singing

Singing in the Shower

64 Arts

Why do so many of us sing in the shower? Because we sound better in there!

Of course, most of us know that it’s because of the acoustics in the room that we sound a bit better than, say, on that karaoke stage. As I understand it, these are the factors that make bathroom-singing so popular:

  1. The size of the room. Most bathrooms are small and relatively bare. We’re not talking the massive bathroom suites with couches and carpeting and all that–most bathrooms are simple. This lets sound bounce around but in a confined space. You get less echo in your standard home bath than, say, an empty room or a large locker room.
  2. The materials on the wall. Bathroom walls tend to be concrete and tile, both of which add a bit of reverb (echo echo echo…) to your voice which produces a fuller sound, overall, making even a squeak sound large and robust. Generally speaking, a good thing. Even if, again generally speaking, a bit misleading…
  3. The steam as you bathe/shower. Apparently steam acts as sound-sinks, dampening (hah!) the reverb coming off the walls to smooth it out as opposed to just echoing a lot. Which is why your voice probably sounds different while showering as opposed to just singing in the bathroom. Go ahead, try it, I’ll wait.
  4. Steam’s effect on our body. Heat relaxes, water lubricates. Steam, therefore, loosens up our muscles (it takes a lot of them to sing) and smooths our throats, allowing the words to glide forth.
  5. Getting clean is good, clean fun! A lot of “Woo-Woo New Agers” (of which I suppose I count myself) see the positive benefits of sluicing the mental and metaphysical accumulation of the day away along with the physical dirt and grime. Lighter spirits are just more prone to lift voices in song!

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that we tend to be alone while showering and between the sound of the shower, the closed bathroom door and the thicker walls (thanks again, tiles!), we can let our hair down and really belt out a torch song or two without those pesky afflictions of shyness or self-consciousness.

What’s your favorite shower song of the moment? Does it change whether you shower in the morning versus at night?

Sing a Song

64 Arts

The thing that makes singing relatively simple, is that it requires no outside equipment and no knowledge of theory, the ability to read sheet music or formal training. We learn by mimicking what we hear from others or on the radio. We rely on our ears–again, standard issue along with the voice box–to tell us what sounds “right” and what doesn’t. I’m astonished at a child’s ability to make up songs as they play.

Melody is the most basic component of a song–the words and the tune they are sung to. And many songs work perfectly well with a melody alone. A richer sound, however, can be acheievd when more voices, singling slightly different notes, join in. This is called harmony.

I seem to recall an SNL skit in which they poke gentle fun at the Indigo Girls “harmonizing” up on their mountain day after day, but I can’t seem to find it; my search-fu isn’t strong enough. Still, that duet is a really great example of harmony and since I’ve now got their songs stuck in my head… Here, let me share 🙂

Ensembles are the Only Group Project I Never Hated

Did you ever feel that way in school when you were forced to team up with others? I hated group projects, even when I was working with friends. I much preferred working on my own and, succeed or fail, be the sole body responsible for the outcome. Except singing, singing I was glad to do in a group.

I was a band geek throughout middle and high school and the theory seemed to be that those who can [sing], join chorus, those who can’t, join band. That might be true for some but there were a few dual-enrollments in high school and then there were kids like me: in band at school but sang every weekend in the church choir. And then some. See, I was one of 4 girls all around the same age all in choir–hello, girl group. But not in the Contempo-Christian vibe you might be thinking. Oh, no, ultra-conservative, folks, but it was fun.

We usually sang in 2 or 3-part harmony: soprano/alto or soprano/second soprano or mezzo-soprano/alto. I was being taught the 2nd soprano bit since my range wasn’t anywhere near my friend Jen’s on the upper end. While singing the melody or lead is often easier, I did enjoy the challenge of singing the harmony part.

I’ve long since reformed my ways and no long attend a church or perform with a choir. My recent attempt at karaoke on last year’s cruise was abysmal (but still kinda fun!) and brings home the power in choosing the right song for one’s voice and the need to practice. And by practice I don’t mean just singing along with the iPod.

Have you ever done Karaoke? What song did you do and how good/bad do you think you did it? Would you ever do it again?

Words Get in the Way

64 Arts

As much fun as nonsense lyrics and silly songs are when we’re kids, there comes a time when the words have to start making sense. Think about this sweet little French song Mom taught me:

In case it’s not clear from that cute little video, the song is about plucking the feathers from a skylark. First from his head, then from his beak, neck, wings, back, legs and, finally, tail. Leaving aside for the moment the question of whether beaks or feet have feathers and acknowledging that this song is often used as a tool to teach small children names of body parts that they are supposed to point to when named, you gotta admit: it’s a little twisted.

I’m also reminded of the tune that goes “squishing up a baby bumble-bee”–eek!

Words have power. Were I a parent would I teach these songs to my kid knowing their not-so-cheery back-story? Tough call, but I’d definitely think twice about it.

Even still, I tend to be pretty eclectic with the music I listen to, only switching off a song if I find the lyrics truly “out there.” There is one song I will always turn off, no matter what, because it creeps me out to no end: Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire.” It was in heavy rotation during a particularly rough year of my childhood and the lyrics are disturbing when taken in personal context.

What about you: Any song you just can’t stand? Why? Any kid’s song you’re re-thinking? Remember we’re talking lyrics and share it in the comments.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

64 Arts

I’m not sure if the Arts are listed in any particular order other than the order they occurred to the author at the moment of writing, but I do find it interesting that singing comes first. After all, the first mastery most people achieve is over the voice–it’s a natural instrument. Practically everyone has it. Babies vocalize before their motor coordination sets in–it’s instinctual. I suppose one could say that percussion instruments (rattles, banging on pots and pans, etc.) might come before speech, but the coordination to play instruments (the next art on the list) generally takes a little longer.

I grew up with Mom singing lullabies and kids songs to me and Daddy playing the radio when he got ready for work in the mornings. One morning Mom was in the kitchen when she heard the radio come back on after she knew he’d left. She walked into the bedroom to find me–having pulled myself up along the front of the stereo and found the ‘on’ button–bouncing along to the music on my chubby toddler legs, very proud of myself for making the sounds start again.

Even babies sing, in their own way. Though it’s probably the novelty of hearing their own voice, the babbling and cooing comes out in a sing-song way, and we tend to reply in kind. Do you think that’s why a lot of early-childhood characters and shows include singing?

What’s your earliest childhood singing memory?