Sorry I've neglected this thread so long! I should clarify that I'm not writing a song from scratch--I'm adapting an existing song for use in the August recital here. Some of your input is definitely going to make it into the lyrics! I think I'll keep the specifics a secret until the recital.

Sgisela I was initially going to say ‘smoke,’ as I had in mind a certain piano that had an ash tray built into a cheek block!

That is crazy. Was it removable? How would one get the ashes out (and if it's removable, then isn't it a waste to add to the piano?)

Bellyman Can't lie, sometimes the raspy tone of some of those smokers is kinda appealing to some of us who don't smoke and don't have that "edge" to our voices. But I'm still not gonna take up smoking.

Hm, I would never think that! But I do agree that listening to a smoker's voice brings back some nostalgia, as there aren't so many crooners these days that do.

TLH21 Not based on a true story by the way, but on a song my father used to sing when I was a kid:

Great song!

MRC There's a passage in Patrick Süskind's book Die Geschichte von Herrn Sommer where the fictional author, remembering his childhood, tells the story of a fatal piano lesson with Fräulein Funkel.

What a story!! Thank you for sharing it.

            rsl12 That is crazy. Was it removable? How would one get the ashes out (and if it's removable, then isn't it a waste to add to the piano?)

            This is it! I assume the metal ashtray can be lifted out. This definitely feels like it’s from another era!

              Wow, those pedals! What am I looking at? Why? Also, I find it interesting that the pianist is smoking left-handed. Is that normal?

              It’s a curiosity, for sure. I haven’t seen it in person, but apparently it has an absurd number of lid props as well— maybe 12.
              There was another very similar piano that someone was looking at, but it didn’t have the ash tray. So my guess is that the ashtray was a ‘custom’ addition, and perhaps the original owner was left handed.

              Bellyman Frank Sinatra? Raspy tone? Both Frank and Dean Martin smoked, and like you said, often had a lit gasper while performing. Two of the smoothest crooners ever. Judy Garland and Sarah Vaughn smoked.
              I once went to a Dionne Warwick concert, had a great seat, could see her offstage taking the final drags before coming out. John Lennon and Paul McCartney smoked, as did Crosby, Stills and Nash. Joni Mitchell smoked. Not a raspy voice in the bunch.
              On the other hand, Tom Waits, Dr. John, Joe Cocker and Janis Joplin were smokers. Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie smoked, too. Probably more to do with genetics than tobacco. And, no, I never smoked, other than the odd Newport the drummer in a band I played in during high school would offer.

                  rsl12 Never tickle the soprano while playing piano,
                  for her current gentleman fellow might be first or second cello.
                  Disrupting the strings is certainly one of those things,
                  where the members of percussion would join in the discussion.
                  Woodwinds and brass might let the whole thing pass,
                  But the conductor, reserving judgement, to a whether or a why,
                  would wait to hear if the diva's note were of a proper high.

                    PianoMonk Raspy tone?

                    "Raspy" probably is not the right word. I don't know the right word. But there is something different about the sound.

                        Play harmonica. I'm looking at you, Billy Joel!

                        Enthusiastic but mediocre amateur.

                        Bellyman And the difference in sound between Caruso, Pavoratti and Robert Merrill, or Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Adele, are? Or how about Billie Holiday, Julie London and Natalie Cole?
                        I think each sounds unique because they are unique.

                            PianoMonk, have you ever caught a cold? Or had a cough for a while? What did it do to your voice?

                            The times I've had something like that, often my voice will get a different sound to it, sometimes appealing. Whether it's an irritation that changes the sound, a bit of swelling, or what, I don't know. But I hear something similar from someone who smokes and sings.

                            Not much more I can say about it. If you don't hear it, I don't imagine I have a way to explain it.

                                Bellyman Paul McCartney smoked, quit 30 some years ago, sounds pretty much the same to me. What is it that you hear? Pavarotti smoked, then quit, then started up again. All of his recordings pretty much sound the same to me. You must have very good hearing.

                                    PianoMonk You must have very good hearing.

                                    Sometimes. I did a few too many years as a piano tuner and it did affect the way I hear things, not always in a good way. I'm sorry I can't explain it better. "Raspy" was about as close as I could get and that wasn't it.

                                    I was listening to a guy on YouTube that was talking about AI voices. He has people in his household that can't tell and others that can tell nearly instantly. It's like you either hear it or you don't. Not sure if it can be taught or learned. (?)

                                        Bellyman Even with my old ears, I can instantly tell an A.I. voice. With regard to hearing something to accurately identify singers who smoke.... well, as Hercule Poirot might say, "I think perhaps there is the slight pulling of the leg here. N'est-ce pas? And if not the pulling of the leg, perhaps, if I find myself with a lot of idle time on my hands (not very likely), I will put together an audio selection of 7, or 8, maybe even ten, vocalists and we can have a "Guess The Singing Smoker" contest. Grand prize to person who correctly guesses which are the smokers will be a used set of Sony Walkman headphones from the 80's and a carton of Marlboro Lights.

                                          ... ride a unicycle ...

                                          a month later

                                          Don't know how many people smoke these days, it's not as many as used to. But I have seen a few too many people die way too young because they couldn't leave those things alone. Had an uncle that couldn't. Not a death that was pleasant to watch, wouldn't wish what I saw on an enemy. Some may get away with it. Many do not.

                                          It may be that different people are affected differently by smoke / smoking. I tend to find my voicebox "swelling" and my voice getting deeper when I'm in a smoky room for too long. A similar thing happens when I get a cold and have to cough a lot. I sing a wonderful deep bass at that point but it doesn't last.

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