Holst
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Post by Holst on Mar 10, 2015 16:19:00 GMT -5
I know nothing about vocals or vocal coaching, but not long ago I was in line to check out at a grocery store at a busy time of day and overheard a conversation between two people behind me who were talking about Sam Smith. One person was apparently a speech therapist, and perhaps also a vocal coach. It was unclear what the other one did, but it sounded as if she was involved in theater, perhaps musical theater, on a regional level. Anyway, the speech therapist was expressing her fears that Sam would have difficulties maintaining his voice because she could clearly hear some areas of poor technique. The theater person said, yes, it was obvious he was "straining." Who knows how accurate their assessment was, but didn't we learn in some article a while ago that in focus groups people turned out to prefer male voices that were straining? The focus group didn't know they were straining, of course, just preferred their "authentic" sound. Anyway, I hope Sam takes care of himself and learns some better techniques if that is what he needs. peace&love I am another who does not care for Sam's voice. It makes my throat tighten up, as it does when I hear a singer straining to reach a note, or hitting a note flat. My throat muscles automatically try to "fix" the other singer's voice. (gratefully, that almost never happens when I listen to Adam because he doesn't sound strained, and doesn't hit notes flat 99.5% of the time.) Cancelling six concerts in a tour sounds like vocal strain rather than illness. I wish him well and hope he finds a good trainer/coach. As to people preferring strained male voices, when I mentioned it once to Angelina, she laughed and said, "You know why, don't you? It's because it sounds like sex."
Oh, my!
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