Karaoke Forums

Feel free to tell it like you hear it in my comment boxes. A few have.. All I do is usually say "thanks for your help, much appreciated", and after relistening, usually "I agree"... . I never get defensive, that's counter-productive to me improving.. How people hear what I do is THEIR fact (Sure it's opinion, but everyones honest opinion and perception is their fact at a given time and not to be challenged IMHO by the person asking for critique). I've been critiqued in the arts most of my life- I can take it !!! Started when I was about 4.. Can't even remember the first couple of times I was told I was doing stuff wrong... To this day friends tell me when something I'm doing on keyboards bass or guitar sounds stiff, rigid, wrong, or just sucks... Sometimes- just the comment "that really stunk" is enough for me to hone in on something in order to realize I shouldn't be dabbling attempting it !

Karaoke for me IS NOT JUST FOR FUN.. It's a means of trying to learn an artform (singing).. I can take it.. Assuming I had the current means I'd be living up by Berklee getting hammered all around by top musicians on instruments I can play, and seriously butt-whipped regarding singing rudiments in pop-genre, and my take is, either I cut it, or I sink... It's how things are in the arts IMHO, I have enough respect for the music to not wish to be pampered, I worked my way up on instruments and it took LONG hard work I hated in grade-school, I expect this to be tough, not that I like it being tough, but it's what makes those that are good admirable. I'm tough when it comes to THIS area, In 3 months it'll be a year, at that point I decide whether I'm going to keep pushing, or just settle for subtle harmony parts... Knowing I was able to pull-off CSN&Y is good enough for me, I'll be satisfied knowing I was able to accomplish something.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Even though it makes me a fish out've water.. I'm not interested in "Karaoke as entertainment", or Karaoke outside of the fact I think it's an amazing session training tool for aspiring vocalists, and vocalists that don't have the oppt to have the backing of top bands !

Karaoke to me IS "The Singer".


btw, why have I been the only person in here hogging this thread Nobody else wants honest feedback on their singing ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I'm one of those who think "who am I to critique?... I make enough of my OWN mistakes singing".....

But I try to state the obvious when I hear it. Sometimes, that may differ from what other people hear, sometimes you may agree.

I gotta say tho, it is refreshing to see someone really want to try and improve and not be afraid of hearing other's say they're not perfect. (for none of us are... )



Steven, I asked you to once. And it was on a very crummy sub. I didn't really care, there was nobody to compare me to, it was my own song. But the singing was not the best (if you recall, I was trying out Odie's condenser mic, and I big-mouthed it, and it was awful) And the guitar playing was pretty blah-blah simple.

But.... you didn't want to tear it up. I gave you one that you could have named critique issues from beginning to end.... but you didn't.

Okay, so I'll sub some on singsnap and we'll start over. I'm determined to sing ONE song in my life that people wont say "you have a very country sounding voice". Bonnie Raitt, John Fogerty, no matter what I sing.... it's the same ol' response.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

I'm thinking the only thing about being critiqued I wouldn't like is being criticized for voice characteristics that can't really be changed or controlled by the singer -- things that are just inherent. Like there's not much that Willie Nelson can do to change his singing style short of sinus cavity reconstruction. ha,ha

I mentioned to you that there are country styles I don't have ANY knowledge of. I can't critique about ALL styles. It wouldn't be fair and honest to give an opinion in a style I've not even listened to a handfull of times.. As I stated, I'm also honest regarding my ability AND INABILITY. I won't tear up something I'm not familiar with. In some regards "Who am I to critique" MIGHT apply to styles that are out've our listening realm. I believe I stated that. I'm not the only one who should be receiving or GIVING feedback I suppose is my point .. We are ALL limited. I sing the "pop-40" realm, I'm not familiar with country or bluegrass.. That is your area though Charmin. I don't have a clue, so how can I give you constructive comments ? I'm not copping out, I'm being quite truthful. Critiquing also means knowing and respecting ones limitations. It takes a bunch of people for the process to work. Similarly when you asked me to comment on "Shout back girl", (Something like that), I'd NEVER heard the song prior to your singing it.. When people ask me about top 40 radio today, even much of THAT is out of my league.. I'm traditional top-40 classic ballad or pretty much most music of the 50's, 60's, 70's and some 80's in the top-40 Northeast USA metro-style... including R&B.. but not all..

Country is gorgeous, but some of it is so profound lyrically I get very depressed and have to avoid it.. It purges too much.. Just the lyrics alone to the Crystal Shawanda song had me really depressed for a few weeks (and I'm not exaggerating or kidding), it's likely a "10", and it sounds beautiful (from the first few measures I listened to), the lyrics are certainly among the most profound I've ever seen composed in music, I even did A LOT of research regarding the song, thing is, I can't listen to it even still.. Country can be like that.. A few songs such as "Fly Fishing" and "Feed Jake" are pretty cute, although depressing. Those I can handle.. But songs about serious pain and death, damn.. I try to avoid that stuff like the plague.. It's my own issue, I tend to absorb stuff and it blows me away when profound especially when melodically moving. It's what music is supposed to do.. Some of it is just too much. "Ode to Billy Joe" sort've blew me away for a different reason. When Bobby Gentry first released that song there was a big riddle, "What was it that "Was being throw from the Tallahatchee bridge".. When I heard it was a fetus, It made it tough for me to listen to that song too.. I'm a big wuss when it comes to certain stuff... I'm a sensitive (@$%&#!) like that !

Took me years to get over Bobby Goldsboro's Honey, I'd never have been able to attempt this song in the 1960's. Damn song had me crying and turning off the radio for the first 6 months I heard it..

Just the way I am.. I don't "NOT" wish to critique, there are reasons I might not critique, and that's SOLELY due to my own inability, bias, issues, etc. I'm limited, I play what I play in a certain genre quite well (not sing, but play) but I'm limited.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

If I told you "something was great", and I had no clue about it.. How would I be helping you ? or vice versa. Since I am a total beginner, I think it's easier to critique somebody like myself as opposed to somebody such as myself critiquing the very experienced singers who sing out've my area of knowledge. I believe that's the difference.. I don't even know how to support my breathing when I sing.. Most of you have sung for ages.. You deserve a "critique" from somebody who has a clue. Assuming you happen to tread into the female cocktail or candlelight areas of ballad, I promise to tear you to shreds.. I've backed females in cocktail genre or lounge/elevator music most of my life

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Charmin. OK, I just got a flashback to the original song.. I said I liked it ! It sounded great, I in fact had NOTHING to compare it to, it was yours, your song, I didn't feel anything to "Lay into". That was the truth regarding that song. A few other songs I've stated I don't qualify to critique. I don't lay into people for the sake of laying into them when they know how to sing. I DON'T know how to sing and feel THIS is the best time for me to get hammered, it might even put hair on my nude chest ! Also I might think a song is technically excellent, but I also might think a song sucks (due to my own preferences), in no-holds barred Critique I'd say "I can't stand the song, but I like the way you were able to ________", not all wish for that extent of critique.. I can take tough critiques... Most can't take what I take... I wish to know what a person HONESTLY wants !

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

You might have what many conventionally consider "A country sounding voice Charmin", but there are ways to change that using diction and altering styling somewhat.

We all have an area we tend to lean towards. As an example, I have a very sh*tty sounding voice.. I try to live with it.

Here's some Yankee Tonkin !

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... y/abc6e341

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Song removed, redone

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

SINGER: ChrisJohns( just sing a little bite)

SONG TITLE: Right Here (departed)

ORIGINAL ARTIST: Brandy

I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH:
well im concerned but how i really truly sound basically. The tone, if im pronouning my words really that about it

LINK TO MY SONG:
http://www.evoca.com/everyone_recording.jsp?rid=165961

Edit - Take 100, I'll get something eventually

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Billy HELP ! Is this OK ? Does it work ? Do I have any Country "Twang" ? Somebody said I did but it would've been rude to laugh at that input..
this is my last attempt for the week, I'm tired of trying.. I don't know how to do this genre. Pretty song, but I don't want to insult country folk be doing a yankee rendition of a popular song especially GJ.

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /cc12fa3fb

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Tried something different, While I'm not a fan of Neil Young, I found his backing particularly good ! I even enjoyed "Old Man"... (was going to post it but I now realize I need to redo it)

I need to redo this too but it gave me a chance to play with various aspects of my weird falsetto


http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /b610b6855

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I threw a little Tom Petty into this.

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... y/bac03655

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I wandered in here just randomly but when I saw you had song links posted (had no idea you even sang!) I decided to have a peep at Down by the River (cos I love Neil Young) Your falsetto actually sounds similar enough to Neil it really works well. Singsnap records live, right? Really enjoyed that, thanks for sharing.

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Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. (I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.)

Yes Fiery, It's point and shoot- meaning just sing along like you would in a bar setting. Ironically I just listened to Aenima over in the Showcase, While Alternative of that type isn't a style I'm used to you did A good job of the song.

I appreciate your taking the time to listen.

I didn't sing, and this time last year I'd have NEVER in my wildest dreams ever consider allowing any aspect of my voice to be heard in public, I was never allowed in music settings, and I've been ashamed of my voice most of my life..but at 50+ I'm trying to learn to learn to sing, it's a new thing for me.. Let's make certain this is understood .. I'm hoping ONE day I can be a singer of some type, but currently "the type" of singer is what's confusing me:). Singing was never supposedly in the cards for me but I'm not going to let that be without fighting that..HAHAHA, so I have been applying myself for about 9 months and it's been VERY hard !! I'm determined to learn !

Much appreciated !

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Fiery, any suggestions as to how I might be able to improve what I was doing ? More edge ? Less edge ? ANY input would be appreciated... What might've made it sound better ? I'm at a phase where I wish to develop based upon input from those of you that do in fact sing.. Because quite honestly, I haven't a clue when something works.. Falsetto is an interesting area I'm finding, My Henry Gross Falsetto doesn't seem to work, but Neil Young has more of an edgy falsetto, right ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

This was tricky for me, however I enjoyed my MANY attempts at it, and again, ALL constructive criticism appreciated. My goal is to do whatever I do better... Not to settle for what I am capable of improving assuming you good folks have an opinion on something I am unable to hear objectively..


George Jones

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... y/b7c48c91

Transitioning between stronger singing area and and headvoice such as "loving her" was a tough transition, and as can be heard and seen, I try to at times dodge that area.., but I don't think I can really get away with doing that... I need to work on that transitioning point at my breakoff area and not dodge it


OK, Enough singing and struggling for one day. I tried an easy naturally song for my range... Brings back memories... Emerson, Lake and Palmer.. Soft and clean, but I suppose I should keep the wind screen on.HAHAHA

http://www.singsnap.com/snap/watchandli ... /b511c01d9

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

You know Steven... the thing that draws me to music I listen to is generally the soul put into it. Artists like NIN, Neil Young, Combichrist , Jewel, Sarah Noxx, VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk.... none of them could really be considered technique singers... yet I am drawn to them. I think all you can really do is keep singing as much as you can until you figure out what gets you into your 'zone'. With Down by the River you were into the song, you could hear it in your voice. I think your edge was pretty damned good actually, especially considering you've just started singing. I've been singing all my life... just not always in public (spent 13 years singing in the closet ) and I've found that there's no use worrying who you do or don't sound like, it's all about finding YOUR voice. What Paula had said about making songs work for you - that's exactly what singing is about. You had a Neil-esque sound on Down by the River so it worked well... but it still sounded like you, not him. It was why I liked it. The only advice I have for you (unfortunately not a critique kinda person) is to keep singing lots of different styles til you find what works for you. Seriously... when I started singing it was all Jewel and Sixpence None the Richer and other sugary stuff... never could imagine myself singing anything alternative because I thought my voice lacked edge. Once I started dabbling though I found my comfort zone... Alt music

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Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. (I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.)

Duuuude I LOVE this song. You have a great voice for doing folk music (at least from what I've heard) I think all you're needing now is to build your confidence and find your wind. If I was to critique anything that would be it... you just need to learn to belt it out a bit more... it comes with time and confidence - and learning to sing from the gut as much as possible. I used to sing in a really soft voice because I was scared of people hearing me (plus my ex would make fun of my voice too) but as time has worn on the shyness is dissipating. With that came the desire to learn to really project my voice.... unfortunately since I've had no voice lessons I can't describe how haha. I really enjoyed listening to this track.

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Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure. (I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.)