Not to get into whether this person or that person is talented, but touring destroys your voice. Night after night, stage after stage, no matter how good you are, every singer has good days and bad days.

Even Prince was extremely hoarse on some legs of the Musicology tour in 2004.

It happens. Professional singers mitigate the effects of constant touring, but can't eliminate them.

Put it this way. A professional dancer has much more flexibility, athleticism, and strength than the average person, but on tour, is prone to injuries, soreness, and a decrease in agility if they don't get adequate rest.

Modern tours for professional popstars, many of whom have little training to begin with, are GRUELING. Dancing, Singing, Vamping for the audience, can make anybody come off their game...

This is a sincere question:

How much does smoking pot affect your singing voice? Because most times I've seen Alicia Keys in interviews or talking on stage it seems like she's high as a kite.

Se7en said:

I posted something similar in the Whitney Houston Voice thread but marijuana is one of the many things that dries out the chords and makes a singer hoarse or develop laryngitis.

I remember that pic of her with a book of matches in her hand and wondered if she was a smoker.

Any singer who smokes is an idiot.

I saw Alicia in concert when she came to NYC at Madison Square Garden.I thought her show was good. Her only fault was she looked uncomfortable leaving the piano at times to dance & walk around the stage more. It was different for her to not just sit & play the entire show. As for her singing live... she did do well.

JackieBlue said:

That's why her voice sounds as bad as it is now. It was at its worst at Torino. I swore she was probably smoking marijuana and cigarettes like 20 hours a day plus it was real cold so add to that and you're gonna get a real cracked-up vocal.

Alicia may be a smoker too.

Mong said:

Thank. you. I ask my sister all the time what tha hell is she screaming about?

Its too bad that Prince thinks that she is such a huge talent. She does have talent. But I'm afraid that I must use that dreaded term again to describe her as an artist: 'OVERRATED'. Do you think that this statement is 'overrated'? Probably, I suppose

By the way, is 'Falling' by Ms. Keys really that great of a song?
[Edited 9/3/08 23:48pm]

I GOTTA AGREE, I THINK SHE OVERRATED. I ALSO THINK SHE SINGS AT ONE VOLUME LEVEL THE WHOLE TIME, SHE DOESNT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SOFT AND HARD TONES WITH HER VOICE. THAT GETTS IRRITATING AFTER A WHILE. LIKE GETTING SCREAMED AT BY YOUR MOMS TO MAKE YOUR BED BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE HAHA NOT A FAN. I ONLY BOUGHT ONE OF HER RECORDS BACK IN THE DAY AND THATS IT. HER NEW STUFF IS KINDA WHACK.

She was able to do soft tones, but can't now. This is indicative of vocal damage.

Cloudbuster said:

aint nobody asked u what u been doin so zip it.

Se7en said:

that's why I think George Michael's voice isn't as beautiful as it used to be. He can still sing like no other though.

tuff1 said:

Kinda like writing in all upper-case, huh? Just playin', playa!

Christopher said:

Shut yer bitch mouth.

Cloudbuster said:

u so FLAW-LESS

Christopher said:

Shut yer bitch mouth.

Cloudbuster said:

i do believe u better shut all your openings before i beat u with a whitney houtson cd

Christopher said:

You've been going through vainandy's music collection again, huh?

What other delights does he have?

Cloudbuster said:

tupac

Christopher said:

He's gonna cut you.

I love her voice. I think she has a smokey, velvety tone, and she's a contralto so it's dark and deep. I guess it isn't for everyone, but my favorite singers are Brandy, Kelis, and Alicia, which are all kind of similar singers in their smokey tones.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related

How Come You Don't Call Me(On Tour)
http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related

dragondayz said:

If you like those kinds of vocals then you should check out Lalah Hathaway and Cassandra Wilson.

JackieBlue said:

2 woman who actually sing in KEY & Pitch.

Graycap23 said:

But may lack the presence and genius of Alicia as far as translating their vocal talent to record. Not saying that all Alicia's records are genius, or even catch on to the public, but when they do (ex. No One, Fallin, YDKMN) it's magic.
[Edited 9/4/08 8:40am]

dragondayz said:

I'm not mad.....I hope that Alicia turns out 2 be a GREAT artist, but her singing out of tune and sampling/heavy borrowing from songs I've heard before does NOTHING 4 me personally.

mellow1 said:

I was at that show and felt the same way. I don't see how anyone can say Alicia's live vocals are terrible more than half of the time unless they've seen every one of her performances.

She should change her name 2 Alica OFF Key

Alicia voice is better than most of what you do consider talent on the charts now. I give her a lot of credit for three reasons. One she did not have to use her body to sale cds. Two she does actually play & sing her songs live. Three she seems to keep herself grounded by maintaining her private life which is a very good thing. Since Alicia's 1st cd she continues to grow better as an artist. Her voice will go through the same.
[Edited 9/4/08 14:41pm]

intersting thread cause now I know i'm completely deaf. I never thought AK is the very best singer but man she still can sing with a lot of soul and I find her voice much more sincere than Mariah Carey's voice, let alone Xtina or all those other R'n'B girls.
And YES, she's heavily borrowing from old soul songs that's why I love her songs! They are fantastic and hark back to the early 70s.
I thank God for every Alicia Keys that's more there than anoher Rhianna.

At the very least though, you can give me Alicia Key's voice over Beyonce's anyday.