Singers dedicate their lives to sharing their voices and musical talents with the world. Performing live and recording albums requires a tremendous amount of vocal stamina. It’s only natural to wonder – do singers ever get tired of singing the same songs over and over again night after night?
Do singers enjoy singing?
Most professional singers have a genuine passion and love for singing and performing. Here are some of the main reasons singers enjoy their work:
- Expressing themselves creatively – Singing allows vocalists to tap into their emotions and connect with listeners.
- Sharing their gifts – Singers feel fulfilled being able to share their vocal talents with others.
- Performing live – Many singers thrive off the adrenaline rush of performing in front of a live audience.
- Collaborating musically – Working with other talented musicians often brings singers joy.
- Connecting with fans – Developing meaningful relationships with fans who love and appreciate their music keeps singers motivated.
So in general, singers cherish the opportunity to sing, even if they have to repeat the same songs frequently. It allows them to share their passion with the world.
Do singers get tired of their own material?
Even singers who genuinely enjoy performing can occasionally experience some fatigue with their own material after repeating it over extended tours and residencies. Here are some common reasons singers can get temporarily bored with their own songs:
- Repetitive setlists – Singing the same songs in the same order every night can get monotonous.
- Limited vocal range – Songs that reside in a narrow vocal range can become tedious to sing repeatedly.
- Simple lyrics/melodies – Songs with basic lyrics or musical structures can become dull after frequent performances.
- No versatility – Songs that are arranged the same way every time leave little room for spontaneity.
However, there are tactics singers can use to keep their songs fresh and engaging, even after hundreds of performances:
- Changing up setlists – Rearranging song order or swapping in different songs keeps shows unique.
- Adding vocal embellishments – Improvizing vocal runs, riffs, and harmonies makes songs more interesting to perform.
- Varying musical arrangements – Putting new musical spins on existing songs breaths life into the music.
- Updating costumes/production – Changing visual elements creates a fresh experience.
So while singers may go through periods of feeling bored with their own material, they have many options to reinvent the songs and make performing them enjoyable again.
Do Certain Types of Songs Get Tiring?
While singers can temporarily tire of their own material in general, certain types of songs bring specific vocal challenges that can fatigue vocalists more quickly:
High Energy
Uptempo, high energy songs require power and endurance to perform night after night. Belting out loud rock anthems or dancing through exhausting pop tracks can take a toll on singers’ voices and stamina. High energy songs demand a lot of vocal fortitude.
Wide Ranges
Songs with expansive vocal ranges challenge singers to jump between high and low notes. Shifting through multiple octaves repeatedly taxes singers’ voices, especially pop, rock, and Broadway tunes with big spreads. The constant range shifting can strain vocal cords.
Lots of Vocal Ornamentation
Songs filled with rapid vocal runs, riffs, and melodic embellishments make singers work hard. The vocal gymnastics required on heavily ornamented R&B, pop, and jazz tunes seems easy at first but quickly wears down singers when performed back-to-back.
Lengthy Songs
Epic rock ballads, extended jazz improvisations, or musical theater showstoppers lasting 8-10 minutes require incredible breath control and stamina. Singing for long durations taxes vocal cords, lungs, and focus significantly. Shorter songs provide more recovery time.
Repetitive Lyrics/Melodies
Simple, repetitive lyrics and musical patterns grow tedious quickly, especially in pop, folk, or children’s songs. Mind-numbing repetition makes singers’ jobs more challenging. More lyrical and melodic variation provides engagement.
In general, any songs that push singers’ physical limits vocally, stretch their range extensively, or become too monotonous mentally tend to exhaust vocalists the most on tour. Carefully sequencing sets to provide plenty of easier recovery songs prevents burnout.
How Do Busy Touring Schedules Impact Singers?
While certain songs carry inherent challenges, hectic touring schedules compound the tiring effects on singers’ voices exponentially:
Back-to-Back Shows
Most concert tours schedule shows on consecutive nights, sometimes 4-5 nights straight. This grants little downtime for singers to rest their voices, forcing them to sing while fatigued. Spacing out shows allows more recovery.
| Tour | Back-to-Back Shows |
|---|---|
| Beyoncé – Formation World Tour | 49 shows in 3 legs |
| Adele – Adele Live | 20 shows in Europe/North America |
| Katy Perry – Witness Tour | 40+ shows in 4 legs |
Frequent Travel
Globetrotting tours involve lots of flights, bus rides, and time zone changes. This disrupts sleep schedules, making rest and vocal health difficult. Restricted regional touring enables better self-care.
Heavy Workload
Full production shows with complex choreography and costume changes increase physical demands exponentially. The non-stop activity ups fatigue and voice strain. Acoustic concerts or limited choreography lessen the workload.
High Pollution Cities
Pollution in large cities can irritate vocal cords and increase vocal fatigue on tour. Adjusting schedules to start in cleaner air locations allows voices to acclimate gradually. beginning in pollution-heavy areas right away is taxing.
Arenas vs. Small Venues
Loud arenas requiring singers to force their voices at high volumes nightly wears voices down quicker. Intimate clubs and theaters with good sound systems prevent oversinging.
Rigorous tour schedules multiply the tiring effects of challenging songs. Careful scheduling and vocal rest are crucial for singers to sustain their voices on the road.
How Do Singers Prevent Vocal Burnout?
Seasoned touring singers leverage various techniques to prevent vocal burnout and keep their voices healthy on the road:
Vocal Warmups/Cooldowns
Gentle vocal warmups prep the voice before shows, while guided cooldowns help the vocal cords recover afterwards. This routine protects the voice from injury.
Vocal Rest
Taking vocal rest days on tours gives the voice a break to rejuvenate fully. Avoiding nonessential talking/singing allows optimal recovery time.
Staying Hydrated
Drinking lots of water keeps vocal cords lubricated and healthy. Limiting alcohol/caffeine prevents dehydration-related vocal fatigue.
Limiting Vocal Strain
Avoiding screaming, whispering, throat clearing, and coughing prevents unnecessary vocal cord strain on tour. Humidifiers protect against dry air irritation.
Healthy Habits
Eating well, exercising, sleeping enough, and avoiding smoking preserves vocal health and energy on the road. Illness can compromise the voice.
Vocal Monitors
In-ear monitors allow singers to hear themselves and avoid oversinging in loud venues. This prevents vocal damage from overexertion.
Vocal Coaches
Traveling with vocal coaches on tour provides real-time feedback and vocal care. Coaches stretch and strengthen the voice properly.
Plenty of Rest
Maximizing down days and offstage rest is crucial. Napping, massage, meditation, and light activity rejuvenate the voice.
With sufficient vocal care and rest, singers can power through even the most grueling tour schedules without burning out their voices.
Do Singers’ Perspectives Change Over Their Careers?
Over long careers, singers’ feelings about performing often evolve:
Early Excitement
All singers begin their careers bursting with enthusiasm and eagerness to share their talent. The thrill of singing fresh original material for new fans keeps the job exciting initially.
Increased Confidence
As singers gain experience and hone their craft over time, they develop greater onstage confidence and comfort performing live. This helps them continue enjoying singing the same songs.
Periodic Boredom
After some time, even seasoned professionals go through occasional periods of boredom with their material and methodology, requiring reinventing their sound. This refresh breathes new life into their careers.
Changing Priorities
Years spent touring extensively can motivate singers to seek different career/life balance later on, spending more time with family or exploring new creative projects. Their career perspectives shift focus.
Nostalgic Appreciation
Later in their careers, looking back nostalgically often makes seasoned singers appreciate opportunities to continue singing their earlier material for loyal lifelong fans. They gain perspective.
Gratitude
Successful longtime singers feel grateful to sustain long careers doing what they love. Giving back and mentoring young artists become priorities over chart success. Their passion remains.
So while feelings fluctuate over time, most singers maintain a lifelong appreciation and love for performing, even after singing the same songs thousands of times. Their passion perseveres through diverse career phases.
Conclusion
In summary, while singing the same songs repeatedly can get periodically monotonous, most singers maintain a genuine lifelong passion for performing. They use various techniques to keep their material fresh and voices healthy on tour. Veterans learn to pace themselves and reinvent their approach to avoid burnout. With creativity and care, singers can enjoy long, sustainable careers sharing their talents with fans. The joy of connecting through music keeps them singing their hearts out night after night.