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What's up with singers these days?

jmattbassplaya

jmattbassplaya

Supporting Member
Jan 13, 2008
11,838
9,836
#1
I usually go out and see three or four different bands playing on any given week, and I've begun to notice that most (not a few, not half, but most) singers these days are using lyric cheat sheets on stage - be it a laptop, iPad, or some other electronical 'database'. Has anyone else been noticing this trend or is this something that's just happening in my home town? Personally, I think it looks really tacky and obvious. It also kills a lot of bands' crowd interaction because the front man is never even looking at the audience.
 
#2
Lyric sheets are for practice. There is a reason for practice. If our singer did that I'd give him the stink eye.

Ozzy never used lyric sheets, did he? Though today I believe he does get help. But back then he would just yell, "I forgot the words!" What an honest man. People would just cheer even louder. Wish I was alive back then.

Edit: wow, that was pretty incoherent. To answer the question: no, I don't see the trend happening where I live (central coast of CA). A band would probably get booed here doing that unless they were some elementary school act or something.
 
#3
i have never seen this and if my vocalist tried doing this he would receive a swift judo chop to the jugular...i dont like seeing people have music in front of them either, even in church. You should now your songs and be able to find your spot if you mess up or get lost. it comp-letely takes away from crowd interaction.
 
#4
This is a tough one, in a way, cuz it's a little like throwing stones for something that I myself might be guilty of -- reading music instead of playing, watching other musicians, and emoting for the audience.

Our vocalists and choir constantly, constantly get critical comments about staring down too much at the music, and it really discourages a few vocalists. But our venue is constantly churning out new tunes. Ther eis constant sight reading.

I can learn my basslines faster than vocalists can recall their lyrics and parts, so I don't criticize them as often as the audience does.

But yes, there is definitely a trend to read (looking down constantly) rather than memorizing, internalizing, and visually connecting. But this phenomenon might not be new. It's just that computers might often replace sheet music these days. Either way, i throw stones much less often than does our audience (church/worship venue). I try hard to encourage our vocalists as much as possible even with their chronic looking down.
 
#6
I use charts and lyrics if I am doing a fill in gig. I get probably half as many gigs for my vocals as I do for my bass playing, but I almost always do some lead vocals on every gig. I may be asked to learn 50 songs in a weeks time for a fill-in gig, and I just joined a new project for my regular gig that does some stuff from the 90's and a lot of more modern country that I am not familiar with - so yes, I do have some charts and lyrics on a music stand to my right side for quick reference if I need it.
 
#7
TC2112 said:
I use charts and lyrics if I am doing a fill in gig. I get probably half as many gigs for my vocals as I do for my bass playing, but I almost always do some lead vocals on every gig. I may be asked to learn 50 songs in a weeks time for a fill-in gig, and I just joined a new project for my regular gig that does some stuff from the 90's and a lot of more modern country that I am not familiar with - so yes, I do have some charts and lyrics on a music stand to my right side for quick reference if I need it.
Click to expand...

I think your situation is slightly different than the ones I'm referring to. I've seen many of these bands 2-3 times already and it's always the same singer and the same material.
 
#10
Bottom line: Only musicians care about a music stand on stage. No one in the audience will notice or care.

I use cheat sheets every time, heres why. I know literally 1000 songs if I bring my book. Notes indicate how this band does it. I do not play with my nose in the book, its there just to tickle my memory. I do not need to ask "what key", "how does this start", "show me the bridge" again etc. I flip the page and I'm ready for the next song so I can concentrate on working the audience. The benefits are huge, the price is small (a musician might notice).

I noticed Sir Paul uses a teleprompter as does Shania Twain and Garth Brookes. Theres probably many more but I don't get out much.

If you can keep it all in your head "MORE POWER TO YA". My pea brain needs a reminder once in a while.
 
#13
This is one reason (among many) that I quit a band a year ago. The singer had a serious case of L.S.D., plus she insisted on parking herself in front of a music stand during gigs and not moving while she stared at her lyric sheets. Being a chronically overscheduled individual apparently prevented her from being able to learn the words (or showing up on time for practice or helping us load in and out, etc.). She even did this with songs we had been playing at almost every show for several years.
 
#16
I've worked with lots of singers over the years that are "on the page". Got some comps to see Pearl Jam last night and noticed Eddie Vedder leaving the stage with his lyric book under his arm. For lot of people charts or lyric sheets are just a security blanket to remind them of the key or the first line. If it prevents flailing I'm totally ok with it.
 
#18
I hate seeing singers use cheat sheets....IMO it's just unprofessional looking.

A singer I worked with used them, and it annoyed the living crap out of me....she would say "I hide them behind the monitor, no one knows"...and I would respond "you don't think they see you kneeling down after every song flipping the page?"

So she eventually moved on after having a baby....and we hired a second singer, who learned fast how I felt about lyric sheets.

She asked if sheets were ok for rehearsals, and I said "yup"

After the first rehearsal, she picks up her massive wad of sheets, and says "Rob, follow me"....takes me out into the backyard and hands me the lyrics and a pack of matches and says "go to town"

My heart skipped a beat that day.
 
#19
jmattbassplaya said:
I usually go out and see three or four different bands playing on any given week, and I've begun to notice that most (not a few, not half, but most) singers these days are using lyric cheat sheets on stage - be it a laptop, iPad, or some other electronical 'database'. Has anyone else been noticing this trend or is this something that's just happening in my home town? Personally, I think it looks really tacky and obvious. It also kills a lot of bands' crowd interaction because the front man is never even looking at the audience.
Click to expand...

When it comes to live music, what I hear is more important than what I see........unless 1 or more broads are onstage. :D
 
#20
The only time I've seen a singer use a lyric cheat sheet was when the band was covering "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)", which, as we all know, is a singer's equivalent of a one-mile sprint.

As others have said, it's not necessary, and I haven't seen it done since.
 

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