For those of you who sing well, what does it feel like to sing?

It is euphoric and all-involving. It is rather like a cross between meditation and winning a team sport championship, with a feeling of togetherness. It is a feeling of joy that is addicting.

The funny thing is that when I listen to others sing my vocal cords tend to move with theirs, although I may remain silent.

I understand when people say, “It’s not me, I’m the vessel”. Basically, I’m most in awe of my voice when I just sing something I like, let ‘er rip, and not worry so much about whether I hit the notes.

@Darwin – Yes! The same. I feel that way lately when I hear White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes, with all the harmonies.

Before I get up & sing in church, I’m a little nervous. I pray “please, Lord, don’t let me screw up in front of all of these people.” But nerves are a good thing. It gives me that edge to not be nonchalant about it. I’ve been singing in front of congregations since I was a teenager. So I shouldn’t let it bother me, but it does because I want to do a good job. But when I get up front with my music in my hands, I know what I’m doing. I calm down & start out. Never, ever have I made a fool of myself. I’ve never gotten lost in the words, my voice has never cracked. I hit those high notes true & clear. I have always gotten through a piece with a prayer of thanks at the end. I’m not Beverly Sills, but I still practice what I was taught during those 4 years of voice that I took in high school. It’s a gift & I use it to the best of my ability.

When I sing it’s like a bubble is growing inside me and swells with my voice. I can ride the wave once it gets going. It truly is transforming.

It’s an adrenaline rush for me.

What an interesting question.

A little background about what I do will probably help. I don’t sing songs. I sing improvisationally using sounds and no words. When working with another person, our voices sometimes entwine in ways that create such tension and resolution that my back is alive with shivering energy running up and down. That’s where I feel the rush of the music: in my back.

But there is another mode—a middle eastern mode—that I sing solo. And when I get into this mode, my voice soars out of me like a wave of dark light. This mode is so rich and so sad, and my voice cracks and cries and people tell me it stabs them through the heart—the way I can express those feelings. And for me, it is like being the vessel. Something pours in or is sucked in from all parts of my body and channels out through my mouth and it takes on an energy of its own that is beyond anything I could ever do.

It is magic, and I live for moments like that. These are the times that I feel truly loved and complete and whole.

@wundayatta: wow. That’s the best thing you’ve ever written (here).

When I sing something I truly love, its like every part of myself feels connected to the world. For me it brings extreme peace, like the same feeling when I see a beautiful moon on a quiet night or the softness of a warm breeze wash over my skin, or watching a hawk soar in the sky without effort. I grew up singing in a choir but I could never sing alone. I’m always to concious of others when I sing. Only my family has heard me sing privately and of course some music teachers, but when I sing for others I feel I lose something. For me its like letting my soul take a spin and only God gets to see.

I can’t top @Darwin‘s answer!

Agreed, @Darwin said it.
I started valuing my singing when I was living with a host family for five months and never had enough privacy to really belt. Humming is one thing, but what feels so great is just letting loose and going all out when no one can hear you. Shower, when home alone, and while driving are best.

I also love my a cappella rehearsals when we meet in a small room with great acoustics. Singing and hearing my friends around me sing and blend together is a great feeling.

If I sing it in the shower…I feel like I’m the freest (if there is such a word) guy in the world.
In front of my GCSE music class?

It’s torture.

I hate singing to other people that aren’t close to me…especially teachers.

I don’t feel the same way about singing that other talented singers seem to. When I am singing I am constantly thinking that it doesn’t sound as good to me as I would like it too, it’s just never enough. I have been singing for audiences (big and small) for about 15 years and I know that I have got a certain amount of talent and have recieved a lot of good feedback from people that know what they are talking about I never feel that I am good enough by my own standards.

I have been training with the view to be an Opera singer for the past 10 years. I have an amazing singing teacher who has the ability to help me in my dream to sing at Covent Garden. However, because of my constant self critisism the love of singing just isn’t there and so my Covent Garden dream is slipping away.

It feels truly and undeniably present. For me, aside from giving and receiving love, it is the best feeling in the world.