Sing

The other day I had the time and inclination to focus on my singing project. Unfortunately I had the flu at the time and would have sounded frightful so instead I made a list of singers (female) who I can use as inspiration, sing along to etc. Here is the list:

1. Tori Amos
2. Neko Case
3. Tanya Donelly
4. Bobbie Gentry
5. Juliana Hatfield
6. Milla Jovovich
7. Carole King
8. Alison Krauss
9. Maria Muldaur
10. Joanna Newsom
11. Laura Nyro
12. Cat Power
13. Hope Sandoval
14. Grace Slick
15. Patti Smith
16. Regina Spektor
17. Suzanne Vega
18. Vashti Bunyan
19. Holly Golightly
20. PJ Harvey
21. Imogen Heap
22. Scout Niblett
23. Sandie Shaw
24. Dusty Springfield
25. Keren Ann
26. Din Din Aviv
27. Keren Peles
28. Hadara Levin-Areddy
29. The McGarrigles
30. Joni Mitchell

It struck me that I don’t listen to very many female singers at the moment, which is kind of silly.

I’ve been so busy the last few months that this goal has taken a back seat. It’s not like I’m not singing at all; I listen to music a lot and pretty much always sing along – but it’s not very formal. In other words, I don’t really listen to myself or try and do my best. I’m not too bothered about it cos I know that when I’m psychologically ready I’ll find the time to do it more seriously.

In any case, Christmas parties are coming up and I won’t be surprised if they include karaoke (especially since I teach at a school of karaoke obsessed Japanese students). Normally, you wouldn’t catch me anywhere near a karaoke mike but it strikes me that this could be the perfect opportunity to advance this goal. After a few drinks, of course.

When I was in my early twenties I was convinced I was going to be a popstar. I wrote and recorded songs and was quite serious about it only I never got to the point of doing gigs. Then I went on a long trip to New Zealand and a load of other things happened and I decided I didn’t want to be a popstar after all (now I’m going to be a writer!).

Anyway, I’m still in love with music and I miss singing. So I’ve started a project of singing more. So far I’ve been taking an hour or so here and there to find songs I can sing well and practise singing them, along with the recording. Me and my bf also sing together pretty regularly (he plays the guitar and we have a repetoire which includes the Doors, Leonard Cohen, some Beck, and a bunch of Hebrew songs).

Now what I want to do is make this singing a weekly thing, find more songs that suit me and then have a go at singing without the music. It’s easy to think you sound good when you’ve got an orchestra, and Bjork on backing vocals! I want to be able to really hear myself and see what I need to improve.