How To Sing a Love Song
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Available also on iTunes , Google Play, TuneIn Radio, Android apps
- I'm possibly into you (falling, falling, falling...)
- i.e. "Misty" sung by Sarah Vaughan
- I fell immediately (love at first sight)
- i.e. ''You Had Me From Hello'' sung by Kenny Chesney
- Where is love? (surely there's somebody... )
- i.e. "Bring Me A Higher Love" sung by Steve Winwood
- You complete me (mature relationship)
- "Because You Loved Me" Sung by Celine Dion
- Physical intimacy (lust)
- "The Shape of You" sung by Ed Sheeran
- Without you I am nothing (careful... this can be pitiful or powerful)
- "When A Man Loves A Woman" sung by Percy Sledge
- I hate the way I love you (a co-dependent relationship)
- "Case of You" by Joni Mitchell or "I Hate Myself For Loving You" by Joan Jett
- Why do I keep on loving you? (eureka moment in a bad relationship)
- "Stay" sung by Jennifer Nettles
- I love you though you don't love me (unilateral love)
- "I Can't Make You Love Me If You Don't" sung by Bonnie Raitt
- I will love you as long as you're good to me (conditionally)
- "RESPECT" sung by Aretha Franklin
- Forgiveness
- "The Heart Of The Matter" sung by the Eagles
- Time to let go (goodbye)
- "You Don't Even Know Who I Am" sung by Patty Loveless
- Take me back (I've changed)
- "Baby Come Back" (sung by Player)
- You know you want me (confident/funny flirting)
- "They Call Me The Fireman" sung by George Strait
- I'm not going to let you know how I feel (a chicken love song)
- "You Don't Know Me" sung by Ray Charles
- I'm going to let you know I love you (a sudden case of bravery)
- "I'm Yours" sung by Jason Mraz
- You left me (bad/deceptive relationship)
- "Chain Of Fools" sung by Aretha Franklin
- You left me but you are the loser (recovery after betrayal)
- "I'm Over You" sung by Keith Whitley
- You make me better (gratitude for loving)
- I promise you (specific commitments to relationship)
- "To Make You Feel My Love" sung by Adele
- We (or 'you guys') are forever (wedding song)
- "All Of Me" sung by John Legend
- I'm letting you go because that's whats best for you (selfless love)
- "I will Always Love You" sung by Whitney Houston
- Timeless, deep love
- Good Fire Going sung by Don Williams - written by Dave Loggins
Four questions to ask:
The voice exists to deliver messages, and is successful if the message sung gets the desired response from the heart being sung to. So to sing a successful love song, you have to know- what your message really is,
- to whom you're communicating,
- what response you want from that targeted heart,
- and what that response would look like in the body/facial language of that person. That's the brass ring... the ultimate goal you should be reaching for.
From the answers to those 4 questions you can choose the tone, volume, phrasing and vocal embellishments that you need to get that specific response.
Not feeling it?
No matter, the only thing that matters is that the heart you're singing to feels it. Because it's not about you, there is no need to get nervous. No current relationship? Oh I beg to differ. We can sing love songs to our pets, our parents or grandparents, our friends, to the one heart of our audiences, to GOD, really to anything we love. And sometimes we need to sing love songs to ourselves. Patty Griffin wrote her love song, "Heavenly Day," to her dog. The point is, our choice of whom to sing to, should change the way we sing. Focus on that heart.Mistakes to avoid:
- Mixing your messages. Unless you're going for coy or confused... which actually become the central message, 'I'm being coy' or 'I'm so confused'.
- Delivering your messages to the wrong place (anywhere the lyrics are not addressed to).
- Failing to fully intend and commit to your delivery.
- Singing a song that's out of your wheelhouse of experience. This is why I don't like young kids singing mature adult relationship songs. They may nail the high note, but not the emotional response.
- Over-emoting. Sometimes the power is in what you don't do. Leave room for your audience's imagination. Don't lose the realness of your delivery by trying too hard. As Star Wars' character Yoda says, 'Do or do not - there is no try'.
How to create nuance:
Here's an exercise for you:
Let's take a phrase and make it mean different things: "This is how you make me feel". Choose or create a little melody and sing it...- while frowning.
- while smiling.
- with very wide open eyes, then squinting.
- with a tight jaw, then while making chewing circles with your jaw.
- while over-articulating the words, then while slurring or mumbling the words.
- with a very flat, frozen soft palate, then with a yawny lifted palate.
- while standing with your arms on your hips like supergirl/superman.
- then while crossing your arms over your chest.
- while standing stiffly frozen, then while swaying, moving your arms/hands or lightly dancing.
Now try this: Sing the same phrase 'This is how you make me feel" to get the following messages across. Let your message intention choose the changes you experimented in the previous exercise. You are...
- angry (you want an meek response, maybe shrinking body language)
- happy (you want a corresponding happy response)
- confused (you want a response of clarification or reassurance)
- sad (you want an empathetic response)
- infatuated (you want an 'I'm interested, too' response)
- ecstatic (you want a mutually joyful response)
- aroused (you want a mutual warm response)
- safe (you want a deep breath response, a sign of acceptance and trust)
Ask yourself... what did you have to do, to change, to get those different messages and their respective responses?
OK so it's your turn: What's your favorite love song to sing? To hear sung to you? Hope this helps you deliver some love on Valentine's Day!
Labels: "All Things Vocal", deliver messages, free vocal lesson, Judy Rodman, love songs, sing love songs, sing with feeling, Valentine's Day, vocal coaching, vocal performance, vocal training
posted by Judy Rodman
@
5:15 AM
7 Comments :
At February 6, 2019 at 10:25 AM ,
Ron Calabrese said...
Hi Judy. I just finished watching all these videos and Whitney Houston is my favorite. Before her personal problems she had a beautiful voice over an impressive span and easily sung high notes without screaming. To this day her National Anthem at the Super Bowl is the best rendition I've ever heard.
Being Italian, I've never had a problem emoting! Singing church music requires a harness on the Italianate delivery but pieces like the Bach Ave Maria happily allow an operatic style. As I get older and see my grandsons in church, I sometimes get very emotional, thanking God for such wonderful gifts. Tears begin to well up and I have to quickly gain control before the next hymn or mass part. Tears of joy and singing don't seem to work too well!
Thanks for this very informative and entertaining blog.
At February 9, 2019 at 9:44 AM ,
Unknown said...
Thank You So Much Judy :-) Linn Roll
At February 9, 2019 at 12:21 PM ,
Judy Rodman said...
You are most welcome, Linn... glad you enjoyed this post!
At February 10, 2019 at 10:53 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Hi Judy, this is FiFi Cox from New Zealand :) and I'm still enjoying your podcasts! This one is especially timely regarding the chorus competition in just under three months time. Will keep you posted! Happy Valentines day Judy!
At February 10, 2019 at 11:41 PM ,
Judy Rodman said...
Great to hear from you Fifi... so happy you enjoyed this episode! Yes, let me know how it goes for your competition!
At October 11, 2020 at 8:35 PM ,
Trish Lober said...
Thanks Judy! Miss you and hope that I can take a lesson again when finances allow!
At October 12, 2020 at 10:10 AM ,
Judy Rodman said...
Trish, so happy you enjoyed this - and I look forward to next time I get to work with you!
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