This episode’s vocabulary
Hold a tune
phrase — to sing in tune; to sing the correct notes. → I don’t think I can hold a tune, so I only sing when I’m alone.
In key
phrase — singing or playing the correct musical notes in the right pitch. → She always stays in key, even during difficult songs.
Embarrassing
adjective — causing one to feel awkward or ashamed. → Singing in public is too embarrassing for me.
Deliver lines
verb phrase — to speak dialogue in a performance clearly and effectively. → He learned to deliver lines with confidence during acting classes.
Entertain
verb — to amuse or interest people in a way that gives them enjoyment. → Singing can entertain people if done well.
Act
noun — a performance involving singing, dancing, or drama. → The school play had a comedy act with lots of singing.
Join in
phrasal verb — to participate in an activity with others. → Everyone joined in when the chorus started.
Crowd
noun — a large number of people gathered together. → He sang happily along with the crowd at the concert.
Mortifying
adjective — extremely embarrassing or shameful. → The idea of singing on stage is mortifying to him.
Performer
noun — a person who entertains an audience, especially by acting, singing, or dancing. → She’s a natural performer and loves being on stage.
Privately
adverb — in a way that is not meant to be seen or heard by others. → He only sings privately when he’s alone at home.
Entertaining
adjective — providing enjoyment or amusement. → The performance was really entertaining and well done.
Sad
adjective — feeling unhappy or showing sorrow. → It’s sad that I never learned how to sing properly.
Fun
noun/adjective — enjoyment or amusement. → Singing in the shower is just a bit of fun.
Intention
noun — a plan or aim to do something. → I have no intention of singing in public.
Questions and answers
Do you like singing?
I like it when no one can hear me. I'm convinced I can't really hold a tune or stay in key. So it's a bit embarrassing and maybe uncomfortable when people have to listen to it.
Have you ever learned how to sing?
No, actually. I've learned how to speak properly and deliver lines, but singing is a bit beyond me at this point, which is a bit sad in some ways, because it would be a great way to entertain people, I suppose.
Can singing bring happiness to people?
Well, yeah, like I said, it's very entertaining, especially if you can incorporate it into some kind of act or performance. And it's fun to join in with big crowds, especially if it's a funny song.
Who do you want to sing for?
Ideally, no one ever. I find that idea mortifying. I might sing for my partner or my best friend if we made something up to make us laugh. But that's it. I'm no performer, for sure.
Will you sing in the future?
Privately, yes. I have no intention of going out there and singing for people en masse.
Discussion
Right, dear listeners, so first of all, we say singing. How do you pronounce it, Rory? Singing. Singing. Yes, it's not kind of like singing; it's singing. So no g g, no, singing. So I like singing, I'm into singing. I think Rory's got a lovely voice, but well, he doesn't like singing.
But Maria often makes mistakes, and this is one of them.
I'm fine with my singing, I'm fine with people disliking my singing, so it's okay. I like it when no one can hear me, you can say, or when no one is listening to my singing. I can't really hold a tune. So if you can't hold a tune...
Well, it's just part of singing consistently and clearly. So if you cannot do that, then you can't hold a tune, and it doesn't sound very good.
Or you sing out of tune. So usually I sing out of tune, so I'm out of tune.
Or you could stay in key.
So when you stay in key, you sing well and you understand the notes, you understand how your voice should work up or down. So the scales, or for example, like I can't sing on key, or it's difficult for me to stay in key. It's embarrassing. So I'm embarrassed by my singing, I'm not impressed by my singing, or it could be uncomfortable for other people to listen to it. Listen to, to listen to it. I've never learned how to sing, or I've never learned singing properly, like well. I've never learned how to deliver lines. And what do we do when we deliver lines? We just...
We say them correctly.
Yeah. To say lines of a song.
Well, there is that, or it could be lines from a performance, like a play, for example.
Singing is a bit beyond me. So I can't do it. It's not for me. I'm not able to do it. I don't have this… What do you call it? I don't have a musical ear?
I don't know. It could be, if you don't have it, then you're tone deaf, but you might have an ear for music.
Yeah, I don't have an ear for music, the audio listener. So I'm tone deaf, or I don't have an ear for music. Or you can say that, yes, I've learned how to sing. I went to this school, and they taught me. And then you say, I can hold a tune, I usually stay in key. My voice pitch is what? can we say about one's voice pitch?
Well, the pitch is inconsistent or variable, I suppose, if it's not good. Or it's a good pitch, or pitch perfect, if it is good.
I enjoy entertaining people with my singing. So when we get together, I usually sing for my friends. Singing can bring happiness to people. Yay! Because everybody enjoys a good singer. Singer, singing, it's really entertaining. So it's exciting, it's lovely. Everybody enjoys listening to nice music, right, nice voices. It's fun to join in with big crowds. So if lots of people start singing, you join in and it's fun. If it's a funny song or if it's your favourite song, yay! And everybody is united and happy. Yay! We usually sing for other people. And Rory finds this idea mortifying. Oh, it's mortifying. So it's dreadful.
It's not good. Yes.
Embarrassing. So Rory doesn't like this. But if you do like it, Rory, what can our listener say?
Oh, I love it. It's amazing. I'm ecstatic when I'm singing. I feel fabulous. I don't know. All of these other good emotions. I find it terrifying or mortifying.
I usually sing for my partner, for my family, for my friends, for everybody, or I just enjoy singing in the street. As I'm listening to music, I just sing things out loud. Or you can say that I'm no performer. So a performer performs on stage, sings or delivers lines like, I don't know, does stand-up comedy. So I'm no performer. Or I enjoy performing. I enjoy singing. Or, for example, you can say that I enjoy singing at karaoke. Maybe you enjoy karaoke. You can say that my vocal cords… Vocal cords, you have inside your throat. My vocal cords are not for singing. My ear is not trained. And you can say that singing gives us endorphins and dopamine.
Unless you find it mortifying, in which case it will not do those things.
I don't know. Why do you find it mortifying, Rory? Come on.
Because it's embarrassing.
Oh, yeah. And you promised to sing.
I didn't promise to sing.
No, you did. You did.
You said that I would sing. And I don't know why you did this, because that was a lie.
What's your favourite song, Rory? Or maybe like, what's a song that you like? Anything by The Beatles.
I like lots of different songs. I mean, I like a song for The Lonely by Cher, for example. But there are others too. Do not look up that song. I'm not singing it.
Mm-hmm. Okay, how does it go? Like, love don't need a reason. Okay, Rory, how about I sing the first line and then you sing the second one?
How about no? That's not going to happen. Not on this podcast.
Love don't need a reason. Ah, yeah, so check out a song for The Lonely by Cher. Cher. Oh, what a lovely woman.
Nicer than Madonna.
You can say that. I have a good singing voice, dear listener. I'm a good singer. Or my voice sounds good, or my voice doesn't sound good. And like, I'm in control of my vocal cords. I have clear enunciation, dear listener. Enunciation is the way you pronounce different words and syllables. So I enunciate words very clearly, so everybody understands. And I can sing at a suitable volume. And singing suits my style, you can say. I usually go to karaoke to sing with my friends, for example. Or I just hate singing altogether. And dear listener, to wrap it up, we have a joke for you. I mean, we, I mean, I have a joke for you. Oh, it's a nice one, Rory. It's a nice one. Come on.
Okay.
Oh, so it's actually really funny. So, are you ready to laugh? Haha joke. So, singing in the shower is all fun and games until you get shampoo in your mouth. Then it just becomes a soap opera.
Oh my God.
Come on! It’s funny. So, the joke is, singing in the shower, you know, you sing in the shower, is all fun and games. It's all fun and nice until you get shampoo in your mouth. So, you get some shampoo in your mouth. It's disgusting. And then shampoo in your mouth becomes a soap opera. Soap opera is when people are like, oh, when were you? Where did you go? Rory. So, this is opera style from Maria. Oh, thank you, thank you so much. Come on. It's a funny joke. It is funny. Yay. Yay, dear listener, feel free to read some articles on why singing is good for you, for your well-being. Rory, come on, like, could you just sing something for us? I would love to, but the signal is breaking up, Maria. I can't hear you anymore. Oh, oh, it's the end of the episode. Bye.
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