Thread: Watched something today that blew me away.

For some time now a chum of mine who is a singer/songwriter (think Bonnie M and others of that ilk) has been telling me that I need to SING the song, to FEEL the song, this all came about when I was singing and playing more or less along side of him one time. Seems I just sing the words and that is it, well, this afternoon I watched a program on Sky Arts that has just did my head in, talk about emotion from the singer never mind my emotions watching her..........Judy Garland.............This is the first time I have ever seen Judy sing/dance other than The Wizard Of Oz.
At the end of the program, her daughter Lorna Luft, showed a video of her mum in a stage production singing a song that has more or less never seen before being sang in this way, "Some Where Over The Rainbow" and jeez did it blow me away, she really, really sang that song like she really, really did want to fly over the rainbow and wondered hopelessly why she couldn't. I need to go and have a long hard think about my singing prowess methinks!

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i think it definately shows in performance when someone is "living" the lyrics and not just going through the motions as it were...but its not limited to just singing i think it applies across the board...if you commit to something then do it wholeheartedly and it makes a huge difference whether its singing, performing , teaching or something just as simple as reading your kids a bedtime story...your audience does appreciate it and responds accordingly. xxx

Yes, very true Agapanthus, it also helps to believe in ones self. If anyone tells me I sound good or play well or do the magic good I just curl up and die, go to pieces then stop doing whatever it was out of abject terror..............Yeah, I know I am being silly considering I spend or did spend, a lot of time on here telling people how great they were etc when they had misgivings about themselfs. Anyway, I like the term you used "Living The Lyrics". Need to remember that

sometimes your own advice is the hardest to take though. im very similar to yourself...supportive and complimentary to those that deserve it and in my case beause i havent ever been given either myself...therefore i know how crappy it feels and not wanting others to endure similar...

What was that version like? I have seen one of Judy Garland singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' in the same kind of character as when she sang 'A Couple of Swells' in Easter Parade and wow, what a performance!

Being a singer, too, I can struggle with this at times. I find it easier when singing showtunes, there's a ready made character for me to step into but with the rest of the songs I sing (mainly jazz / blues) I need to try and draw on feelings, emotions, personal experience . Now, call me soft, sensitive, emotional (whatever!) but on occasion, I can 'feel' the song a little too much and I have to reign myself in before I become a blubbering wreck on stage - I can only imagine the look on the faces of the audience! Yet, on other occasions I can come off stage thinking, "yes, I sang that song but did I really SING it"? Then again, I'm my own worst critic and will always find something to pick at in my peformances!

My all time favourite singer was Ella Fitzgerald, a voice which, in my opinion, can not be rivaled but as fabulous as she was, she did come under criticism for just 'singing' the songs and not actually 'feeling' them - but it doesn't alter the fact that I think she was truely amazing.

And yes, it's only now that I'm able to take the compliments that people give me! It used to make me so uncomfortable that I just wanted the ground to swallow me up - and after all the hard work and rehearsing I'd put in.........crazy! A friend told me I was actually being quite rude by not accepting compliments and that if someone (more often than not, a complete stranger) had gone out of their way to show their appreciation then it would be extremely ungracious and ungrateful of me not to accept it.......

Much love, Coco : )

Hi Coco (waves). Yes, she sang it at the end of a stage show where she also did "We are a couple of swells". The emotion was just unbearable, I sat here crying my eyes out at it.

You know something Coco? Not once have I ever thought that I was upsetting those who compliment me. But, yes, now I see why Louise gets upset when I ask her how a song was when I have prscticed it and she has said it was good and I have retorted "Well, I think it was utter shite."

Thanks for that Coco.

I must think on this some more.

*wave back to you*!

Well, once you've thought about it and if you come up with any winning formulas, please let me know! xx