Karaoke Forums

Turi to say that you can't memorize a song with days if not weeks to go is just plain lazy.


I also think you have "staging" which means blocking off parts of a stage for use at certain times in a performance, play or film...with "Stage presence" which is convincing an audience that you have conviction in your material...or that you are having a darn good time with it. it doesn't mean "dancing around" You can have stage presence without ever moving... That clip I sent you of Donald Braswell- he has good stage presence- but basically stands in one place. Watch clips of Adam Lambert on idol- sometimes he sits in a freakin chair and has massive stage presence. it's not moving around on the stage - it's selling your song so well that the audience is focused on you solely. It literally means that you "Fill the stage with your presence" Some performers seem "lost" on a big stage because they don't have the confidence and talent to fill it up. Presence is about personality- NOT choreography. Don't confuse the two. Which brings me to why you shouldn't look at a monitor. A song is like a play...there is an intro, a climax and a conclusion. To BE a "good" performer you have to make your audience believe that you believe what you're singing. If you're staring at a monitor- you give the impression you don't even know what you're talking about..much less have any conviction about it. Paul Potts, Queen Emily, Neil Boyd, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Carrie Underwood, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, melinda doolittle, Chris Daughtry, Elliot Yamin, Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, ,,,lord the list is ENDLESS....None of them "jump around" on a stage....None of them look at the lyrics, and all of them sing like they believe with every ounce of their soul in the lyrics. But...um....to convince an audience you BELIEVE in your lyrics- you have to know them first

MEMORIZE YOUR LYRICS TURI OR I'M GONNA CYBER SPANK YOU!

In ending I have 2 things to say- don't always assume you can beat everyone vocally because there is always someone out there just around the corner who can sing circles around you...(wink) Whitney Houston has no idea I'm here for instance :whistle:

To put it in perspective...you're still focusing on your state level- that's not what I was saying. What I was saying is you need to look to the LAST stage of competition and prepare for THAT. You're focusing on the next step- not the final prize. But yeah- treating state levels like it is the final stage is on the right track. A word of warning.. I have won 5 of these things at that level..and there were alot of bitter people who thought they had "great chops" when they got there. I beat a guy in one who sounds just like you..he did "the prayer" and did it well...I came out right after him...and told them to play the same song "the prayer" in his key instead of the song I was going to do. Yeah it was a beeyotchy thing to do - but the guy was all cocky and arrogant back stage so I(along with every other contestant) wanted to humiliate him- unfortunately for him- I was one of those people "around the corner" from him who COULD. I did it on the mic so everyone knew that wasn't the song I originally intended to do. So not only did I get points for doing the song without any preparation- but I out-sang him. He hit all the notes but he didn't know how to build the song and his stage presence was non existant- yeah he looked at the screen the entire time They had given him decent scores vocally- but because I was right after him and sang it better- they gave me perfect scores... I had better stage presence and beat him there too...finally the audience and the judges LOVED me doing such a ballsy thing because everyone loves to see an arrogant person take a fall. So don't be arrogant. I'm sure you have great chops- but you have to be a nice person too- or sooner of later there will be someone like me who puts you in your place. Before you think it hasn't happened to me...oh yeah I've gotten my azz spanked before when I was thinking just like you. I am also aware that after reading this- you could probably accuse ME of arrogance. But there is a difference in "Arrogance" and "Confidence" Anyone who has ever interacted with me will tell you I am the nicest and most supportive person they have ever competed with they will also tell you they would prefer not to have to compete against me in a contest. You will never hear me say that I can beat someone. I just go do it..I don't have to announce it. In fact I would prefer it if they never even saw me coming- most blow me off as "not a threat" because I AM soo nice. (the jerk who needed a spankin was an unusual circumstance)You would be smarter to be grateful for the talent you have been given(and humbled that you were chosen to receive such a gift)...and suportive of your fellow singers. Then you can win- and everyone can say yeah he has a great voice and he was so nice too! But you're giving your competition an edge by lighting a fire under them if you're cocky- and trust me- if you're "THINKING" it- people pick up on it without you actually needing to brag...on that note. Asking people you have beaten in a contest to "help" you isn't the brightest idea I've heard today. Hidden agendas and all... I still say you're being lazy. Borrow a hand held video recorder and have these "people" you beat- record you so YOu can ascertain what you need to do. And learn your DAYUM LYRICS! Lawd you is one heard headed boy!

_________________

I forwarded the link to this to my boyfriend's son who has entered several competitions and always comes in second. They aren't karaoke and he uses his original compositions but the advice still applies. He made a bigger impression once when he had someone from the local theater company help him with staging but sometimes people seem to think they just want the judges to recognize them for the wonderful thing that they are.

Your advice takes things to a much higher level. It is very generous of you to share it.

Thanks LL- you are most welcome! Glad to be of assistance.

_________________

Well I didn't look at the screen as much last night!

I failed my goal of not looking at the screen for an entire song but I was close.. I did "Things Can Only Get Better" by D:Ream and everyone loved it, so I was able to get into it since everyone was dancing and stuff - still didn't manage the whole song without lyrics but that could have been since I don't actually know the lyrics to it by heart.

I did Unchained Melody and all the people who were there to criticize me said I nailed it and I even gave a couple of people chills down their spine with my high note (the "need" note) and I had random people come up to me telling me I was amazing and stuff, however one chick who is extremely harsh on me for some reason told me I need to work on my stage presence if I want to get through the next round.
She told me Unchained Melody was beautiful and she liked it more than the original but she also told me that even though I got into it and sang it with conviction I lacked stage presence at times since I was watching the screen.
This chick has something against me or something since she is like hardcore harsh on me and was basically nit-picking everything I did last night, which is what I need.
She was even trying to teach me how to dance so I don't look like an idiot, 'cuz apparently I "bop" too much or something.

But yeah, I still have more songs I want them to judge.. so far Unchained Melody seems my best bet but I got a better crowd reaction from Things Can Only Get Better and Walking In Memphis!
People were dancing to them.. with Unchained Melody they just stare at me, except for the lovers in the room who slow dance.

Don't worry I'm not hard headed and I can memorize lyrics easily it's just that The Prayer is like half in Italian and I wouldn't want to be singing the wrong thing.. since I don't understand what I'm saying (well, I kinda do, I did Italian for 8 years but all I understand is something about stars? Or moonlight?)..

I'm not cocky or anything, I'm just confident in my VOICE I'm NOT confident in my overall presentation though which why I'm taking in everything that's been said.

Since you had someone do the prayer.. then you did the prayer yourself.. should I basically avoid the song since it seems like it really is overdone?

I think the girl being super harsh is the only one being honest with you...sound to me like she should be your new best friend...especially since she basically paraphrased what i was telling you.(wink) I hope you don't think "I" have anything aganst you. If I sound like I'm being harsh..it's because when you get to an international competition- it IS harsh. Big Dogs Tall grass and all that....


... sounds like you were snoozin during the main part of those 8 years of Italian! The Italian part of the prayer is basically repeating what the english part says...listen to the Celine/Andrea version...if you have a problem learning the Italian part phonetically..there is no reason you HAVE to sing the Italian lyrics..I've done it at countless weddings and I always did the english part instead. Anyone who has a problem with you doing that probably isn't qualified to be giving advice to you



Regarding doing the "prayer".... well I already said...it all depends on how well YOU sing it compared to the "best" performance the JUDGES have heard of it. If you're better that whatever that is(most likely the celine/andrea version) then you have no worries...it DIDN'T work for the guy singing it in front of me... but it WON me the contest. But when you're thinking about "to do or not to do"...I advise you not to listen to your ego which is gonna tell you "you're the best there is" ...In fact- why don't you ask the girl who is harsh with you what she thinks? Sounds like she's not afraid to say it like it is. She sounds like the most beneficial advisor you have. And don't think she's being overly hard on you...you NEED that if you want to win. All the other people are probably fluffin you a bit..heck when I sing at My hometown church- you'd think I had a better voice that all God's Angels combined..which is a HUGE pile of CACA! Look at it this way- you win over your harshest critic...there won't be anyone left to nay say you. But I also have to say that your harshest critic SHOULD be yourself...not some other person. If it isn't, chances are you're overcrediting yourself with having a little more than you actually do. Seriously...I get praise ALL the time..but I have to take it with a grain of salt- because I can ALWAYS hear multiple things that can be improved..Think about it...if you honestly think you've achieved perfection...where else is there for you to go? Every truly great singer is tough on themselves....I think you need to stop listening to other singers that weren't given the talent you apparently have been given...and listen to YOURSELF. I know that deep in your heart you know what I mean...and you know exactly what you need to do. So- GO DO IT! ...and LEARN THE DAYUM LYRICS! Just kidding....couldn't resist saying that again! Go get'em Turi!

_________________

Yeah harsh chick has been helpful.
Maybe too harsh at times but I can take it.

Anthony Calleas version of The Prayer doesn't have any english in the second or third verse, I kinda understand what it says though, it goes on about the light in your heart and remembering you're a star, or something along those lines, I really can't remember too much from Italian >_<

The third verse doesn't have english translation in any verse, but it says something about dreaming of a world without violence, a world of justice and hope, where everyone helps their neighbour as a symbol of peace?

Then it says something like the force that everyone desires is love, everyone finds it all around and within.

Or something like that, not entirely sure maybe someone who paid more attention in Italian can get it right though, since those are just the main words I recognize, there's actually a little more to it than that but I don't understand it.

The harsh chick is my best advisor (besides you, haha), she hasn't heard me do the prayer yet, she's gonna hear it this week sometime (maybe tonight if I can get petrol money, there's a karaoke in a nearby town, but I can't get there), she's really supportive of my voice but she nit-picks the crap out of everything.
But it conflicts with stuff I've been told, I got told like a year ago to put my hand in my pocket when I sing, this chick thinks I shouldn't.
I don't know what else to do with my hand other than put it in my pocket now - originally I used to hold the microphone with 2 hands for some reason, which is probably why I got told to put one of my hands in my pocket, but yeah.

I notice faults in my performances all the time - even in the Unchained Melody she said she preferred over the original - my voice cracked for like a split second in the first "are you still miii-IIINNE" part, nobody noticed it besides me, but I know it happened and the judges will hear that happen.
Somehow it cracked "in tune" though, like it sounded deliberate but it wasn't.

I'll get harsh chick to hear me do the prayer when possible, and I'll come back here with whatever I wind up lacking on.

It sucks the crowd is just gonna sit there and stare at me though, I mean couldn't they get up and dance? Haha.. 'cuz everyone went off when I done "Things Can Only Get Better", and everyone loved "Walking In Memphis".. they are better for active crowds..

But at this place, going by what people who've been there have said - no one dances, they all just sit there and watch you and some people deliberately don't even clap for you and bring their own people along who only cheer for them. ._.

No idea how to beat that besides bring my own "fan club" and try win their people over haha..

Me either... And I don't think you were bragging.

again cueball- thanks!


Turi - you're on the right track...I agree with harsh chick-don't put your hand in your pocket...you will NEVER see a professional vocalist do that unless it is part of a play or something and the scene demands that as part of the staging.. But for songs like the prayer...not under ANY circumstances do you do that. Whoever told you that was a good idea is a RANK AMATEUR...that is the number one telltale sign that a man is nervous or insecure with their singing. You need to watch those links I gave you previously again...watch how they use their hands- you can hold the mic in one hand( and I suggest you DO because you should be able to adjust your level by having the mic close to you mouth or pulling away for louder notes)- so that takes care of one hand...now-go watch professional singers on youtube sing the songs you are considering..and get in a mirror and practice those moves yourself until they feel normal.


You STILL need to buy your own disks- and you wouold be much better served if instead of gas money- you invested in the songs you want to sing so you could stay home and get it right rather than asking people who don't know sh!t about shinola to give you advice. Run a seperate topic here...there are plenty of people who have every known version of "The Prayer" and "unchained melody" ask them to email you MP3's of the songs...when you figure out which version bests suits you- you can buy only that version from whatever manufacturer produced it. yeah- you will have to memorize the lyrics- but you need to anyway.. regarding the prayer...doesn't matter WHAT the ITALIAN lyrics are- you won't get any extra points for doing it in a foreign language- since that seems to be throwing you...listen the the celine dion/andrea bocelli version- transpose those lyrics into whatever version you use and sing the song in ENGLISH. Doesn't matter what lyrics are on the screen- ALL the versions have the same melody...switch them around...heck you may even get brownie points from an english speaking judge for singing it so they understand what you're saying. You're making a mountain out of a molehill...this is simple...find a short version...put some english lyrics to it...and rehearse holding a hairbrish or spoon for a mic...no other way round it... you can sing yourself blue at a show and you won't get the benefits you will from a little home preparation....oh one other "secret" about pros...(wink wink) we ALL sing at home before we do it publicly cuz we don't wanna f-up in front of people. Get crackin boy- you got some workin to do!

_________________

To add a little bit on stage presence.... I am somewhat like you (as you descibed) regarding stage presence. I do not move around much; however, my eyes are NOT glued to the screen for the song (since I have sung these songs so many times, I'm able to glance at the screen from titme to time and get enough to keep going from there). Probably the TOUGHEST thing you will HAVE TO DO, is to memorize all of your songs. As a Karaoke Singer, I know that the screen is a great crutch to rely on, but for every second that your eyes are on that screen, they are NOT on the audience. Once/If you get past the State Finals, you NEED TO sell the song you are singing, and if you look away from the people you are selling it to, you have just lost that sale.

As you described, I too put a lot of emotion into what I sing (at least the serious songs). I try to find something in the song that I can relate to in my life's experiences, and then MAKE THAT SONG MINE!!! An example of some things I may do when singing "This is the Moment".....

2nd stanza (London Version) - "This is the moment, This is the hour. When I can open up tomorrow like a flower. And put my hand to everything I planned to, Fullfill my grand design, see all my stars align."
I soften up my voice on the word "Hour, and when I get to the next line, I'm holding a closed hand outward, and slowly opening it to emulate a flower blooming. Next, I close my hand into a fist, hold my hand upwards, and when I get to the line "Everything I planned to," I have it held against my heart. For the next line, I have now opened my fist and extended my hand outwards, and slowly create an arc with my arm as I look and point upwards to the sky.

It's those little gestures that add to my stage presence (without having to move around).

Hmm well I still got like 3 weeks left.. which really isn't that long now.. it means I've only got like 2 more karaokes unless I go to a out of town one to practice.
I don't practice at home, I sometimes sing along to songs but not too loud 'cuz I like in a apartment block haha, and the landlord lives almost above me. ._.

The hand on pocket thing I should be able to get out of, I mean that's not because I'm nervous or anything it's just I don't know what else to do with it, and yeah the dude who told me to put it in my pocket never actually sang or anything himself.

I've seen one karaoke host dude hold the microphone lead in his other hand, which seemed like something I should probably pick up, honestly basically every other guy I've seen at karaoke does the same thing as me, unless they are the people who actually jump around like psychos.

The chicks have it easy they just do like a sexy dance or something and no one complains.
Dudes can't do that or we look gay we have to actually think of something to do.

I don't need my own discs, this competition is supplied by the same people who supply the karaoke host here, their versions of the songs I want to do are the exact same they even have the same code, so I think I got lucky there since I've been doing the versions they have this whole time (and they are the versions I am best at).

If I stick with the Prayer, I'm not gonna swap it to english since my italian is passable apparently, and I get people cheer sometimes as soon as I swap language which is a added bonus of the song.

I don't have much time to get my (@$%&#!) together and not look at the screen and jack up my stage presence but I've got at least 2 more karaokes left to try this.. more if I go to out of town ones (which I really should just for the not-look-at-screen experience)..

As for hand actions and stuff, well I do them when I don't have a screen there.. when I do like jam nights or sing in front of people with my guitar, or even just singing songs for music (I am a music student performance is a main part of it).. I look around at everyone and stuff and move around, but when there's a screen there I feel like I'd be acting a little too cocky or doing the wrong thing somehow by not looking at it haha.
I'll just pretend it's not there next time I think, I NEED to force myself to push through this barrier since I'm running out of time. >_<

I still don't even know what song I want to do, they are going to probably call me this week or next week and confirm my song choice (right now it's The Prayer), agh.. I'm gonna go insane if I don't settle on a song soon >_<

What KIND of songs have got yous through competitions?
Or what songs have you seen win these kind of competitions?

Because it's hard for me to decide between a ballad and something more upbeat, by upbeat it would be more along the lines of danceable (like Walking In Memphis) and not rock, since well everyone does rock songs here. ._.

if the screne is impacting your performance- then you definitely SHOULD act like it's not there. Regarding what people think of you...if you think making it obvious that you know the song and don't have to look at the screen is "cocky" then you're gonna get an azzwhuppin Turi. THAT'S the whole point. You seriously need to act like it's not there.


I said it before- I'll say it again even if i sound like a broken record. You need to practice...AT HOME....IN FRONT OF A MIRROR!! Knock on your landlords door(and all the other neighbors too for that matter) let' them know that you are in an international competition and need to practice..I PROMISE they won't mind. If you're as good as you say you are...they will most likely WELCOME you to do so. Just do it sometime other than 3 am OK? (WINK)

If you won't buy the disks..then ask the KJ at the show you go to to RECORD them on a CD for you to practice with. Ask people on here to EMAIL you copies of the songs you need to sing. Where there is a will ...there is a way. And 2 karaokes are NOt enough for you to get comfortable with the songs...to breakout of looking at the monitors, to stop putting your hand in your pocket...and to get some stage presence. I hear you making all kind of excuses why you can't do what I'm telling you you NEED to do if you want to win this thing. FIND A WAY..GET THE SONGS....SING THEM AT HOME....I feel like I'm wasting my breath(or fingers typing in this case) because you're not listening. I charge 100 an HOUR to teach this kind of thing to students. One of my protegees got 3rd in a international competiton similar to the one you're in- that had 80,000 compete on a local level and she's going back to try to WIN again in the fall. She's also competing at the end of this month in another national competition for 5000- currently sh'es in the final 80 out of almost 50,000 local contestants. I may sound harsh with you- but you should see the way I whip her tail...I make her sing songs over and over...sometimes I make her sing one or 2 lines over and over...but it gets results because the only way you retain that kind of knowledge - is where it has been done so many times that it is second nature for you. When you are under pressure of competition- you WILL NOT be able to do all that you need to do if you don't put more than 2 karaoke's into it. You're letting your ego tell you a big fat whopper if you think you can go all the way t nationals much less internationals without rehearsal. You may win your state- if they all "suck" as you say they have in the past- on sheer vocal ability...but when you get to the upper levels- you're gonna run into someone that has every bit as good of a voice as you do...and they are gonna be loaded for bear...namely YOU...with the performance aspect of it. So you better get your big guns out, load them, polish the crap out of them and TARGET PRACTICE... or you will get mauled- no matter what you sing. Don't let incidentals keep you from looking at the big picture. What you sing is not nearly as important as what VERSION of it you sing...and HOW you sing it. Personally, if you are as good vocally as you say you are the "prayer" and "unchained melody" are both great songs. Again- personally- it's not often that you get someone who can really nail those high notes on Unchaied melody- so I;d say do that one. But the bottom line is...which is th shorter of the two? THAT'S the one I'd do. If you have talent- you only need 60 seconds to show it. if you were auditioning for an agent in NY, or on Broadway- they give you 16 bars...that;s about 30 seconds. if you go mad chops- that;s all they need to hear- and anything else is gravy.


You asked me what i do in contests...Don't know what that woud help..but I'm known for "I am changing" and "and i am telling you" from dreamgirls, I also do barry whites "Can't get enough of your love"(THAT truly freaks people out! ) I also amknown for "Lady Marmalade" complete with the moulin rough costume and FULL choreography( though THAt one need SERIOUS rehearsal to sing it AND do the choreography- I get out of breath THINKING about it!..then again it HAS won me literally thousands o dollars! So I guess it's worth it) I do peabo brysons "feel the fire" and even the eagles "desperado" in preliminary rounds( I save the big guns for the finals) actually...now that I think about it....the last 3 i just listed are in my subs over in the showcase. It's all about doing something you own way...and that way needs to be as good as the original...or completely different. I would never in a million years say that I am "as good" as Barry White, peabo cryson, or the Eagles...but I will say that when I am singing their songs- I don't sound like them at all- or make ANY attempt to do so...it gives me an edge because people don't expect it...and it is refreshing to them. Actually...come to think of it..."Desperado" and "somewhere in my lifetime" in my subs over in the SS are actually live recordings from one of the international contests I won. They were both from the first of 3 rounds I had to get through at the final level(that's after I got through the qualifying, local and regional parts of the competition). In the international finals- We started with 120 peoplethe first 2 nights)...narrowed it to 20 the third night)..then to 5 on the final night. the top 3 people took home 3500, 1500, and 500 respectivly. It sounds like it was run much the same way as the one you are in... check them out..you'll probably be running into someone like "me" at the upper levels of competition. If you want to see the actual performance- send me your email and I'll shoot you the videos. I can also send you the video from the final night with the big stage that similar to the one you'll be on if you make it all the way in your contest. I strongly suggest that you watch them..there were PLENTY of people every bit as talented as I am vocally in that contest...many even went "over the top" with the costuming like me...but stage presence is my strong suit...and I don't "jump all over the stage like a psycho" as you aptly put it. Bottom line- it doesn't matter what you sing...as long as you sing it with passion and conviction and you perform it like you believe it whole heartedly. As Cueball said. you have to SELL the lyrics of the song... that means you have to make your buyer "the audience and judges" believe you're not shovelling a load of BS. You let me know if you're interested(and any of you other folks keeping up with this thread...just send me your email addy if you wanna see what I'm talking about- I'll be glad to email y'all the videos too! ) So you think about it turi and let me know if you wanna take me up on my offer. So far I don't think you have a realistic understanding of how to get where you want to go. You'd already have the recordings and be practicing if you did. JMHO.

_________________

Oneofakind is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!

Going out for 2 evenings of Karaoke is NO WAY to practice for a contest of the magnitude described here. All that will buy you is 3 minutes of practice, and the only thing that this will be good for, is to gauge (sp?) the Audience reaction to your singing. Keep in mind, at your average Karaoke show, you're dealing with average people there, probably more than half of them with no talent at all... people that will be watching you, and not really paying any attention to how you appear on the stage, or whether you picked up your left foot instead of your right foot when you moved a little bit up there. Shoot!!! If I had a penny for every person that's approached me after I've sung "This is the Moment" or "Bring Him Home, or "Music of the Night," and told me that I should be on Broadway, I'd be rich. Most of these people that are telling me this are either drunk, or have never been to a Broadway show to know the difference. Yes!, I AM GOOD!!! I don't deny that.... I just know my talent for what it's worth. I can entertain when I go out, and I am happy with that.

Now, getting back to YOU.... Practice at home as much as you can. Sing those songs over and over again. Sing them until you feel you have reached perfection, and then sing them again. As Oneofakind just said (and I would have said it if she didn't), if you even have half the voice that you describe, then your neighbors aren't going to mind you practicing over and over again.

When I was a member of (the now defunct JOLT Forum), several of us used to volunteer to make Tapes/CDs of each of us singing. Some were themed (Broadway, Gender Benders, Love Songs, Songs about Weather, etc...), and some were not. We would record ourselves, and mail our submissions to the person who volunteered to do the project, and then a few months later, we would receive a finished project that consisted of all of us (that participated) in a Karaoke Rotation style. When I was recording myself for these projects, I would record over and over again until I was happy with it. Several recordings were not as good as I would have liked them to be, but I settled. One song that I had recorded was "As If We Never Said Goodbye" (Babs' version), and I must have sung that song over 50 times in a 2 week period, until I was really happy with the recording. At one point, when I was singing it, I even heard my neighbor applauding (on the other side of the wall in her apartment) when I finished one of my takes. This is what YOU have to do. REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT!!!!!.... Keep singing it at home OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER until you are wiped out. Then rest and try it again tomorrow.

REMEMBER.... Practice is REPITITION!!!!!!!!

I vote for practicing in front of a mirror over and over, go to your two karaoke shows (if they have a good host) and try out your practice in front of them. Don't pick your nose with your free hand! I can't believe oneofakind didn't tell you that with all the other great stuff she told you!

_________________
KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Hey...if picking his nose is "in character"....have at it...just leave any...er...."treasure found whilst "digging" IN said nose until a kleenex and OFF stage locale is found


Hey Cue...ain't it a GREAt way to meet the neighbors? I lived there for 2 years and didn't even know their names...now they ALL know me and vise versa~ But turi has to get the copes of the songs first. Any of you have them to email him? "unchained melody" and "the prayer"?

_________________

Yup! I have had several of my neighbors ask if that was me singing.

well Cue- I guess we'll wait and see if Turi is serious...Since you have the songs to send him- he's got no excuse ..HEYTURI???????? You read this yet? Cue has both songs and is willing to send them to you..all ya gotta do is ask!

_________________

I didn't say I had the songs he's looking for.

oops I thought the "yup" you posted was saying you had the songs. Sorry...but either way- there have got to be several people on this site who DO have them. I asked for Michael Buble's "sway" a few days ago and got every possible arrangement to hear...it was beyond kewl to get to compare all the different versions. If Turi is serious- all he has to do is ask. We'll see how serious he is.

_________________

Anyone who can send chills up people's spines with "Unchained Melody" gets a from me. I wish I could do that. I BS'ed my way through "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" once when the KJ asked me to try it -- he's in an area band and the band used to play it at every gig. Though I can produce the actual pitches of both of the Notes Of Death (yay!), I couldn't produce them in sufficient volume to avoid sounding like crap (boooooo!). Much respect to you.

OP, please listen to Ms. Champ here. I will never enter a competition, but I did judge a regional round of Talent Quest last year. (I'm somewhat well known in my hometown as a function of my job and was brought in as a celebrity judge -- even though I 100% disagree with the idea that I'm a celebrity. ) I heavily docked some of the best singers who trotted up because of the stage presence no-nos she has mentioned here. Many of the songs I like most to do are quite long with extended instrumentals, which would mean instant death. Can you say the Who?

Sounds like you're pretty conscientious about the whole thing, and I hope you can get it together.

THanks for backig me up Mike. As a judge I'd also love it if you addressed the time length of the song being a big thing.if you were judging a TQ regional you were sitting there for a WHILE I'm sure-LOL...would you not have appreciated someone who- once they proved what they could do- sang a shorter version of a song? Was there even ONE singer you wanted to hear ANOTHER verse or chorus from? Heck- when I've competed- my own MOM wanted me to sing shorter versions so the competitions could be over faster- and SHE loved me! ! As a judge wouldn't you appreciate a contestant who left you "wanting more"?

_________________