Learning to Sing “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Bette Midler
“When a Man Loves a Woman” performed by Bette Midler is a classic emotionally charged love song. In order to nail this song, a singer must understand and harness several vocal techniques.
Vocal Technique: Mixed Voice & Breath Support
Crucial in this song is using a mixed voice. This technique requires combining chest and head registers, enabling a smooth transition between vocal ranges during singing. To develop this, the Mixed Voice Exercise can be beneficial.
In addition to mixed voice, ensuring ample breath support will help in achieving the sustained notes in the song. A practical exercise video for this is Sustain Vocal.
Implement Emotional Expression
Bette Midler’s rendition is deeply emotional. Refer to our article on Singing with Intuition, Skills, Emotion, and Thinking to enhance your emotional delivery. Relaxing Breath is another resource to better manage emotions.
Compare with Similar Songs
A comparison to songs with similar vocal techniques can deepen the understanding of how to approach the song. For instance, “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes and “Ain’t No Way” by Aretha Franklin are great references as they also extensively use mixed voice and breath control.
You can discover more comparable songs with our Song Search tool.
Practice Regularly & Monitor Your Progress
Regular practice with thoughtful application of these techniques can greatly improve your performance over time. It could be useful to track your singing growth using our Vocal Pitch Monitor.