I'm just going to throw this out there...

[scian_ashleyder]

...last night, I had my singing described as 'not professional, but close to it'. This kind of blew me away. It's only within the last few weeks that I've really been able to come to grips with my voice being -good- instead of simply being -tolerable

Comments

[rivenscythe]

The only thing I'd suggest is try to be yourself more, rather than trying to directly copy another person's key, range or style. Just relax and find what's right for you, "make the song your own" is the phrase I most often hear to describe it. Do that, and you're well on your way to professional status.

-The not so musical fox, apart from my pants

[scian_ashleyder]

Mom said much the same thing about the mimicry. It's a hard habit to break, especially when you have the video game judging you on -that- artist's performance. There are parts of certain songs I'd sing totally differently, but the game Does Not Want.

I'm starting to do it despite the scores dropping, though, and on some songs it's actually improved it (Oasis' "Wonderwall" is a prime example - went from 96% to 100%!). It's more fun that way anyways.

[psuedin]

Don't dig yourself too deep a hole, bud. You may have already encountered and dealt with this but in case you have not:

If you spend most your time singing with a recorded vocal track (even the karoke style of RB or GH) you'll hit a brick wall if you try to sing live. I've always thought my singing was tolerablely good and people agree with me but after all the years singing with prerecorded things I fell flat on my face when it came time to try and sing next to a guitarist playing a song I knew as well as my name.
I would lose the vocal rythm almost as soon as I'd start.

Anyhow, I agree wholeheartedly with everyone who mentions the mimicry. Want to be on a professional level? Write down your own lyrics and sing them until you're satisfied with how you sound. I couldn't imagine any better way to get off your plateau.