“A” for Effort with Singing

I was driving my car the other day, listening to Christmas songs on the radio, and belting out the old standards to my audience of one.  All I can say is, for the sake of ears and sensibilities, thank goodness I was alone.

Singing, when done well, is universally appealing.  Across many cultures of the world we vault the best singers to super stardom and spend money to listen to them in concert or on recordings.  Great singers are famous even when they’re dead.  Think of Elvis, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland.   How many mechanical engineers can you name from the 1940s until now?

Done poorly or off-key, singing gets you millions of hits on youtube, and fame of a different sort.  If you’re not sure of the category into which you lean, ask the opinion of your spouse who hears you singing in the shower everyday.  Like bad breath, few people will take you there.

What is it about singing that makes most people think they can do it?  Whether performed at the top of the lungs in the shower or the car, or as part of karaoke in a crowd, singing is unique. You don’t need a license or instruction or permission to try; you just do it, even if you’re not good at it.  And trying it feels good, unlike say, math.  If you can’t do math and you try it,  the end result is far less satisfying and humorous than if you’re a miserable singer.

So what are your favorite holiday songs?  The ones that do justice to your vocal abilities?   We all know the Star Spangled Banner is best left to the professionals.  But Jingle Bells ?  Works well every time. If you’re feeling particularly confident, you can ask someone to join you in rounds like in elementary school.

My favorites (in the car of course) are White Christmas, I’ll be Home for Christmas and Silver Bells.  What are you singing these days?  Let me know.