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I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like to cut loose in the shower. Actually, I retract—my grandfather Mervin didn’t like to sing in the shower, but that’s only because he could carry a tune about as well as he could carry a hippopotamus. But outside of the Mervs out there, most of us love the way we sound in the shower. The question is: why?
Well, it all has to do with acoustics. For starters, there isn’t much in a shower to absorb sound, so the golden tones emanating from your vox box last a bit longer than they would, say, in another small room where you might find yourself alone and uninhibited, like your car, where all that upholstery kills the sustain. The shower also stabilizes your pitch, helping you lock-on and nail that Phil Collins’ song you know you can’t resist. Then there’s also the humidity. Ever notice how croaky you sound when your voice is dry?
So the moisture in the shower helps smooth things out, as well. Lastly, there’s the noise-factor– meaning, the sound of the water running drowns out most vocal imperfections, acting a bit like the most forgiving back-up band you could ever have behind you.
We’ve all got our favorite shower songs, right? Lately, I’ve been gravitating toward Lindsey Buckingham’s “Go Your Own Way,” for reasons entirely unknown to me… words I’m not even entirely comfortable admitting, let alone singing. What about you all? We’ve reached the interactive portion of the Rap. What words do you find coming out of your mouth these days, as you lather, exfoliate, and rinse?
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‘Luck Be a Lady’ by Sinatra.
posted by jerry on 5-11-2007 at 6:10 am
I hover between a few favorites
‘crazy’ – gnarls barkley
‘tell me on a sunday’ from the musical of the same name
’someone to watch over me’-ella fitzgerald
eclectic, eh?
posted by SuperEmi on 5-11-2007 at 6:14 am
It’s De-Lovely by Cole Porter
posted by Zach on 5-11-2007 at 6:32 am
The Queen of Night’s aria from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” or the soprano duet from Delibes’”Lakmé” where the notes get really high.
According to dear friends & relatives, singing them anywhere else other than the shower is very dangerous.
posted by Kasee on 5-11-2007 at 8:42 am
SuperEmi – “Tell Me on A Sunday” is great- it was one of my standard audition songs when I was doing theatre! And of course I still sing it in the shower. I also pound the HELL out of “Old Devil Moon”, and when I am taking that post-night out shower, I can’t help but sing “Sunday Morning Coming Down. Unfortunately, my neighbours say they can hear me. Kinda humiliating!
posted by Allison on 5-11-2007 at 10:49 am
I got my free-singin’-spirit killed by music school. So now, I mainly sing whatever it is I happen to be working on. . . mostly Mozart. But I can’t sing desperately high (a la Queen of the Night). . but Kasee, I’d sing “Sous le dome epais” with you any day!
In a seperate shower stall, of course.
posted by Liz on 5-11-2007 at 11:48 am
Minus one of the “but”s from my previous statement. I fail at grammar.
posted by liz on 5-11-2007 at 11:49 am
My favorite would have to be Sarah Roche’s singing on “Take the ‘A’ Train” with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. I’m still working on the scat, however.
posted by Edward on 5-13-2007 at 7:47 am
Whatever tune is currently coursing through my brain. Which may be anything from whatever I’m listening to on my radio, to what I’m singing in choir, to stupid commercial jingles.
posted by Janel on 5-15-2007 at 12:22 am
I like Fly Me to the Moon.
And it’s always fun to take an unlikely tune and sing it in an inappropriate style: Now I Wanna Be Your Dog as an easy swing? Reggae Sweet Home Alabama? Sure!
Or using a heavy Scottish, Irish, or whatever accent you can manage to sing a serious, or sad song. Or ad-libbing naughty words…Springsteen’s Glory Days is great for that.
posted by Bassman on 5-16-2007 at 5:21 pm
“A Certain Romance” -Arctic Monkeys. and i song the instremental intro/breaks as well. ner ner nernerner nerner nerner…
posted by PiMan on 5-16-2007 at 6:05 pm
I have ton – like Janel said, whatever’s in my head, but two of them tend to come up more often than others:
I Believe to my Soul by Ray Charles
End of our Road by Marvin Gaye
posted by Reed on 6-7-2007 at 10:45 am
Definitely “Is This Love?” by Bob Marley. And also, “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green. Nothing but funky love songs work for me.
posted by Lori on 6-8-2007 at 11:28 am
Wrap your troubles in dreams – Duke Dejan
When I’m 64 -the beatles
posted by Jake on 6-13-2007 at 6:13 pm
I sing “Zombie” by the Cranberries, because I can get that “uh-ah, uh-ah oh-ah” thing she does, and nail it. I wouldn’t risk doing that impersonation anywhere else.
Or I sing songs from Reefer Madness! the Musical. :)
posted by Rachel on 6-19-2007 at 2:37 pm
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posted by lmgw ajoebl on 1-6-2008 at 12:05 pm