When having conversations with other musicians, I always hear them talk about their favorite drummer, horn player, bassist, etc., and why they love that musician. There are many different aspects that make up a great musician–how they connect with the audience, performance-style, improvisation. After being asked this question multiple times in regards to singers, I figured I would compile my own thoughts into a blog post for you guys. This post can, of course, be read in conjunction with another post I wrote awhile back about different influences that have shaped me as a singer because what you admire most in your favorite musicians, tends to influence who you are as a musician.
1. A Powerful Voice. This one is really simple, but it is the most inspiring and attention-grabbing for me. A powerful voice that can fill up a theater or stadium (with or without a mic). This can be achieved by years of study and practice, but sometimes some vocalists are naturally gifted with a big voice. Some singers that are great examples of this are: Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, and Celia Cruz.
2. Rhythmic Timing & the Ability to Play with Rhythm. Singers that have a good concept of time and how to play with it definitely make for a more interesting, groovy performance. When you feel the vocalist really “getting into it,” they start to improvise, making you more invested in the music. Great examples of this are: Ella Fitzgerald, Djavan, Joao Gilberto, Celia Cruz, and Oscar D’León.
3. Melodic & Lyrical Improvisation. These both tie in to #2 because when you play with the rhythm in a song, melodic and lyrical improvisation tends to follow since they’re all connected. Because of this, many of the singers mentioned above are also included in this section, along with Donny Hathaway and Erykah Badu.
4. Connecting with the audience. Singers tend to naturally communicate with the audience better since the voice is such an immediate instrument that everyone has and uses on a daily basis. Singers mentioned above have this aspect of connecting with the audience, but I haven’t seen a better example of this than that of Gregory Porter and Celine Dion. Both have a type of charisma that may be practiced, but can’t really be emulated. The natural way that Porter communicates with his audience, both in song and speech, makes you feel right at home.
5. “Performer Appeal.” These are singers who put on a great performance–singing, dancing, costumes, etc. Many who think of this would automatically think Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson, but I actually think that Oscar D’León emulates this image very well. I’ve seen live performances (both in person and on video) of Oscar dressed in costume, performing choreographed dance moves, singing and improvising, while playing bass at the same time. He is truly, in my opinion, one of the last few great performers.
There are probably many other aspects to being a great, inspirational singer, but these are the things that I look for when watching or listening to a singer perform. These aspects have helped shaped me into the musician I am today and are things I strive to work on when practicing and performing.
What aspects do you think makes a great singer? Leave a comment below!