Voice class

[FinalEnigma]

As some of you know, I'm taking a voice class at school. well, we have to sing for the class once or twice this semester songs of our own choosing, and I have no idea what I want to sing. So, partly in an attempt to amuse myself and partly in an honest query, I decided to ask the members here what I should sing.

On occasion, I will run into a song that I really like for some reason which I haven't quite figured out yet(if you can figure out a commonality in my list let me know!). I tend to listen to these songs over and over and play around with them until I can able to sing them, then sing them just for myself for a while. So I've got a small list of ones that I can remember doing that with that I can already sing at least semi-passably and would not be too hard to learn well enough to do for class. I am open to suggestions if there is another song outside of my list, but it isn't very likely that I would do one I don't know to some extent already, unless I find I really like it.

So, on to my list. If you don't know the songs, I have accompanying links to you-tube.

For reference, I am a tenor, but I can easily sing baritone, and I think I can sing most bass if I want to(for those who are musical, my range is the 3rd A below middle C to the first G above it. I have also been told that especially on high notes, I sound somewhat like Michael Crawford.(example of him here:

the list of songs, in order of difficulty for me:

The world, Yuki Kajiura ( http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi= ... 059F7D9990#)

Solitary ground, Epica ( http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi= ... 059F7D9990#)

Good enough, Evanescence ( http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi= ... 059F7D9990#)

Gotta be somebody, Nickelback ( http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi= ... 059F7D9990#)

My Immortal, Evanescence ( http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi= ... 059F7D9990#)

Here without you, 3 Doors down ( http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi= ... 059F7D9990#)

Music of the night, Phantom of the opera( http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi= ... 059F7D9990#)

If you guys get really, incredibly lucky, I might record me singing for you.

[catalyst]

Hi Final Enigma,

Song choice is relative to your "tone" and comfort in certain genres. It is also dependant on whether you are singing acapella or with an a.dat (or "like" backing track) and if so, if the BT has the option of key change to suit your vocals.

Are your high notes natural head voice, or does falsetto come in to accomodate?

To give an honest opinion, I would have to hear you sing.

[FinalEnigma]

Hi Final Enigma,

Song choice is relative to your "tone" and comfort in certain genres. It is also dependant on whether you are singing acapella or with an a.dat (or "like" backing track) and if so, if the BT has the option of key change to suit your vocals.

I probably will be singing acapella, but if I wanted to I could get music for most of these songs fairly easily.

Are your high notes natural head voice, or does falsetto come in to accomodate?

Natural head voice. I can't even sing in falsetto. For some reason I've never been able to.

To give an honest opinion, I would have to hear you sing.

Well, since you are the first one to ask...maybe. Probably if I can find a method to record it well - don't really have much for recording, and not sure how well singing on the phone works. I will see if I've got much of a method for it.

And yes, I'd be horribly nervous with anybody hearing me sing, but that's part of the point of taking the class anyway.

[catalyst]

probably will be singing acapella, but if I wanted to I could get music for most of these songs fairly easily

Acapella I personally reckon is best as there is no added expectation and you can make it your "own". I don't doubt you can get music for it, but the issue would be if it were in the right key for you. If it isn't and it cannot be changed, you're pretty much screwed. If you like, if you DID have midi's or the like, I have Noteworthy and also Encore and I could change what ever song you wanted to do, into your key. (if you wanted backing track)

Natural head voice. I can't even sing in falsetto. For some reason I've never been able to.

That is VERY cool and I admire that. I am wondering if perhaps you would like to have a listen to an excellent aussie vocalist and considering your written range (in your first post), even one of HIS songs may be to your liking?

Well, since you are the first one to ask...maybe. Probably if I can find a method to record it well - don't really have much for recording, and not sure how well singing on the phone works. I will see if I've got much of a method for it.

PM'd you as to that.

And yes, I'd be horribly nervous with anybody hearing me sing, but that's part of the point of taking the class anyway.

If you want to sing, then critique is part and parcel. Some will love you, some won't, but if singing brings you and at least some who hear you happiness, it is worth it and worthwhile to share.

[FinalEnigma]

another song I told Catalyst that I would post -

as a note, yes, most of the songs I picked are by women, which is admittedly kind of strange, but a lot of the songs men sing aren't as interesting.

[catalyst]

Ok,

I have heard you sing now and yes I too can here the Michael Crawford "tone" to your voice. You are good. As I said when we spoke, your breathing is excellent for someone singing for the short amount of time you have. It can take YEARS for some to get that right, and you just seem to naturally have it.

The vocalist I spoke of in PM and also on the phone's website is :

http://www.myspace.com/damienleith

Having heard you sing, I reckon song 6 "Night Of My Life" would be a challenge, but a GOOD challenge for you. I can "hear" you singing it for some reason.
VERY rangy, but excellent use of headvoice.

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[FinalEnigma]

Ok,

I have heard you sing now and yes I too can here the Michael Crawford "tone" to your voice. You are good. As I said when we spoke, your breathing is excellent for someone singing for the short amount of time you have. It can take YEARS for some to get that right, and you just seem to naturally have it.

The vocalist I spoke of in PM and also on the phone's website is :

http://www.myspace.com/damienleith

Having heard you sing, I reckon song 6 "Night Of My Life" would be a challenge, but a GOOD challenge for you. I can "hear" you singing it for some reason.
VERY rangy, but excellent use of headvoice.

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hmm, I like the song. And you asked about the style of singing that is comfortable for me? His songs are right there smack in the middle of my comfortable area. I might just pick that song.

I have to wonder though if you had an ulterior motive for picking that one.

[catalyst]

hmm, I like the song. And you asked about the style of singing that is comfortable for me? His songs are right there smack in the middle of my comfortable area. I might just pick that song.

That is what I thought even before hearing you, because of your mentioning the Michael Crawford tones you have and Damien in some songs has that same quality too. After hearing you though, it was confirmed in my mind. On thinking too, I reckon you could pull off "Crying" - Roy Orbison. (again your range comes to mind)

I have to wonder though if you had an ulterior motive for picking that one.

Oh my motives are innocent enough! lol Of the 6 songs on there, it is the most "theatrical" and you are comfortable with that style and that is an important element - the comfort. Some of the lyric too is very fitting.




http://www.lyricstime.com/damien-leith- ... yrics.html

^--- Lyrics, in case you need them.