Anyone Can Sing

Jane Kirby discovers how to be on song.
Daily Post 12/27/2003

WHAT is it about New Year celebrations that encourage people to test
their vocal chords? Come January 31st and, after a lager, shandy or
three, most relatives are launching into their own versions of Frank
Sinatra's My Way.

After the alcoholic stupor has worn off the following day they end
up heartily embarrassed.

But some have a secret desire to learn to sing and wish they hadn't
stopped when they left the school choir.

Now, husband and wife team and Fame Academy judges David and Carrie
Grant are on hand to encourage people to enjoy their voices.

Their book You Can Sing seems targeted at young, wannabe pop
stars, but the pair insist it's for anyone who just loves to sing.

Carrie, 38, says: ``It's really to bring singing to the masses.
Unless you go to football matches or church, you don't get a chance
to sing. Then people start saying `Well I can't sing'.

``If I don't run for 10 years then, of course, I'm going to be a bit
rusty.

``It's the same with singing. If you haven't done it for 10 years
then you're not going to suddenly strike a note and be amazing,but
it's a start.

``We totally believe that anyone can learn to sing. We've taught
thousands of people to sing.

``We've worked with people, even in pop bands, who have not been
great singers but with some coaching we've been able to bring out
their voices.''

David,47, says singing is as natural as breathing, whether you think
you can do it well or not. ``Singing isn't about `I'm going to be a
star'. Singing is about `I love to do this'.''

Many people are put off when they are young, he continues, by being
told they are no good.

``I say the voice is the only musical instrument that belongs
entirely to your body,'' he says. ``That's why people are sensitive
about singing.

``If you say to somebody `I don't like your guitar playing' they may
be upset but if you say to somebody `you have a horrible voice' when
they're 10, they may never sing again. They miss out on a massive
joy in life.''

The book and accompanying CD are divided into chapters to take you
through every aspect of improving your voice. Practical instructions
on breathing and where to `place' the air sit alongside tips on how
to interpret a song.

The pair, whose pupils have included Will Young, S-Club 7, Atomic
Kitten, and Victoria Beckham, also discuss the psychological aspects
of singing.

David says: ``Most of the problems we encounter are not just vocal
problems but psychological problems - people having stage fright.
They ask, `Why do I want to sing?' Often the reason why people want
to sing determines how successful they become.''

For people who would love to take a step on the road to stardom, the
judges offer ways to get yourself noticed.

But, they warn, talent doesn't necessarily equal fame. As Carrie
points out, there are lots of people lacking talent who make
records, and vice versa.

``I don't know that talent and fame necessarily follow one
another,'' she explains. ``Yes you can be talented because you can
sing, whether you can then have a career is a whole other ball game.

``To have a career you need to have identity, you need to think
about what kind of music you want to make, and image. There are people
out there who a remaking a big living from having strong images and
don't have a great deal of vocal talent, but they have strong
personalities and people want to buy into that.''

In the book the couple talk about the differences between
manufactured artists and innovators -those who sit in their bedroom
and make music even if no-one was going to hear it.

``I actually have huge respect for both,'' says Carrie.
``Manufactured has come to be frowned upon but a manufactured artist
works 364 days of the year.

``In some ways it's easier to break into the manufactured side
because you maybe don't have to have every part of the talent going
on.

``On the innovations side, you have hugely talented people. But they
area lot harder to find.''

David says what people call talent is often judged by success.

``I think success, certainly in the music business, is 10pc
inspiration and 90pc perspiration,'' he explains. ``I would say
anybody who buys this book and works hard at it can become a
significantly better singer.''

The couple explain that the voice peaks as we get older -around the
mid-30s to 50s. ``The fact our industry wants 15-year-olds is
pathetic,'' says Carrie, who explains she's had her own massive
learning curve.

``At 17 I did Eurovision where I didn't have to sing brilliantly and
I didn't sing brilliantly. I had a thin kind of pop voice.

``In 1998, I won a Mobo award with David. That's a black music
award, you don't win those unless you can sing. From Eurovision to a
Mobo in 15 years, how much must my voice have changed? I'm a little
bit embarrassed about how I sang to begin with.''

The couple met in 1986 when Carrie was a television presenter and
David was in the pop band Linx. David says he chased her to the
train station, got on the train to London, and thought: ``Right,
you've got four hours Grant''.

``They were the most dazzling, witty and intelligent four hours of
my life and she never got away,'' he says passionately, looking at
Carrie. ``I never let her escape. That was 17 years ago.''

The couple, who have two daughters -Olivia eight,and Talia, two-say
they have few qualms about working together.

David says: ``Carrie's the only person I can work with for any
length of time. It's because she's remarkably tolerant. We've been
married for 15 years, we've worked together for 15 years. Most
people can stand about 25 minutes with me.''