Why is my voice at it's best when I feel like shit?

Factual Questions
1

I haven’t slept well for a week now, have a knee injury and feel stressed. My voice has rarely been as deep, resonant and powerful as it is now. I really like how I sound. This isn’t a freak occurence. Back when I used to party all night, the morning after was sonically fantastic. I even recorded my answering machine message on one such ball-shrinking morning, and got compliments from friends about how sexy and manly I sounded.

As I’ve never smoked and get the resonant bass without drinking a drop, just from plain ol’ lack of sleep, I got to wonder: why do I sound best when I feel like shit? Why are my vocal cords the most relaxed when I’m achy and cramp-y? It doesn’t make sense.

2

I spend a good part of my work day on the phone, and used to get comments/compliments all the time on my voice. Then I quit smoking…

3

I’m a choral baritone, and, when I have a cold, my voice tends to drop a few notes. This alone makes it sound fuller and more resonant, but I lose the upper register. Basically, it moves me from baritone to bass.

For some odd reason, I tend to get colds just before concerts.

4

It must have something to do with inflammation. When I’m getting over a cold (in the coughing stage), I turn into Barry White. At least my speaking voice does… the problem is that I virtually lose my ability to sing.

5

The same thing happens to me when I’m hungover. Maybe my lungs and vocal cords aren’t willing to work as hard, so it causes my voice to sound lower?

6

I don’t know, but I certainly wish I could replicate it. I sound like a sex monster when I feel like crap.

7

New conductor: So, what do you sing?
BC: Well, right now I’m a baritone, but I always get colds just before concerts, so just give me the lowest part - that bottom D will be no problem at the concert.
Conductor: Riiiight…

:slight_smile:

I think I once saw something on Brainiac (a UK show not unlike Mythbusters, but with even less science) that suggested drinking relaxes/stretches your vocal cords, causing your voice to lower. But a) I don’t think what they did was very scientific, and b) it doesn’t answer the OP, because he specifically ruled out drinking.