7.2.14 Adam News And Info

I will try to give you a basic answer but really, there are many variables.

The vocal cords or vocal folds are two small bands of muscle in your throat shaped like a V. When you are breathing normally, those bands are open, allowing air to freely pass through. Conversely, when you go to lift something heavy or are suffering from constipation and are trying to eliminate excrement, the bands are firmly pressed together preventing any air from escaping. When you talk, sing or hum, the bands come together and momentarily separate slightly, vibrating to produce the tone.

You can damage these small pieces of tissue by forcing too much air thru them explosively (to shout, sing high, sing loud), by tensing them too much for too long (to make your voice sound raspy and gritty) or by overusing them (talking/singing too long without rest). The damage may be in the form of swollen tissue, irritation, slight bleeding, or excessive mucus production. This damage, in turn, causes the cords to vibrate differently and often less effectively, leading to more strain and more resulting damage. Repeatedly irritating, straining and damaging the cords can lead to scarring, nodules, or polyps and can sometimes be permanent. Think of a flag that flaps in the wind. Gentle flapping is no problem. But in high winds, or flapping against some type of resistance, over time you can fray or even shred the material.

When one studies voice production and singing, one learns how to properly use the voice. How to sing loud by maximizing the body's resonance and breath support rather than brute force. How to change how the sound is produced in order to sing low or high. How to sustain a note or phrase evenly and with power or finesse by proper breathing rather than constricting the cords. Even how to add grit with control of the throat muscles, not the cords. The techniques learned are not "natural". A person cannot learn them just by singing a lot or listening to/watching others sing. It takes a VERY GOOD coach/teacher and a lot of practice, trial and error, and refinement.


What are the challenges for Adam singing as he does in the Queen concerts?
1. Range. These are not typical 5 note or 1 octave pop tunes. They call for a voice that can reach down low and up into the stratosphere.
2. Power. These are big, bold songs. The singer needs to produce a lot of sound.
3. Endurance. It is not just a song or two. Adam is singing for maybe up to 90 minutes during a 2.5 hour time span. He is singing big song after big song.
4. Focus. Adam is not just standing in one place, singing into a mic on a stand. He is moving, dancing, walking, doing sit-ups, interacting with the band members, interacting with the audience. All this pulls his focus away from voice production and vocal technique. (Fortunately, Adam has such a depth of experience and training, that much of the technique becomes subconscious, allowing him to shift focus where needed.)
5. Frequency. Shows two nights in a row, or with only one day's rest in between. For over a month. And not just the shows, but also the sound checks.
6. Touring. To keep the voice healthy, one needs to breathe clean, moist, unpolluted air. Not always easy while flying, sleeping in hotels, breathing in the air at concerts, etc. One also needs plenty of rest, vocally and physically. And plenty of hydration and healthy food. Very limited amounts of alcohol which can dry out the cords.

How much rest between gigs does he need? Depends on all kinds of factors. How much is he straining his voice? Again, depends. Generally, Adam takes very good care of his voice (note how much he drinks water in between songs, and sometimes even during songs). He has excellent technique. Can he become so emotionally charged that he pushes himself too far while singing? Can he ignore his better judgment and party too much after a gig? Can he suffer from insomnia? Yes, of course. How much discipline and control is he exerting during this heady, "once in a lifetime" experience? Hopefully enough. So far, so good.

Sh#t, piss and corruption - I cannot begin to say what photos like these do to my brain - there is no hope for me, at all