does Jim smoke?

[sivalc]

or used to smoke?

[EC]

pretty sure that the answer is doesn't, and never did.  :)

[steelyB]

don't know he get hit both the highs and lows he hits being a smoker - that would be pretty amazing.

[sivalc]

I only ask as I have a friend who's an aspiring singer with a great voice I tell him he needs to stop smoking as eventually it will wreck his voice and he won't be able to hold a note properly or sing those high notes. His argument was that his voice sounds better when he smokes regularly  he then reeled off a list of singers who he claims smoke and which hasn't really effected their singing like bowie, Buckley, Neil young, guy garvey etc  he also reckons Jim smokes. I then gave him examples of great singers who smoked and voices are now shot. I also argued some of the singers he mentioned like Jeff Buckley had there voices greatly affected by smoking I think Jim used to smoke but smokes no longer? Maybe I should have called this thread smoking singers vs non smoking singers.    

[peanut butter puddin surprise]

unless he's aspiring to sound like Marianne Faithfull, I would urge him to quit.

As a smoking non-smoker, I go years between smoking and not smoking, and when I start again, I throw down packs at a time.  It's hard to quit, and the older you are, the harder it gets...persuade him to give it up now while he's young.  

[corey]

Neil Young doesn't have the greatest voice in the world, so I wouldn't use that as an example.

Not saying that Neil has a bad voice, it just isn't that strong to begin with. It's his songwriting that makes him great.

[JacketGal]

Bob Dylan has smoked for over 40 years I think and it shows! I know he's not a really good example but if you hear the clarity and beauty in his earlier recordings vs. now, the change is terrifying!

[sivalc]

i see your neil young point but i think he means he has stayed at that level and it hasnt deteriorated. Neil young  he can still hit those whiney highs like on after the gold rush and his vocal sounds the same live today as it did 30 years ago.

[EC]

Does Neil smoke?

A lot of it has to do with whether or not you've had some kind of vocal training, too.  There are ways of singing which, smoking or not, will fuck your voice.  I think Jim's pretty careful about maintaining a good throat. Drinking a lot screws your voice, too.  

Smoking AND drinking is seriously stupid.

Signed,
Stupid.

[DD]

alledgedly only patricks pole according to some rumor mills.  ;)

[Drew]

When Neil was recording On the Beach, he was smoking a couple packs a' day, and its definitely reflected in his voice on that (classic) record.

I doubt Jim smokes...cigarettes that is. I'm sure he puffs some weed now and again.

[Godfather]

he has a cig in his mouth on the back of the tennessee fire

[TomBarton]

I also argued some of the singers he mentioned like Jeff Buckley had there voices greatly affected by smoking I think Jim used to smoke but smokes no longer? Maybe I should have called this thread smoking singers vs non smoking singers.    

as the self-proclaimed resident jeff buckley expert - i can assure you that your argument is correct. buckley picked up smoking on tour in late 95, early 96 and was trying to quit up until his untimely departure. on a bootleg of one of his last shows he has several banters in between songs going back/forth on the topic - ultimately claiming that it was shredding his voice. im not saying this holds true for all artists, but the odds are certainly not in his favor.

[Jellyfish]

Neil Young doesn't have the greatest voice in the world, so I wouldn't use that as an example.

Not saying that Neil has a bad voice, it just isn't that strong to begin with. It's his songwriting that makes him great.

Ummmm.....I love Neil's voice....sets him apart from everyone else.His songwriting is great,no doubt.

[EC]

Ummmm.....I love Neil's voice....sets him apart from everyone else.His songwriting is great,no doubt.

Part of the reason I love Neil is that everything he does feels like it's probably totally him.  He's not trying to be anybody except Neil.

he has a cig in his mouth on the back of the tennessee fire

Yeah, I gotta run and check, but I thought I remembered thinking once that those weren't lit...  I remember thinkin' it was kind of funny.  Lemme check.

Nope.  

[Missy Strain]

Nat King Cole smoked because he thought it made him sound better, even though he was amazing before he started smoking.
Then he died of lung cancer at age 46.
I doesn't sound like a good career move.

[Missy Strain]

Nat King Cole smoked because he thought it made him sound better, even though he was amazing before he started smoking.
Then he died of lung cancer at age 46.
It doesn't sound like a good career move.

[monkmoose]

smoke what?

[A_delle]

Okay, Y'all.

Speaking as a Speech/Voice therapist who has worked with numerous people who have had laryngeal CANCER, tongue, oral, throat/pharyngeal cancer, etc., I think I can say that smiking is BAD, mm-kay.

Some people/singers think their voice sounds 'better' when they smoke because inhaled smoke cause irritation and inflamation to the vocal cord tissue. That can result in a 'huskier' sounding voice. They think it's 'cool.' However, over time, this chronic irritation can lead to a thickening of the mucosa/tissue that covers the vocal cords, and eventually (and often times paired with alcohol abuse) can lead to development of plaques that turn into.... guess what? Cancer.

So, whether Jim smokes or not (I hope it is NOT - at least chronic tobacco, haha), it may or may not have a long term effect on his voice. It seems that some people are more predisposed to developing cancer (geez, look at George Burns who smoked cigars AND drank and lived to a ripe old age... and recall HIS voice? yikes). But anecdotal 'advice' from singers about their perception of the 'benefits' of smoking vs. no should be taken with a grain of salt, and the actual medical/physiologic effects should be considered first and foremost.

Bob's voice sounds like SHIT now (sorry Bob, I love your songwriting, though), Neil's could go either way, Nat was a product of his ultra-suave environment and personal style; it's all really a toss-up as to how one will sound later in life. AS for Jim, I hope that his sweet tenor with AWESOME range (and not smoking will help this) rocks on for a LONG time a-comin!!!

Be cool!
A_delle

[primushead]

Very interesting info.  Have you done any research on the weed smoke?  Is it less harmful than tobacco on the vocal chords?