On Boogie today we’re STILL celebrating Tanzania’s 50 years of independence with the SECOND installment of 100 DISCO DANCEFLOOR CLASSICS spanning two decades—the 1970s and the 1980s—with ABSOLUTELY NO repetition for several weeks GUARANTEED. And debuting a BRAND NEW segment—I Grew Up In The 80s—we have VERY SPECIAL guests Isla Gilmore and Swahili blues artist Leo Mkanyia in the studio for a chat today. On today's playlist expect Evelyn "Champagne" King, Chaka Khan, The Three Degrees, some more Glady's Knight & The Pips, Phreek, Stacy Lattisaw--who opened for the Jacksons Triumph Tour in 1981; Cheryl Lynn, Heatwave and much much more.
Tune in to BOOGIE on Times 100.5 FM from 6pm EVERY Sunday EVERY week for MORE action—I GUARANTEE it! And if you want to come on the show to talk about YOUR growing up in the 80s and 70s—karibuni sana! On BOOGIE, everybody is welcome!
I've reviewed quite a few learn-to-sing CDs and one thing a lot of them seem to have in common is the lack of in-depth information on breathing technique. There's so much detail about breathing properly in order to sing properly that I feel is key to developing a great singing voice. I want to address this element of singing - beginning with this article. As a vocal coach I always tell my students, if you open your mouth to suck in that breath gradually as you drop the jaw, you will sing that way -- correctly. It's about developing a new habit and dispensing with old. There is a direct connection between opening your mouth to sing and opening your mouth to breathe. Get the breathing bit right, and you'll be singing like a pro in no time. This article will explore the pros and cons of breathing technique to help you not only sing better, but also sound a heck of a lot better than you ever did. It's all in the breathing.
Try stifling a yawn right now -- genuinely, whilst looking at yourself in the mirror. Notice the way your jaw drops. Now that's how you're meant to breathe when you sing. In through the mouth as you gradually drop the jaw. If you could create a breathing exercise where you breathe in through the mouth, as above, to the count of eight beats (put a piece of music on); hold your breath for eight beats; and then slowly exhale with a hiss (controlled) to the count of sixteen beats, and you're half way there. But do it properly, using the yawning example above.
As a vocal coach I always tell my students, the way you breathe is the way you're going to sing. If you breathe incorrectly, you will sing incorrectly. Here's a very simple example: With your teeth separated just two inches apart, try holding a note with the vowel "A" for several seconds. Now take a look at your mouth in the mirror. As you sing AAAAA start to drop the jaw gradually whilst maintaining the same amount of thrust and see how that alters your voice. You will notice that you begin to scale upward without really doing much at all. It is effortless. So here's the crux. When you learn to sing with the jaw-drop pattern as illustrated above, you will also be inadvertently learning to go up the scale by simply dropping the jaw--by creating more space down the throat--with the vowels A and E--or words that sound like that.
Here's a good example. Listen to the first verse of the song "Touch Me In The Morning" by Diana Ross. Note the second line "Then just walk away." Now try singing that line and when you sing the word AWAY drop the jaw gradually in the second 'A' and slowly close the mouth to fade the note. It would sound like an extended W-A-A-A-Y. This action produces a very refined articulation of the vowel. Dropping the jaw at the right time and at the right pace will produce a better-sounding vocal. Try working with the entire verse again, this time focusing on the breath intake spots before the note. Make sure you drop the jaw to breathe each time there's a gap that allows you to. And remember this. The pattern with which you open your mouth to breathe is the exact same pattern with which you should open your mouth to sing and articulate the vowel. The two work in synergy.
Author Bio
Joett, a singer-songwriter and member of ASCAP, is a vocal coach based in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. His highly acclaimed single "I Could Never Live (Without Your Love)" can be heard on Internet radio Jango and is available for download on iTunes and Amazon MP3. He also presents a 70s Disco 80s Pop retro radio show called BOOGIE from 6pm Sundays on Times 100.5 FM
Guys, just to let you know very quickly, that my 70s dance-into-shape classes -- now re-branded BOOGIE 70s Disco Dance into Shape with JOETT, are now back as of this evening. December 15th at 6pm till 7pm. I'd taken a three month break from this due to other pressing commitments, but I'm now back in action once a week...every Thursday from 6pm. So, karibu and let's Boogie! -- JOETT
Tanzania is 50. To celebrate, we‘re going to double that numeric figure with the FIRST installment of 100 DISCO DANCE FLOOR CLASSICS spanning two decades—the 1970s and the 1980s—with ABSOLUTELY NO repetition for several weeks GUARANTEED. So if you miss a show, your loss! To hear all of the one-hundred-in-a-row DISCO CLASSICS, stay tuned to Boogie EVERY Sunday EVERY week—and make sure you never miss! Tune in to Times 100.5 FM at 6pm Sundays or go online at TimesFM.co.tz and follow Boogie TZ on Facebook.
In today's show expect hits from The Trammps, Sister Sledge, LaBelle, Rose Royce, Stacey Lattisaw, Melba Moore, Chic, Billie Ocean, The Detroit Spinners and much more besides.
On today's show DJ Cue and I will be spinning you 80s Groove & Soul Classics you probably haven't heard in a while. I quite look forward to today. Awesome tracks! Tune in to Times 100.5 FM at 6pm till 8pm.
Take a look at my playlist:
1. Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance 1988. This single "Buffalo Stance" was an international blockbuster. "Buffalo Stance" eventually peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 on the US Dance chart. In the late 1980s, Cherry helped to bankroll the band Massive Attack.
2. Brass Construction – Music Makes You Feel Like Dancing 1979
3. Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – Too Many Games 1985. In 1971, after an introduction to Marvin Gaye, the group became an immediate success. Marvin Gaye took the group on the road with him as one of his opening acts, and in 1976, he suggested that they changed their name from Raw Soul to Maze.
4. Dayton – The Sound Of Music 1983
5. Light Of The World – Time 1980
6. Willie ‘Beaver’ Hale – Groove On 1980
7. Inner City – Big Fun (Original 12” Mix) 1988
8. Meli’sa Morgan – Fool’s Paradise (Paradise Mix) 1986
9. Loose Ends – Hangin’ On A String (Original 12” Mix) 1985
10. Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler – Keep On Moving 1989. The group went on to commercial success in 1989 with the singles "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)", which topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks, and was the fifth best-selling single in the UK that year.
11. Beggar & Co – (Somebody) Help Me Out 1981
12. Brooklyn Bronx & Queens Band – On The Beat 1981
13. Phil Fearon & Galaxy – What Do I do 1984
14. Lillo Thomas – Sexy Girl 1987
15. Adeva – Respect 1989. Noted for her powerful vocals, she released a house rendition of the Otis Redding hit "Respect" in 1989 that reached #17 in the UK, and released her debut album in the same year. "Respect" remains a favorite on Urban contemporary radio stations, especially in New York City to this day.
16. Musical Freedom from Her 1989 self-titled debut album Adeva! was a critical and commercial success in the UK and contained several hit singles including "Beautiful Love" and "Musical Freedom"
And there's more in the second hour. :-)
Tune in to Times 100.5 FM at 6pm Sundays or go online at TimesFM.co.tz and follow Boogie TZ on Facebook.
