Which do you prefer - Protecting the voice, or grinding it to shreds?

This topic came up tonight with me and another person, and I was curious to know everyone's thought.

I was performing this evening, and said I wasn't feeling my best, and that my throat was very dry and scratchy. And my friend says (bad analogy) "Well, why do you think it's so much more exciting to hear Idina Menzel sing than Stephanie Block? Idina was always on the edge, never knowing if she was gonna make it, working really hard and singing her ass off, while Stephanie is always vocally healthy, very trained and safe."

So, excluding the "Wicked" analogy, which do we think is better and do you like to hear? Someone with a husky, raspy voice who is always belting their guts out, or someone with a well-trained, well-taken care of voice and a healthy sound? I know which I prefer. AND, does singing so hard you lose your voice equal "working harder" than someone who really takes care of their instrument?

I think it has more to do with the character of someone's voice. Some voices are just "clean" - like Lauren Kennedy's or Sutton Foster's. I kind of find them boring because they are a little too clean and non distinct.
Then you get someone like Carolee Carmello or Audra McDonald who can do wonders vocally, sound like they are "on the edge" and yet, I feel, have some solid technique behind them. Sally Mayes is another belter who never sounds like she's holding back, but I don't fear for her health. LaLuPone re-learned to sing and it never looks like she's holding back (but it's healthier now than her Evita days).
It really just depends on the voice to me.

actually carolee has never had any vocal training... as of last year anyway. As long as you can keep your voice healthy do whatever you want..

We've been discussing this on the "Laura Bell Bundy and the note" thread. It's almost like schadenfreude, people seem to want to see actors gut their voices reaching for these notes in a modern score.

It's sadistic, although, considering some of the comments that I've seen here, not that much of a surprise.

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If it ain't bleedin', it ain't singin'.

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I like a husky belt! A clear voice bores me! I find it powerfull when they really have to go for it!

Idina's voice rakes on my nerves too a bit! Her voice is too shrill for my taste.I like a bit more depth behind the voice She sounds like she is screaming=-)

There's a huge difference between a ravaged voice (Minnelli) and ones that have burnished through care, proper use and time (Tony Bennett, Barbara Cook ... even Eartha Kitt) and acquired a gorgeous patina.

I recently worked with an actor who has nodules on his vocal chords and its heartwrenching to hear him sing. Its not good to sing in an unhealthy way because 1. it is going to really shorten your career 2. Once it gets to a certain point, you'll never get your voice back 3. why hurt yourself deliberately when you can get training and help to sing healthy

"people seem to want to see actors gut their voices reaching for these notes in a modern score."


Are you saying that the notes written in today's scores are HIGHER than those that were written years ago for opera, etc?

Notes don't get higher or harder to hit. It called ‘bad technique’ or ‘lack of training’.

Also, some people just have a natural rasp to their voice (Mellissa Eltheridge comes to mind), but don’t ever try to make your voice sound like that, you’ll just do permanent damage.

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"Are you saying that the notes written in today's scores are HIGHER than those that were written years ago for opera, etc? "

The notes aren't higher, but while singers would use their head voice or a mix before, they're often now expected to sing those notes with a pure belt. What's where the problem comes in.

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It's not just opera.

Peope have been singing these same notes for years.

The problem is, they are now singing them incorrectly.

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I saw both Idina and Stephanie live. I prefer Idina. Not because she "grinds her vocal cords to shreds" (seriously, if it were half as dangerous as you all were lamenting, she would have lost her voice years ago), but because she played the part better. I go to see the show, not to scrutinize their technique and training (or what I imagine it to be).

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