Fun songs

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 3/29/05 at 9:00pm

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I've decided that doing a fun song that I can really get into and make the audience get into it, too... maybe then I'd be more comfortable as well. Any suggestions? (My original thought was "Touch Me" from Rocky Horror, but it's not very school appropriate)

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All right... so I have an incredible fear of solos.
3 years ago at an audition for YGMCB, the director asked me to sing "Happy Birthday" and I froze, then burst into tears and walked out.
This year I tried out for my school's musical, and did okay singing 16 bars in front of a few people.
Well today, I signed up for a solo spot in our pops concert that's in about two weeks.
The audition is next Monday, and I'm not completely sure what I'm going to sing.
I'm leaning towards "There's a Fine, Fine Line" because I can hit all the notes and I'm comfortable with it.
Any other suggestions? (or tips for calming myself down before the audition?)

Updated On: 3/31/05 at 09:00 PM

[oxdreaminxo]

Posted: 3/29/05 at 9:08pm

Wow- I can so totally relate. I had a thread like this when it was time for my drama auditions. Got some awesome advice. I'll tell you something that'll prolly make you laugh (I hope). At my audition I decided to sing "What You Own" (don't ask what I was thinking when I picked it...) and was freaking out. So, it's time to sing and I get my music all set up. Then the stereo dies. My director hits it and it works again. I was jittery from that. I hear the opening music and froze, I started to shake and fell into a wall. It wasn't pretty. The next day my director made fun of me when I had him for History. It was awful. But ya know what? I made the cast. After all that screwing up I made the cast.
I wish there was a 'surefire' way to get over singing fright, and I think I found one. All you really have to do is have fun. If I wasn't so nervous, my audition would have been better and less stressful. Singing really is fun, it truly is. Today, for example, I was signing songs from Rent to my friend, I sang 6 of them. In public. Very loud. Something I would NEVER have done before that. I don't know what really happened, but I stopped caring if I was good or bad and just had fun. I hope that that helps you! GOOD LUCK!!!
Yes, it helps picking a song you're going with. Try not to pick something you aren't comfortable with because it'll make you more nervous, and you have enough things to worry about. Let the song be one that you enjoy doing!
btw- There's a Fine, Fine Line is one of my favorite songs and I can hit the notes good too! Just thought I'd share that!
Good luck yet again! =P

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 3/29/05 at 9:13pm

Thanks a lot for your advice...
I'm completely comfortable singing songs in front of friends and all, but in my choir, there's a bunch of very judgemental people when it comes to vocal talent. THEY'RE the ones I'm scared of...

What exactly was that audition for?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 3/29/05 at 9:16pm

Singing is fun. I learned that when I had to do an audition in front of my firector and 50 spectators. At first, I froze, but then I got used to being in the center of attention and I had a great time.

[Juliet2170]

Posted: 3/29/05 at 10:15pm

don't be scared of those judgmental people in choir!! i knew them all through school...believe me the director who's doing the casting won't think too highly of their attitudes either and it sometimes hurts their chances. just be cheerful and give it your all!

as for songs, i agree with everyone else that you have to sing something you're so familiar with that even if you're nervous you can still hit the notes! lol also knowing you can do a song justice will help your confidence.

[mattvcrewse]

Posted: 3/30/05 at 12:32am

It's not an audition; it's an opportunity to perform.

If you mess up, don't apologize. Voice students will roll their eyes, or grimace when they miss a note. That only draws attention to it. Whatever happens, keep on singing nice and strong. Even if you bomb most of the song, if you just hit one sweet note, that's enough to let the casting director know, yes, you can sing. You'd be surprised how much of the song you can screw up and still get cast.

You said you know the song well, so you WILL be fine. It's a lot easier than we make it out to be. Like I said earlier, it's not an audition; it's an opportunity to perform.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/30/05 at 12:53am

Oh, i know how ya feel. i have to sing in front of other chorus kids every friday. And all of them are very judgemental. But you just have to know that what you are doing is good and impress them and then they'll be over it. If you wanna do theater as a profession ya gotta get use to being in front of ppl and being in confident in what you're doing. I didn't even know i was a good singer until i was in college. In high school everything was about politics. A certain person always got the leads, no matter if he sucked for the part. But in college, i got the lead in the musical, which was surprising. So ya just gotta know that what you are doing is good and get over the fact that people are watching you.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 3/30/05 at 9:14pm

mattv... Thanks a lot, that was a nice encouragement note

Still, I'm really not sure I can do it...

[kaliedascope786]

Posted: 3/30/05 at 9:24pm

Hey girl. You are going to be great. You just need to believe in yourself. It all comes to song choice. You need to pick a song that you are comfortable with. If you feel a song you will be able to perform it with more verve and passion.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 4:40pm

bump


I need to have my music by tomorrow. Eek!

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 12:22am

Update: auditioned... got the solo... performed it tonight.

Thanks, guys!