Singing Guide: James Bond 007: Diamonds Are Forever
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
James Bond is perhaps one of the most iconic spy characters immortalized in film as well as literature. The James Bond 007: Diamonds Are Forever theme song is a classic for its groovy, energetic style. Performed by Shirley Bassey, it captures the essence of the iconic character and made a deep impression on fans for generations. With this guide, we aim to assist aspiring singers in learning the style of Shirley Bassey and how to execute it properly.
Shirley Bassey was known for her dramatic and powerful vocal style which sets her apart from other artists. If you desire to sing like Shirley Bassey, the first thing you should aim to do is identifying and developing your vocal range. Bassey's vocal range is obviously extensive which was why she could sing with so much depth and carry on with singing a note for a long time. To leverage this style for yourself, singing lessons in classical style would be useful, as these usually involve several breathing techniques to develop a singer’s vocal range. The singing course on Singing Carrots would be very beneficial in guiding you on vocal techniques, warm-up routines, breath support, and voice range development.
For Shirley Bassey's vocal performance, the belting technique is particularly useful. This style requires a lot of energy and power, with notes sung from the heart from the lower end of the vocal register then extending upwards. One of the most effective Singing Carrots' pitch training games that can help you with belting is the "Pitch Training - Educational Singing Game". This game offers a straightforward and fun way to practice hitting high notes and singing with passion.
When singing James Bond 007: Diamonds Are Forever Shirley Bassey style, ensure you practice tilting your head backward and opening your mouth wide when singing major notes. The article on Singing Carrots titled "Open Mouth & Throat" is an excellent article to read on how to properly open the mouth and throat while singing. Note that when singing the song, the key to getting that “Shirley Bassey’s” sound is with your diaphragm right from the ‘pick up’ after a prolonged silence. Practicing with exercises like the "Farinelli Breathing," which focuses on breathing capacity, posture and relaxation, helps improve your diaphragmatic breath control.
In terms of the song's lyrics, the song has a lively feel, with Shirley Bassey's strong voice enthralling the listener. She sings each word with passion to grab the audience's attention, and each subsequent word seems to build up to a powerful crescendo. It is important to articulate as each word counts to bring out the meaning of the song. The article on Singing Carrots titled "Articulation" is useful in developing your articulation skills when singing.
Finally, get familiar with modern vocal techniques to suit the various music genres you may apply your skills to. Contemporaries such as Heavy Modal, Twang, and Belting all have influenced today's music style and singers like James Bond. You can refer to the article titled “Contemporary vocal techniques: Heavy modal, Twang, Belting” for more details.
In conclusion, to sing James Bond 007: Diamonds Are Forever Shirley Bassey style, you must have a powerful voice that can hit a range of notes. Intense, dramatic, and lively, this style captures the essence of the iconic character, James Bond. Ensure you develop your vocal range, practice belting, articulation, and open mouth and throat techniques. Singing Carrots offers a range of courses, games, and information, which are useful for improving your singing voice and style. Keep refining and exploring the style to make it your own and create an irresistible James Bond character sound.