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"D0s " & "Don'ts" which singers need to resort to for maintaining their voice

Topic started by A.G.Kutty (@ cf2-real.isu.net.sa) on Tue Apr 4 11:28:57 EDT 2000.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Actors and Actresses,with the passage of time, change their roles from heros and heroines to
those of father and mother or even grandfather and grandmother.But we have the example of singers who maintain their voice for decades together in such a condition that they can sing for teen age heros and heroines for ever. Examples are SPB,Yesudas etc.Can we discuss such personalities who could maintain the freshness of their voice on a permanent basis? What could have been the "Dos" and "Don'ts" they resort to for maintainig this?
Some of the reasons may be food habits, "sadhakam" etc.Please throw light from your knowledge and experience.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Neel (@ ts005d17.har-ct.concentric.net) on: Fri Apr 7 19:36:06 EDT 2000
  
  I told ya. This thread has to be renamed. I see a lot of alcohol fixation here. Let us talk about if honey is good or ice-cream is bad for a singer.
  
  
• From: Kumuthavalli (@ star.zapsurf.com.sg) on: Sat Apr 8 04:36:17 EDT 2000
  
  Yeap ... I'm very intereseted in finding out what are the things i can eat or drink (Or shouldn't) to maintain or improve my voice ... like the herb 'vallarai' is supposed to improve memory, there could be herbs and foostuff to improve the condition of voices?
  For me, anything cold, like ice-cream and cold drinks makes the voice sound strained.
  
  
• From: giri (@ 202.144.10.93) on: Sat Apr 8 10:18:53 EDT 2000
  
  "For me, anything cold, like ice-cream and cold drinks makes the voice sound strained."
  
  I remember reading about Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Aiyengar (not a TFM artiste but a Carnatic musician) that he always avoided anything sour so that his voice is not strained. If a vendor appeared in the street corner with a basket on his head shouting "lemon.. lemon..", Aiyengar would jump from the thiNNai and rush into his house as mere hereing the name of lemon repeatedly would damage his voice:-))
  
  
• From: cram (@ 206.103.12.102) on: Sat Apr 8 11:13:16 EDT 2000
  
  i think boozing among singers is purely incidental. mohammed rafi, one of the greatest singers ever, had no vices. no smokes, booze, paan, nothing. yet he sang so divinely. in contrast was kishore kumar, who was a reckless character but phenomenally gifted.
  btw, lata mangeshkar's secret is constant gum chewing (at least it was during her heydays, according to raju bharatan).
  
  
• From: Udhaya (@ 207-218-69-229.nas-2.obt.primenet.com) on: Sat Apr 8 22:47:58 EDT 2000
  
  C.S. Jeyaraaman always sang with a mouthfull of veththalai paakku. On stage and while recording. It characterized his singing. Seems it would be hard to do, but CSJ was a phenomenal singer.
  
  Guys,
  I raised questions about a few habits that are allegedly "Bad" habits. So what? This is a public forum, I'm curious about a very relevant to the topic issue, why is it a big deal? It's not a fixation with me, I'm just curious.
  
  In the Jazz world, many musicians fell into the habit of heroine addiction feeling it would help their performance and also to numb their pain, sleeplessness from rigorous travels. RajaG, has said here that many Hindustani musicians use Scotch. These kind of real world facts interest me a great deal. I'm not trying to propagate any myth about addictions, nor am I casting judgements on those who do or don't have a certain habit. I'm just a factaholic that's all.
  
  
• From: Kumuthavalli (@ constellation.singnet.com.sg) on: Sun Apr 9 04:32:38 EDT 2000
  
  it could be also that different foodstuffs affect different people .. differently ... that's a problem becos you have to keep experimenting (sometimes with disastrous results) until you find out what's good and whats not ....I've heard that a bit of lemon juice, honey and warm water is good ... anyone can verify?
  
  
• From: Rasikhai (@ inh1ts11-qfe0.ims.bt.net) on: Sun Apr 9 13:11:52 EDT 2000
  
  I have heard that Athimathuram chewed before a concert helps the voice. Being a singer myself, I tried it.....It WORKED....
  
  
• From: Kumuthavalli (@ planet.zapsurf.com.sg) on: Sun Apr 9 13:43:44 EDT 2000
  
  chew what?
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ garbo05.slip.yorku.ca) on: Sun Apr 9 14:09:04 EDT 2000
  
  Gum chewing?
  
  
• From: Neel (@ ts005d22.har-ct.concentric.net) on: Sun Apr 9 16:59:07 EDT 2000
  
  Udhaya,
  I like the political correctness in the way you word your posting. You are good. I did not believe that there was any connection between alcohol and a good voice. But come to think of it, I have to admit that I am no expert in that issue (ooh... thappichchen).
  
  
• From: Rasikhai (@ inh1ts11-qfe0.ims.bt.net) on: Sun Apr 9 17:56:24 EDT 2000
  
  Athimathuram is a kind of bark!!!
  
  
• From: Velaiyaththavan (@ 129.252.26.235) on: Sun Apr 9 18:10:21 EDT 2000
  
  Why does not a dog have good voice even after relishing a good bark ? :-) (NOM)
  
  
• From: Rasikhai (@ inh1ts11-qfe0.ims.bt.net) on: Sun Apr 9 18:12:00 EDT 2000
  
  Well done Velaiyathavan!!!...I don't know what it is called in English but another thing that works is a teaspoon of Manjal Thool mixed with honey!!!
  
  
• From: Rasikhai (@ inh1ts11-qfe0.ims.bt.net) on: Sun Apr 9 18:12:34 EDT 2000
  
  Well done Velaiyathavan!!!...I don't know what it is called in English but another thing that works is a teaspoon of Manjal Thool mixed with honey!!!
  
  
• From: Neel (@ ts006d32.har-ct.concentric.net) on: Sun Apr 9 18:19:57 EDT 2000
  
  I knew that was coming.
  
  
• From: MS (@ 129.252.26.235) on: Sun Apr 9 18:26:27 EDT 2000
  
  Actually a mint before concert works wonders IM experience ! two or more causes dry throat and hence leads to blunders :-)
  
  
• From: Kumuthavalli (@ star.zapsurf.com.sg) on: Sun Apr 9 23:58:34 EDT 2000
  
  oh i'm sorry Rashikai ... i mistook Athimathuram to be someone's name and thought that it was a typo .. I'm deeply sorry ... :)
  Manjal thool and honey? I should try .. thanks ..
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ ip69.kansas-city7.mo.pub-ip.psi.net) on: Mon Apr 10 01:03:14 EDT 2000
  
  MS: Some mint before a concert will do a 'lot of good' for some people's social lives too (you
  know! people who are not continuously singing thiruppugazh). I have heard about Athimadhuram
  too, but have not tried it yet. I still think that despite a lot of actual physical effects, most of the
  singers have 'psychological fears/aversions' about possible adverse effects of consumption items. But
  as I am writing this, I have also heard rumors that Minmini's (of Roja fame) vocal abilities were intentionally
  destroyed by a competing female singer's family members by adding something in her food intake.
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ thing11.slip.yorku.ca) on: Mon Apr 10 01:06:14 EDT 2000
  
  RagaG,
  I read that the decline of Raja's fame was due to a muslim priest friend of ARR putting some sort of curse on IR:-))
  
  
• From: aruvi (@ thing11.slip.yorku.ca) on: Mon Apr 10 01:13:34 EDT 2000
  
  But seriously, Minmini's problem lasted for 2 years, can any type of chemical, whatever, do that? I think it was more because of sudden strain on her voice, remember she became instantly popular, that she lost her voice. Or maybe it is a physcological think as someone said earlier. Because, Minmini stated that her voice came back when she sang prayers to her son.
  
  
• From: A.G.Kutty (@ cf1-19.isu.net.sa) on: Mon Apr 10 11:44:16 EDT 2000
  
  Hearing Minmini's case-well,this could possibly be a rumour and there may not be an element of truth in this rumour.But It is also true that such instances cannot be ruled out, because competion, jealousy , backstabing etc do take place in music field as well like any other profession since the singers are also human beings. But this type of instances and the people who resort to do such illegal activities are not many and will be a negligible percentage and possibly, she would have become a victim of actions of some narrow minded and crooked competetors or their supporters.It is very unfortunate if that is the case.It is nice o hear that she is back with normalcy.
  
  It is true that "Chinna Chinna Asai" made her extremely popular, but I do not believe that she
  appeared as a threat for anybody at that point of time. And I do not think that any existing famous singer will adopt such tricks fearing the potential rise of an artist in an overnight scenerio.The time is gone in any profession where few people could command and dictate the market.
  Any way , one of the possible "Don'ts" which singers may resort to is to totally avoid taking food or drink offered by the suspicious competetors or their well wishers till the trust in them is established or validated (what a bad world,is it?).
  Anyway,I do not believe that a curse by a human being can endangeour somebody and accelarate his decline. If that is the case, so many would have resorted to doing this-because it is something which can be done at zero cost with no risk of being caught.
  
  
• From: Jay (@ bat-50-202.tm.net.my) on: Mon Apr 10 12:48:37 EDT 2000
  
  
  
  
  guys i want to know any interesting website abt the GREAT S.P BALA.PLZ e-mail to me.I am a great fan of him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Valli (@ nebula.singnet.com.sg) on: Fri Apr 14 11:46:02 EDT 2000
  
  What's happened to the enthusiasm?
  
  
• From: Kutty (@ cf2-real.isu.net.sa) on: Sat Apr 15 10:52:43 EDT 2000
  
  Valli,
  yes,it seems that the enthusiasm on the thread has ceased.
  
  Anyway let me put two inputs.These inputs are quoted from some interviews of the singers.
  KJY,it appears advised Sujatha to eat chicken(Aruvi already mentioned this at the beginning of the thread). I remeber to have read another advice where it was said that cold buttermilk and "Kadalai" are to be avoided.
  Do we have any ENT specialist participating in this thread?If so please give some recommendations to guide the professional and amature singers participating in this discussion
  
  
  
• From: Rafiq (@ wks2.asic-alliance.com) on: Tue Apr 18 14:28:46 EDT 2000
  
  We had this mess worker in college who could sing pretty well. He told me that Mohd Rafi used to eat
  onions in yoghurt every morning to keep his voice sweet. ???? Also, he told me that Kishore ate paan and smoked etc. Similarly, SPB supposedly smokes a helluva lot. Any input on this info? Confirms/denials?
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ daecfp02.sprint.com) on: Tue Apr 18 17:44:12 EDT 2000
  
  Rafiq: As far as I know, SPB is definitely a heavy smoker. He probably does that occasionally but he definitely drinks like a fish. HH is also a neat scotch bhakthaa! Hemanta Kumar used to smoke Dunhill (his favorite brand). Most Bengali singers do. Mehdi hasan (Scotch+Cigarette).
  
  Also another interesting trivia. RajaG (yep! your's truly) likes stuffed eggplant poriyal, podimaas, mOrkuzhambu, arachchu vachcha vengaaya saambhaar, thaiyir vada, and a whole lot of good food. This has got nothing to do with my singing abilities, but in case somebody was spending sleepless nights wondering about my culinary likes/dislikes, I didn't want to leave them in the dark alleys of ignorance:-)
  
  
• From: rajaG (@ daecfp02.sprint.com) on: Tue Apr 18 17:45:30 EDT 2000
  
  Oops! typo: SPB is NOT a heavy smoker!
  
  
• From: LONI (@ ) on: Tue Oct 14 19:42:05 EDT 2003
  
  could it be possible that any of you guys could tell me about the life of singers, not the life of those past but your lives (if you sing for a living of course). i am really interested but i need to know if it would be something that i could do.
  i have a list of Questions that i would love to be answered. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET SIGNED?
  DOES IT INCLUDE BENIFITS?
  WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS?
  HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU WORK?
  DISCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY.
  HOW MUCH DO YOU GET PAIED( IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION)?
  IN WHAT WAYS IS IT HARD TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK?
  ARE YOU ABLE TO HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE?
  thank you so much for your time
  
  

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