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Thread: Singing

  1. #1
    Card-carrying Medievalist Lokasenna's Avatar
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    Singing

    Anyone else here sing? What kind of things do you sing? Perhaps you sing professionally?

    I'm one of nature's bathroom-baritones, and often sing whilst I'm doing some dull and mechanical task (like cooking or cleaning) - I find it very cthartic. I'm not a very good singer - at best passable - but I think even the most tuneless of people can benefit from a bit of a sing-song. At the very least, my housemates have put up with it with good grace for a long while now...

    I mostly sing opera or folk-song, with an occasional dip into musicals. In fact, to help with learning new songs I've long been in the habit of sticking sheet music to the outside of the shower cubicle, facing in, so I've got something to sing with. Probably one of my madder habits, but still...

    I'd love to join a choir at some point, but just don't have the time these days...
    "I should only believe in a God that would know how to dance. And when I saw my devil, I found him serious, thorough, profound, solemn: he was the spirit of gravity- through him all things fall. Not by wrath, but by laughter, do we slay. Come, let us slay the spirit of gravity!" - Nietzsche

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    Registered User Emil Miller's Avatar
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    Yes I also sing in the shower: virtually anything that has a recognisable melody and meaningful lyrics. Frank Sinatra and Noel Coward often feature but lately I've taken to singing this song in the style of Major Bloodnok.

    http://youtu.be/ToBxsZKrUQU
    "L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.

    "Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.

  3. #3
    Card-carrying Medievalist Lokasenna's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Emil Miller View Post
    Yes I also sing in the shower: virtually anything that has a recognisable melody and meaningful lyrics. Frank Sinatra and Noel Coward often feature but lately I've taken to singing this song in the style of Major Bloodnok.

    http://youtu.be/ToBxsZKrUQU
    Yep, Coward and Sinatra both feature in my bathroom recitals - particularly the former.

    The song you post is a nice one - mournful and soulful. I imagine it's great tonic for the soul.
    "I should only believe in a God that would know how to dance. And when I saw my devil, I found him serious, thorough, profound, solemn: he was the spirit of gravity- through him all things fall. Not by wrath, but by laughter, do we slay. Come, let us slay the spirit of gravity!" - Nietzsche

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    Registered User Emil Miller's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lokasenna View Post
    Yep, Coward and Sinatra both feature in my bathroom recitals - particularly the former.

    The song you post is a nice one - mournful and soulful. I imagine it's great tonic for the soul.
    I was given the song to learn as a piano transcription. The instruction at the top of the score reads: 'Reverently', an automatic invitation to the irreverent to send it up. So, apart from singing it like Bloodnok, when I get to the refrain, I'm unable to avoid jazzing it up before ending with a dolefully drawn out Aaaaaaa...mennnnnn!
    "L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.

    "Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.

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    Registered User Jackson Richardson's Avatar
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    Gilbert and Sullivan (I'm not bothered about live performances as I can hum all the best bits to myself), Music Hall (It's a Great Big Shame, Hello hello who's your lady friend, There was I waiting at the church, My Old Man said follow the Van, etc.) plainchant (at the moment the Regina Caeli as it's Eastertide - I would like to learn the elaborate version).

    And I hope nobody hears me singing.
    Previously JonathanB

    The more I read, the more I shall covet to read. Robert Burton The Anatomy of Melancholy Partion3, Section 1, Member 1, Subsection 1

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    Pro Libertate L.M. The Third's Avatar
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    Singing is something that I can be quite passionate about. I say "can be", because several years ago during a lonely time I felt the reason for my depression was not having the opportunities to sing (publicly and in groups) as much as I had previously. I took some more voice lessons and felt great about singing again, but I'm really quite a mediocre singer. My range is too low for the classical and baroque songs my teachers gave me, and I don't sing parts well if I don't have a strong alto section to bolster me up. (I think some of the 70s folk -- stuff like Sandy Denny and Joni Mitchel-- that I've recently come to love is more suited to my range.) That said, my recent experiences of choir have made me sure I'll incorporate it as a consistent part of my life... if I can survive auditions. I'm starting college in the fall, and hoping choir will be one of my main electives/extra-curriculars, but I've heard stories about how capricious the choir director at my small religious college can be.

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    I sing (and dance) when I am alone at home and when there is some music turned on. Yesterday, I got surprised that I knew all the text of an old song in Italian (I am not Italian ). Only that one, not others which I had heard before. They were all old and Italian. I was really surprised. It is not my favourite song, but still I knew it all. Strange. I like music in general and it depends on the mood or what am I doing which music is suitable. As JonathanB says, I hope nobody is listening when I sing. But it is a pitty, I think that talent for singing is a great gift.
    ...........
    “All" human beings "by nature desire to know.” ― Aristotle
    “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

  8. #8
    Registered User Emil Miller's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by free View Post
    I sing (and dance) when I am alone at home and when there is some music turned on. Yesterday, I got surprised that I knew all the text of an old song in Italian (I am not Italian ). Only that one, not others which I had heard before. They were all old and Italian. I was really surprised. It is not my favourite song, but still I knew it all. Strange. I like music in general and it depends on the mood or what am I doing which music is suitable. As JonathanB says, I hope nobody is listening when I sing. But it is a pitty, I think that talent for singing is a great gift.
    I occasionally sing in French and it helps to have the recordings on Youtube but also being able to download the lyrics.
    A couple of favourites being:

    http://youtu.be/znNyS0jcj7I

    http://youtu.be/F62fBdu6gxk
    "L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.

    "Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.

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    Registered User prendrelemick's Avatar
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    The only time I really sing is the carol service at Mrs P's church. Its always full so you get that Big Sound, I can really let rip, its great.
    ay up

  10. #10
    confidentially pleased cacian's Avatar
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    ''I am singing in the rain''
    comes to mind
    gene Kelly of course who else!!
    simply magical
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w40ushYAaYA
    it may never try
    but when it does it sigh
    it is just that
    good
    it fly

  11. #11
    Registered User Emil Miller's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cacian View Post
    ''I am singing in the rain''
    comes to mind
    gene Kelly of course who else!!
    simply magical
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w40ushYAaYA
    Yes it is magical and a reminder of America before it hit the skids with whiny little guitar strumming talentless yobs soley reliant on publicity and the gullibility of teenagers. Here's another from the same era with Frank Sinatra singing Noel Coward's 'I'll Follow My Secret Heart.'

    http://youtu.be/seUIpC8OKLQ
    "L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.

    "Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.

  12. #12
    All are at the crossroads qimissung's Avatar
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    I sometimes sing along with a favorite song. Lately in the car I'll join in on the chorus of ABBA's "SuperTrooper." I also love this song for a good sing a long:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppYgrdJ0pWk
    "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its' own reason for existing." ~ Albert Einstein
    "Remember, no matter where you go, there you are." Buckaroo Bonzai
    "Some people say I done alright for a girl." Melanie Safka

  13. #13
    confidentially pleased cacian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Emil Miller View Post
    Yes it is magical and a reminder of America before it hit the skids with whiny little guitar strumming talentless yobs soley reliant on publicity and the gullibility of teenagers. Here's another from the same era with Frank Sinatra singing Noel Coward's 'I'll Follow My Secret Heart.'

    http://youtu.be/seUIpC8OKLQ
    indeed and what a great voice. I don't know this song so it was a pleasure hearing it for the first time
    it may never try
    but when it does it sigh
    it is just that
    good
    it fly

  14. #14
    Clinging to Douvres rocks Gilliatt Gurgle's Avatar
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    A baritone in the high school choir, after that it was nothing more than belting out a few lyrics in the car.
    In recent years, you might catch me trying to mimic Vaughn Monroe's rendition of When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD8sEFpbk-w
    "Mongo only pawn in game of life" - Mongo

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRma7PDW10

  15. #15
    rat in a strange garret Whifflingpin's Avatar
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    I sing while doing the washing up etc. The sort of stuff you might find here - https://www.youtube.com/user/Whifflingpin
    Voices mysterious far and near,
    Sound of the wind and sound of the sea,
    Are calling and whispering in my ear,
    Whifflingpin! Why stayest thou here?

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