Singing Guide: Jacques Brel Is Alive & Well & Living in Paris
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Jacques Brel was a Belgium-born French singer, songwriter, and actor. He was known for his passionate, emotional performances, and unique vocal style. Brel's music was deeply influenced by, and often explored, themes of love, death, and the human experience.
If you want to learn to sing like Jacques Brel, the first step is to get familiar with his unique vocal style. Brel had a very powerful, intense voice, and he often used it to convey strong emotions. He was a master of dynamics, and could go from a whisper to a scream within the same song.
One signature aspect of Brel's singing was his use of vibrato. Vibrato is the rapid fluctuation of pitch that occurs when a singer vibrates their vocal cords. Brel's use of vibrato was often quite pronounced, and it played a big role in creating the passionate, emotional feel of his music.
Another key element of Brel's singing was his phrasing. He often used long, drawn-out phrases with lots of pauses and breaks, which gave his music a very dramatic, theatrical quality. Brel was also known for his strong, clear diction, which allowed him to convey the deep meaning of his lyrics.
If you want to learn specific songs to sing like Jacques Brel, there are a few classics that are great places to start. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" is perhaps his most famous song, and it showcases his powerful voice and emotional intensity. "Amsterdam" is another great choice, with its driving, rhythmic energy and powerful crescendos.
To develop your singing skills and style further, you can utilize the many practical resources provided by Singing Carrots. Start with the Vocal Range Test to determine your range, and then explore the Pitch Accuracy Test to assess and improve your pitch accuracy. The Vocal Pitch Monitor allows you to visualize your sung notes on a virtual piano, which can help in refining your technique.
For more comprehensive training, the Singing Carrots Pitch Training program includes interactive vocal warm-ups, pitch visualizers, and exercises designed to enhance your range, agility, and voice control. You can also use the search function to find songs matching your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preference.
Take advantage of the educational singing course to learn the basic and advanced singing theory and practical tips necessary to build a strong foundation in singing. Additionally, explore all of the articles on the Singing Carrots website to learn more about specific aspects of singing technique, and use the many skill-related videos to refine your technique in areas such as warm-up, breathing, and articulation.
With dedicated practice and the use of the many resources provided by Singing Carrots, you can learn to sing like Jacques Brel and become a more confident and accomplished vocalist.