Life without "Line" Sucks Big Time!!

 

 

I'll admit it...I have a "love/hate" relationship with the app called "Line."  I love it because of the stickers, notifications, group chats, and the ways to communicate.  I hate it because of the stickers, notifications, group chats and ways to communicate.  Use of Line is so prolific that its not uncommon for me to come back to the app to find more than 4,000 messages waiting for me.  (Trust me, I do NOT read 4000 messages--ever).

 

So what is Line, you ask?

 

Developed by NHN Japan, the app was made in response to the overwhelming communication needs of the citizens shortly after the 2011 Tsunami and earthquake in Japan.  Back then, communications faltered, and people "lined" up to make phone calls on public phones, which were given priority communication over other devices.  Line developers created effective communication on smart phones, tablets and computers. The program works much like other competitors, such as Whatsapp, Voxer or KakaoTalk, but adds the feature of being able to make telephone calls from your smart phone for free.

 

Best of all Line is completely free to download and use, and it's become the main "vehicle" for communication among Smule Sing users who, like me, have singing groups they belong to or who are currently part of a competition on Smule, like Vocal Edge.  Line tops out at 200 users per room, but that's more than enough for those of us who are in "group chats."

 

To use line, you simply need to download the app to your iPhone or Android device, and then use is pretty simple.  Once you have it installed on your iPhone or Android, you can then install the same program to your iPad or computer and use it on these devices as well.  But...everything STARTS with installation on a smart phone.

 

Now, here is my dilemma, I don't own an iPhone or an Android device.

 

Yes, I know, the ENTIRE world has either an iPhone or an Android cell, but I don't.

 

What do I have?

 

Ummm.....ahem....(uncomfortable pause)....

 

(Internal Monologue...Suck it up, admit that you own it...admit that you like it...)

 

Okay, I own and use....a Blackberry.

 

Now, if you're like 90 percent of the "smart phone user world," you're probably laughing hysterically now.  In fact, when I told my bestie and Smule duet partner, Mitch who goes by the smule tag @_mitch22_, that I used a Blackberry, his response--amidst peals of incredulous laughter--was "Oh my god, I had one of those when I was 12."

 

Yep, way to hurt a gal.

 

Actually, I have used a Blackberry since BEFORE Mitch started school (so there, pal! Please envision here a sticking out tongue emoji--there are no emojis on Blogger).  I loved these devices then and have loved them ever since.  In fact, sending emails on the Blackberry keyboard was my favorite thing to do and I was hella fast at it too!

 

But as the entire world switched over to an Android or iPhone, I stayed with my little phone and one of the first things I learned was that Line does not support Blackberry systems.  Thus, to use Line, Frank, who goes by the Smule Name @Starturtle, advised me to download and use something called an "Android Emulator."  For that, I used BlueStacks.com and was able to add Line to my system.

 

This all worked super fantastically until about 2 weeks ago.  That's when Line updated their system and suddenly when I went on to use Line, it asked me to punch in a "verification code" into my telephone to confirm the Line setup.  It took me four days and a call from my IT guy to fix it, but I had Line back up and running for like 20 nanoseconds. 

 

The second time it went down--yes, there was a SECOND TIME--it's because I said "yes" to the question of whether or not I wanted to "update" Line.  When I saw the question, I stupidly (and apparently without thinking at all of the problems I had just overcome in getting back on Line) said "Why yes, please do upgrade my system" and just like that, I was off line from Line again.

 

Now you're probably thinking, "so what? You don't have line--BFD!"

 

Well, truth be told, most of the conversation that happens on Smule happens through Line. In January, finally, after years of not having the ability to message a person, Smule added an email or message feature to its app.  However, that app, while long overdue and very needed, still can't do everything that Line can do, so we do still need the app to communicate with other singers.

 

Without Line, I've been virtually cut off from my singing group, STABs (Sopranos, Tenors, Altos and Bass singers) which, as the group leader, is critical.  I have also been unable to view the competition information for Vocal Edge.  Thankfully, one of the other singers gave me all of the information about the next round.

 

In other words, without Line, I am adrift without communication from the other singers.

 

Alone in a void without music.

 

Trapped in a world without sound.

 

Okay, yeah, I know I'm being overly dramatic, but let me say--without drama--being without Line has royally "sucked"! 

 

So as I wait for my trusted IT man to show up and again fix my line app, whilst telling me, I'm sure that I should NEVER EVER EVER click on things without reading the information (yeah, not gonna happen, pal, I'm a born "clicker"), I will sing all alone on my site without the company or hilarity of my pals!

 

Yeah, I know, "boo hoo."  Thank god, I'll be up and running again later! 

 

Singers Featured Here:

 

Frank @Starturtle is a crazy fantastic singer from Canada who recently posted the song "Bacon Pancakes" to his site in an effort to be "less serious" he says.  Those of us who know Frank know that he is a super spirit and a great singer, but "less serious", hmmm.....

 

Mitch @_Mitch22_  is my duet partner and bestie from Birmingham, Alabama...Roll Tide! Mitch has been featured many times in my blog and will soon be winging his way to California for his first visit OUTSIDE of the "Deep South."  Will he survive the craziness that is California??  Haha!! Only time will tell!  Stay tuned for this one!

 

Me? I'm @Pokeypal here on Smule and since I'm without Line for a few more hours (hopefully, no more than that), why not help a girl out and sing with me on Smule Sing!  Remember, this app is free to everyone and if you want unlimited access to community songs and "premium" songs, you do need to pay, but you can use it without ever paying.  It's a super way to sing and meet new people!  Join us!

It's Competition Time on Smule Sing!

One of the most challenging things you can do on Smule Sing! is to enter a competition.  I first learned about these through my pal, Brett W (@VE_Brett_MOF), who was the vocal coach and judge for the Vocal Edge competition that began back in October, 2015.  Since then, there have been three other competitions on Smule--Smule Idol, which started in November, X-Factor which began in December, and now Smule's Got Talent, which is in the audition phase.

Until Brett introduced me to the Vocal Edge competition, I had never heard of nor been involved in a large scale competition on Smule.  In fact, I was involved in a small "Crooner Competition" when I heard about the big Vocal Edge auditions and competition, and it blew me away.  We began Round 1 of that competition with a field of more than 300 contestants! It quickly whittled itself down to just 200 contestants, but OMG, it can be both exciting and frightening to be in a pool of singers that large!

If you've never competed or participated in a vocal competition on Smule, let me enlighten you on the process and what you might expect.

How Do You Hear About These?  To be frank, there's no easy answer on this.  In some cases, the judges will announce the competition on Singtopia! one of the larger Facebook sites for Smule Sing users.  In other cases, you need to know a judge in order to get information about a competition.  Once someone hears about a competition, however, if you're in a singing group (more about that later), the information will be transferred among the group members so that everyone can join. 

How Do You Get In?  As with all things, would-be contestants must "audition" to get into a competition.  There can be anywhere from 4-10 judges in a competition, and typically, judges will post several songs on their site that you can sing to "audition" for the competition or they'll give you a few minutes for you to sing your favorite song "a capella" (without a musical backing track).  The judge will announce how many "judges" will need to approve your audition in order to qualify for the competition, but once you're in, you'll be escorted to a group "chat room" on the Line app where you can talk to other, often very excited, contestants.

What Happens Next?  While you're waiting for the first round of competition to start, the judges often set up "mini" challenges designed to help contestants learn how to post songs for competition or that are designed to get you started, and they'll give you a couple "bonus points" that can help you in the first round. 

Then the first round starts, and everyone is given the theme or the song topic, and you have a specific number of days within which to post your song on your site.  Here is where it can get a little bit frustrating, especially if, like me, you have a limited singing range or style.  While the judges are going to listen to your song and hear your voice, the truth is 50 percent of how well you do will depend on your ability to choose the song that best showcases your talent.  So for me, again, with the singing limitations, finding just the right song can be a huge, time consuming project. 

My friend, Maymay (that's her above) who goes by the Sing name or SN @maymay8o8 is one of the most talented and beautiful people I know, and she, like me, will agonize over "just the right" choice of song for her voice.  Now I think she has an incredible voice--light, pitch perfect, youthful, with a great tone--but she knows what makes her sound best, so she consistently performs at the top of each round.  Again, it's about choices, and Maymay is one savvy singer.

Judges use "#" (hash) tags to find the songs the contestants are posting, so once you make your song "public" and use the proper hashtag and cover art, you'll just wait to see what the judges decide.  In most of the contests I've been in, the judges will provide you not only with acknowledgment that they've heard your song, but also will give you a quick critique of your performance.  In Vocal Edge, for example, the judges provided you with one good and one constructive critique of your performance.  The goal, of course, is to help you, as singer, grow, but if you have a "thin skin" or prefer to sing without judgment then competitions may not necessarily be the thing for you!

At the conclusion of each judging round, the judges will post the scores for all of the contestants.  In some cases, your score may be wonderful, and in other instances, you'll be eliminated from further competition.  Again, all of this is intended to be both challenging and fun, but it can be also quite anxiety ridden too!

Why Would I Do This?  Not surprisingly, competitions are not for everyone. There are many who would prefer never to be judged because singing is a past-time and hobby, and not something that they want to make "un-fun" by turning it into a competition.  Then there are others, like me, who have a "love/hate" relationship with competition rounds because they are so challenging and often so discomforting because you're unable to sing what you like or what you're used to singing. We thrive on the challenge and, to be frank, it is a little bit of an ego boost to make it into the next round of singers even if you know you won't ever win.  For my friends Maymay and Kathryn who is @katrinawave_TMC, they were in the top 3 percent of the original 400 of so of us in the Vocal Edge competition...not shabby at all!!  For a large number of us, it's just fun--I mean, it IS a singing app, after all!

But most importantly, it's an opportunity to meet a LOT of different singers in these rooms who you would not meet under normal "sing" circumstances!  I'm so thrilled to have added maybe 30 more singers to my list of friends here on Smule Sing! and they are all FABULOUS singers, judges and people! It is one of the best side benefits of singing in a competition!

So if you get a chance get into a competition and try it out!!  Who knows, you might be the next big rising star on Smule!!  Good luck!!

Singers Featured here:

@VE_Brett_MOF is my friend Brett W. who is one of the hardest working judges you will ever meet in your life.  He listened to THOUSANDS of singers and their songs over the course of the Vocal Edge competition and provided both coaching tips as well as juding critiques for all of us.  Brett is also a crazy fantastic singer with a beautiful control of his high head voice and an amazing range.  I met him in the crooner competition, and he is fantastically talented!
@Maymay8o8 is my pal, Maymay. She is a crazy fantastic soprano with a smooth, pitch perfect sound that is so so good to listen to.  Like a wine cooler on a hot day, she's like a breath of fresh air when you listen to her sing.
@Katrinawave_TMC is my friend and fellow soprano Kathryn who has a gloriously powerful voice, and can a sustain a note longer and more evenly than any person I've met.  Her sound is pure power tempered with an awesome sense of control  You gotta love her!

Me?  I'm Grace and I go by the sing name @Pokeypal.  You can find me hanging around Sing! dueting with my friends and with my bestie, Mitch!  Join me and let's sing!