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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask whether you can sing?

204 replies

Apoiads · 12/04/2019 01:30

I can sing, but I don't, because I'm shy.
I sang once in public in a pub and apparently everyone was talking about me the next day (I was really proud to hear that). That gives me every sort of stage fright and fear of performance failure that you might imagine, so I haven't sung since.
I sound a bit like this woman when I sing...

So I can 'carry a tune' but I'm never going to set the world on fire!

My dd can sing, but not x-factor level, she's just good at carrying a tune 'I can get by' as she says herself.

Less about me.

I'd love to hear from any singers - I think it's a beautiful talent that you either have or haven't. Anyone who's a shower singer care to share?

OP posts:
Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 17:53

It's funny, is it something about my vocal chords that make me able to hit a note at full blast, but not when singing quietly? Question for the professionals or trained singers?
Is it that I need to sing in a higher key?

OP posts:
Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 17:55

Oh my goodness, how wonderful. I bet he had the wedding party in the palm of his hand. How absolutely brilliant. I wish I was there!

He just sang their first dance song and then left. I hadn't heard of him before that, didn't know he was Dolores' brother.

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NottonightJosepheen · 12/04/2019 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 18:02

Mary Coughlan's son is in a band (I have a terrible memory for names, but you would know the name of it). It's a mix of rock/folk.

Most people don't know Dolores and Sean are Irish travellers. Most travellers I know, appear to have that rare ability to put emotion into a song.

OP posts:
Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 18:05

He'd still have had me at the first note! He was brilliant and he was a surprise my SIL had arranged. Her mother adored him but nobody knew he was going to come.

Can't for the life of me think of the song he sang but it was romantic. I think it was quite nice to have a live singer for the first dance song.

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Echobelly · 12/04/2019 18:31

@Apoiads - it's often easier to sing louder than it is to sing quietly. For me, singing high notes quietly is the hardest thing! I suppose ditto very low notes - if it's mid range notes you have trouble hitting, I guess it may be they sit in the 'break' between your higher and lower voice - some notes like that I find hard to hold for longer than a few beats in a nice even tone

NottonightJosepheen · 12/04/2019 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 19:21

My previous post should have said Mary Black's son, not Mary Coughlan.

OP posts:
NottonightJosepheen · 12/04/2019 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 19:39

This girl didn't win, but to me she was brilliant.

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Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 19:41

Absolutely love both of these singers too

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Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 19:42

And this is where you can see where a technically beautiful singer can't emote as much as a less trained singer who puts emotion into it.

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RuffleCrow · 12/04/2019 19:43

All humans can sing (unless they have an illness or disability that makes it impossible) - just as all birds can sing. Get yourself down to your local community choir and you'll see what I mean.

PacmansGapingMaw · 12/04/2019 19:44

I don't know if I can. I have friends who sing in choirs and on stage and I'd never dare sing in front of them. I'd love to know, but can you imagine the conversation? Grin

Original poster
Apoiads · 12/04/2019 19:44

Sorry, last comment should have this link.

Both are brilliant, but to me, one put emotion into it. The other was technically brilliant and beautiful but just didn't put emotion into it.

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SongforSal · 12/04/2019 19:58

Yep. Last time I sang was in France last year. Lots of handshakes, kisses and photos afterwards. I sang My Funny Valentine, and the french bloody loved it. My range is alto to mezzo soprano.I am not shy, but most people don't know I can sing.

I like singing older songs. I started in musical theatre as a kid and did ok...again, most people IRL don't know this.

PacmansGapingMaw · 12/04/2019 20:18

Question - I can't sing hymns in Church; is there a reason for this? They're way too high. I try to drop an octave but feel like a female Mr Bean among beautiful angels.

WitchyBollox · 12/04/2019 20:51

@SilverBangle this is DS1. Not the best recording as we didn't have time to get it perfect but it's a lovely song (IMO of course lol). There are various other videos on his page also from live performances which I think I prefer. He plays all his own accompaniments also. The producers he is working with are very excited which is nice as of course as his parents we are proud of him but we would be regardless so hearing nice comments from professionals is fantastic for him. www.facebook.com/harrisonetheringtonmusic/videos/261471144725343/?t=0

WitchyBollox · 12/04/2019 20:52

@Apoiads you are so right, it makes such a difference. I truly believe the emotion is more important to the listener than perfect technique

KittensinaBlender · 12/04/2019 20:53

I sing in a self selected choir and have to sing a bit for work (kids songs and nursery rhymes only) but I don’t think I’m very good. I can carry a tune but I don’t think my tone is anything to write home about and my technique is patchy.

My friend who sings semi professionally was trying to persuade me to sing with her at a school event because she had heard me when we were singing along to the radio once and said I had a nice voice but I have a feeling she just wanted someone along to make her sound better.

I couldn’t sing a solo because I’d be mortified but really enjoy singing in a choir and in my car/shower. I do think it’s great for mental health and sometimes think there’s too much emphasis on having an “amazing voice” rather than just loving it as a great hobby.

WitchyBollox · 12/04/2019 20:58

I'm sure some of you must be so proud of your kids who can sing! The poster with the DS13 sounds like he'll go far!

@Apoiads - that might be my DS? I really hope so, to work doing something you love is so important I think, being known isn't something he thinks about, he would just like it to be his job. I am an accountant and whilst I love my job I wish I had done something that was a passion. He is musical and sporty plus good at languages so I am thinking he can sing and coach around the world lol. I have just posted a link to one of his videos if you want to look. There are other videos on his page to. I particularly like White Flag, Let Her Go and All of Me. The videos are mostly live ones (as part of 2 hour gigs so a lot to play/sing) so they are not perfect but he's getting there.

KittensinaBlender · 12/04/2019 21:07

I do know that quiet singing takes better breath support and good control of the vocal folds than loud singing.

Same for high notes. You can’t use too much air or you blow your vocal folds apart so it needs to be very controlled.

MaryBoBary · 12/04/2019 21:37

I’m just like you OP. I can sing but am petrified of singing in front of people.

However, I have been considering going alone to an open mic night and just singing one song to help with my confidence and just to do it. I think that would be much easier than going to karaoke or something with people I know.

LimaLemur · 12/04/2019 21:42

@Imfinehowareyou I think any singing teacher would work :) I’ve wanted to have singing lessons on and off since I was a child, and the main thing for me, I think, was to have a teacher who I trusted enough to not feel shy or self-conscious when I sang in front of them. I told my singing teacher this when I started lessons, and she was so lovely and understanding, and completely saw where I was coming from, which definitely put me at ease. I think it also really helped that I knew her through work before starting lessons.

Maybe you could contact a few singing teachers in your area and meet up with them informally to tell them how you feel and have a trial session with them to see how comfortable you feel with them - how would you feel about that? I hope you find someone you like and who works out for you :) Flowers

SilverBangle · 12/04/2019 21:50

@SilverBangle this is DS1

Awh thats lovely Witchy. My DD does the female version of that song, though I don't think I have it on video. I'll see if I can check out your sons other vids. How old is he? Sorry if I've missed his age. He has a promising singing career ahead of him 😊🎤