So here's the thing - when I tell people I'm a crooner, I usually get one of two reactions: either a blank stare or "Oh, like Frank Sinatra!" And honestly, both reactions make me smile.
I didn't set out to be a crooner. Twenty-five years ago, I just loved singing. But somewhere along the way, I discovered these old songs - "The Way You Look Tonight," "Fly Me to the Moon," stuff my grandfather might have listened to - and something just clicked. Suddenly, all the songs were in my range. Somehow, the articulation of Sinatra seemed to match mine. Could this be real?
Also, maybe it's because these songs don't try to be clever or edgy. They're just honest. When Sinatra sings "I've Got You Under My Skin," he's not showing off. He's telling you exactly how he feels. That's what got me hooked.
Living between Germany and Spain, and traveling all the time, I've learned that good music doesn't need translation. I can sing "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás" in Barcelona and "Cheek to Cheek" in Berlin, and people just get it. There's something universal about these songs that cuts through all the noise. And even if some songs are old, some of them really old, people just seem to appreciate them more and more in terms of lyrics and melody. Maybe that's because of the current music trends that are lacking both of them? Well, that's a topic for another post.
Back to the crooning profession… Sure, it's not the most practical career choice. My friends are making electronic music and I'm over here perfecting my vibrato. But when I see an elderly couple start dancing during "Sway," or when someone requests their wedding song... that's when I know I'm doing something right, even if it seems completely impractical.