"There are some people who assert that human abilities vary widely as a natural gift; and that, for example, some people can just sing better than others - and nothing much can be done about it.
"However, this is merely covert fascism; and, in reality, everybody can sing equally well - except that some individuals are repressed by patriarchy, racism and class snobbery.
"I believe that if only people could be given the confidence to sing-out in a wholly natural and spontaneous way, without embarrassment, we would all realise that everybody can sing; indeed anybody can do anything they want to do - if only they are encouraged really to try their hardest..."
We appear to be on the same wavelength today.
ReplyDeleteWhen Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. said, “Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them!” he was just using a figure of speech.
ReplyDeleteSome take it literally.
My mother liked dance music because she could hear the rhythm. She couldn't hear melodies at all.
ReplyDeleteSome can sing very well, others reasonably, and then there are those like me for whom the sound of nails on a blackboard is a more soothing sound than our singing voices.
ReplyDeleteI can sing in the shower with nobody else about, or I can sing in the woods on a hike - which has the secondary benefit of warning any bears of my approach. I try not to sing in public out of charity, and a desire to avoid charges of disturbing the peace, or someone calling the humane society because some poor animal is in agony.
(Ok, I am being slightly over the top for humour, however, in the world of singers, my role is to appreciate not participate.)