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Exploring Emotional Connection in Song Performance

I want to just try and work through it a little bit to throw some other ideas of where those choices could develop and where you could take them.

Starting with the Lyrics

The first thing I mentioned earlier about how I approach a song initially is the lyrics. It's all down to the words and what you're saying and the emotion you're trying to portray.

Exercise:
If you would indulge me, for maybe just the first verse and the first chorus, just read through that section. Recite it as if you're on stage, acting it to the audience and telling them the words, the lyrics of the verse and the chorus.

Connect with the Lyrics:
Try to read it and really connect with it:

• "When you're weary, feeling small,
  When tears are in your eyes,
  I will dry them all.

Don't believe you. Don't believe you."

Important Tip: You gotta really connect with those lyrics. Everyone at home, as well, try this.

Digging Deeper Into Emotion

The first line is about really taking in the words and what you're saying:

• "You're really weary,
  You're downtrodden,
  You're feeling really small.

Feel It All:

• "I can't stop crying my eyes out.
  My heart is breaking."

Emotions to Explore:
Feel everything. It's not just about when you're feeling small. When tears are in your eyes, really feel those emotions.

Visualize: Imagine what it's like to have those tears in your eyes, bursting out and rolling down your cheeks.

Practice Makes Perfect

Let's go again:

• "When you're weary, feeling small,
  When tears are in your eyes,
  I will dry them all.
  I'm on your side
  When times get rough
  And friends just can't be found.
  Like a bridge over troubled water,
  I will lay me down.
  Like a bridge over troubled water,
  I will lay me down."

That's much better! Time is your Friend:
For everyone at home, I want you to take your time with this exercise. It's important to read through the whole song and really connect with the emotions behind the words.

Emphasize Every Word

"Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down." You can force it; emphasize every single emotion and every single word.

• Words to Focus On:
  • Love the words.
  • Bridge.
  • Troubled water.
  • Lay down everything.

Just really embrace it all. Pour every emphasis into those words; they are so important.

Final Reminder: Take your time with this. Don't rush through it. You might feel self-conscious about speaking or acting things out, but engage with it. You'll become a better performer if you fully engage with everything you're saying.

Final Run-Through

Do you want to try that just one more time?
Yes, absolutely.

• "When you're weary, feeling small,
  When tears are in your eyes,
  I will dry them all.
  I'm on your side.
  Oh, when times get rough
  And friends just can't be found.
  Like a bridge over troubled water,
  I will lay me down."

100% better! So much better. I believed everything you were saying. You engaged with the words, the phrases, and that emotion, it's so important.

Key Insight: The emotion connected with each sentence must be real. You have to feel it. That was absolutely stunning, perfect!

Relate to Real Experiences

And look, you're crying, it works! Thinking about a real person helps, doesn't it? Exactly! Relate it to something personal; we all have gone through troubles and dark times where we needed someone to lean on.

This song conveys that desire for shelter and rescue. Really connect with that. If you can relate it to something in your life... Don't shy away from it.

Note: People call it method acting, but it does work and helps portray the song better.

Next Steps

So, what do you think about doing for the rest of the song? Should we try singing it and put that emphasis into the music while applying the same practice?