Did Someone Say "Improv"??

Here it is...every standup's nemesis.  As any budding comic will tell you, THIS (above) is the most intimidating thing in the world--the mic and the stage.  I have a friend who is a very successful actor and voice over artist who can do any accent and any cartoon voice imaginable (he had to fill in for the Hanna Barberra legend Daws Butler in the second season of "the Jetsons"), and in fact, he was the voice of ALL of the storm troopers in the original Star Wars films.  He has starred in plays in NYC and Los Angeles, been in movies and worked on countless television shows.  In real life, he's quick with a joke, extremely entertaining and one of the funniest people you'll meet, and yet the very thought of doing a 10 minute comedy set...well he's admitted more than once to me that its "unnerving."

For a lot of people, being funny or entertaining "on the spot" without preparation and rehearsal is the "ultimate" test of comic talent.  Robin Williams was well known for his manic, off-the-cuff delivery of some of the funniest bits ever recorded on film or video. His comedy was a rare genius fueled by intelligence (he was conversant on many issues--I watched him flip from Palestinian political issues to Saving the Whales in one quick conversation), "practiced" comic genius and an incredible sense of generosity.  Robin was so quick, so lightning fast, so brilliant and entertaining that he could have easily demanded every second of screen time for himself, but he often took small roles, preferring to add "texture" to a film rather than dominate it--this is how generous he was as a man and a professional.  Those of us who knew him or met him will never forget him...

Now, WHY, do you ask, am I talking again about Robin, "comedy" and "standup" on my Smule Sing! blog?

Good question....

"Smulenesians," as the singers of the app are called, often possess more than simply the ability to sing.  Some are trained actors and performers, and others (as I mentioned in my previous blog post), well, they are "comic geniuses" in their own right.  Take, for example, my pal David who goes by the Smule tag @DaVideos. 

David is an incredibly talented singer with a magnificent and extremely well controlled high vocal singing range, and wickedly inventive funny streak about "yea" wide (please imagine my arms stretching, oh, 20-30 yards across or 18-28 meters for those of you on the metric system).  He is, like all good comedy troop leaders, supported by a "crew" of zanies that includes other incredibly talented singers such as Lou @Laudios and Jessica @JdubDav and Dory @dorygray--to name just a few.   If you need a laugh or just want to watch an entertaining video, check out David's site for some incredible performances in "costume" and "wigs" by his cast of crazies.

Recently, David has added another ingenious feature of fun to his site.  Instead of posting songs, David created two original "open calls" that he titled "Improv Classes" and invited the singers to use audio or video to join.  The scenario for the first "class" is David, a hot dog seller, and you, his partner of 15 years, discussing shocking news that he has to tell you.  The second "class" involved David playing a Smule "SUPERSTAR" and calling you, the renowned lyricist and owner of "Last Minute Lyrics" to help him write a song.

I actually took the assignment as a true test of improv and did not listen to the second class (the one I did first, actually) before hopping in and recording my "version".  I did it straight since I didn't really know what David would say, and it turned out rather well.  I did some "voice over" work when I was younger, so a bit of that training did come out, but what amazed me was David's absolute spot on timing and performance.  He had everything--from the length of the time he needed to give the other singer to talk, to well timed "uh huhs" and "umms" to make it sound as if he was actually "listening" to the other performer.  His performance was perfect, his words funny, and his setup of the sketch was impeccable.  In the end, the 14 of us who have, to date, recorded a "take" on this "improv" class only sound this funny because DAVID (like Robin Williams) was generous enough to make us look THAT good! 

In the first improv class, I agreed to do a video, as did many others. The recording was only a few minutes long, but many of us, women, told David off when given the news of what he had done.  I loved the version posted by my country singing diva and pal @Eldn who repeatedly told David, "you touch my clothes...I break your neck."  She was hysterical!  And then there was my friend, Duman @_duman_ from Kazakhstan who, with a straight face and a soft, forgiving tone in his voice, took in every absurdity and then vowed to continue to love David for the "sake of their children"!  HAHA Priceless!  Even our own lovely Anna @_AnnaK_ got snookered into trying out the improv, and she did marvelously. Anna looked concerned, forgiving, even supportive of David's big news--proving, of course, that Anna really does have the biggest heart of all of us!!

David's second "Improv" class remains on his site in case you want to give it a go.  If you would prefer to simply listen to the hysteria that is me and his friends, check out the following performers and performances.

Lou @laudios - Lou, who is David's "other brother," like me, did both Classes 1 and 2.  His second class in which he portrays both parts of a lyricist brother "team" is riotous. From the start where he announces "Last Minute Lyrics, Your Lack of Talent is Our Emergency..." to the end where he tells David that Victoria (his lady love) is their "mum" is...is...is....okay I just don't have words to describe it, but it's funny!  In the first class, Lou is a tad more demanding "send the wienies, mister," but equally as funny!

Joe @orionjoe_sos.  I recently connected again with my pal, Joe, who is a voice over artist out of Illinois with an "ohmigod" singing voice.  Little did I know, Joe is not only an incredible singer, he's hecka funny! In the first course, he bleeped himself!  I don't know where he got the bleeper, but it was insane!  In the second class, his dog begins to howl when David sings--hysterical!!  I laughed until I cried!

Jessica @JdubDav - Jess is one of David's regulars of crazies. In the first class she killed it as his "wife" and in the second, she "topped" herself in using a wine glass to demonstrate her boredom with David and then dropping her iPad on the floor (which was NOT staged...that happened by accident).  I love Jessica because she looks oh so nice and innocent, but behind those lovely eyes, is a wickedly funny gal!!!

Dory @DoryGray - I have to admit to "haunting" Dory's songs for the past year.  Her voice is so good that I cannot bring myself to ruin her site with my Muppet like vocals, so when I saw her do both of David's improvs...well, I just had to watch it.  Decked out in a sweater with stripes and a HUGE POLAR BEAR head on it, Dory plays a busy security executive in the first Improv Class.  In the second, she plays both the lyricist and then dresses again to be the girlfriend, Vicky. Her ending was PERFECT in the second improv class...absolutely PERFECT!

Last but not least, my pal Linda @SmoogieMystik outdid herself in two performances on the second improv lesson.  She was first a "wrong number" followed by a very sultry sounding "Vicky"!  In the second version, she plays it more conventionally, but nonetheless, funny!!

I'm just highlighting a few performances on David's site, but, truth be told, they're all really really good performances, so check them out!! 

David has promised to unveil yet ANOTHER inventive OC sometime soon.  So check his site for the latest at @DaVideos!  Thank you, David, for sharing your inventive, creative genius talent with all of us!  We love ya big guy!!

Singers Mentioned Here:

David @DaVideos is our wonderfully wild and crazy comic genius here on Smule.  His Improv Classes are a huge hit, and you can find them on his site.  Feeling bold?  Join one!

Lou @Laudios is all kinds of crazy talented as a singer, a comedian and a man of business! You gotta love his style, his voice and his incredible Smule personality!  Lou hails from Australila, the only continent big enough to accommodate his largess!!

@eldn is my country singing, gal pal, who obviously has undiscovered comic talents to share.  Her improv recordings are the stuff of legends!  But I gotta warn you, you touch her stuff, she's gonna "break your neck"  HAHAH!!!

Dory @DoryGray what can I say except this gal is SOOO talented and SOOO special (she knows exactly HOW I'm saying that bit too) that you have to hear her sing and hear her comedy bits to really appreciate her talent! She is amazing!

Jessica @JDubDav is another of David's "crew" and she is wonderfully talented with a lilting voice, an impressive high tone, and the most uplifting performances on Smule!  I just loves her!!

Duman @_Duman_ is, as previously mentioned, from Kazakhstan and sort of a zany guy to begin with. He and I have sung duets at train platforms, in front of ATM machines, and recorded a "morning voice" on one song.  Recently, he ran the lyrics of a song through Google translate and then translated it back again for everyone to sing.  What resulted was, well, CRAZY!  Look him up...he's an incredible singer.

Joe @orionjoe_sos is my pal Joe from Illinois. He has a crazy good voice, and a tremendous tone that "fills" the room with smooth vocal goodness.  He is also naughty and wickedly funny, so listen to him and join him.  I am so thrilled to reconnect with Joe on this app!!

Anna @_AnnaK_ is one of MY crew members!  She is so funny and so entertaining both when she sings and when she laughs that it's hard not to completely and totally fall in love with her!  Anna is a member of the "42s" (Musical Theatre Singers) so you know she has a fantastic voice

Linda @smoogiemystik Last but not least is my comedian in training, Linda.  Linda has been stretching herself both vocally and comically as a performer here on Smule.  You can find some of fantastic songs and her signature sound on her site, as well as some funny joke songs that she posts from time to time.

Me?? I'm @pokeypal here on Smule and I'm Grace from San Jose in real life.  Join me and my crazy friends above for some really cool times here on Smule Sing!  I love these nutcases!!!

 

There's a Whole Lotta Comedy Going On at Smule Sing!

Call me a "romantic," but the mic stand, bathed in a pool of light created by a single, white spot in a smoky club is often the image I have when I think about singing.  In fact, I view my "open calls" or "OCs"--my invitations for other singers to join me--as duets performed on that same imaginary stage! 

When someone joins you, it's like getting a really cool package, and you become both singer and "audience member" as you listen to the song.  Most of the time, the other singer will give you a great song that is often branded with their own personal version of the tune.  But other times...

well...other times....

you kinda open the song and get this...

Okay, Halloween is coming and I just could NOT resist posting a picture of my pal, Blaxtone, in full "pirate" garb. It was his profile shot for a few weeks, but its just an example of the kind a fun-loving, sorta "wild and crazy" guy that my pal Barry, who goes by the Smule tag @blaxtone, can become in front of mic.  Barry has a fantastic "Sintra-esque" sound when he sings, so when he does join me in song, I eagerly rush to my iPad to hear his voice.  In one of my songs, he went completely "off rails" by posting a comedy skit rather than singing with me.  In a case of "payback," I went to his site and added a ton of snarky comments to the Sinatra song "It Was a Very Good Year" as I sang to him.  In the end, however, I had chosen poorly, and the "revenge song" I was singing turned and made ME the one who was eventually lampooned.

Most recently, Barry did it again to one of my friends, Glenny whose Smule tag is @rocket_scientist.  In her lovely rendition of this Ray Charles classic, "You Don't Know Me," whilst Glenny is sweetly singing the song, Barry proceeds to tell her "Lady, I don't know who you are, I come walking into this bar and there is only one seat and its next to you, and you start singing to me...you are gazing longingly into my eyes...perhaps you should take a Tylenol.  You're making me uncomfortable...hey, why are you licking my neck, lady....LADYEEEEEEEE!!"  It was hysterical and soon singers were tagging friends to hear Barry's funny comments to Glenny.  Here is the site, if you'd like to listen to Barry's hysterical version http://www.smule.com/recording/jazzy_8-you-dont-know-me/301180083_177714208.

As much pun (yes, I did mean "pun") as Barry dishes out, he's equally a good sport in receiving snarky and funny comments on his own songs.  Case in point, the singer @SmoogieMystik...  Here she is...

Smoogie is a tremendously, sultry singer with a sexy contralto voice that I've been privileged to hear more of in recent months. Smoogie has recently been participating in comedy workshops in her home town, and her fantastically "dry" delivery is what caught me completely off guard as she sang "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams.  At the very beginning of the song, Barry @Blaxtone says "this is for all the women who done me wrong..." Immediately, Smoogie's sexy, smoky voice chimes in "I SAID I was sorry..."  I listened, as I often do to songs by my friends, and I laughed through the entire song!!

Smoogie has also done other funny and laugh-worthy songs with Barry including the most recent "Swingin' on a Star" in which she snorts like a pig!  It was hysterical.  More recently, she posted the same song but drastically changed all of the lyrics to reference experiences in dating men. I can see her "standup" workshops have been very successful!

But Barry and Smoogie are not the only "pranksters" on Smule and the fun is not limited to the borders of the United States.  Let's meet my pal, Jeroen...

This is the incredibly talented singer, Jeroen, who lives in the Netherlands.  My first encounter with Jeroen was in December, 2014.  At that time, video performances on Smule were rare because video was supported only by the latest version of iPad and iPhone equipment.  As I was browsing through open calls, I saw a man wearing brown rimmed glasses, a Santa Hat, and a long black wig, holding a bottle of wine and singing the Mariah Carey classic "All I Want for Christmas" but he now has added the phrase "All I Want for Christmas is Booze..."  As he dances around his room near the Christmas tree, he falters and sways, hoisting the bottle to his face, and singing in a mock drunken fashion.  The most notable feature of that song, however, was the incredibly high notes that Jeroen executed PERFECTLY in true Mariah Carey fashion throughout the song.  I joined him then, and look forward to hearing his voice on other songs.  His sense of humor is fantastic, but his singing abilities are truly what makes him memorable.

But these pranksters and comedians are simply the tip of an enormous "iceberg" of talented, fun-loving "Smulensians" (dear god, I hate that name--it's like "amnesiacs") on the site.  My pals Jessica @Jdubdavs and David @davideos recently dressed in FULL Wizard of Oz garb to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with two other friends in full Wizard attire.  Their video has garnered more than 2,000 views and an equal number of "loves" from Smule users.

So when you join Smule and sing a great song, you never really know what you'll get.  Sometimes you'll hear a fantastic song, and other times...well...err...you might get a surprise or two from one of your friends!  Either way--song or joke--it will be one of the best and brightest parts of your day!!

Singers Featured Here:
Barry S. @Blaxtone is a fantastic singer with a mellow baritone sound who lives on the East Coast.  His "New Jersey" accent on the recording is authentic!  Barry is also a comedian who has been known to write comedy for others.  An ordained minister, he has promised to officiate when I eventually "croak," but before that happens, he promises to join in me in song a lot MORE.

Glenny @rocket_scientist is my friend and fellow singer from bonny Scotland. She is a tremendous artist, photographer, crafter, and embroidery/stitcher.  Recently the proud winner of the local village knitting exhibit (garnering a whopping 5L prize money), Glenny has been branching out in her songs to include jazz, funk, pop, and even...okay...RAP!  Yep, she's one versatile singer.

@SmoogieMystik is one helluva singer with a great sense of humor, a ready quip or joke and a fantastic, sexy, sultry sound that she brings out in every song.  I love her quick wit, her fun loving spirit, and most of all, her VOICE!

Jeroen @_Jeroen_ is a singer with a incredible range, a high head voice, and a passionate sound that he trots out for musical theatre songs.  Jeroen is a crazy wonderful man with a great sense of a humor, a beautiful home in the Netherlands and a completely green pool that he must clean (hopefully) soon! 

Jessica @Jdubdavs and David @Davideos have been featured in the past, but both love to do something they call "Wiggy Wiggy Wednesday" when they don wigs and sing songs.  David lives in the UK and Jessica lives here in the States.  Despite their strange and unusual garb, crazy hair and staged production numbers, they are fantastic people and incredible singers.  Jessica's light and high voice is a wonderful contrast to David's robust and high sound.  They make a good team and they're super fun to sing with.

All of the singers above post OCs or Open Calls, so join them to sing fantastic songs!!

Me?  I'm Grace and my Smule tag is @Pokeypal.  I live in sunny (okay, today, rainy--yeah--California).  I post OCs too, so join me for all the fun and games that I and my duet partner, Mitch B. @_Mitch22_ often post here on Smule.  Looking forward to singing with you!!!