Thanks for the replies folks. I knew I wasn't alone in this. [Linked Image]

It's just sad to me that even when I'm alone and there is no one judging me but me, I still find myself holding back. I am indeed my harshest critic and I tend to analyze my singing too much while I'm recording (big mistake, I know). Even when I think I'm sounding good and I play back the recordings of several songs, I find that my singing still lacks that umph to really sell the song I'm singing.

For goodness sakes, when you have your own 8-track and can redo the vocals an unlimited number of times without paying by the hour, shouldn't you be as loose as a goose? That's an ideal situation to just belt it out and redo the vocals or punch in as much as you need but I still find myself recording multiple takes of songs I've been singing for years.

I brought this up mostly because I spent about six hours this past weekend recording vocal tracks for a demo/album my friend and I are working on and I really felt great and loose singing for the first time in a long time. And it definately shows when I play back the recordings. Yet, I can still detect myself holding back even though it doesn't feel that way while I'm singing (perhaps I only think that because it's as loose as I can get - so far).

The recordings came out very good overall but I also noticed that though they sound pretty good, my vocals seem bland and without much "personality." Even if they are technically correct, it just seems like I'm a good singer and there is nothing special to me about the songs I'm singing. That is definately not the feeling I'm trying to convey.

I want people to feel what my friend and I felt when we wrote the songs but I seem too emotionally detached. I've got to tap into my soul on each and every song. When I sing a touching song, I want people to cry when they hear it. When I sing a funny song, I want people to laugh and enjoy. I know y'all know what I'm talking about and I think your ideas will help me get there if I can just let it loose. It's just going to take a lot of practice at putting myself totally into it and ignoring that little red light that I allow to intimidate me.

Sometimes, I feel that it is easier to do live because I'm much more into the moment and trying to turn nerves into positive energy so I forget about scrutinizing everything and just sing. I know this is the right way to do it. I just have to shut off the part of my mind that keeps trying to worry me about every little thing.

Sorry this is so long. I just needed to get all this out. Thanks so much for all your suggestions.

Van

Van Borden
a.k.a. Buzz Grudge