#im once again. mad at the music industry. and for Louis. god.

[hazzabeeforlou]

I’ve had many private conversations about Louis’ singing voice and his live performances. Being a musician, I’m not blind to his faults, though I love him and his voice dearly, I love his tone, his passion, the empathy he can project. I don’t love his pitch or breath control. But what has baffled me about this the last few years is that, though he’s improved, his younger, early 1D voice seemed more flawless. Think “Valerie.” Think those harmonies the boys did live... fucking brilliant. And yes it’s a different animal to go solo, and he smokes now, but. BUT. Voices come into maturation at Louis’ present age, and his should have improved way more than it has, especially with a devoted voice coach and ample time. My first thought, and it’s partly true I believe, is that stress and grief have contributed to a lot of tension in him. You see your whole body vibrates when you sing, and if you’re tight, it’s like plucking a rubber band stretched too taut: it won’t vibrate. Also your diaphragm needs to be malleable. Your posture grounded but not stiff. And as I’m going through this mental checklist of all the Alexander technique classes I’ve been through as a musician, all the times a SINGLE muscle being tight hindered my technique in a massive way, I finally realized. Louis’ tension problems started when he was no longer allowed to move flamboyantly. When they stifled the easy fluidity with which he moved on stage; his graceful arms, his swaying hips. When the boy from Grease, from club GAY, was made to stride instead of prance, to hand gesture and point instead of bend his wrists. You have no idea the incredible tension that comes with going against your natural performance instincts. How holding your hips unnaturally sends a whole ridigity through your spine, to your neck... how that tension translates to your shoulders, and to your vocal chords. Anyways I’m just... I’m just mad. Because it’s so obvious, it’s been there from the start and I just never NOTICED before that he holds so much tension in his performance movements, the choreography he’s allowed to present. He’s not free to prance around, or to move instinctively, or naturally... he’s not free.