Sing Lyrics the Way They Were Meant to be Sung

To sing lyrics may come naturally to you—particularly if you’ve been singing since you were a toddler.  After all, songs represent the perfect marriage between melody and words—and that means that, in order to “sell” a song, you simply must be able to sing lyrics effectively.  But how do you go about doing that?

To begin with, you have to understand that even the best singers are sometimes challenged as far as how to sing lyrics the way the songwriter intended them to be sung.  Many songs are poetry set to music, and even the best English literature major can have difficulty interpreting poetry.  Because of the economy of words involved, there are often many things “left unsaid” in poetry—and the same holds true with songs. 

Yet, you can learn to sing lyrics in a way that will really move your audience.  While it will require some preparation, it is well worth the effort in terms of improving your vocal performances.  In essence, singing lyrics well begins with studying lyrics carefully.

Before you add a song to your repertoire, sit down and carefully listen to a recording of it twice.  Make sure that you are concentrating fully on the song and that you aren’t distracted by the dog barking, the dishwasher running, or the neighbors arguing.   Then, jot down any ideas that come to mind while listening to the song.  You may be amazed at the images and impressions that a given song triggers, once you begin to analyze it in-depth.

Then, consider playing the song for a friend or family member.  Ask him or her to write down what the song seems to be saying.  It’s also good if the listener can envision who might be singing the song and speculate about the individual’s background. 

For instance, consider the song, “One More for the Road.”  You might imagine that the singer is a man driven to drink after plunging into the depths of despair over his love life.  How you interpret the lyrics will ultimately affect how you sing the song.

Once you and someone close to you have analyzed the song, sit down with the lyrics and sheet music and think about which words you would like to emphasize.  Emphasizing one word can yield one meaning, while stressing another can create an entirely different meaning.  You may even decide to sing one line softer or louder than another in order to change the emphasis of your voice. 

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to steer clear of those songs that have lyrics you don’t particularly care for.  You may be wowed by a particular melody, but if the lyrics don’t match the tune in terms of quality, singing the selection can be quite demoralizing.  It’s also important that you choose your songs with your audience in mind.  While some honky-tonk numbers may be fine for your local karaoke bar, they may be completely inappropriate for a church function.   Varying your repertoire from gig to gig can also help you to stay fresh as a performer and can help to prevent you from achieving burnout.