Karaoke Forums

Has anybody ever made a pre-judgement about a person's ability to sing based on either their appearance or some other outward manifestation of ability and then been totally blown away by how good they were? What about people who's speaking voices would give no indication that they are excellent singers.

I know a woman, she is blind and has been since birth. She also has a hair lip and cleft palate, so when she speaks she is barely understandable. But when she sings the result is one of the most spectacularly beautiful sounds you can ever wish to hear. How it is so clear and free from distortion when her speaking voice is not is beyond me. She can also play keyboards better than anyone I know.
She cant get work to show of her talent because of her unfortunate looks. But wow can she sing

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Oh good!! I get to make a happy post!!!
About 13 years ago, we were running a show in a little bar/restaurant in one of the suburbs. There was this VERY (and I mean falling down, slurring, falling asleep at the bar, VERY) drunk man there. He was around 60 or so. Anyway, his turn comes up and he stumbles and collides his way to the stage. I ALMOST made him go sit down without singing, but I thought...what the heck....maybe he'll be good for a laugh or two. The song starts and this man sounded like heaven. It was the most beautiful voice I have ever heard and probably the most beautiful I ever WILL hear. There is a T-shirt that says,"If you don't believe in angels, you haven't heard me sing." That shirt was MADE for this man. He finished his song, fell off the stage and stumbled and collided back to the bar. The crowd just sat there. I stood there like an idiot with my mouth hanging open. Finally, I screamed "YAY!!!" into the mic and there was that slow clap build thing and he got a standing ovation - FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES. I had never seen him there before and he never came in again. The bar closed down years ago, but I will NEVER forget that night. And I have only ever judged ONE other singer based on appearance since then. (She looked like a big, scary biker chick and sang like a diva. I hired her!! She was one of my best employees. Lots of fun!!)

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Keep it legal!!!

Had a really stereotypical looking biker in one night.  Long scraggly beard, heavier build, long scraggly hair.  Put up a Frank Sinatra tune, I was thinking to myself Oh Gawd.  He put Frank to SHAME!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Tough to tell who's artistically talented, and who is not.  Athletic skill is often visible because physique may show development, while you can look at certain people and stereotypically figure "That guy looks like a rock musician",  "nerd", etc.   Artistic skill usually isn't anything that can be determined from an individuals  outward appearance since it's something that totally comes from within most of the time.. unless the individuals are attempting to take on the stereotypical personna, you just never know who can produce what artistically.

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

I have had this happen several times. Nothing surprises me anymore.  LMAO

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Late 60's thru much of the 1970's there was a very stereotypical rock and roll look.  Usually characterized by long layered/shagged hair, thin physique, very tight clothing, even footwear such as "clogs" or awhile..  The "soft" more unisex look..  

Now-adays,  anything and all goes...



1971 Badfinger "Straight Up" Album  (to this day I've always liked the hairstyle of Tom Evans -2nd from left with darkest layered haircut)

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

When I was younger I dressed very "skimpy" to say the least...even for a guy...people expected me to sound very gay with a light and lispy voice...then I'd open my mouth and singer the first two or three lines a "small & weak" unsupported voice and touch off key and then "TRANSFORM" into a performer with a bit of a powerful voice. I learned the trick of surprising people with at thin voice that wasn't very good for the first few lines then breaking into the song like a different person and I tend to still do that at places where people don't know me...then they don't forget me.

There's psychology involved when a performer wishes to "impact" an audience.  I agree that while (in a fun play setting) it's nice for all to have an oppt to see what it's like to be on stage. Id certainly hope this doesn't give an incorrect misleading message to many that ALL belong, or should have equal opportunity to perform on stage.  In real, the person on stage SHOULD be very good, and nothing less.  Karaoke is a game, it's for fun, but realistically a performer getting up on stage should NOT be without inhibition, and belief they can do THEIR thing disregarding audience wishes.  Talent and skill are what I believe belongs on the stage of an act I go to, and I'd hope a game never gives a message that sub-par ability should have equal oppt to be under the floodlights, or should even be allowed the oppurtunity to be up on stage with it.  I doubt this would ever happen in real though.



JMO..

I prefer quality remain in the performing arts.

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