I was just listening to Italian goth-metal titans Lacuna Coil and their powerful cover of the mighty Mode’s Enjoy the Silence. It’s a great version of one of my favourite songs, and at 3 minutes in, their lead singer Cristina Scabbia takes it to another level by starting a high vocal line that’s not in the original. She’s only 5ft 3in tall but seems able to emit this soaring cry full of emotion without any effort at all.
Her voice reminded me, once again, of how much I wish I could sing. I discovered as a child that my singing voice is flat to an almost ludicrous extent, and I’ve never sung in front of anybody since then.
A family friend could, if given enough encouragement, reduce an audience to tears of joy by singing a cappella at a party or social event. He was an unprepossessing chap and had no interest in making money from his voice, but his solo renditions of old hymns or Danny Boy would leave people speechless. In the same vein, I’ve only got to hear Colm Wilkinson start singing Bring Him Home from Les Mis and I’m a wreck – every single time.
