Author: PSBNine Instructor

Great Pop Songs for Young Singers

What song should I sing? It’s the age-old question.

Young singers are always looking for great pop songs to sing in lessons. We are shown pop stars like Adele, Lady Gaga, or Justin Bieber, and kids are drawn to their “cool” factor. As a voice teacher, I’ve often struggled with the song requests from my students. Many of the songs that are most popular are wildly inappropriate for young singers to work on! It’s so difficult to find pop songs that they love to sing, and that are appropriate for their maturity and vocal development. After 10 years of working with young singers, I’ve developed a list of my go-to favourites that also seem to be frequent hits with my students. Here is a list of 5 great pop songs for young singers, and a karaoke to practice with (in no particular order):

 

Song 1: Better Place, Rachel Platten

This is a great pop song for young singers, especially beginners. There are lots of approachable patterns, so learning isn’t too difficult. There are also some good rhythm challenges to promote good counting! The words are so lovely, and give students lots of places for good word painting. You’ll see in the official music video that this song is directed to relationships of all types, so this is a great pick for those looking to steer away from romantic themes. 

If you like Better Place, you might also love Rachel Platten’s other girl-power hit, Fight Song. A bit higher and beltier, but great for young singers with strong stage presence!

Here’s Better Place (original):

Here’s Better Place (karaoke with lyrics): 

Song 2: Rainbow, Kacey Musgraves

A really lovely pop ballad with a heartfelt message. Subject matter leans a bit on the sad side, but offers an uplifting final message of “it’ll all be alright”. The chorus is so lovely, and gets young singers using that mid/high mixed voice. I love Kacey Musgrave for young singers – she doesn’t overblow her sound on the top, and allows it to float beautifully and easily. When students inevitably listen to her original recording, I think she sets a great example in this song of how we’d want our young singers to approach things! 

Here’s Rainbow (original):

Here’s Rainbow (karaoke with lyrics): 

Song 3: You’ve Got A Friend, Carole King

Definitely the hardest song on the list musically, You’ve Got a Friend is a great stretch piece for a young student in need of a musical challenge. This song might be most appropriate for a student who is 12-13 years old (but I have had this work for both younger and older students!). Some interesting key changes and rhythmic patterns keep students on their toes, but all within totally appropriate subject matter and vocal style. There are also some great (but relatively short and approachable) riffs throughout, which many students love to challenge themselves with. 

Here’s You’ve Got a Friend (original): 

Here’s You’ve Got A Friend (karaoke with lyrics): 

 

Song 4: Count On Me, Bruno Mars

Count on Me is a fantastic pop song for young singers –  it makes my list for students under 10 as well. I’ve used this song for young boys and girls alike – it works perfectly for anyone! Totally appropriate words, and really accessible vocal melodies. The middle section with the high “oo’s” is a great challenge section for young voices to access higher notes with healthy technique. This is always at the top of my recommendation list for any young, beginner vocalists. 

Here’s Count On Me (original): 

Here’s Count on Me (karaoke with lyrics): 

 

Song 5: One Call Away, Charlie Puth

Another great pop song that is equally suitable for young boys or girls, One Call Away is a great song choice for any young singer. The words are approachable and understandable to anyone of any age, and do not have to be interpreted as romantic in any way. There’s some great range to the song, so it’s great for developing more of your voice, with some great scale passages to practice accuracy and tuning. I’ve taught this song more times than I can count, and it’s a studio favourite for sure! 

Here’s One Call Away (original): 

Here’s One Call Away (karaoke with lyrics): 

 

If you enjoyed these songs, you should definitely check out more from these artists! A big part of choosing repertoire as a young singer is finding artists who speak to you and your style, and raiding their discography for favourites! Other artists that my young students have enjoyed are Shawn Mendes, early Taylor Swift, and some Ed Sheeran. There are many great pop songs for young singers! Just be sure to read the words without music to really get a sense of whether or not it will work for your child. 

 

great pop song sung by young singer

 

Here’s another post I like about how to choose the right song for you:

https://myvoicecoach.com/roadmap-to-choosing-the-right-songs-to-sing/

 

Check out Jose’s blog post below:

https://nine.psbdigital.ca/paramount-plus-new-streaming-service/

Paramount Plus New Streaming Service: Climbing for Subscribers

  Patrick Stewart and Stephen Colbert welcome stars and subscribers to Paramount Plus

Patrick Stewart and Stephen Colbert welcome stars to Paramount Plus new streaming service
Patrick Stewart and Stephen Colbert welcome stars to Paramount Plus new streaming service for Super Bowl promo. Courtesy of Paramount Plus

 

Formerly known as CBS – All Access, Paramount Plus is a rebranding of the streaming service that will be launching on March 4th in the US and Latin America. According to the company, Canada will also receive a glimpse of the content provided by the streamer stating that an “expanded offering” will be available in an undefined future time.

 

VIACOM CBS, being one of the world’s largest producers of quality content, will nurture the Paramount Plus project with content from its different brands. MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and of course the flagship CBS will be available for those consumers who demand these well renowned television channels. To make the pot even sweeter, those who are willing to pay the subscription fee will have access to the wide range of movies produced by the Paramount Pictures studio.

A Constellation of Stars climb Paramount Plus New Streaming Service

Leading up to the event, the celebrated advertising agency Droga5, informed and entertained potential customers with a Super Bowl promo titled “Journey to the Peak” that saw some of the biggest names on the VIACOM CBS roster climb their way to their new home.  Re watching the five spots that make up the campaign launch on Instagram one could clearly identify some big names, parading up an icy mountain to get to their metaphorical new home. The commercial was even tongue in cheek with its literal and metaphorical balance, proving that they weren´t shy about being self-aware. Amongst the big names were James Corden, Stephen Colbert, Dj, Khaled, Christine Baranski, Patrick Stewart, Tom Selleck and Ethan Peck, not to mention a cameo by Jersey Shore´s “Snookie” whose character was apparently too hung over for the trek. Speaking of Trek, several intellectual properties also made their way up the mountain including Star Trek, Dora the Explorer, Survivor, Beavis and Butthead and the MTV Astronaut.

A Competitive Price for an Avalanche of Content

The streaming service will have different pricing depending on your comfort level regarding advertisements. A more affordable price of $5.99 will include ads and a heftier $9.99 price tag will get you ad free watching, to your hearts content. Will VIACOMCBS rebrand of CBS All Access prove to be the pivot they need to stay alive in the streaming wars? Only time will tell if Paramount Pictures can fend off Netflix, Disney+, HBO MAX, HULU and Amazon prime to become king of the streaming service mountain.

The Paramount Plus new Streaming Service: A Snowball Effect

The Canadian Media Fund has published a recent trend report titled Pause and Rethink that evaluates how marketing and distribution streaming services will impact the future of the screen industries. The document delves into the importance of virtual production to offset the reduced number of cast and crew available on set due to COVID restrictions, and at the same time evaluates the importance of developing strategies to better position Canadian content in the midst of the streaming services wars.

With Paramount Plus joining the fight for consumer eyeballs, marketing trends are getting more sophisticated, in the sense that, new content has only a 28 day grace period that will define whether the investment was a success or not. The report, written by Kelly Lynn Ashton and others emphasizes the need for better strategies for Canadian productions in the global direct to consumer market, this due to the fact that streamers are keen on acquiring full rights to the intellectual properties and distribution, diminishing opportunities for the producers.

ViacomCBS had announced the rebrand of the CBS All Access services as early as September 2020, and will be using this year´s Super Bowl as the main platform to let consumers know that they have the intention of reaching the streaming services summit.  Will they make it? For now we can only say that they are getting recognition for the production value and creativity of their promo, especially during pandemic times.

If you liked this content, please check out Nicole Krasey’s article on her Top 5 favourite songs for young singers under the age of 13

 

Stay Undaunted and Cozy With These Oversized ‘Chunky’ Winter Accessories From ‘UT’ Undaunted Triumph

Part one of UT’s “handmade w/ care” collection.

Chunky Scarf and Toque

Mississauga Canada-based label Undaunted Triumph has made available part one of their “handmade w/ care” collection to fight Northern America’s cold weather as well as to fight the unprecedented times and give opportunities to small local business with emphasis on those of marginalized communities.

“Undaunted Triumph is to strengthen one’s persistence and perseverance by not being intimidated by difficulty, danger, and disappointment ultimately making one triumphant in the end.”

The world was really shook up, and for many caught off guard during the year 2020. Many lost their Jobs and had to pivot. Small business owners where fighting to stay open and efficiently run during the months in Ontario’s Pandemic lockdown structure. For certain Undaunted Triumph and its underlying motif should be a reminder not to give up.

The meaning behind the name Undaunted Triumph is to strengthen one’s persistence and perseverance by not being intimidated by difficulty, danger, and disappointment, ultimately making one triumphant in the end. Most of UT’s designs are intrinsically crude and have a rebellious overtone. UT aims to create staple garments that merge quality, functionality, and brand identity with its own uniqueness of once again being beautifully crude.

“monochromatic tones that would be an easy staple garment addition to anyone’s closet.”

 

For the winter season UT offers an oversized chunky scarf and toque designed by brand owner and sole designer Mathias Dowers. The chunky crochet accessories are crafted by hand in collaboration with a local black business. The designs feature black wool with grey gradient accents, which are monochromatic tones that would be an easy staple garment addition to anyone’s closet.

So don’t forget to stay undaunted! Especially through this current pandemic and afterwards.

Be sure to visit their website to purchase the collection, and be on top of future UT releases by following their Instagram.