Diction in Singing

Turn on the radio and listen to almost any song played across the airwaves and you'll come across several examples where you have no clue what the words are. Why? As popular music has progressed,, the lyrics have increasingly lost their importance as the beat, costumes and star personality has taken over. However, that's only been within the last 50 years or so. Until then words set to a pleasing melody was the norm. The words told the story and the music created the emotions; thats ultimately what a song is. That's why singers who want a serious career in cabaret performance, musical theatre, art songs or opera, diction is crucial. Every consonant is important. Singers know that singing on vowels is their friend. What they frequently overlook is that pronouncing consonants are crucial for a listener to understand the words. Think Julie Andrews. She has nearly perfect diction and you can understand every.......single.....word. Just listening to her singing is an education in itself. So all you singers out there, start making sure that everyone can understand what you're singing because it matters!