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What is your motivation for singing?
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Author:  Karen K [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:56 pm ]
Post subject:  What is your motivation for singing?
Someone asked me this last night - I started out with my usual response that first of all, the endorphin release one experiences with singing is, to me, better than any drug there is, man-made or otherwise. Then I had to stop and think - I know when I don't get to sing for a period of time, I feel like I may burst.

I have only just recently decided that my voice is okay so I definitely don't have a need to stroke my ego by singing. I get a lot of accolades and offers to 'buy you a drink for singing like that' but it's really weird - I was reading another post that made reference to ego - that is DEFINITELY NOT my motivation for singing.

When I hear singers like Bocelli, who was on a PBS special the other night, I immediately have the desire to sing. So obviously appreciating someone else's singing increases my desire to 'let loose' with a melody.

I am just wondering what others feel about this subject - is it an intrinsic personality trait that us singers share? Or what? I'm really curious to hear others' comments on this.

K
Author:  mckyj57 [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
I started in August of 2005 because I wanted to quit smoking. 8-)

I never really sang -- Happy Birthday, Christmas carols, and once a year around the piano at an annual party was it. But often people would say something like "you have a pretty good voice".

I haven't drank alcohol for a lot of years, so I never went to bars. And never having gone to bars, I had never seen karaoke. One night we went to dinner where they were having karaoke. I got up and sang, and had a good time. My cousins were fantastic -- one of them is a pro singer.

I had quit smoking for a year one time before, and when I was near the end of that, the annual party happened and I was singing. My father's best friend turned to me and said "I didn't know you had such a good voice". He had been there with me at least a half-dozen times before while I was smoking, and I did notice my voice was more powerful.

So anyway, when I ran across karaoke and wanted to quit smoking, I decided to take it up as an incentive to not start again. That has worked, but I am now as addicted to karaoke as I ever was to nicotine. If I didn't have a business to run, I would probably become a host. I do a fair amount of amateur hosting -- about 25 gigs to date.

Bottom line, I get a charge when people come out of the other room to see who is singing, or when they turn and watch me the entire time. I love the attention -- a natural-born ham.
Author:  Dennisgb [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
I have been singing my whole life. I was encouraged as a youngster to try out for a very prestigous choir. I was accepted, and from then on have been trained and practiced as a vocalist. I have sung opera and rock n roll professionally.

I am a perfectionist in some ways, and really enjoy it when I can master a difficult song and then perform it well. The perfectionist comes from my opera training, and it's very hard to shake. If you heard me sing, you would not believe that I have opera training, as I prefer to sing with rock, rip and gravel.

Over the last few years, I have added new songs more to please the crowd and a  style of music, than to impress. It's important not to upstage the singers. I tend to throw funny, novelty or audience  preference music into the mix, to liven things up or change the pace. I generally only do a very few songs on a normal night...maybe only the lead-in or end songs if I have a lot of singers.

I still enjoy singing though, and over the years dj/karaoke has improved the mix of my musical taste. I've found a lot of music that I listen to on my own time, that I never would have listened to before I started doing karaoke. That's a great benefit of being a KJ
Author:  OperaKitty [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
I have been singing my whole life.  It is the sheer joy of it and the "rush" I get from it that keeps me going.
Author:  Steven Kaplan [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
Frustration that I can't !  It irks me that as a musician, this is the TOUGHEST artistic area I've ever attempted since I threw out my Capezio pointe shoes, the tutu, and gave up hopes of the Bolshoi.  Besides, I want to clone Brad Delp, and get the Boston gig  :shock:


Besides that, there's no rational reason. Most (with the paucity of singing ability I've been blessed with) would spend the time I've been dedicating (to this fiasco) doing something productive (like typing in chatrooms).  Must be an S&M thang doncha know.

It's a tough challenge, I don't even enjoy it due to the level of frustration and difficulty I'm having accepting how my voice sounds naturally. Sort've like the golfer that spends time at the 19th hole moaning about the game, it just ends up a source of aggitation which is seemingly counterproductive.  Since the only goal is to be able to sing, thus-far enjoyments not there.  Maybe Golf would be a better bet.
Author:  Lonman [ Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
Enjoyment, ego plays no factor into it otherwise i'd be like other hosts singing every rotation just to be heard or 'signal the top of the next round'.
Author:  sidewinder [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
I like singing. I'm good and music makes me happy. :D
Author:  supercharged [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
to me its pretty much just a lifelong love of music. Basicly Im a better singer than I was Bass player or drummer lol. I guess singing and production are my musical strong points. I wish I could say im really good, but im not. there are a few songs that i sing really well. I try not to do those unless I have a show with lots of great singers.  Im told by the one girl who ALWAYS requests it  that when I sing "forever in blue jeans" I sound like Neal did 20 years ago. Yes thats a big nice complement but not why I sing. if it was I would like stated above be singing in every rotation. thats something that gets on my every nerve. I hate when we have to sing every 4th or 5th song cuz the bar is not singing.
Author:  Jian [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
What is your motivation for singing?  

The lady seated next to me at the bar :yes:  I want to impress her with my singing. Never succeeded yet. :(
Author:  TomTom [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
Well, growing up in Philla.Pa in the sixties, we were always singing something some where. subways tubes, Elevated stairwells, anywhere three or four of us could get together, and find the right sound. Keep in mind what we now call oldies & doo wop, were current hits then. Loved to do the Tokens, Lou Christy, and Duprees.  But alass the hit the big puberty, and the voice went into the basement. When I joined the service in the mid 60's the singing pretty well stopped for almost 25 years, never even thought about it. Last June (07) my girl friend and I were out having a few, when she talked into trying a song. Having never done it (and having had a few) I said why not. Well that was the night she created this monster.. I found that my love for music and song was alive, just buried. I guess my motivation to sing, is just that "to sing". Of course if there is a positive reaction for the bar, that's a little extra. I think the one time I'll always remember was this past christmas, at my sisters holiday party.. We were fooling around, and just going through song after song, a complete mix, and a moving party, Then I started to sing "Christmas in Dixie" and all of the sudden I noticed that it was real quite, except for me. when I looked everyone was looking at me and smiling.. after the song was over, they even clapped... WOW you want to talk about motivation, here it was, family, friends and even people you just met, applauding you and the song you just did... Now that's motivation my friend, and the people that we have here on this site, are also another VERY strong motivational tool.... Dang, didn't mean to ramble on but you asked....thanks for the chance....Tom
Author:  renedh [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
It's pretty much what everyone has already said - the sheer joy of it, the rush, the endorphines - it's the feel good factor. After a hard day or week at work I need to sing - whether at the bar or just as home by myself - it relaxes me and makes me feel good. Another upside is that I have met a lot of really nice people who also love to sing as much as I do:)))
Author:  atxklown [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
Getting over fear of public speaking, been singing for years but still never gave a public speech.

And I want to hear this song, no one else would do it, so sign my name on the list with that song to sing.
Author:  TxDavid [ Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
Getting a rise out of the crowd, making them laugh, and getting them to dance.
Author:  Laura [ Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
In a word:



___FUN!!!!!!!!!!!___    :dancin:  :oh yeah:  :worship:  :need hug:
Author:  ml_texas [ Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
I love to perform.  I love to hear the applause from an audience who appreciates what I do. I love the energy of a live performance. I enjoy meeting the people who come to my shows.  I appreciate the fact that people would actually take their time to support my music.  They take their time to come to my shows to listen to me sing.  Many of them do not miss any shows I do.  Their friendship and dedication to me is an extra encouragement to me.  I dont do it for the money, I have a good day job.  I sing because of the many people who want to hear me.  I do not say this out of having an ego, I say this humbly, in appreciation for the many people who constantly overwhelm me with their devotion to my music. I feel so blessed and honored that anyone would care that much. I just feel I should give back to them as much as I can. Last Saturday, I did the longest show I have ever done. I sang on stage for 5 hours with only a 15 minute break in the middle of the show, just to get a drink of water and talk to as many as I could who were seated close to the stage--Mike
Author:  Karen K [ Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
Wow, Mike! You truly are a troubador! I don't think my voice would hold out for five hours.  Wish I lived closer to you - would love to come and listen to you.

k
Author:  ml_texas [ Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
I did really well until the last hour and then I began to notice that I was struggling to keep my voice.  More than anything, I was exhausted from being on stage for so long. I give everything I have when I perform, and it takes a lot out of me. The people who come to my shows are so good to me.  I know they are there just to see and hear me.  Some of these folks sat for the whole 5 hours. I did not repeat any songs either. I sang different songs and put on a show for 5 hours just because of the people who were there! They give so much to me, I wanted to give something back in return!--Mike
Author:  mrdelicious2 [ Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
Definately it's just for the fun.  If I tried out for American Idol............I can hear Simon saying....."What in the Bloody hell was that, that has got to be the worst audition I've ever heard!?!"  Trust me, I'll stick to my day job, then use singing to unwind and have a good time...MrD
Author:  Dennisgb [ Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
atxklown @ Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:28 pm wrote:
Getting over fear of public speaking, been singing for years but still never gave a public speech.


Funny, I have been singing for 40 years, some professional, some as a KJ, and I still get totally freaked and nervous when I have to get up in front of a bunch of people and speak. I don't think it's the same...and I don't think singing will cure your fear of public speaking...unless you can sing your speech  :D
Author:  Flipper [ Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is your motivation for singing?
I sing because it's a great way to release stress and renew the spirit. I found out that there was an entertainer trapped inside my body for all of these years and it had no outlet. Now for an hour or two a week the entertainer gets to come out and play.

When I first started singing I was not very good, but I really got a rush out of it so much so that after about my 4th time singing in a bar I went out and purchased a home karaoke machine and purchased a few discs with my favorite songs to get started with. I practiced until I got good.

I sit back 12 years later and reflect back, most of my friendship base to day is with people that share my love for karaoke with and they are a great bunch of people , I have a successful karaoke business that spans 9 years, and I sing every chance I can get.
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