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Songs I can't sing
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Subject: Songs I can't sing From: Llanfair Date: 18 Jul 99 - 06:12 PM Talking about John Lennon in another thread reminded me of the frustration of not being able to sing "Woman". It's a fabulous song, but the gender can't be adjusted, and the sexuality of the song can't be ignored. Has anyone else such frustrations? "Working class Hero" is tricky, too! Hwyl. Bron. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Legal Eagle Date: 18 Jul 99 - 06:25 PM Well, since I was born if not into the English ruling class at least one which was at least past the 50% mark, quite a lot of Irish songs would sound as if I was being sarcastic if I sang them. The same goes for more than a few Scottish songs too. There are more than a few English trad songs which the French might think a bit off, too. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: WyoWoman Date: 18 Jul 99 - 06:57 PM "Lay, Lady, Lay" |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: catspaw49 Date: 18 Jul 99 - 07:28 PM Sorry, I thought this thread was about singing talent...you know, "I can't sing this becuase it requires too much range." In which case:
SONGS I CAN'T SING
Well, that's quite a list!!!!!!!! catspaw |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Pelrad Date: 18 Jul 99 - 07:41 PM Ha. Try singing "Bulgine Run" or any of a hundred other roaring or coarse sea chanties in a sweet alto voice. :-) With regards to Catspaw's interpretation, add to the list a few songs on Jean Redpath's album "Jean Redpath," and the song "Flying Cloud." I also am having scads of trouble with "The Blacksmith," mainly because I'm trying to learn it from Louis Killen's recording and I still haven't figured out what the hell key he sings in. (and the *&^$ melody seems to change slightly with each verse!) |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: John in Brisbane Date: 18 Jul 99 - 07:53 PM I've only just discovered Gillian Welch's 'Orphan Girl' and am quite besotted with it. I haven't had any support (yet) in trying to perform it, without changing the words. It still seems to be infra dig for males to express women's sentiments in serious song, but the reverse poses no difficulties.
Regards John |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Big Mick Date: 18 Jul 99 - 08:15 PM There are tons, but two come to mind. One because of the visual. I am 6'2 1/2 and about 18 stone. I have reddish blonde hair. I can sing Marley's "Redemption Song" with a superb Jamaican accent. But when you look like I do, people giggle when they hear it. Don't blame them, I would giggle if I saw me singing this song like that. As to 'Spaw's interpretation, our band was asked to play a wedding on a cruise ship in Lake Michigan once. Of course they wanted Irish, but the Groom asked me to sing "Keeper of the Stars" (C & W) song for one dance. In the chorus that sucker does one of those 3 octave climbs that I just can't do. I played with that sucker forever but just couldn't get it right. Mick |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Margo Date: 18 Jul 99 - 08:45 PM Pelrad! I relate! I love sea shantys, but most of them are not right for my voice! I love "The Flying Cloud" because of it's drama and pertinence to today's society, but I don't really sound good singing it. John, I believe a man can sing expressing the woman's point of view and vice-versa. I've heard it done plenty on CD's. Mick, who on earth has a three octave range???????? Not me! Margarita |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Big Mick Date: 18 Jul 99 - 08:49 PM It was a tongue in cheek comment. Tracy Byrd. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: WyoWoman Date: 18 Jul 99 - 09:00 PM Well, whenever I try to sing some of the gut-bucket blues I sound an awfully lot like Julie Andrews-does-Ma-Rainey. And many things I intend to be bluesy come out country-bluesy because, you can take the girl outta Oklahoma, but you can't always take Oklahoma outta the girl's voice. A Southern accent kinda stays with you. I love that song "Rolling Down to Old Maui," but I'm afraid I sound awfully foo-foo attempting it. It used to be fun in our sings back in New Mexico, however, because everyone joined in most enthusiastically and I could just harmonize and pretend to be a mermaid sitting in on the shanty. WW |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Rick Fielding Date: 18 Jul 99 - 10:02 PM Big Mick, you could wear a tutu, a bronze bra, and sing "I'm a Little Teapot", and I wouldn't giggle! Rick (terrified and shaking) |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: alison Date: 18 Jul 99 - 10:16 PM Hey rick, Isn't that the official outfit for all the women in Mick's harem??? slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: WyoWoman Date: 19 Jul 99 - 02:21 AM I know I've got mine. WW |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Night Owl Date: 19 Jul 99 - 02:30 AM If Mudcat T-shirt sales aren't going well...maybe Max would sell...for a fundraiser.......no, guess not!! No place for the Logo. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Sourdough Date: 19 Jul 99 - 03:02 AM John in Brisbane: I really love Orphan Child, too. The melody got into my head and won't let go. Even with my son in the other room last night, I was singing about not having known "the joys of kinship" when my relationship with my boys is the emotional highlight of my life. I haven't ried to sing it in public but for myself, I sing "I am an orphan child". Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Jul 99 - 04:33 AM There's a woman in our song circle who keeps requesting "I Feel Pretty" - I think she likes to hear the guys sing on it. I can sing "girl group" songs in falsetto and have a great time, but I admit I have a little trouble getting through this one. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: John in Brisbane Date: 19 Jul 99 - 06:42 AM Joe. The males in my choir do some good natured fake grumbling when we have to sing some of the songs from South Pacific. Forget the name of the piece but there's one quite well known song that has "I'm in love with a wonderful guy". The young guy sitting next to me was beaming, and explained very briefly that the sentiment for him was spot on for his partnership. Good on him!
Margarita and Sourdough - thanks for the encouragement.
Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Big Mick Date: 19 Jul 99 - 07:11 AM Tutus, brass bras and "I'm A Little Teapot" it is then. What are the women going to wear?? Mick |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Bert Date: 19 Jul 99 - 09:41 AM I still can't get the phrasing right for Cheryl Wheeler's damned 'Potato Song'. Ah well keep trying. Pelrad, you could take a stab at these shanteys... Stormalong, Golden Vanity & Shenandoah. Bert. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Barbara Date: 19 Jul 99 - 10:00 AM Or try the shanty Shallow Brown.
The song I can't sing because of range (and I have a fairly wide one) is Ashoken Farewell. (yes, there are words, two sets of them, I believe). Priscilla Herdman does a great job on her album, though.
I don't have any trouble with men singing women's songs or women singing men's, but it really depends on the song. My bottom line is, am I comfortable with the sentiment? Though when I think about it, this is not always a criteria for me, since I sing a lot of hymns for their harmony and history.
Like Pelrad, I know a certain number of songs that I think sound better in different range or character of voice. For example, I've learned Old King Coal, and to my ear, that needs a deep voice. Or Dunbarton's drums sounds best in a clear high soprano range, IMHO.
Blessings,
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Margo Date: 19 Jul 99 - 10:03 AM You know, when Siegfried found Brunhilde, she was stark naked, and she was the first woman he had ever seen. Then he sings this half hour aria. Wagner really was strange, wasn't he. Oh, and by the way, that is something I definately can't sing, and don't want to. Margarita (Maybe it would have been easier to watch if Siegfried had the tutu and bronze bra on....... |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Roger the zimmer Date: 19 Jul 99 - 10:31 AM Most of them in my case! However, my long-suffering spouse feel the nadir of my career (career: verb to be completely out of control) was the attempt by myself and a member of the West Midlands Constabulary (of notoriety)we'd just met over a Metaxa or two and who was similarily vocally-challenged to sing from a tattered songbook the taverna owner/guitarist had John Lennon's "Imagine". It not only emptied the taverna but sent the goats running back up the mountain. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: catspaw49 Date: 19 Jul 99 - 10:49 AM Perhaps Margarita, Siegfried got a gander at her through a blob of wobbling Jello. This seems to be a real turn on for some folks, a fact which only recently came to my attention. I can think of some other things to do with it in that vein, but just looking through the stuff? Personally I don't care for Wagner either.......I can never get past the monstrous metal mammaries. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Jeri Date: 19 Jul 99 - 11:48 AM That's it! You come in the tutu and bronze bra, and we can whip up some evening wear in Jello, with sequins and beads stirred in. Anybody know where I can get designer Jello molds? |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Fadac Date: 19 Jul 99 - 11:58 AM Jeri, Just use the Guitar case! -Fadac |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Vixen Date: 19 Jul 99 - 12:55 PM I just got a new computer, so I need to renew my membership, but I couldn't resist--Cheryl Wheeler's Potato Song takes about a day (24 hours) of singing NOTHING ELSE--until your family AND pets are conspiring to throttle you. Really, all you need is persistence and focus. Booze doesn't help on this one! What I can't figure out is how *Cheryl* came up with it in the first place! V |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: DougR Date: 19 Jul 99 - 02:10 PM The "Star Spangled Banner." Not many other folks can either. DougR |
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Subject: Lyr Add: Honey Bun From: Joe Offer Date: 19 Jul 99 - 02:31 PM One song I refused to sing was "Honey Bun" from South Pacific. It's a song that works only within the proper context. In the show, it was sung by Nurse Nellie Forbush to poke fun at sailors' attitudes toward women. Forbush dresses in men's clothing and sings this horribly sexist song. In context, it's very funny and very effective. If a man sings it, it just sounds sexist, and the message is lost. The guy who did sing it is kind of a male chauvinist, and I was glad to let him have it. I like singing "There Is Nothing Like a Dame," but this one doesn't work for me. Honey Bun (Rodgers & Hammerstein - "South Pacific") |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Peter T. Date: 19 Jul 99 - 04:23 PM I have a pretty good range, and can go into strong falsetto, but I have never been able to do the last verse of Roy Orbison's "Crying" at any volume. "Crying" must be some sort of Everest. I have a cousin who is a world-famous countertenor, but I have never been able to persuade him to record "Crying". Pity. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: LEJ Date: 19 Jul 99 - 04:36 PM Peter T... Roy's range was absolutely phenomenal. And I'm not sure he actually went into falsetto to hit those skyrocket notes- his transition from the baritone notes on into the top of his range was seamless. And so many of his songs were constucted to capitalize on that multi-octave range, starting low and building to that transcendent peak, and sustaining it! Springsteen said that Roy's music came straight from his soul, unhindered by physical limitations, and I agree that there was something spiritual about his voice, a certain harmonic that left the air ringing long after he had ended his song. LEJ
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Bert Date: 19 Jul 99 - 05:32 PM Thanks Vixen, I'll have to give it a more concerted effort. Bert. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Bryant Date: 19 Jul 99 - 07:41 PM I don't have any trouble with men singing women's songs or women singing men's, but it really depends on the song. My bottom line is, am I comfortable with the sentiment? -- Barbara's comment from above Someone mentioned Gillian Welsh's "Orphan Girl" way up in this thread. I think that one's kinda easy for a guy to do -- just change "girl" to "boy". But there's another song of hers that I absolutely adore but has raised some questions about tastefulness. It's called "Caleb Meyer" and the speaker in the song is a woman who is assaulted by the neighborhood drunk. The man tries to rape her but in the end she finds the neck of a bottle he broke and slashes his throat. (It's a lot more graceful than my little synopsis would lead you to think.) I've had the inclination to sing it in a group setting but have always held back thinking it would be tasteless for a man to sing a song in which rape (even attempted) figures so prominently. I was thinking about Barbara's comment above. And I'm comfortable with the sentiment -- I kind of think of singing that song as acting -- but I imagine I'd seriously offend some (if not most) women by trying this one. Thoughts? Bryant |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Angus McSweeney Date: 19 Jul 99 - 07:48 PM Gordon Lightfoot, back in his early, early years (read: first album) wrote and sang "Steel Rail Blues". I think I can do the middle falsetto part OK, but how do you know? There is such a thin line between good falsetto and plain silly that I've never been sure I wasn't in the latter. And that's why I'll sing you nearly any song but that one, though it's one of my favorites. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Roger in Baltimore Date: 19 Jul 99 - 08:13 PM Phoebe Snow claims to have a three octave range. Me, I believe her. Sure there are songs that you want to sing, that don't quite fit. I would humble suggest that one way to develop your songwriting talents is to "rewrite' the song. I love to do "I Gotta Find a Woman with a Chainsaw". And that desire has been justified with consistently wonderful audience response. However, the song as written has the following phrase:
I've got a cabin in the mountain, a Chevy pickup truck, The combination of a drug reference and a curse word led me to reject the song at first. Instead, I rewrote it.
I've got a cabin in the mountain, a Chevy pickup truck, No songwriting awards for this somewhat "tortured " phrase, but it gets me through the song without embarassment. A friend of mine who performs professionally, also does this song. She also was uncomfortable with the drug reference (for sure) and maybe the cursing (I'm guessing). She also rewrote the line. Why throw out one line when it tortures your taste. Because she makes her money singing and is a songwriter as well, she at least spoke to the original composer to seek his blessing (I suppose it was granted). I don't remember her version, (RABID EGOTISM WARNING) but I remember liking my rewrite better than hers. I think Peggy Seeger and Peter Berryman had an article in SingOut! about these sort of changes. I've not read it, but I was told last year at this time that it was in the works. This is how the folk process works. As the song is passed on singers make changes both accidental and intentional that in the long run make the song work better. Roger in Baltimore |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Chet W. Date: 19 Jul 99 - 08:21 PM I went through a period several years ago when my partner and I included a few Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding songs into our mostly "folk", blues, and swing repertoire. Sure was fun. Sure didn't sound good though. The best part was that for a couple of weekends we had three backup female singers for that part of the show (a lifelong dream of mine). Chet |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Margo Date: 19 Jul 99 - 10:49 PM Joe, isn't it "I'm her booby, she's my trap"? When I was a kid I sang all the show tunes. It was funny because I didn't know what they meant a lot of the time. I used to sing "Only sixteen inches high". My folks would really laugh about that one. But she's my "crap"? Margarita $%^&* typos! I fixed it. Thanks for pointing it out, Margarita. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: WyoWoman Date: 19 Jul 99 - 11:02 PM Ok, Roger, I just have one question, and I know it's weighing on minds around the world right now: What in hell is "thunder f**k?" WW |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Ferret Date: 20 Jul 99 - 12:05 AM Pelrad I don't know if song 'The Blacksmith' is the same one but a song the 'The Blacksmith' was recorded by Steeleye Span on there album 'Please to see the King' in 1971 on the Mooncrest label, and a Steeleye Span song book from 1972 has the lyrics and sheet music this and the album 'Ten Man Mop or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again' 1972? The album © Copyright 1972 by LIBRA MUSIC LTD,/SPARTA FLORIDA MUSIC LTD 155/157 Oxford Street, London W.1. Sole selling agents: Music Sales Ltd., 78 Newman Street, London W.1. I have the book but can not read music so I can not tell you what key it is in. Is line one? Oh the Blacksmith courted me nine months and better he fairly won my heart and wrote me a letter. Hop this is some help. All the best Ferret |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Barbara Date: 20 Jul 99 - 02:04 AM Wyowoman, it's a powerful variety of local cannabis, a la Acapulco Gold or Maui Wowie. |
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Subject: TUNE: the Blacksmith From: SueH Date: 20 Jul 99 - 08:10 PM To Pelrad 'The Blacksmith' (same song as that mentioned by Ferret, above) was also recorded by Planxty. ABC of the tune is below. Sue X: 1 T:The Blacksmith M:4/4 L:1/8 Q:100 S:Trad, arrangement by Planxty K:G B-A||:"Em" G2 E2 G2 A-B|"D" d6 A-B| M:3/4 L:1/8 "C" B2 E2 "D" D-E|M:4/4 L:1/8 "Em" E4 z2 B-A| G2 E2 G2 A-B|"D" d6 A-B|M:3/4 L:1/8 "C" B2 E2 "D" D-E|M:4/4 L:1/8 "Em" E6 GB|"G" d2 d2 "Am" e-dB-A|"Gm" B4 z2 A-G|M:3/4 L:1/8 "G" G2 E2 G-A|M:4/4 L:1/8 "D" A4 z2 EF|"Em" G2 "D" A2 "Em" B2 "A" ^c-A|"G" B6 E-F|M:3/4 L:1/8 "Em" G-A B3 "D" D|M:4/4 L:1/8 "Em" E8|M:2/4 L:1/8 [1,3 z2 B-A:||M:4/4 L:1/8 [2,4 "Em" z8|"D" z8|M:3/4 L:1/8 "C" z8 "D" |M:4/4 L:1/8 "Em" z4 z2 B-A:|| % Output from ABC2Win Version 2.1 i on 21/07/99 Line Breaks <br> added. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Pelrad Date: 21 Jul 99 - 11:08 PM Ferret and SueH, thanks muchly for references for The Blacksmith. Ferret, that is very close to the introductory wording for the one Louis sings. I'll have to check it out. Sue, I'm afraid I don't know what the ABC means, but I'm gonna find out! Thanks. :-) Barbara and Bert, thanks for the suggestions. I do have chanteys I can sing beautifully, and I restrict my working repertoire to them, but several years ago I decided that for the sake of historical accuracy I should know several of each kind of chantey (halyards, pumps, etc). I still keep them all in mind, but discovered very quickly that I can't expect them to go over well. LOL Having witnessed Bulgine Run performed by petite, sweet Daisy Nell and then later by the thunderous Don Sineti, I have vowed to avoid songs that make me sound ridiculous. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: WyoWoman Date: 21 Jul 99 - 11:32 PM Barbara, I blush to admit that I now know precisely what you mean! WW |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: SueH Date: 22 Jul 99 - 05:29 AM Hi Pelrad I'm sure there are loads of threads on the Mudcat directing you towards ABC information & ABC players, but you can also click on our band's links page at www.questor-cp.demon.co.uk/links.htm (sorry, can't remember the blue clicky thing code off-hand) where we have lots of links to the ABC pages. If you download ABC2Win you can display ABC files as sheet music, & it's possible to cut & paste the 'score' into word so you can print it out. Good Luck! Sorry Joe, about the lack of line breaks. I wrote it in Notepad & pasted it in, it looked OK when I sent it!! Sue |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Steve Parkes Date: 22 Jul 99 - 06:43 AM Let's get this straight: are we talking about bronze or alumin[i]um bronze? It makes a difference! Steve |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Date: 20 May 11 - 06:43 AM "Jean and Dinah" by the Mighty Sparrow sounds like a lament in my voice, which I've told sounds like Joan Baez. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Date: 20 May 11 - 06:46 AM EDIT: "I've told" should be "I'm told". |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Genie Date: 21 May 11 - 01:45 AM For me: 1. just about any operatic aria (except "Summertime") 2. Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison) - I can't growl. 3. Most heavy metal. 4. Just about anything by Mariah Carey and other show-off uber-melismatic vocal stylists. 5. Anything below the tenor range. 6. And, if we're talking consistently and on-pitch & not making people's ears bleed, "Spanish Eyes." I have enough range of pitch, and I used to do the song pretty well, but in recent years I've had trouble finding a key where I can hit both the lowest and highest notes (and sound good), especially on the chorus where it goes up an octave and then down 1/2 step. DK why that's so hard to do well, but I find that it is. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: David C. Carter Date: 21 May 11 - 04:11 AM I have a bit of trouble with Puccini's "Nessun Dorma". I sing it in about 5 different keys,all a once! David |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Date: 04 Sep 12 - 08:57 PM Actually, scratch "Jean and Dinah." I can actually do that one quite well. "Black But Sweet" OTOH... |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Date: 04 Sep 12 - 09:00 PM And "Mahalia I Want Back My Dollar." |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: olddude Date: 04 Sep 12 - 09:08 PM easy anything by Roy Orbison |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: gnu Date: 04 Sep 12 - 09:19 PM Just read the Op again and the last few posts... only. Hey, not everyone can sing even some songs. There are a lot of musicians here who cannot sing some notes due to health (even just age... it happens... prepare for it) problems. Sorry, but shit happens eh? Dunno if that was in line with the discussion... don't care. It's one of those nights. |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: Rob Naylor Date: 05 Sep 12 - 12:33 AM Ah, "One of These Nights"....that's be one that I can't sing! |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: GUEST,Don Wise Date: 05 Sep 12 - 01:46 PM Well, the old guys = source singers = didn't seem to have any gender qualms regarding their repertoires........ |
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Subject: RE: Songs I can't sing From: PHJim Date: 05 Sep 12 - 05:33 PM I don't have any trouble with men singing women's songs or women singing men's, but it really depends on the song. My bottom line is, am I comfortable with the sentiment? -- Barbara's comment from above I agree Barbara. I hated the gender change when some folks sang House Of The Rising Sun from the man's point of view. It's about a prostitute, not a john. Many men left it from the female point of view, but some, like The Animals, changed it. I don't think I could pull off I Feel Pretty. Some songs, like Massa's In De Cold, Cold Ground, have great tunes, but politically incorrect words, but even if you play them instrumentally, the words creep into your head. Songs that I once thought were funny like It's A Shame To Beat Your Wife On A Sunday shouldn't be sung by anyone, but a murder ballad, like Little Sadie or Banks Of The Ohio aren't as objectionable even though the guy never has a good reason, if any, for killing his woman. Probably this is because he always ends up in prison or "hanging from a white oak tree". (I have had audience members object to these songs, however.) When the woman, Frankie or Miss Otis, kills the man, we don't end up condemning her because the guy was a douche bag and deserved it. |
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