Singing Guide: The Nanny
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Fran Drescher's unique voice has made her an icon of American television, most notably in her role as Fran Fine in the long-running sitcom "The Nanny". In order to emulate her vocal stylings, it's important to understand what makes her voice so distinctive.
One of Fran's signature vocal traits is her nasal tone, which is a result of a raised soft palate. To achieve this, it's important to master the technique of "twang", which is demonstrated in this video from Singing Carrots. This exercise can help enhance the brightness and ring in your voice, creating a more nasal quality.
In addition to twang, Fran often employs vocal fry, a creaky low-pitched sound that has become increasingly popular in contemporary vocal music. To learn more about this technique, Singing Carrots offers an educational video that demonstrates the proper use of vocal fry in singing.
When it comes to song choice, "The Nanny" theme song is a perfect example of Fran's unique vocal style. The song, "The Nanny Named Fran", features a lot of quick speaking and a melody that jumps around quite a bit. Learning this song, which can be found in Singing Carrots' songbook, can help you practice switching between registers quickly and seamlessly.
Along with learning popular songs, it's important to understand the fundamentals of singing. Singing Carrots offers a vocal range test to determine the limits of your voice, as well as a pitch accuracy test to measure your pitch accuracy. These tests can help identify areas of strength and weakness, allowing you to tailor your practice routine to meet your specific needs.
Finally, it's important to take care of your vocal health. Singing Carrots provides useful tips for maintaining a healthy voice, including breathing exercises, posture techniques, and warm-up routines. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can ensure long-term success in singing like Fran Drescher.
In summary, learning to sing like Fran Drescher involves mastering the techniques of twang and vocal fry, practicing quick register switches, and selecting songs that showcase her unique vocal style. With the help of Singing Carrots' resources, including educational articles, videos, and tools, you can develop your voice and become a master of Fran's signature vocalizations.