Up and running!
Feb 15, 2011 23:55:55 GMT -5
Post by cassie on Feb 15, 2011 23:55:55 GMT -5
Welcome to the new home of Vocal Masterclass! This is the place to discuss all things related to Adam’s voice and interpretation. Also the place to discuss vocal production and technique in general or to ask questions.
I started this thread at Q3's encouraging, because I am a music geek with classical training in music theory, piano, violin and voice, and Adam just blows me away with his VOICE. Whether he is rocking it out, touching our hearts with a ballad, singing musical theater, or singing something approaching opera, his technique is awesome in its depth and range. I get so excited listening that I just want to jump up and down and say, “Do you hear that??? Do you know what he just did? Do you know how incredibly difficult and masterful that is? Do you know how rare it is that he can do that?”
So, the Vocal Masterclass is the place where I can squeee to my heart’s content, and hopefully find others who hear what I hear. It is also the place where we can share some insight with others about vocal technique and musicality. (I’m not the only Adamtopian with musical acumen. We have a number of artists in residence who make wonderful contributions.)
But, you don’t need to be a trained musician to join in the discussion. You don’t need to know a thing about head voice, chest voice, register shifts, or breathing from your diaphragm. You just need to be enamored by the voice and want to talk about it and learn more. So, please share your opinions, your experience, your questions and your sqeeeeage. The more the merrier.
Q3 has graciously agreed to bring over the major discussions we had on the old thread for history’s sake, so we will not lose the archive. But, at 45 pages in length, I don’t imagine many will be plowing through the entire thing looking to see if someone has posted a comment previously or asked the question they have.
We can start again, as there are many new members, and no one who comes here will mind repeating what an incredible talent Adam is. I look forward to continuing the discussions and sharing we started at the old homestead.
To start us off, Glamnana asked about Adam's audible breathing in Soaked. Here is the question and my response, from the daily thread.
I love to watch him breathe, too. From a vocalist's viewpoint, of course.
I think there are several reasons we hear it in Soaked. First, it is a song with minimal instrumentals. Aftermath has only a guitar, but Monte plays the hell out of it, filling the song with sound. WWFM has several instruments backing. In Soaked,his voice is featured to the max intentionally. This is actually Adam's showpiece in the show, in my opinion. His statement that he can rock, he can provocatively kiss a guy, he can dance, he can entertain, but, ultimately, he is a SINGER, and that is what he is most proud of, and most confident about. It's his voice at its most exposed.
Secondly, yes, he has said that it is technically the hardest to sing. It contains long sustained phrases that require him to take those massive breaths. He really powers the notes, especially in the bridge (middle part --- and you've had enough, searching for love.)
Thirdly, it is stylistic. I think it adds to the angst and vulnerability of the song, just like a gesture or a look.
Lastly, this is just my guess, but I suspect that he does it to show us "Yup, folks, I am really singing this --- LIVE. Not lipsyching, not enhanced. All this tone, all this power, all this phrasing is coming from ME." I recall reading Pink saying something about making her breaths audible at times to prove it is all her. As I have said before, Adam sometimes sounds so good, so polished, so right on that if I didn't know better, I would say the live vocals were not. He never runs out of breath and clips a phrase or interrupts it for a breath unnaturally. He always finishes the musical and lyrical phrase. He rarely sings off pitch. He is also a master at sneaking breaths to prepare for a power note or a sustain, and we don't even notice it.
Frankly, I think Soaked is Adam showing off, vocally. And I love it!
I started this thread at Q3's encouraging, because I am a music geek with classical training in music theory, piano, violin and voice, and Adam just blows me away with his VOICE. Whether he is rocking it out, touching our hearts with a ballad, singing musical theater, or singing something approaching opera, his technique is awesome in its depth and range. I get so excited listening that I just want to jump up and down and say, “Do you hear that??? Do you know what he just did? Do you know how incredibly difficult and masterful that is? Do you know how rare it is that he can do that?”
So, the Vocal Masterclass is the place where I can squeee to my heart’s content, and hopefully find others who hear what I hear. It is also the place where we can share some insight with others about vocal technique and musicality. (I’m not the only Adamtopian with musical acumen. We have a number of artists in residence who make wonderful contributions.)
But, you don’t need to be a trained musician to join in the discussion. You don’t need to know a thing about head voice, chest voice, register shifts, or breathing from your diaphragm. You just need to be enamored by the voice and want to talk about it and learn more. So, please share your opinions, your experience, your questions and your sqeeeeage. The more the merrier.
Q3 has graciously agreed to bring over the major discussions we had on the old thread for history’s sake, so we will not lose the archive. But, at 45 pages in length, I don’t imagine many will be plowing through the entire thing looking to see if someone has posted a comment previously or asked the question they have.
We can start again, as there are many new members, and no one who comes here will mind repeating what an incredible talent Adam is. I look forward to continuing the discussions and sharing we started at the old homestead.
To start us off, Glamnana asked about Adam's audible breathing in Soaked. Here is the question and my response, from the daily thread.
Since there is no master class thread, and we have a slow news day, I will ask you a question here. And since I do not play in the deep end very often, well, I prob deserve an answer! 
I have been thinking about my obsession with "Soaked", and how it affects me. When I heard the song on my ipod today, I had it turned up full volume, and his breathing was very evident. (errmm, love to hear him breathe) :-[ It seems that he takes deep breaths (sigh) on this song more than on any other. Is this because it is harder to sing, is it some type of technique, or is there another reason? The version on my ipod is off ITunes, but not sure where it was recorded. From the album, perhaps? If you are still here, thanx in advance for humoring me.
I have been thinking about my obsession with "Soaked", and how it affects me. When I heard the song on my ipod today, I had it turned up full volume, and his breathing was very evident. (errmm, love to hear him breathe) :-[ It seems that he takes deep breaths (sigh) on this song more than on any other. Is this because it is harder to sing, is it some type of technique, or is there another reason? The version on my ipod is off ITunes, but not sure where it was recorded. From the album, perhaps? If you are still here, thanx in advance for humoring me.
I love to watch him breathe, too. From a vocalist's viewpoint, of course.
I think there are several reasons we hear it in Soaked. First, it is a song with minimal instrumentals. Aftermath has only a guitar, but Monte plays the hell out of it, filling the song with sound. WWFM has several instruments backing. In Soaked,his voice is featured to the max intentionally. This is actually Adam's showpiece in the show, in my opinion. His statement that he can rock, he can provocatively kiss a guy, he can dance, he can entertain, but, ultimately, he is a SINGER, and that is what he is most proud of, and most confident about. It's his voice at its most exposed.
Secondly, yes, he has said that it is technically the hardest to sing. It contains long sustained phrases that require him to take those massive breaths. He really powers the notes, especially in the bridge (middle part --- and you've had enough, searching for love.)
Thirdly, it is stylistic. I think it adds to the angst and vulnerability of the song, just like a gesture or a look.
Lastly, this is just my guess, but I suspect that he does it to show us "Yup, folks, I am really singing this --- LIVE. Not lipsyching, not enhanced. All this tone, all this power, all this phrasing is coming from ME." I recall reading Pink saying something about making her breaths audible at times to prove it is all her. As I have said before, Adam sometimes sounds so good, so polished, so right on that if I didn't know better, I would say the live vocals were not. He never runs out of breath and clips a phrase or interrupts it for a breath unnaturally. He always finishes the musical and lyrical phrase. He rarely sings off pitch. He is also a master at sneaking breaths to prepare for a power note or a sustain, and we don't even notice it.
Frankly, I think Soaked is Adam showing off, vocally. And I love it!
