MR

Well, what I'm about to say—I'm gonna come across as a prima donna, but if there's any singers out there reading this at this point, they'll understand completely. You must put that in there, the preface, because it's important. Everybody thinks singers are prima donnas. And to a degree I guess we are. But at the same time, the difference between a voice and fingers, or hands, is neurotic at best. When someone's fingers get calluses on them, the guitar doesn't hurt so bad. It feels better. Same for the bass. Same for the piano player, when his fingers get callused and strong. When a drummer gets calluses on his hands, they no longer chafe and they no longer blister, and that's fantastic. The moment a singer gets one callus, he's finished. Singers live on the edge of being powerful, being strong, and not degrading their voice, and it's the most difficult edge to walk. You feel like you're on a high-wire all the time. And the pressure of walking in front of an audience every night, and wanting to be what you know they want you to be, and what you want to be for them, and to have this silly little thing in your throat that's about as neurotic as you are, is difficult. So it can make any singer a little crazy. It can make you just live your life in a state of insecurity and fear. Until you walk out there and open your mouth, and you see what you got, and then it tells you if it's gonna be a fun evening or not.

texafana wrote:

Well, what I'm about to say—I'm gonna come across as a prima donna, but if there's any singers out there reading this at this point, they'll understand completely. You must put that in there, the preface, because it's important. Everybody thinks singers are prima donnas. And to a degree I guess we are. But at the same time, the difference between a voice and fingers, or hands, is neurotic at best. When someone's fingers get calluses on them, the guitar doesn't hurt so bad. It feels better. Same for the bass. Same for the piano player, when his fingers get callused and strong. When a drummer gets calluses on his hands, they no longer chafe and they no longer blister, and that's fantastic. The moment a singer gets one callus, he's finished. Singers live on the edge of being powerful, being strong, and not degrading their voice, and it's the most difficult edge to walk. You feel like you're on a high-wire all the time. And the pressure of walking in front of an audience every night, and wanting to be what you know they want you to be, and what you want to be for them, and to have this silly little thing in your throat that's about as neurotic as you are, is difficult. So it can make any singer a little crazy. It can make you just live your life in a state of insecurity and fear. Until you walk out there and open your mouth, and you see what you got, and then it tells you if it's gonna be a fun evening or not.

Steve Perry sounds like he is admiting he had vocal nodes at this point in his career.

SusieP wrote:I think he's just saying how difficult it is to be in fear of getting a callous on your vocal chords/folds all the time.
I don't think he's is saying he had one.

Hell, I know exactly what he means. I'm paranoid about having the songs I sing in a key which does not make me strain.
And if anyone comes near me with a cough or cold...........I want to kill them. Not literally, but I certainly stay well away.

SusieP wrote:I think he's just saying how difficult it is to be in fear of getting a callous on your vocal chords/folds all the time.
I don't think he's is saying he had one.

Hell, I know exactly what he means. I'm paranoid about having the songs I sing in a key which does not make me strain.
And if anyone comes near me with a cough or cold...........I want to kill them. Not literally, but I certainly stay well away.

Tomulator wrote:

SusieP wrote:I think he's just saying how difficult it is to be in fear of getting a callous on your vocal chords/folds all the time.
I don't think he's is saying he had one.

Hell, I know exactly what he means. I'm paranoid about having the songs I sing in a key which does not make me strain.
And if anyone comes near me with a cough or cold...........I want to kill them. Not literally, but I certainly stay well away.

Of course he had one (more?).

Doesn't take a "rocket scientist" to figure that one out...just listen to his voice!!

You're a vocalist...you should know this.

Eric wrote:This is from last winter.....great read though

Rhiannon wrote:

Eric wrote:This is from last winter.....great read though

Yep, it's the GQ interview. Old news. Next!

Saint John wrote:

Tomulator wrote:

SusieP wrote:I think he's just saying how difficult it is to be in fear of getting a callous on your vocal chords/folds all the time.
I don't think he's is saying he had one.

Hell, I know exactly what he means. I'm paranoid about having the songs I sing in a key which does not make me strain.
And if anyone comes near me with a cough or cold...........I want to kill them. Not literally, but I certainly stay well away.

Of course he had one (more?).

Doesn't take a "rocket scientist" to figure that one out...just listen to his voice!!

You're a vocalist...you should know this.

I agree. My guess is that at one time his throat looked like a "before" shot on one of those Proactiv commercials. Unless, of course, you believe that "I recorded in the morning so my voice would sound like that" excuse. Hey, was BALCO aroound in the early and mid 80's?

froy wrote:Racine wisconsin