Karaoke Forums

Steven, having turned 51 this month I can relate to much of what you are talking about.  However I have only been singing the last 10 years. (I didn't know I could before that)

Being a full time fire chief I don't get the exercise I used to.  5 days a week behind a desk call for me to get back to exercising. In addition to my part time karaoke I also have a three other guys who I have formed a "vocal" group that we have done many events over the past couple of years.  We normally will do a four hour non-stop show.

I don't think I can do that any longer without getting myself back in shape.  I have a bad back to begin with and it's my knees and back that are worse for wear at the end of the night.  My voice thankfully is still there.  Like you, I know I should warm up first, but don't.  I simply get around that by my selection.  I can sing about anything but having a talent for being better at the old 50's & 60's style. (tenor).

Out of about 400 songs I can sing I have found this past year that about 15 of them I have had to drop down a half step from the original key.  Guess that goes with age.  Most people don't notice.  Songs like "Sherry" and "Hey There Lonely Girl" I have to drop a full step.

The other thing I don't do anymore just because I don't seem to take the time is practice as much as I should.  At least it's been a profitable hobby.  Nobody ever wanted to pay to see me fish or golf.

Kelly

For voice there are different types of sore. Some things were never meant to get to that point so if you get there you have to avoid using your voice at all for days or even weeks. Other kinds of sore involve body parts adjusting to the new kind of use but not abuse.

If the rules are followed in voice, you never get the bad kind of sore throat. It is so easy to skip a step in warming up or not focus well enough on breathing whlie singing that I have hurt my throat about 20 times since age 17. I have lost my voice twice.

I know the question was meant for 45+ and I am a bit shy of that but since I broke a lot of rules in voice I thought I could give you at least part of the answer.

Thanks Chuck,  45 was just an arbitrary number based on when I noticed I started physically deteriorating. Those that have experience in singing, instrument playing, (ANY performing art for that matter) that are 25 noticing potential probs, adaptations, and skills of any age are of course welcome too. Mid-late 40's is when I REALLY started noticing muscular-skeletal degeneration starting, hand and finger swelling, waking up having a tough time opening and closing my hand after a few hours of piano, bass or guitar.. that was when I had to rethink methods, duration spent doing certain things, etc. Or, it was the first time I ever had to moderate any behaviour (being a compulsive person, that of course sucks).  Injuries that didn't leave.  Some notice this at 25 and others seem to go strong at 60..ALOT of genetic stuff comes into play.. When both parents have bad arthritis at a young age, as an artist or athlete you are pretty much assured of one thing... YOU ARE F___'d when you get older ...  But all are welcome to discuss changes and adaptations in accordance to these changes at any point.

I know Guitar Player magazine editors, and have even spoken with guitarists (won't namedrop) who finally put certain ideas to rest.. At some point we DO need to go to super light gauge strings, and make certain adaptations because NO MATTER how much we worked out, or practiced when we were young, there's little correlation between shape when young, and a different set of obstacles life brings as we age.... Just like with sports activities, rather than stop at a certain age, we must make certain changes..Otherwise the activity becomes a burdon and dreaded.  I don't ever want NOT to be able to play an instrument.. I wasn't happy about having to give up participating in certain sports I once loved..I had little choice there..but I doubt I'll be able to move much at all when I'm BB kings age, unless some wonder-substance comes along..

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

You sure do have talent Kelly !  I enjoyed listening to you a few months back !  Excellent voice !

As for what you are saying, I think our mind is the last to accept the fact that we aren't what we were once, and for good reason too !  Who wants to accept/admit certain things ?  This is why many athletes end up with crippling rebound injuries..The arduous training when we are young, becomes much different than the concept of moderation we must adapt as we age. Even pertaining to lifting, doing physical things etc, I just don't get it yet.. Finally had to hurt myself arm-wrestling with the youngsters at a bar 4 years ago to realize, I CAN NOT do this EVER again  LOL. There can no longer be even flag or touch football unfortuneatly.  No soccer, no basketball, or anything that involves endurance, stamina, hand/eye coordination, etc, and some activities just are no fun if you most pamper yourself.. So moderation playing these sports isn't something I know, or really enjoy, past activities can easily become a means of suicide ...  Tried playing just catch with the baseball two years ago, and took more balls to the face than ever before, the damn ball looked as though it was going to land in the pocket of my glove ...  I HATE admitting this stuff to myself even more than I'd admitting it, but it's a reality, that with age, certain changes in activities we loved all along must change.. At some point we do need to make some changes, warmup even when we hate doing it (because it alway seemed to be an additional step that's boring/not so important, etc..)

Athletic HS kids often find this stuff out in their 20's..  I suppose we are lucky at 50 to have been given thru our 30's to have kept up certain paces without back and neck probs impeding us..  Most HS and college athletes I know are now in chronic discomfort or all out pain   Those that injured a forgiving part of their body when younger, seem to be getting rebound discomfort in mid-life.  Noone is totally free from this aging process. Well, I suppose it does beat the alternative

Needless to say Kelly, as a fire chief you know all too well how miscalculations, and not knowing ones limitations by being in tuned to the body/mind states can mean life or death. For me,  I just hurt,  for you.. You CAN'T make certain mistakes, or allow them to happen in the first place.  I'm sure you are more aware of your own limitations, and the limitations of those working closely than most of us are ! In some professions mistakes don't forgive.  I suppose I've had the luxury of immaturity regarding this stuff

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

Like Kelly I too started late and never realised I could sing till my late 30s
I am now *cringe* over 45. Nothing hurts vocally yet, but many is the time I cannot speak the next day.
No soreness just no voice. But I have given all I had the night before.
I too sing anything within my range and do not warm up, simply start with easy songs to warm the voice
I know its wrong

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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."

Yeah but in a sense we are willing to take the risk.  I go thru this with my mom all the time when the folks visit, and start castigating me for having a lot of diet soda, and crap foods in the fridge..  To this I exclaim, "Look,  I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke, I do VERY little for fun, if I can't enjoy eating junk I'll die of boredom", If we have to warmup, it kills some of the fun IMO... That also takes time..

Exercizes and warmups aren't fun.. I can't stand playing scales, I wouldn't want to sit around singing solfege expanding my range 1/2 hour before a night out singing for fun.  Who would ?    Students do this in school always hoping to be able to junk these things in time.. Not revert to them.

JMO..

(warmups suck)    <pout>

Really,  if it's too much work,  it just aint fun !!!  Even though I DO realize they must be done..  Still,  they suck !!!

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

Steve, I'm sure you've heard your share of vocal warm-ups. It is one of the funniest things I've ever heard and getting through them without cracking up is a challenge in itself sometimes.

With instrumental warm-ups it at leasts sounds like you're accomplishing something. The face streching excercises we do are a hoot.

I know Chuck,  It reminds me of the opening to "THe road to Wellville" where they are standing there

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho

with the pianist..  learning how to laugh.

Even in acting classes, some of those Constantine Stanislowski exercizes were quite goofy too.. The trust exercizes,  diving into peoples arms.. When they say "Jump Kappy Jump" Really it just prepares us for our niche in life by humbling us..

You, know... "and what would you like for desert Ma'am ? Did you enjoy your dinner ?  I'm your waiter Kappy"

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

actually I would really like to learn how to yawn a note to get those high ones. Dofa tried to explain once and none are better in my opinion...but I just couldnt get it

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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."

I think what Dofa alludes to with the "yawning" effect is it opens up the soft palate and gives the higher notes a broader tone (imagining an egg--yes and egg--in your mouth helps  too).  All too scientific if you ask me.

I'm gonna just put an egg in my mouth and see what happens.

http://www.singers.com/juke/

Go to the contemporary section and listen to "Shambala" Rockapella will floor you !
Scott Leonard, high tenor - Kevin Wright, tenor - John Brown, baritone - George Baldi, bass - Jeff Thacher, vocal percussion

This is JUST vocals, no instrumentals.  My guess is they are popping the microphone, or tapping the screen to get the bass drum however.

Also listen to the Exboyfriends "Ramble On"..  :shock:





Have fun.  Some great genre's and a cappella groups here.  I wish I could recall the site I entered here a year ago..  might've been jukebox but a different format.  I don't recall..

It's all free..

Under vocal jazz, be sure to listen to "Swingle Singers" Girl from Ipanema.  Tough to understand the vocals with that New York accent of course .  Listen to the clarity of the percussion done vocally.. pretty good set of ride cymbals they have for vocal chords

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

So it's Kappy get's ready for bedtime.  I have the local Muzak station on the radio, and this pretty song came up, never heard it before.. Thank Jehovah for being able to feed a few lyrics into a web-searcher and getting results.  While I didn't do a thorough search for the woman who was singing it, This is what came up !

How ever old it is, or whomever has covered the composition, it's a pretty easy-listening song..

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/holdonto.htm



The station just announced this song was Diana Ross ?  WOW.... I never have guessed that...  "Just holdon forever"

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

Here ya go Steven.  And a lovely song it is!

http://www.yousendit.com/download/JjtditGFwLh5TA==

Thanks Don..  This is going to be a dare for Milo and Billy !  I'd like them to do this as a trading verses format !   It'd work out great for those two !!  I'd sing it with Billy but people might get the wrong Idea


Incidently,  I was searching for specs on my Yamaha CP-25 electric piano in order to try to get stereo into my PA on the first two presets (that give the rhodes and wurly tones), when I turn balance to right I get nothing..

Running piano stereo channels out into Boss keyboard mixer and into my Soundtech quikmix 6 (which seems to defeat tonal spectrum aspects)... Well, to make a long story short.  THIS site came up !   Yamaha 25th anniversary electric piano re-issues !   This is almost as exciting as the Pinder Mellotron reissue fron "Mellotron" that still manufactures in Canada, and The Hammond B-3 HUGE WOOD re-issues...

Here goes !

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Con ... WS,00.html

I played one of the first midi keys back around 81 or-so..  The yamaha GS series... GS-1 AND 2 !  The piano was gorgeous (used ram cards and presets) thru the electrovoice PA bins !...  I really do feel that for A LOT of technology state of the art has passed !  But this is just my own opinion.  More bells/whistles and frills today, and more techno-ethereal settings (percussion as well) but with nobs and a piano sound even the arp sliders (omni) analog synth had ALOT of variety too !  I can disturb EVERY dog in a two mile radius with my ARP Omni-2  LOL

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

This isn't all that bad for covering the Ronstadt version of this JT song !   In fact, it'd be a bast to orchestrate and add a third harmony to, too bad synth can'
t really do a decent pedal steel guitar !  This man has a very good ear for harmony !
While her voice isn't trained (she does have a decent voice), I feel these two do quite well together. The acoustics and recording of this aren't that great, likely the room and equipment.  These two with some recording help can really be excellent IMHO....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRdS_i83 ... ed&search=


Oh yeah,  you can tell she's quite nervous too !

Anyway,  I really enjoyed this !   I just wish he did one less seque on the intro.
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Personally I think in terms of solo rendition, this kid did quite a good job,  Great synch on the video though, eh ?   I find this to be a hilarious comment !

 LMAO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtjne7DW ... ed&search=

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and in terms of fuller harmony structure, this is interesting.  One of the harmonies is quite off IMHO...  See if you can hear it.  I can't sing the blues anyMORE... when I'm GONE.... Listen to the way one of the harmonies sustains his part without resolution. To me this is inappropriate disonance that's created where the composition needs resolution !  that should've resolved rather than sustained IMO.  What do you think ??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7fcIXi ... ed&search=

My God,  maybe I've gone off the deepend, but that ANYMORE harmony really hurts !    LOL .. That one especially needs resolution, one or two other mishaps he could've gotten away with perhaps.  Or maybe  he just was thrown off, and focused on parallel harmony, still, it clashes !.. btw...Delange is a Dutch country-pop singer

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

This is a VERY good job of JT's "Something in the way she moves"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLyoG3GVO-k

The kid really does a nice  job on the guitar part too.  Get's alot of JT's intricacies.
Extremely talent kid who's REALLY got the feel for this style !


Can you say "Ethereal" ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7YwJEgp ... ed&search=

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

Remember a few of us were talking about the knack many Filipino musicians have to cover western pop !   This guy was enjoyable to listen to.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM8kgIIvYYQ

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

Kappy have you ever heard of a canadian band called moxy fruvous?

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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."

I have just subbed them (the band themselves) in SS as a dedication for Kappy's birthday and apologies for it being so late

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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."