irish1139
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Post by irish1139 on Aug 10, 2017 7:59:15 GMT -5
Great article about the voice. I hope Adam reads it. The loss of anything with his voice would be a nightmare for all of us.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2017 8:20:32 GMT -5
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Post by skaschep on Aug 10, 2017 9:26:35 GMT -5
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Post by cassie on Aug 10, 2017 9:36:03 GMT -5
Really interesting article. Question for cassie.. when Adam sings WWTLF, do you detect any strain as described in the article? I wonder when he belts those really high notes out at such a loud volume, if that would cause strain on his vocal chords performed over many shows? Also, when he sings Get Down Make Love, it almost sounds to me like he's constricting his throat, yet forcing the notes out powerfully during this song. I'm not sure how to describe it exactly in technical terms, but wondered what you thought of his singing technique on that song. The article makes sense to me in that without looking at the underlying causes of vocal issues first and getting at the root of the problem, surgery might only be a temporary fix, and it seems like such a risky procedure to undergo. If you read the article, it is clear that even vocal experts do not agree about how to prevent vocal injuries (other than not to sing or talk so much). And I am far from being a vocal expert. I think the bottom line question is, "Is Adam hurting his voice by singing as he does?" My best guess/answer is "No, not for now." Here's why. 1. I very rarely hear strain or push when Adam sings loud or high. First of all, Adam has a naturally very high voice for a tenor. Notes that other tenors and baritones have to push to force out are within Adam's natural range. This is a matter of anatomy, not training or genre. His type of tenor voice is very rare, so the notes he can naturally hit are out of reach for most singers, or out of reach without straining in an unhealthy way. 2. Secondly, Adam has this wonderful technique of singing that focuses his voice in what singers call the "mask": the front part of the face/skull and the sinus cavities. This way of singing floats the voice rather than forcing it. I liken it to skiing on top of a hard crust of snow as opposed to skiing thru deep powder. Or water skiing effortlessly on top of the surface of the water instead of your skiing plowing thru the water. It requires much less push and force, and therefore has a much lower probability of causing damage to the cords. This is a technique that has to be learned. Singers don't just do it naturally or stumble upon it by chance. Adam has had excellent teachers who have taught him how to best use that unique voice he naturally has. I cannot overemphasize how important great, formal, classically based training is for Adam to be able to sing as he does night after night. (Note: This placement gives Adam a purity, a clarity, a ringing resonance to his voice which I love. But it is the antithesis of the raspy, gravelly, strained hard rock star sound, and may be why some folks say he is not convincing on Queen's more metal rock numbers.) 3. Adam has cut back on his use of super high glory notes. He still hits many strong D5s every performance, but, given his voice type and his level of technique, those are safely within his wheelhouse (whereas, most male singers who could even hit a D5 in full voice would be seriously straining their cords). In early recordings of Adam before Idol, I heard Adam hit G5s and A5s repeatedly in full voice. I didn't hear those notes one time that I can recall during the QAL tour. Those ultra-high notes are mind blowing, but in a way, they are just showing off. Gilding the lily. I think Adam has learned that he does not need those notes to impress. His D5s will do that very nicely, thank you, without risk of straining his cords. 4. Adam knows how to use the microphone and sound system to make the most out of his voice. That makes him a very exacting task master for the sound techs. And the very few times I have seen Adam lose his cool have been when he was not satisfied with the sound he was getting from the techs. But the results speak for themselves. He knows how to get the best sound from his voice. 5. Adam is mindful of his voice, and makes choices that protect his voice while on tour. Some nights he omits some of the glory notes and cuts short the crazy long sustains. He's not going to push it if it doesn't feel right. Adam is constantly hydrating after every song. There may be other things he is doing to help lubricate and pamper his voice in between songs, too. He rarely drinks alcohol before or during a show, despite joking about it. (It dries out the voice in addition to making him have to pee.) He has greatly limited the amount of interviews and fan meetings during the tour. He makes sure he rests his body and his voice in between shows. 6. Adam makes sure the shows and the set list are paced to protect his voice. No shows three days in a row this time around. Vocally challenging, big numbers are interspersed with numbers requiring less power and less range. Some songs are vocal power houses, while others impress by staging, emoting, or being camp/clever. 7. The QAL tours are shorter than many pop/rock tours. Perhaps that is in deference to Brian and Roger's preferences and stamina, but it also helps Adam's voice. In conclusion, all these factors don't guarantee that Adam will not develop problems with his voice. But they are the best insurance against the possibility, and they have worked for him so far. P.S, Yes, Adam does sometimes constrict his throat to get a slightly raspy, more rock sound. But he is modifying muscles in his throat, not modifying the tension or stress on the cords themselves, so it is not damaging. That is what my vocal expert Angelina assures me.
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Post by AnnAdoresAdam on Aug 10, 2017 9:42:54 GMT -5
Very many thanks, cassie that was really interesting. And reassuring.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2017 9:55:19 GMT -5
Great post, cassie! TY!
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Post by melliemom on Aug 10, 2017 10:26:30 GMT -5
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irish1139
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Post by irish1139 on Aug 10, 2017 10:31:39 GMT -5
Thank you Cassie. I won't spend my time worrying about Adam's voice.
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irish1139
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Post by irish1139 on Aug 10, 2017 11:23:42 GMT -5
I just listened to Earth, Wind & Fire play Boogie Woogie. That is my second greatest love of music. They are also excellent in person. Great musicians. Not nearly near what I love about Adam and Queen and Adam alone but still a great chair dancer. What am I going to do with nothing to look forward to from Adam except Spotify. I am feeling so let down. I need to look at Adam.
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irish1139
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Post by irish1139 on Aug 10, 2017 11:25:01 GMT -5
WOW, I just noted how mouthy I am today. Good lord, I am boring everyone. What a downer I must be.
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