Does smoking ruin your voice?

[PALACE]

i've heard from a couple people that smoking will ruin my singing voice but then i look at nearly all my favorite bands/musicians and they all smoked and they sing fine.
so anyways what do you guys think? does it or doesnt it?

[braedyn]

i don't think it would be a good thing. Throat cancer wouldn't help matters either:rolleyes:

[pokey]

over time... it might. listen to bob dylan on the album where he quit smoking....it's freaky different.

I have smoked on and off and I can do even more with my voice without smoking

[PALACE]

i dont smoke alot really, an average of 3 or 4 a day for about a year, but i just dont want to end up sounding like shit (not that i dont already)
i really dont know how elliott would play and smoke at the same time. when i play after i smoke it kinda locks my voice up so i have to drink a bunch of coffee (or something warm) to loosen them up again.

[bellefleur]

well i mean think about it. have you ever heard one of those people who have chain-smoked their entire life? it ain't pretty..and eventually you could lose it all together. those artists who smoked and were able to have an amazing voice were just meant to have an amazing voice, and they were awesome in spite of the smoking (in my opinion). and a lot of artists (obviously in elliott's case), minus a few exceptions, don't do a lot of music past their 30s.

[Paul Newman]

The lungs won't matter if you sing from the heart.

[charlesb]

every time i quit smoking my voice does silly things and i have a hard time staying in pitch.
so for now, ciggs actually help my voice. but when i'm older and singing through a voicebox i'll be sort of atonal, and that won't be so hot.

[Paul Newman]

Smoking is good for the image. With a good image, the voice won't matter.

[alexandra]

Clearing your throat is worse for your voice than smoking.

AS LONG AS you don't smoke when your throat is sore or irritated or while you're sick. (the smoke running over a weak voice box is horrible for you)

Smoking will cause your voice to deepen... but so will age.

The obvious choice is to not smoke, but hey, if you want to, just try to be careful with it.

Also, Smoking + singing at the same time = BAD.

[Mister Grieves]

I think it depends what kind of a singing voice you're going for. If you're going for a more "professional" smooth voice, I'd say don't smoke. But if you're going for a rough, gritty voice.. smoke all you want, it can only make your voice better. Hahaha.

[joely]

i use to chain smoke, and it made my voice all raspy
and hoarse, and it also made me smell like an ashtray
and then my best friend died of cancer, and it kinda lost
its charm, any smoker will tell you, dont start...

[twilight]

Paul McCartney gave up smoking, and his voice has sounded the best it has in years. :)

If you're gonna give up smoking, do it for the sake of your health, not because of singing considerations.

I personally can't stand the smell of smoke. In one's hair, eyes, skin, clothes...YUCK! Stinks horrible. Nothing against smokers personally, but I just can't stand it, and thus will never put one in my mouth ever in my life.

[RulesMapsGuns]

iev notcide it fkcuing up my itnernet vocie.

[Mister Grieves]

Originally posted by twilight
I personally can't stand the smell of smoke. In one's hair, eyes, skin, clothes...YUCK! Stinks horrible. Nothing against smokers personally, but I just can't stand it, and thus will never put one in my mouth ever in my life.

I'm with you on that. I mean, I used to smoke every now and then.. it wasn't amazing, and it made me smell bad. It's just a novelty, in my opinion. Though all of my friends are smokers, so I'm constantly around it, which is a major bummer.:(

[joely]

i sound like the gay guy in independence day, no lie

[Littleone7]

yep

[PoisonArms]

well, your voice is a lot more from the diaphram, but for falsetto...and I guess your throat is the main threshold and thats where the vocal chords are kept...it must do SOMETHING.

[twilight]

Originally posted by Mister Grieves
Though all of my friends are smokers, so I'm constantly around it, which is a major bummer.:(

Yeah when I used to play bars etc in my band, I put up with it. But now there's a "no smoking in bars" law that has just come into effect in New Zealand. Clothes no longer stink when you go out! Yay!

[nethrin]

Originally posted by PALACE
i've heard from a couple people that smoking will ruin my singing voice but then i look at nearly all my favorite bands/musicians and they all smoked and they sing fine.
and think how good they'd be if they *didn't* smoke! :eek:

[frankenweeny]

.....chained smoked for ten years........not a good look....

...especially for singing.......diminished range and dulled tone....... :no: .......

[wardle]

2 words...

tom waits

[heavymetalmouthagain]

it's wierd though how a "smoky voice" can kinda feel like home...Lenorad Cohen for example

[matt5000]

Originally posted by wardle
2 words...

tom waits

I was just about to mention that. Rumor has it that when he made Rain Dogs he was smoking a carton a day. It's not very believable, but then again if anyone could smoke a carton a day it would be tom waits.

M. Ward also has a pretty nicotine soaked voice.

[Drunkship]

Jeremy Enigk smokes and drinks.

Cant imagine it being good for your voice, but it doesnt seem to bother most singers.

Think its more a long term thing, might be bad for your voice in 20/30 years from now... i guess

[krisis]

c'mon, britney smokes, and her voice is awesome!

[kupo]

Definitly long term. Also depends on how much you smoke. If you're a social smoker you're not going to hear any drastic changes in your voice. If you've been chain smoking for 10 yrs. you'll have gone from Buckley to Waits. I've been smoking rather heavily for 15 yrs. and I definitly can't carry a note like I used to.

[mr. dynamite]

Originally posted by alexandra
Clearing your throat is worse for your voice than smoking.

AS LONG AS you don't smoke when your throat is sore or irritated or while you're sick. (the smoke running over a weak voice box is horrible for you)

Smoking will cause your voice to deepen... but so will age.

The obvious choice is to not smoke, but hey, if you want to, just try to be careful with it.

Also, Smoking + singing at the same time = BAD.

no way, tom waits


yeah i know its terrible....

if you are a woman, smoking does ruin your singing voice though.

it adds a certain gravellyness taht works quite well in male voices... gravelly women though.... not a good thing.

[kupo]

But then again Elliott was a smoker and he had the voice of an angel. I've seen Jeff Buckley taking a couple of puffs too. How'd they do it?
:eek:

[ParentheticalThought]

Originally posted by urmuther
But then again Elliott was a smoker and he had the voice of an angel. I've seen Jeff Buckley taking a couple of puffs too. How'd they do it?
:eek:

Good genes, short lives.

[kupo]

Originally posted by ParentheticalThought
Good genes, short lives.

<insterts unavailable sigh emoticon> How true. Same with Nick Drake. Three of the most beautiful vocalists, all smokers, in the history of music(that's my opinion at least). So sad that their lives were cut short.

:(

[simpsonopraphic]

Im not a regular smoker but I always get nervous before a show and smoke, it works out ok, I guess

[Reverie]

Originally posted by urmuther
But then again Elliott was a smoker and he had the voice of an angel. I've seen Jeff Buckley taking a couple of puffs too. How'd they do it?
:eek:

I remember reading where Buckley had talked to his step-father on the phone shortly before his death and was real excited because he felt his voice was stronger than ever. He attributed it to the fact that he had quit smoking as well as eating meat.

[solveig]

some angels smoke

[kupo]

Originally posted by Reverie
I remember reading where Buckley had talked to his step-father on the phone shortly before his death and was real excited because he felt his voice was stronger than ever. He attributed it to the fact that he had quit smoking as well as eating meat.

Very interesting. I hadn't heard anything about that. It's such a shame that we didn't get to hear how much his voice, which was already incredible, had improved.:(

[kupo]

Originally posted by solveig
some angels smoke

I guess you're right. Not all angels have wings:angel: I know a few.

[kupo]

I'm suprised Sedgely Park hasn't busted out the usual "Pub Singer" comment yet.:lol:

[ParentheticalThought]

Originally posted by urmuther
I guess you're right. Not all angels have wings:angel: I know a few.

They have wings, they're just kind of dingy-looking.

[simpsonopraphic]

If you smoke one, just one, cig, your voice will irreversibly start sounding like Tom Waits

So smoke em if you got em bitches

[maxnugget]

I used to sound really sexy when I was a smoker. Now I just sound like Julia Childs. :\

[maxnugget]

Originally posted by simpsonopraphic
If you smoke one, just one, cig, your voice will irreversibly start sounding like Tom Waits

I used to smoke Lucky Strike for that very reason. :):yes:

[Paul Newman]

Originally posted by maxnugget
Now I just sound like Julia Childs. :\

She's dead, but she's still the archetype for unsexy.

[The Crippled Silence]

Originally posted by Mister Grieves
I think it depends what kind of a singing voice you're going for. If you're going for a more "professional" smooth voice, I'd say don't smoke. But if you're going for a rough, gritty voice.. smoke all you want, it can only make your voice better. Hahaha. see: Tom Waits

*edit: this serves as a reminder to read the whole thread before replying. And here I thought I was the first.

[Jack Fate]

Originally posted by wardle
2 words...

tom waits


YYYEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...don't forget the 1/5 of whiskey a day.

note: he's quit both of these habits, for well over a decade, but still, the damage has been done.

[Gwendolyn]

Of course, eventually. But in the mean time, that thick tarry coating on your lungs will just add to your vibrato. :D

[simpsonopraphic]

Originally posted by Gwendolyn
vibrato. :D

I love that word and I love how no matter what instrument you play it's so hard to pull off

[Gorilla Biscuits]

If you want to know what smoking can do to your voice, just check out one of Brian Wilson's recent live albums.

[33_1/3]

but i know smoking pretty much hurts everything in your body, so why wouldn't hurt your voice?

I have smoked since 15. I'm 29.

Sometimes the results of smoking don't show up for years and years.

"Quitting is easy, I've done it many times"

If you try to quit, go cold turkey and take up something physical. And chew gum. But not nicorette. THat crap is expensive and if you have an addictive personality, you get hooked on that, too!

The only thing that has gotten me to quit is thinking about all the money spent on it.

American indians never chained smoked, but used tobacco as a ritual, think of it that way

[kupo]

American indians never chained smoked, but used tobacco as a ritual, think of it that way

American Indians had nothing to be stressed out about until the whities came and took over their land Smoking tobacco was more of a ritualistic kind of thing for them. Our lives are probably a bit more chaotic these days. I've been trying to quit smokikng for years too and have come to this conclusion.. it's just gotta be the right time.

[orangeslice]

Originally posted by wardle
2 words...

tom waits

LMAO!!!!! Oh...great example!! Damn, that dude has one...raspy, crazy ass voice. I heard...I think it's titled "Go Down Moses". It shocks everyone that I've had listen to it. Their first reaction (if they're new to Tom Waits) is..."is he okay?" lol.

Yeah, I think smoking does something to your voice...makes it raspier. And would mess up lung capacity, so there wouldn't be any Aretha Franklin going on.

I have an...interesting voice. I'm a black guy, but my voice sounds more like a white dude (my sis once hung up on me, b/c she thought I was a stranger). And it sounds even more so when I sing...kinda like a combination of Pete Yorn, Elliott Smith...and maybe the lead guy from Saves the Day.

And, I've never smoked...I think if I did I'd die instantly from suffocation. I have bronchitis.

[orangeslice]

Originally posted by krisis
c'mon, britney smokes, and her voice is awesome!

By smoking...you mean smokes weiners? :-D

[orangeslice]

Originally posted by plain white trash
no way, tom waits


yeah i know its terrible....

if you are a woman, smoking does ruin your singing voice though.

it adds a certain gravellyness taht works quite well in male voices... gravelly women though.... not a good thing.

Hey...Kristin Hersh has a gravelly voice...she works out well. :-p

[simpsonopraphic]

Originally posted by orangeslice
By smoking...you mean smokes weiners? :-D

I like you

[orangeslice]

Originally posted by simpsonopraphic
I like you

lmao...

thanks :-D

[solveig]

Originally posted by urmuther
I'm suprised Sedgely Park hasn't busted out the usual "Pub Singer" comment yet.:lol:

yes, where's
the routine?
:cool:

[Dasha_Bah_Bah...]

smoking fucks up everything. Including your voice. quit.

[zoneontherise]

I'm concerned about my voice and smoking. I've been singing all my life and have been smoking the last five years and have noticed some complications. I actually feel something in my throat sometimes, like a lump or something. I went to an ENT doctor in Jan. of this year, she just looked down my throat and couldn't visibly with her eyes see anything so she told me to basically chop-it-up to being sick at the moment. Since then I've gotten over my lil' cold and still feel something there at times. So my advice to any smokers that are trying to persue a singing career, "BE CAREFUL, ITS NOT A JOKE AND IT AIN'T A GAME." Peace, I'm out

[TrappersCabin]

No - smoking doesn ruin my singing voice but I guess it all depends what kind of vocals you are going for.

[zoneontherise]

To TrappersCabin, just merely wanted to know, what type of singing voice do you have or what type of singing do you do, rather??

[the woody]

Originally posted by Paul Newman
The lungs won't matter if you sing from the heart.

:heart: will you marry me?

[Gorilla Biscuits]

Originally posted by PALACE
i've heard from a couple people that smoking will ruin my singing voice but then i look at nearly all my favorite bands/musicians and they all smoked and they sing fine.

2 Words:
Brian Wilson.

2 More words:
Dennis Wilson.

[Gorilla Biscuits]

And the bizarre thing is Carl, the only Wilson brother who's voice wasn't destroyed by smoking, died because of his smoking.

[ParentheticalThought]

Originally posted by Gorilla Biscuits
And the bizarre thing is Carl, the only Wilson brother who's voice wasn't destroyed by smoking, died because of his smoking.

His own smoking plus second-hand smoke from his brothers and associates plus bad luck/bad genes.

There are all sorts of ways to pay, but eventually, you pay.

[Uncle Euuoriwareihuj]

Originally posted by wingchungisfun
it's wierd though how a "smoky voice" can kinda feel like home...Lenorad Cohen for example except his voice got worse to the point that he wound up talking almost all of his songs, if you compare to his early albums.

Smoking has thrashed so many beautiful singing pipes; one of the saddest cases of which was Harry Nilsson -- check the difference between A Little Touch of Nilsson In The Night (on which he smokes his thumb) and Pussy Cats -- his voice used to be so sweet and pure... : (

[Uncle Euuoriwareihuj]

Originally posted by maxnugget
I used to smoke Lucky Strike for that very reason. :):yes: Knock Knock--
Who's There?
Alice.
Alice who?
L.S.M.F.T.
badoopa-doot da doo da-doodlyt-da Doo.

[Uncle Euuoriwareihuj]

Originally posted by maxnugget
I used to sound really sexy when I was a smoker. Now I just sound like Julia Childs. :\ she was one hot mama in the kitchen

[Somebody'sBaby]

hmmm...I used to be self conscious of my voice cause I don't have one of those high "girly" kinda voices...my sister & my mom & I have like almost identical voices too, but yeah smoking definitely made it worse now I'm constantly checking to make sure I don't sound all mannish :-o

[ParentheticalThought]

Originally posted by Somebody'sBaby
hmmm...I used to be self conscious of my voice cause I don't have one of those high "girly" kinda voices...my sister & my mom & I have like almost identical voices too, but yeah smoking definitely made it worse now I'm constantly checking to make sure I don't sound all mannish :-o

I've never smoked but I can sing almost all of Elliott's songs without changing the key. When I answer the phone, people think I'm my significant other. I can imagine what I would sound like if I did smoke.

[not lenny!]

I've smoked since I was thirteen, pretty heavy smoker actually....I don't have a real girly voice, it's kinda deep and low pitched, and dorky I think. I sound nearly identical to my sister (except I have a slight southern accent) and she has never smoked, so I'm not sure it affects your voice much at all. It does more damage to everything else.