Does Anyone Else Ever Notice This?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 10:35am

Do you ever watch singers who, no matter how good they are, properly shoot themselves in the foot by the bizarre faces they make while they sing? This picture is a very good example of this.

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 10:39am

ha yes!!! Have you ever seen jessica simpson sing omg weirdest facial expressions ever!

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:15am

And your avatar is yet another example.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:21am

I find this true of most singers

[Plum]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 11:26am

People always make weird faces when exerting themselves. It get even worse (or better, depending on your point of view) with musicians and athletes, who don't even particularly care what they look like.

[Prisoner 24601]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 9:50pm

I love colm wilkinson's expressions on the Les Mis concert video. He is always raising his eyebrows.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 9:54pm

One of the most basic rules of performance is to NOT look like you're "exerting yourself" when you're singing. It's supposed to look effortless. That's been lost somewhere along the way.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 10/23/05 at 10:05pm

For some reason, there are people who seem to enjoy that "exerting yourself" look in performers, but it bothers the hell out of me :0)

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 12:06pm

Indeed, Pinguin - save the orgasm face for the bedroom, it's not what I paid to see.

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 3:18pm

I disagree--maybe some of the faces look odd, but it's a sign that a performer is not self-conscious and is in the moment--it looks like something is going on rather than just note production--but that's just me...

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 3:26pm

Many of the "weird" facial expressions, I've found, can be attributed to the "screamers" of musical theatre, singing with their mouths stretched open.

For those who've seen Piazza, Kelli O'Hara and Victoria Clark barely move their jaws when they sing (the idea is to keep it loose and free, down and back, and move it as little as possible). This however, in no way compromises their ability to give moving performances.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 3:31pm

I don't think Over The Moon is really the best example of this, because Maureen is supposed to be weird during the performance. I mean, mid-song she squats down and mimes drinking from a cow's udder.

But I think there's a fine line between looking effortless, and just appearing completly stone-faced. I've seen very few people that can consistently strike that balance.

Updated On: 10/24/05 at 03:31 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 4:00pm

shoshanna bean looks like she's caught in a bear trap when she sings.

[stephygirl51]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 4:14pm

I actually dislocated my jaw one time when I was impersonating Jessica Simpson's exertion face. I literally had to pop it back into place...ouch.