in playing an instrument, it amazes me that people are even capable of it. Personally, I don’t think I could play guitar and chew gum at the same time, let alone sing.
Do I sing? Yes
1. When and/or where?
In the car, in private.
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2. In front of people?**
No. Unless I forget.
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3. Professionally?**
N/A.
4. What kind of songs?
About evenly broken down between lots and lots of Hindi/Punjabi music, and American stuff.
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5. Are you any good?**
Nope!
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6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!**
Just this, and the only reason I entered the thread - **Malacandra ** sings, and he is very good, too, with a lovely deep voice.
Oh, OK one more thing. I’ve always thought it was a really mean joke that I don’t sing. I have a knack for lyrics. After I hear a song 3-4 times I’ll have 90 % of the lyrics memorized, even if it’s not a language I speak! I’m very good at fitting songs to situations on the fly, and love singing…I just was blessed with a very poor voice.
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When and/or where?
At home (alone) when I feel like it. At parties if other’s is singing too. -
In front of people?
See 1 -
Professionally?
– -
What kind of songs?
Danish folk songs. Songs written for the occasion, such as a birthday celebration or a wedding. -
Are you any good?
I wish… But it’s still fun, so I don’t care. -
Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
I really wish I had much better singing and music training as a child (it was almost nil).
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When and/or where? Often, usually right here in this room, where my music and recording gear is.
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In front of people? Not anymore, I’ve pretty much retired. See #3.
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Professionally? I started playing professionally in 1974, but only sang occasionally. I’ve sung in public a lot of times. Now I just sing on my home demos.
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What kind of songs? Old rock songs, the stuff I knew growing up, original compositions.
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Are you any good? I’m my own worst critic, but I’m alright. I’ll never be a lead singer, because I’m a baritone. My highest note is F# in the octave of Middle C. That’s not very high, and I have to strain to get there, so I never go there if I don’t have to. I can sing harmony, and teach parts to other people.
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
One time, coming out of a karaoke bar, I goaded five or six other guys into singing Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time” acapella, on the way back to the car. When we were done, people all up and down the block broke into spontaneous applause. I learned to sing harmony by singing with my mother in the car, when I was a kid. She’d sing songs she knew when she was a kid, and I’d come up with the harmony and counterpoint. “The Old Lamp Lighter”, anyone?
1. When and/or where? - All the time! Often unconsciously. If there’s music playing, I’m probably singing. If there isn’t music playing, there’s a pretty good chance I’m singing (or at least humming) anyway.
2. In front of people? - In front of people, yes. Not *for * people, if that’s what the question is really asking.
3. Professionally? No, although I did do a few shows with a friend’s cover band when I was young.
4. What kind of songs? Whatever I’ve been listening to, so pretty much anything that isn’t country or opera.
5. Are you any good? Nah. I have a pleasant enough voice, but nothing special. I was actually quite good when I was young, but twenty years of smoking will pretty much destroy your voice.
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! I really do often sing without realizing it, if I’m not distracted by something and if I’m in a comfortable enough environment. I sing *constantly * at home, without really being aware of it, and my boss has occasionally remarked that he can hear me humming at my desk. (Remarked, not complained, I should specify. I’m not at all loud.)
My daughter has a lovely voice, and recently took in over $100 (in the hat) by singing during a local festival for an hour.
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When and/or where? Everywhere–the shower, the car, walking down the street, sitting in my cube (quietly, but still I sing sometimes).
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In front of people? Unfortunately for them, yes–mostly my husband, kids and the grandbaby, but occasionally I will sing as I’m wandering around work. I feel for those people.
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Professionally? No.
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What kind of songs? pop, rock, country, commercial jingles, songs that I make up about the kids and pets.
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Are you any good? No–I am quite horrible.
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
I love, love, love to sing. I’m am extremely jealous of my oldest daughter who has perfect pitch and can sing quite well–she was in choir all through school and has worked as the karoake chick at a bar. My younger daughter sings just like me–it’s almost unbearable when the two of us are together and the music doesn’t drown us out. Man, we suck. Still, we love to sing.
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When and/or where? In the car. In the shower. In front of the computer.*
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In front of people? Well, in church. I’m told I have a nice voice. I used to sing in the choir but I stopped cause it’s hard to make rehearsals.
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Professionally? Amateur all the way. I have gotten roped into doing some stuff with the local community chorus, which is strictly amateur though they do have more than their quota of [del]self-proclaimed Divas[/del] sopranos.
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What kind of songs? Hymns, of course. Show tunes, natch… what? I am gay afterall. Classic rock, I RaWk on “In A Gadda Da Vida”! Country, that’s what I like beltin’ out in the car.
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Are you any good? I’ve been told I have a nice midrange (whatever that is) tenor voice.
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! This is where the * comes in. Da squeeze gets right amused when I go to a couple of sites that play hymns and have the words so I can sing along.
Here’s one of my favorite music type quotes:
“Altos love Basses and Basses love Altos. Tenors love other Tenors and Sopranos love an audience.”
Yes.
- When and/or where?
In my car, around the house, in church.
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In front of people?
Yes, I sing in the church choir most Sundays. -
Professionally?
Nope, haven’t got that much need for an audience.
4. What kind of songs?
Hymns, praise songs, whatever else our choir director wants us to sing, also select Christian Contemporary stuff, Broadway Musicals, oldies, etc.
- Are you any good?
Depends on how you define any good. I’m not a soloist. I don’t have a loud voice. I sing soprano but don’t really have great first soprano high notes in me. On the other hand, I’ve been complimented by choir members before–and even though I assume they are being complimentary to encourage me to return, I don’t think they’d lie. I can read music, or learn by ear. Seriously, on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is Tone Deaf and 10 is worthy of being a professional musician, I’m probably a 6 or a 7. I’m not great, I’m not one of the “lead” sopranos in the church choir that I sing with, but I’m not one of the ones who always has to sit by a “lead” singer so that I can hear what I’m trying to sing either.
- When and/or where?
-Whenever and wherever I get hired to. And most other times too, according to people who spend time around me cataloguing the odd mix of tunes that come out of my mouth
- In front of people?
-Yes. Sometimes even behind them, too…
- Professionally?
-Yes. On/Off working opera/classical concert singer since 1994. I also teach voice professionally.
- What kind of songs?
-Opera, art song, anything else you might encounter at a classical concert involving singing.
- Are you any good?
-Yes. I’m in that “not good enough to be a star but good enough to have a decent performing career” group, and I’m especially good at performing new music - things hot off the presses.
1. When and/or where?
Pretty much any time and place in which I won’t disturb others. I don’t sing at work, for instance.
2. In front of people?
Yep.
3. Professionally?
No. I just like to sing.
4. What kind of songs?
Mostly Ren Faire material–traditional and trad-style Celtic, sea shanties, pirate songs, and the like. Stuff that sounds decent a cappella. I sing classic rock sometimes, too, and sing along with all sorts of things.
5. Are you any good?
I’m told I’m not bad for an amateur. I’ve been asked to continue singing, rather than asked to stop, and gotten a fair amount of applause. I’ve got a pretty good range, and shift registers very well–I’ve been known to do both baritone and tenor parts in a single song.
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
I recently sang at my niece’s wedding reception, but not as the “wedding singer”. Her wedding was pirate-themed, with all of the wedding party and many of the guests in costume (the groom wore a fancy version of Jack Sparrow’s outfit, for example). At the reception, I joined the groom and my nephew to sing pirate songs during the band’s breaks. We didn’t have much time to rehearse together, but we did all right, and most people enjoyed the songs. We even got some requests (predictably, the bride asked for something we had never sung together, but we got through it all right).
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When and/or where? In the car, the shower, karaoke, or anywhere I hear a song I know (depending on the situation). I did some drama in high school and had to sing for my role in The Sound of Music.
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In front of people? Yeah. I’m shameless.
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Professionally? I wish.
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What kind of songs? Mostly the rock or folk stuff I grew up with. I’ll drop a tune on just about anything if I’m in the mood.
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Are you any good? I wish.
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Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
I once got an ovation for a rendition of “Plush” by STP. I was happy!
- When and/or where?
In the car at full voice, in my studio at loud enough to hear myself over the guitar. On most Friday afternoons you can catch me singing in my car in Sullivan County, NY as I go to the supermarket. That’s about it. If I’m in my studio I usually concentrate more on playing and figuring stuff out than on singing well.
- In front of people?
Used to. Not anymore. Maybe a few friends if they twist my arm.
- Professionally?
Not strictly as a vocalist. I’d sing harmonies and stuff when I was younger. Not in many years, though.
- What kind of songs?
In my studio, melancholy British folk songs or whatever else I’m figuring out on guitar. In the car, whatever’s playing that I like to sing.
- Are you any good?
I can carry a tune, but it ain’t pretty. My full-voice singing is often interrupted by coughing fits. The guys whose songs I like to play can’t sing very well, either. But that’s OK.
- Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated!
I remember when I was a little kid laying in the back seat of the car trying to sing like Michael Jackson and Donny Osmond.
1. When and/or where? In the car, in a Sweet Adelines chorus, delivering Singing Valentines with a quartet, or any time I’m invited to sing along.
2. In front of people? Our chorus has performances and the Valentines, but never alone.
3. Professionally? Well, we get paid for the Singing Valentines, but I don’t profit from it.
4. What kind of songs? Barbershop songs with the chorus and quartet, or anything I can figure out the words and tune to - ballads, classic rock, country, whatever.
5. Are you any good? I think I do OK, but I’d certainly never make it professionally.
6. Any further comments or anecdotes appreciated! I love to sing!
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When and/or where? *Whenever I feel like it. *
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In front of people? I have, in the past. I helped pay my way through college with gigs in bars. Lately, SWMBO and I have taken to “serenading” my mother. She’s 95 and pretty much blind, so anything aural is good with her.
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Professionally? See #2
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What kind of songs? Mostly light, easy stuff. John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Eagles, Broadway tunes, some New Age instrumental stuff on the guitar, etc.
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Are you any good? I was good enough at one time to get paid for it. My voice is still adequate, but it has gone downhill with age.