People often ask, “Is it bad for me to sing another artist’s songs?” The answer is yes and no.
When you start your singing career, you may not have any of your own songs. That’s fine, but remember, if you don’t sing your own material, it’s important to choose the right songs for your voice. If you have a soft voice, it would not be wise to sing the enormously powerful voice of a Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston song!
Remember that there are many different types of singers and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. When choosing a song, it is much better to sing something within your own vocal capacity. If you are just beginning your singing career, sing within your ability, but be passionate about what you have and what you can personally bring to the arena.
If you choose to sing someone else’s song, remember that people are already familiar with how it “should” sound, so you should interpret the song in a totally different way or at least match or improve on the original performance.
Pick a song that seems credible coming from you! People should be able to relate to the lyrics you sing. It would be a bit silly if a 16 year old chanted about getting divorced and being all alone!
Listening to and imitating other singers can help you develop different tones.
Exploring the “roots” of your music genre (be it pop, soul, jazz, rap, country, or rock) can also be very helpful. Most of today’s artists have been influenced by the music of those before them. Talented people take that influence and, using creativity, come up with something unique. What you should avoid doing is copying the entire performance of another artist. As you progress through your singing career, keep working to develop your own identity.
Record companies often say they are looking for someone with the “X factor.” The X factor is a combination of different qualities that make up the unique identity of an artist. No record company will want a copycat artist, so you will eventually need to find your own sound.
Sounding identical to a well-known singer is fine if you’re a karaoke singer or want to work with a cover band, but if you really want to advance your singing career, it’s important to choose the right songs for your voice and develop your own unique identity. . Be patient. It will take a little time, but keep honing your skills, have confidence in yourself, and enjoy the ride.
