Broadway Singers that Smoke? — Page 2

#26

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:29pm

I'll smoke an American spirit and tell myself it's *slightly* better than a normal cigarette, but I'd never do it before singing.

I have so many friends who will do the same thing regarding American Spirits. As far as I'm concerned, a cigarette is a cigarette. Personally, I smoke a pack of Parliament Lights a day, but I'm not a singer. If I was, I probably wouldn't smoke.

#27

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:32pm

I pretty much agree, MEF. It's really just to make me feel better. I don't smoke much though.

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#28

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:36pm

I believe Tim Curry used to smoke, but quit. Granted, he isn't exactly known for his singing, but that's the most I can contribute to this.

#29

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:36pm

I used to smoke American Spirits from time to time back in college. Do they still burn for, like 10 minutes?

#30

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:38pm

Yes! In fact, I often smoke half and give it away because it burns for so long.

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http://preppylife.tumblr.com/

#31

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:45pm

They are very practical cigarettes. It feels like you're smoking one forever.

#32

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:47pm

LOL "practical cigarettes"

Like a vodka martini is a practical drink because I get so drunk off of one.

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#33

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 2:55pm

Patti LuPone

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#34

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:04pm

Patti LuPone stopped smoking when she got pregnant. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why her voice is far more supple than it was in her EVITA days.

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"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#35

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:13pm

It's actually not rare at all.
When I did a workshop with a touring Les Mis class, I went up to Dave Clemmons (I was a smoker then) and asked him about the smoking thing and being in Musical theatre. - something like "Should I quit?" He laughed and told me that pretty much the entire cast smokes...
It's not cigarettes taht damae your throat...It's weed...take Mary J. Blige as an example.

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"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive. "Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot." "No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one." Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.

#36

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:16pm

Oh... cigarettes DO damage your voice. My roommate had a wonderful velvety jazz voice, and it's starting to sound like crap. He's a chain smoker. Very sad. It makes me so angry, because I wish I could sing, and to see him trash it like that...

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#37

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:32pm

Hah,

here's the weird thing. My range has actaully grown considerably since I started smoking. I can hit a high A if I am VERY warmed up now, which was NEVER the case before. In fact I couldn't even go close. I'd say my voice raised a few tones at least. Plus I have this sexy, rickier voice that really suits my style. My only problem is trying to do it in moderation so that the long term damage isn't as bad as it could be. Gah...I really should quit though.

Akiva

#38

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:36pm

Frankly, it's nobody's business if they smoke. Taking it personally is taking it too far.

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Gypsy - Betty Buckley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUN5XoB5vFs&feature=youtu.be

#39

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:38pm

"Plus I have this sexy, rickier voice that really suits my style."

I don't know if Billie Holliday was a smoker, but I liked her voice better at the end of her career when her voice was shot. It just seemed to fit her music and style better.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#40

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:40pm

It's not at all obnoxious when someone posts something for everyone and then ALSO PM's it to you.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#41

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:40pm

Yeah,

And considering I write and perform my rockier stuff at gigs, friends have been commenting on how my voice has improved lately.

Akiva

#42

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:41pm

Joni Mitchell is a chain smoker, and her voice has changed dramatically.

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http://preppylife.tumblr.com/

#43

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:48pm

Sarah Vaughan chain-smoked her entire career and still had a three+ octave range to the very end. It got a bit deeper in her later years, but the voice was still rich and gorgeous.

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#44

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:57pm

You know, ChiChi, I don't know why you felt like you had to come after me, but I can play your game as well.

The integrity of my concern is not yours to judge.

I have my reasons and you have yours. That's really all the explanation I owe you, and I certainly don't deserve to have my opinions and feelings questioned or torn down. What do you care, anyway? I'm at a loss for why it's your business to call me out on this.

The high horse really doesn't suit you.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 7/1/05 at 03:57 PM

#45

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 4:01pm

"Joni Mitchell is a chain smoker, and her voice has changed dramatically."

I like her voice better now. The deeper, huskier "Both Sides Now" is more melancholy and imo more effective.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#46

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 4:03pm

I agree.

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Gypsy - Betty Buckley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUN5XoB5vFs&feature=youtu.be

#47

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 4:05pm

MEF, I believe some of your all-time favorite divas are chain smokers or former. :)


The number of people on Bway who have never smoked is FAR smaller than those who do or have since quit. It's quite sad... I quit on and off, too. It sucks.

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"You! You are the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber! And you, well, I just plain don't like you."
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin

#48

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 4:18pm

A friend of mine saw Idina Menzel smoking as she was heading into the stage door before Wicked.

#49

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 5:01pm

Yeah....I'm pretty sure Idina smokes socially. Not just cigs either, lol.

#50

re: Broadway Singers that Smoke?

Posted: 7/1/05 at 5:17pm

Chita