How fit are you, and does it really matter?

I'm not fit. At all. I LOOK fairly fit. Slim, kinda toned, I eat pretty well most of the time...I walk everywhere cause I don't drive. But I'm not fit. Ohhh no sir.

So. I'm sick and I feel hideously unfit, even more so than usual. I got puffed this morning just on my normal brisk walk to work...the 2 measly cigs a day I've been having over the past year don't help either *sheepish* but I was wondering how fit are you singing people? And does it make a difference if you are or not?

1. You can use your breath and also muscles better to sing if you're fitter?

2. You may not get sick as often.

I hardly ever get sick. This is the first time I've had anything respiratory related in...oh, maybe...5 years? So. Yeah.

Mirror + my naked body= one of favorite hobbies. What does that tell you?

Hi there I like the subject of this thread. All top singers i think that they are fit I can name you 20 artists and their top 20 songs right now and all of these artists are fit.

I exercise regularly, basic strength and conditioning. I doubt it has any effect on my singing.

If you're on stage, running around and jumping, you'll probably benefit more from not being fat but instead flexible, strong and conditioned.

That you're narcissistic?

Oh boy does it affect your singing!!! For a working singer that needs to perform more than once a week, being fit means quicker recovery, better stamina, and overall better health! It is hard to sing well when you arre gasping for air after 3 dance songs in a row, think 12 minutes skipping rope while singing...get the picture!?

Now I have just started working with music again, not just with my duo, but with different party bands so I have a lot of conditioning to get sorted out and better eating anf overall living have to come back into my life!

I understand the mirror comment, that is the only thing that will not lie to you! But you can still look good and not be fit...!

Rod

And what else...?

You have good self-image?

Also, I think it depends on what you plan to be doing on stage and the style of music. Sure, some of those top pop stars are looking pretty fit, but they are also doing choreographed, high energy shows, AND frequently lip sync for that very reason. Though there are those like Mariah Carey, or Christina Aguilera that have great voices (even if I'm not fond of the music) and require vaporizers back stage, a certain temperature for their room, certain brands of tea specifically for their voice, etc. and take it very seriously.

On the other hand, look at someone like Jim Morrison. He didn't look out of shape for the majority of his career, but I would be hard pressed to say he was in good health. Same with Elvis. He definitely was in bad shape at the end, but his voice was always good, even if he looked about to die on stage.

What about Meatloaf? Not a huge fan of the music, but he has a GREAT voice, and was definitely in bad shape, and he still isn't a super small/fit guy now. Same goes for John Popper, the guy from Blues Traveler.

Layne Staley from Alice in Chains. He had a great voice, even on the unplugged album when he was practically nodding off in between songs he so messed up on heroin and who knows what else.

I would say it may make a performance easier, but for overall singing ability? It isn't as huge of a deal.

Pavoratti. Just sayin'....

I'm not a great singer, but for me fitness makes a huge difference on my vocals. I always sing better the days after I have been for a run. I also usually do stretches and a workout before I sing as that also helps me a lot. Just gets the breathing going, the tensions down and the endorphins up.

Agreed - it's all relative to how much physical exertion you do while singing. If you stand there and sing, it's not as hard as dancing and singing. I never worked out on the road and I ate whatever I could afford. We worked 6 nights a week and the only time I got sick was when I was on break and I smoked - always got strep throat or some othe respiratory ailment 0_0

Imagine how much better some of the "non fit" singers mentioned could/can be if they were fit!? To me it's very simple, singing is a physical action and if you are in good shape, it is easier.

In Pavarotti or any opera singers case, they are fit for the task at hand, they practice singing in their style so much that it shows in their body, the "barrel chested" look with the usually heavy body, but just look at Pavarotti in concert with all the sweating and basically not moving, look at how many breaks he takes and now imagine if he was not only vocaly fit but also physicaly fit, what could have been!

Can you imagine Layne if he wasn't on drugs how amazing those pipes could sound!? Or Meatloaf if he didn't need the oxigen tank besides the stage!

Rod

hahahahaha. If you masturbate to pictures of yourself, does that make you gay?

^__________ This. Cardio and anaerobic exercise is probably one of the most important things to a positive mental state.

The Duke is an avid weightlifter and has lifted weights religiously since College. GO HARD OR GO HOME. Currently trying to get to

Hey, Duke's my kind of guy. I'm at about 12 right now and trying to get to single digits.

Plus, I don't think it helps much. Maybe I just to suck too much so I can't tell but I'm very fit and my breathing ain't so great.

You're beginning to sound like grace, please don't go down that road.

Do you agree when I say conditioning is secondary to singing successfully? Of course you do. You'll also realize that being fit - ESPECIALLY being able to bench press 100+ kg - probably won't help you until you notice that you're panting beyond control while performing.

Bottlenecks are not a problem until you're in need of more than the bottle can supply.

Unless you want to be globally and unanimously known as a pansy instead of a virile young man, you must be able to bench at least 225 for 5 reps.

I still suspect that big fat singers have some sort of advantage when it comes to support. They're always so friggin loud. I just can't figure out what it is exactly. It's like their ribcages are just always *out* and don't collapse in because they can't.

(I know, teachers always say there's no connection...)

Anyway, I work out every day but I'm not nearly in as good a shape as I was 5 years ago when I used to do more long bike rides & XC skiing.

many big people are naturally strong as it takes a lot of muscle to support a lot of weight.

Oh wow, am I that notorious for being down on myself, Masklin?? lol. Since I've been writing my own songs, I'm not so focused on the fact I can never sound how I want and am more focused on just getting my songs across the way I want...so yeah...that's an improvement in my self confidence I suppose, slightly.

Makes sense I guess. It's more likely to be cardio that helps especially if you workout with a partner. Talking while at full pelt gets you to breath a little more efficiently I believe.

take a {censored}ton of stimulants and itll make u feel like you just ate, when you really haven't in like 2 days hehe

or get fat and turn into a powerful beast

Why do I feel like Chester and Duke are undergoing the early phases of a homoerotic relationship?

To Grace: Yes you and Jvardon have/have had nasty habits of talking down on yourselves. Do it once or twice and you trigger empathy, but exceed that and you will appear annoying and needy. Just a heads up.

And Duke, I really hope you're not being the least bit serious with your talk about the bench press.

For me it really doesn't matter at all. I've gone from fat, overweight, normal and from {censored}ty shape to great shape. But if I'd been away from singing for a little while it makes huge difference. After a week with lot's of practice I'm right there again.

I don't believe Meatloaf and Pavarotti were better singers if they were fit, and I don't belive they would lose volume or sound if they lost weight. It's just another myth, I know lots of singers who have big voices in small bodies.

I'm sorta fit. I exercise, swim, walk the stairs, ride bicycle and have stamina for a three hour show. I have more of a problem with heat, cold, allergies blowing around, extremely high humidity, inhaling insects, insects that bite, exhaustion (I have trouble remembering words to songs when I am tired) and smoke. There is no telling what can happen during a show. An airplane might fly overhead, all I hear is airplane noise. Other singers that I know report similar problems so maybe that's just the nature of the business.