I started to realize that I could sing, in the sense of "better than average", when I was in the junior high. As teenagers, we loved pop music; as Asian, we loved karaoke. So I started my singing "career" by singing along the popular tunes on TV. I can control my voice quite well, especially in high register. Even though I barely speak Cantonese, I can sing in Cantonese, often better than people who speak it. (Of course, this is no news, as I learned later. Opera singers learn to sing in different languages without really speaking them.) And as time went on, I even taught myself how to expand my vocal range via better skills. I have had no vocal training at all.
So I was sometimes asked to sing in school talent shows, or to compete in amateur karaoke contests. This time it was the 2007 Chinese Moon Festival Party. (More pictures here.) It had been a long time since the last time I sang on the stage. I felt great.
I chose a song which best fit my vocal range and abilities. (By the way, in American terms, my voice would be best for Broadway, good for R&B but bad for rock.) I was happy that people liked it. But I was absolutely flattered by this young girl who paid attention when I was singing.
Speaking of karaoke, the best place I have ever been to is not the usual suspect, Cashbox Party World in Beijing. About six years ago, My friend, Xun, who is a great singer and shares the love of karaoke with me, took me to an unknown place near the Southwestn University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, where they set up a retired recording studio for karaoke. I was totally blown away by how good I sounded with these professional equipments.
So I was sometimes asked to sing in school talent shows, or to compete in amateur karaoke contests. This time it was the 2007 Chinese Moon Festival Party. (More pictures here.) It had been a long time since the last time I sang on the stage. I felt great.
I chose a song which best fit my vocal range and abilities. (By the way, in American terms, my voice would be best for Broadway, good for R&B but bad for rock.) I was happy that people liked it. But I was absolutely flattered by this young girl who paid attention when I was singing.
Speaking of karaoke, the best place I have ever been to is not the usual suspect, Cashbox Party World in Beijing. About six years ago, My friend, Xun, who is a great singer and shares the love of karaoke with me, took me to an unknown place near the Southwestn University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, where they set up a retired recording studio for karaoke. I was totally blown away by how good I sounded with these professional equipments.
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:-)