How can you go about determining the best songs to sing? The ones that define what you are about and why?
There is no way MapQuest can tell you how to get from the local hole-in-the-wall up to Hollywood, yet a big part of a singer’s success arises from having a good nose for sniffing the right songs in the best time. So, how can you determine if you are determining the best songs to sing?
Some of you may feel that a good singer ought to be able to sing any song at all — like the phonebook. But there are certain parameters — social, vocal, and age — that define what exactly is normally regarded as acceptable. So why ask for trouble? Why not get songs that are right for you?
Age Appropriate
To start with, songs ought to be age appropriate. If you are young and you haven’t had 14 steamy love affairs, it’s hard to sing “You give me fever, baby” well. It always shocks me whenever a nine-year-old turns up with a song about whiskey and failed second marriages. Alternatively, neither should a mature artist ramble on about what takes place after school and the end of summer vacation.
Vocal Range
I’ve found that a majority of singers choose songs that are way too high for them to sing easily. Perhaps they feel the necessity to challenge themselves. Forget that, you need to sing what makes you sound very best.
I mean, it’s great to challenge yourself in private, but choosing material that is way too high to present well in public places doesn’t make sense at all. I have found myself personally suggesting reducing the keys for many of my students, and most of them are already pretty evolved singers. So, particularly if you are fairly new to singing, the best songs to sing are those with notes you’ll be able to reach without difficulty.
Singing appropriately is hard work and anybody who informs you otherwise mustn’t be paid attention to.
Sing out along with your heart and everything will end up fantastic. Singorama Review