Vocal Exercises: Tuesday 14th October 2014: Applying Techniques to an Audition Song

Tuesday 14th October 2014

Applying Techniques to an Audition Song

As I have been learning and developing my knowledge of vocal techniques and vocal exercises, I decided on the song "Listen" from the musical "Dreamgirls" sung by Deena Jones who is based upon Motown star, Diana Ross. 

The character of Deena is shy young woman who grows famous after being the lead singer in the band Dreams by a character called Curtis. Through the musical Deena realises she's musical puppet to Curtis who she becomes romantically involved in and then marries. 

"Listen" takes place after Deena and Curtis argue over Deena's desire to make her film debut in an urban film and not the one Curtis is producing. Curtis grows angry and asserts his creative and psychological control over his wife, Curtis doesn't want anyone else handling her because no one knows her the way he does. Curtis tells Deena that she was put as the lead vocals for the Dreams because her voice didn't have personality and he evolved her performance. 

This song reveals the disgust that Deena feels about being considered property of Curtis. After the song she lives him as she finds her own voice and is a newly independent woman. Overall, the song is an emotional song where the character is finding her own independence over her controlling husband. 

Lyrics to "Listen":

"Listen to the song here in my heart

A melody I start but can't complete

Listen to the sound from deep within

It's only beginning

To find release

Oh,

The time has come

For my dreams to be heard

They will not be pushed aside and turned

Into your own

All cause you won't

Listen...

[Chorus:]

Listen,

I am alone at a crossroads

I'm not at home in my own home

And I've tried and tried

To say what's on my mind

You should have known

Oh,

Now I'm done believing you

You don't know what I'm feeling

I'm more than what you made of me

I followed the voice you gave to me

But now I gotta find my own.

You should have listened

There is someone here inside

Someone I thought had died

So long ago

Oh I'm screaming out, and my dreams will be heard

They will not be pushed aside or worked

Into your own

All cause you won't

Listen...

[Chorus]

I don't know where I belong

But I'll be moving on

If you don't...

If you won't...

...listen to the song here in my heart

A melody I've started but I will complete

Oh,

Now I'm done believing you

You don't know what I'm feeling

I'm more than what you've made of me

I followed the voice you think you gave to me

But now I gotta find my own,

My own."

This song needs strong female vocals and strong emotion behind it as well which is why it's great to show off singing and acting ability. 

I've colour coded the parts of the song, here is the key:

• Easy
• Fairly tricky 
• Hard

I'm currently applying all the vocal exercises and technique to help me and aid me to learn this song. I'm hoping that I will develop my singing through this song and setting myself a challenge. 

The vocal techniques which I will be focusing on during this song will be: 

• Engaging the Diaphragm 
• Flexibility, Tone and Range Development 
• Breath Control

By indicating the vocal techniques I have to work on allows me to lead a clear and specific way of practising which should help the development of my vocal technique and be able to sing to a higher skill. 

It's important to put the vocal exercises and techniques to use because then you can see for yourself the benefits from them, perhaps a before and after of learning a song without using the techniques and with the techniques. Challenge yourself because who knows what you may achieve!

Good Luck, 

Somer x