Backup Singing

Backup singers are also called second singers. They provide the second voice, fill-ins and supplementing voice. They enhance and highlight the main vocal. I like listening to songs, especially band songs with second voices, and how their melody completely harmonizes with the lead vocals.

Backup singers have necessary skills present in them—listening and blending in. They are able to listen when to blend in with the main vocal. They are alert and watchful of the main vocalist, like when the main vocal wants to repeat a verse or start from the first verse. They also know how to phrase. They know when to jump in at the right time at the beginning of the song. They begin gently and slowly rise in the same level with the lead. They also know how to do the same thing at the end part.

I have also learned one important trait of a backup singer, about beginning and ending consonants. It said in one article I read that at times when two or more people are singing a phrase, there can be multiple popping “p’s” or sibilant sounds as each singer attempts to sing at the same time. It says there that a careful trick to prevent this from happening is for the backup singer to leave the first letter, the consonant, totally. For example, if the lyric is like, Jack and Jill went up the hill to pick a pail of water, the backup vocalist might sing “ack and ill ent up a ill o ick a ail of ater.” It allows the chief singer to have the clear-cut initial consonant of the phrase without the backup singer colliding or overlapping with them, or being incompatible and in disagreement with them.

Speaking of backup singing, did you know that there is a Magic Sing that serves specially for the backup singer? It’s the Magic Sing Sub Microphone! It can also serve as the second microphone for duets, but that’s another topic to talk about! (: The Magic Sing Sub Microphone must have a Magic Sing microphone to operate.

Cheers to another great Magic Sing product!