Flawless or with Feeling? The Singer’s Dilemma

Perfect zingen of juist doorleefd? Een duivels dilemma

For any singer, there’s often a tension that lies between flawless technique and singing with real feeling. Is there a way to strike a perfect balance between the two? Guest blogger and professional gospel singer Heleen Spreeuwers takes a deep dive into the age-old singer’s dilemma, looking at how the performance pressure and perfectionism that’s involved in being a vocalist can clash with what probably moves most vocalists to sing in the first place: the ability to tell a story and to emote.

YEBBA

Have you ever watched the live recording of Yebba performing My Mind? I think I must have watched it on YouTube at least fifty times already. The first time I ever heard it, I had goosebumps all over. In this song, Yebba lashes out at the man who left her for another, and her anger and despair resonates in every single note. Since the clip has been viewed more than 20 million times, I guess that other people were just as moved by it as I was. And, it’s also worth mentioning that, following this performance, Yebba was snapped up by Ed Sheerans’ record label Gingerbread Man.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

Now, I’m going to dare to make the statement that singers that have the most impact (that are able to strike listeners in the heart and bring tears to their eyes( don’t necessarily sing perfectly. The vocalists that really seem to be able to express pain and loss or passion often have some little imperfections to their performance – some raw edges and rough ends. Even in the case of Yebba (while it made little sense to me) when you dip into the comments section, you’ll find extensive commentary written by singing teachers who have gone through the song, second by second, pointing out where Yebba’s technique was falling short: “Here she uses her voice incorrectly. Here she moves from her chest voice to her head voice too abruptly… blah blah blah.” Ok, but you felt something, right?

Raw Edges

So, if performances like this are so technically flawed, why is it that we value the unpolished voice so much? I think this is because of the simple fact that we want to feel music. We want to be told a story about being human that we can actually relate to. Life is in no way perfect and polished, it’s raw and sometimes painful so, when you hear someone singing about a break up; about the death of a loved one; maybe about battling depression, and they’re saying it in a way that somehow voices your own struggle, then that builds trust. You feel less alone. A good vocalist not only defines the feeling with words but actually seems to live them through how the song is sung. The raw edges of their performance reflect the raw edges of life.

Take Risks

As a singer (and incurable perfectionist) I still find this one of the most difficult dilemmas to deal with when performing or recording new music. And, to be honest, how I respond to that dilemma is still a work in progress. It’s the same question again and again: do I go for a polished performance that’s easy on the ear? Or do I go for the feeling, tell the story with true depth and risk making mistakes? The second option leaves you more vulnerable for two reasons. The first reason is, you don’t want to mess it up. But the second reason goes deeper, namely because it demands me as a singer to own the raw edges of my own story and share them with the listener. Both of these things take some courage.

Flawless or with Feeling? The Singer’s Dilemma

Let Perfection Go

You might be thinking: ‘Why are you making things difficult? It can be technically perfect and emotive.” But in my experience, if you are a perfectionist and get into your own head about the technique while singing, that side of things will never allow the emotive side to really come out. The quest for the perfect technical performance can really get in the way of experiencing the song and feeling it, so you need to let one of them go – depending on what you want, of course.

Technique is Always a Tool, Not a Goal

Ok. About time for a quick sidenote for anyone thinking that they might not need any technique at all. Of course you need technique. Vocal control and technique is essential if you want to be able to hold a note and breathe correctly. Being able to manipulate your midriff, open your throat, relax your shoulders and maintain a strong core – the whole deal – it’s all really necessary. Basically, your technique serves as the tools you need to say what you want to say musically, so flawless technique is never the main goal. Following more than eight years of singing lessons I realised that my focus had been on ‘the right way to sing’ and that that way of thinking was often holding me back rather than helping me. But while there is a point at which the technical side of things can work against you, good technique will always be a useful skill to have.

How Does it Work For You?

If you’re hyperfocussed on technical perfection then you’ll probably notice the following (at least I do):

While singing, your thoughts are often about all of the ‘rules’ that you’ve learned. During more difficult passages, your brain is working overtime to use that one little trick so you can squeeze out this or that note as cleanly as possible (pushing away the feeling).
Unconsciously, the pressure to perform when singing can cause stress, which results in less than desirable results, which results in even more stress. It’s a vicious circle.
And last but not least: you notice that you enjoy singing less and less, simply because you can’t relax anymore.

No Quick Fixes

I really wish I did have some magic formula that can just cut down that vicious circle but, unfortunately, I just don’t. What I do have is a couple of tips that I’ve picked up along the way and have really helped me out:

Be inspired by the singers that really put all of their raw edges on full display and feel what they’re singing. Make sure to choose your role models wisely.
Sing and even write songs that match who you are and what you stand for. Dare to share your story and, even if you didn’t write a song yourself, find a way in. This will make it far easier to sing the story, rather than performing the way you think it should be performed.
When you’re singing, try to focus less on what you consider the right way. Instead, try to empathise with your listener, who might recognise themselves in what you’re singing about. This applies whether you’re singing to a live audience or someone who’s listening on Spotify. This will help you broaden your perspective and feel part of the bigger picture.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Be more afraid of missing out on the opportunity to touch someone else with your story.