# Why is my voice at it's best when I feel like shit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345 "2009-06-29T15:12:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345/1 "2009-06-29T15:12:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345/2 "2009-06-29T15:24:13Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345/3 "2009-06-29T15:58:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345/4 "2009-06-29T16:08:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345/5 "2009-06-29T16:57:16Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345/6 "2009-06-29T17:02:41Z")
I don’t know, but I certainly wish I could replicate it. I sound like a sex monster when I feel like crap. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-voice-at-its-best-when-i-feel-like-shit/501345/7 "2009-06-29T17:13:42Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > 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. 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… 🙂 [QUOTE=Ignis] 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? [/QUOTE] 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.