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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Okay, this may sound weird, but if you're a singer, try it and see if it ain't true.
We're all getting a little older, and this causes physical and structural changes to our bodies, even to our facial muscles. I beleive this has become apparent when I sing. I have discovered that I sing better, clearer, and can hit higher notes when I put a slight smile on my face. I don't mean an idiotic, toothy grin plastered on your face, where you look like you swallowed a few extra Prozacs in the morning. Just a lift of the cheek muscles, a slight upturn on the corners of your mouth. It seems to open up my throat a bit. (I think if you watch older singers on tv, they tend to smile as they sing....maybe this is why) I discovered this while video taping myself and saying...."god, I look so bored and unhappy." Then I retaped it trying to look happier, and voila!
So test it...try a verse with your face all saggy like usual :) , then try that verse with the new face and see if it doesn't sound better. (Plus you probably look better too) |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Aha. The secret to the success of Up With People. And why Neil Young sounds like he does. |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 840
Location: CA | I think you're onto something. I was always amazed in the early years that any sound came out of Jimmy Buffett at all. He sounded good, but on some songs he moved his mouth so little that it almost seemed like a ventriloquist act.
(example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMozCfz0cZM).
Okay, maybe the bushy moustache had something to do with it.
Anyway, now he smiles a lot more — and still sounds great. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Or just don't get older. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4026
Location: Utah | Nope, not even smiling makes me sing better. But it does make me look slightly insane. Or lecherous |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I agree it probably helps your voice, not to mention smiling makes looks like your are having fun which makes the audience have fun also. Check out a couple of shots of my nephew and his partner at their local gig Friday. I am the camera buff so they are used to me firing away. Their apparent fun seemed infectious.
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 387
Location: Whitecourt, Ab | ...So, if smiling helps you hit the higher notes, frowning should help with the bass notes? |
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Singing Lesson
