Meat Loaf can’t sing anymore.

Last updated on: October 30, 2012 at 4:00 pm by JT Eberhard

Meat Loaf can’t sing anymore. 2012-10-30T15:34:21-06:00 JT Eberhard

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Listen up all you aspiring singers. Do you want to know why you learn technique when you’re young and don’t test your high notes until you’re older? Let me tell you a story about a guy named Marvin Lee Aday, otherwise known as Meat Loaf.

Meat Loaf is what we call a Heldentenor (which translates to “heroic tenor”). They are a fairly rare voice type that tends to develop fairly late in life (their top generally becomes accessible around 30). Their voices are powerful with a high top. The challenge for this voice type is that learning to control it takes time and training.

Your vocal chords are an interesting part of your body. They grow throughout your life. When you are young they are small and frail. They become thicker as you grow older. This is why you don’t see many young people singing Wagner: they physically cannot handle it. And even if a young singer can get through that type of song, they are almost certainly doing damage to their voice in the process. While we may one day be able to fix vocal scarring, right now we cannot. If you fuck up your voice when you’re young trying to sing music for which you aren’t ready, that’s the end of it.

Meat Loaf had a spectacular natural voice. When he was young, even though his technique was weak, he could sing all over the map. This is would made him appealing to Wagnerian rock composer Jim Steinman. Not many people could sing the type of music he wrote.

When he was young, Meat put a lot of strain on his voice by throatily singing high notes.

It sounded good then. It was powerful and he had a range that was just insane. But slightly after the Bat Out of Hell album, Meat’s first, it became clear that his golden voice was fading. The follow up to BOoH was sung and released by Steinman because Meat couldn’t hit the high notes.

Over the years, because Meat relied on his naturally huge voice rather than learning solid technique, his voice began to show signs of wear. When he wasn’t in a studio with fifty shots at squeaking out a C#, this was obvious.

Just a few days ago, here he was “helping” to sing America the Beautiful.

He has no control over his voice, and it’s clear how much his technique sucks.

Good singing is relaxed and easy. It should strain the voice no more than speaking. Learn to sing with technique so that you not only sound better and more powerful, but so you can continue to sing well your entire life. I know it’s tempting when you’re young to try and sing all the “big” songs, but have patience so you can sing them for all your years, rather than for just a few.

On a personal note, Meat Loaf is an asshole.

Music

Previous Post

October 30, 2012

You go, Mizzou.

Next Post

October 30, 2012 New Star Wars, Movie #7

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Activism Administrative Anne says... Appearances Ask JT Ben says... Brooke says... Charity Christina says... Comments Community Creationism Daily Twitter Debate Dr. Burger says... Faith Fashion Feminism Fitness Gabrielle says... Gaming Gay Rights Godlessness Guest Blog He Said She Said High School Humor Karaoke Law Live Shows Mental Illness Michaelyn says! Morning Happiness MTG Music Personal Thoughts Philosophy Podcast Politics Reviews science Sex Shit My Dad Says Shit My Mom Says Sports Steven says... The Oasis Network Uncategorized Vlog Wingnuttery

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Maranatha" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Be joyful Come, Lord Praise Him It is finished