one of my favorite Japanese singers, Ayumi Hamasaki had gone half deaf (only in her left ear) according in the newspaper. she wrote in her blog that her left ear doesn't work anymore and that she is suffering from tinnitus which involves a ringing in the ear that can be caused by constant exposure to sound.
still, she said she won't stop making singing and she would continue until she reach her limit with her remaining right ear. that's Ayumi Hamasaki for you! ^__^
but what if a singer had gone totally deaf? do you think she or he will still be able to sing and make good music?
[question posted by secretbear]
responses and comments:
I don't know that a totally deaf person could sing. How would he/she modulate the voice. It might be able to be done, only a deaf person could tell you for sure, probably. Part of modulation is being able to hear yourself. Now, I have seen comics talking on stage telling their jokes and their voice has that deaf sound, where they can't hear themselves... so I just don't know. [OreoCookie3]
i don't have any idea too. ^__^;; good thing Ayumi is only half-deaf. she can still use her right ear. [secretbear]
I think she can still sing as long as the other ear can hear fine... i remember one of the contestants of American Idol who ranked third during that particular season is also deaf in one ear... but he has one of the best voice and i think his current album is doing very good... i just can't remember his name... the winner during his time was Taylor Hicks... [aseretdd]
i have heard their names. i just didn't know that elliot yammin was half-deaf?? and he is such a good singer? wow. that's amazing. then, i would believe that Ayumi would be fine just like before. ^__^ [secretbear]
If the person has learned how each note feels when they hit it, then they will be able to sing. A large part of singing is listening, but if they have learned to listen with their whole body, as opposed to just their ears, they should be able to sing. [drknlvly6781]
oh sorry for that mistake. i'm not really knowledgeable with the this and that of singing. ^__^;; [secretbear]
I imagine it would be a lot harder...I'm not sure how they could if they were completely deaf. I know Pete Townshend of The Who is almost completely deaf but he still writes and performs. [brimia]
i have heard of The Who band but i didn't know they had a member who is almost deaf! that's just amazing! [secretbear]
I figure if a blind guy can play the piano then a deaf person should still be able to sing. It would probably be odd for someone just starting out but in Ayu's case she's been doing it for years already so I don't think it'd be as trying for her. [Arkadus]
hi arkadus! ^__^ yeah, Ayu is a very good singer. i also think she won't be stopped just by something like that. [secretbear]
That's a very good question....you'll have to let us know if she can still preform like she used to! [jillhill]
sure jill. i'll post again something if she has a new album. ^__^ [secretbear]
I beleive they or she can still sing, I remember that our local news have featured some deaf/mute who has developed a way to sing. I'm not sure what organization or school it was, but I have seen them and they can put out good music. I think you can find some of them on youtube, like PAD (Philippine Association of Deaf choir) and other groups.. [raijin]
i didn't know something like that exists in our country! that's really interesting raijin. ^__^ [secretbear]
Hello dear secret bear friend. Well, I think that even if she is deaf completely, she is still able to sing based on her own rhythm. Have you thought about Beethoven (Ludwig van, 1770-1827, German composer, the greatest composer of his day? He began to lose his hearing in 1801 and was deaf by 1819. Yet, he was so great in making music of his own and you know, many of his pieces have been so great and people always remember him as a greatest musician. So I think that your favorite Japanese singer would still be able to sing without the band so long as she is still able to speak by then. Thanks very much for your discussion, dear friend. Good day. [williamjisir]
Hehe, that sounds reasonable though, my secret bear. [williamjisir]
Hi secretbear, I don't think a person who is born with both ears deaf will be able to sing as he could never hear any sound since born. He could only utter sound as he wish. Those who are not born to be deaf and suffered deafness later will be able to sing as he had heard songs before. For those who have an ear deaf will definitely be able to sing. As I know some singers have this ear defect. [lkbooi]
that's a very good point ikbooi. ^__^ very true. those that can hear before are already familiar with notes and tones so even if that person goes deaf, she can remember the notes and tones and sing them. ^__^ [secretbear]
Of course. Even though they wont be able to hear the song whe they sing, they can hear it from they're mind. How they hear it may be slightly different from how everyone will but it would be pretty much be the same. Beethoven have also gone deaf but that did not stop him to compose music. even though he was totally deaf, he is able to hear how the piano soulds based on the vibrations of th strings. [gkurt08]
but if you can hear the song in your mind, and you try to sing it, you wouldn't know if you're singing it right because you can't hear your own voice right?? [secretbear]
though it is tricky but still i think they can with their strong will to make music as music is abt beats which can be felt or seen so it may need high imagination but extraordianry can do for sure. [aissha]
yeah. there are people who's passion is really for singing so i think so too that their strong will will help them in that kind of situation. ^__^ [secretbear]
what a wonderful question you post. I also wonder how would it be like to if one is totally deaf. In my opinion, maybe she could still sing, even if she is totally deaf, so long as she could speak and still remember the lyrics of the songs that she knows. and it would not be impossible for her to achieve to continue her career if she has the interest and motivation of doing so. Nothing is impossible. Just a blind could play a piano and type a lesson and a mute can communicate with other people. Really a wonderful topic to discuss [honeylore23]
thanks. i'm glad you think this is a wonderful topic. somehow that line "nothing is impossible" is hard to believe. ^__^;; but in this case, when a person's passion and purpose in life is singing, then she will sing forever even if he goes deaf. [secretbear]
YES,I think she will sing more better than before,because belief is more important than anythingelse at any time,if we can dream, and try our best to do it,we are going to become it realization... [liu197672]
if we do our best then our goal will be realized. yeah i believe in that. ^__^ [secretbear]
Beethoven was deaf and one of the best composers. If you are deaf because of a eardrum/outer ear problem you can still hear yourself sing. And for someone who is a singer and then goes deaf he may still have the skills to sing even if he cant hear. [pitstop]
i think the skill doesn't get lost if always practiced. the problem is how can a singer practice if she can't hear herself clearly? [secretbear]
she can still sing (lol, parang i'm stating it as a fact ano). seriously, i believe a singers mind has already familiarize how a note should sound. she can always hear the notes in her head, or imagine how they sounded. but i think it's a whole lot different and difficult. you can't take anyone's passion. passion drives lives. :) [jdpartosa]
naks. passion drives lives. from what book did you get that jd? ^__^ well, i guess if the singer has had long years of experience singing, there'll be no doubt that she knows all the notes in her head without actually hearing it. but the question is, will she sing those notes correctly?? [secretbear]
i do not think a deaf person can sing. one must hear his/her own voice to sing. How a deaf person can sing then? Still i like her attitude taht she is trying her best to continue singing. i like it. [subha12]
yeah. Ayu is a passionate singer. a problem like that won't stop her. ^__^ [secretbear]
No I don't think a singer who has gone deaf will be able to continue singing like a normal singer. S/he would be able to sing by seeing the notes and through her experience, but after sometime, as gradually she can no longer hear her own voice, her confidence will start faltering and a time will come when she will not be able to perform in front of others. She would not know what she is singing and whether her voice is being able to follow the subtle nuances of the notes. She may of course hum to herself. [sudiptacallingu]
awww.. that is just so bad sudipta. i wouldn't want to imagine that to happen to Ayu. she is such a good singer. it will be devastating for her if she wouldn't be able to sing anymore. [secretbear]
Hi secretbear! I think with one ear she can do just fine, but a totally deaf singer is impossible. I've sang for some time and if you can't hear yourself (because of too much confusion for example) then errors in performing are the norm [RowenaTheWitch]
yeah, i've had an experience like that too. i'm not a singer and i'm not good at singing but i think its common sense to know that it is difficult to sing when you can't hear your own voice. ^__^;; [secretbear]
Well... if people can write songs on a piano when they are deaf, I'm sure there are people who can sing when they are deaf. [raychill]
isn't writing and singing two different matters?? [secretbear]
I think she could still sing and would be a wonderful inspiration to others. One of my favorite stories is about Fanny Cosby who wrote over 8,000 hymns - she was totally blind. A few of her hymns include All Glory Be Thine, As the Bird Flies Home, Be Thou Exalted, Bless This Hour of Prayer, Blessed Redeemer, Close to Thee, and Come to the Fountain. One of my favorite of all hymes is one of hers Blessed Assurance. I think people with handicaps such as blindness or deafness and achieve greatness in spite of their handicaps. [byfaithonly]
Ayu is already an inspiration to many. but you're right, she would be and inspiration for more people if she overcome that handicapped. [secretbear]
Back in the 1950's there was a singer by the name of Johnny Ray in the US. Can't remember if he was hard of hearing before he began to sing or if it happened after his career took off. He made several top hits and continued to sing even as he began to age. Toward the end of his career, I don't believe he could hear at all but am not certain about that information. [carolbee]
wow. if he indeed gone deaf and continued making great music, then he's probably a legend. ^__^ [secretbear]
i dont think it is possible [sahermann]
yeah, you've got a point. [secretbear]
Oh, my...I'm sorry to hear of Ayumi Hamasaki's problem... I know her songs from the anime Inyasha, and I like her songs very much... [stvasile]
hi stvasile. i'm happy to hear that you know her. ^__^ [secretbear]
A famous musician was like her: Ludwig Van Beethoven so you see it doesn't prevent talent :) [makemoneywithadsense]
beethoven was a composer and ayu is a singer. there's a difference. ^__^ [secretbear]
I am so sorry to hear about Ayumi Hamasaki. I think as long as she can hear her own voice, she should be able to sing.I guess the best way to see is, if you can sing, plug one of your ears with your finger and sing.That is how she will hear her voice. [sarahruthbeth22]
i tried it. it even amplifies my voice. i thought you were saying if both ears were damaged it would still work that way. [secretbear]
Hi bear, I think one can sing when still deaf. The reason being the sense of rhythm and pitch never dies, even if he cannot hear. In most cases these are inborn and I see no reason for not being able to sing. I could be wrong though. Thanks. A very interesting discussion. [mimpi1911]
hi mimpi! thanks for your input. i don't know about the rhythm and pitch but i'm sure that ayu is born with the talent to sing. ^__^ [secretbear]
Ayumi Hamasaki is deaf in 1 ear?!? I dinno that and it's surprising!! But still she managed to sing and bring the best songs to us ^_^ Even deaf in 1 ear, i admire her courage and determination, to carry on as a singer.. hehe.. BUt singing with only 1 ear, is not an easy feat and i really admire her for that.. BUt when both ears are deaf, it will bw hard or nearly impossible to sing because he/she cant even hear the melody unless the person put in very hard work by using lip reading ^_^ [kun2349]
yeah ^_^ I saw it when i respond to your other post ^_^ hehe.. Good for u ^_^ [kun2349]
Aw, I've heard about it and it made me so sad. First Hikki's problems with voice and now Ayu. Well, she's been fighting with this since 2001 but she lost:/ In my opinon a singer that can hear can't be good. Because of many reasons i.e. she can't hear if she starts singing in the right moment and while singing live the can be always those small tempo changes and such plus she couldn't truely feel the aoudience who always tend to sing along and chear for the vocalist. ;_; It's so sad, I don't wan't Ayimi Hamasaki to become deaf;_; [Pompon]
yeah. it just seems so impossible because singing is not just voice coming out but sounds coming in. its really sad if we put it that way. but I'm glad that its only one ear that Ayu has a problem. she still has her other ear. I hope her singing will be the same with only just one ear. by the way, who is Hikki? I am sure I have heard this name before but I just can't pinpoint exactly where. [secretbear]
I'm interested in knowing more about Ayumi Hamasaki. What are some of her songs? Do you have a link page that I can look up her works? I think with half deaf, she would still be able to sing. Especially with great talent and much determination, it should not deter her but actually make her achieve more to greater heights because of the additional passion she'll be putting into it, singing. If one had been born deaf/mute, that could be a different story. Beethoven had an impairment also in the course of his career. Yet, he managed to come up with amazing compositions. What he may have lacked, he made up for it, in making the extra effort. [MariaD]
I don't have a link to her page but some of her songs are from the anime Inu-yasha. that's where I first came to know her and liked her. I think so too. she'll be fine with one ear. she's a passionate singer and she'll definitely wouldn'tbe stopped just by that impairment. it'll be a total lost if she would give up so easily. [secretbear]
I dont think that he will be able to sing properly as he will not be able to catch up with the music running if he or she makes a wrong move in the song.And he will not be able to match the tune with which the song is sung. [great_cena]
that's true I guess for totally deaf people. [secretbear]
Yes, I believe that a singer can keep on singing if they go deaf. It would be more of a challenge for them, I'm sure, but they have heard before so I think they could still do it. But I'm sure a lot of them would give up and feel sorry for themselves. I know how this singer feels because I have tinnitus in both my ears and it can drive a person mad, literally. I never get any relief from the ringing. I can touch my face and make different tones of ringing. It is frustrating and it is so hard to sleep. There is nothing the doctors can do for it except cut the nerves to your ear drums and then I would be completely deaf. I'm telling you, at times I think about doing it. [chrislotz]
hi christlotz! your situation seems really bad. i don't know anyone with that kind of ear problem but i do know someone with vertigo. but that's completely different right? i think you shouldn't let the doctors cut your nerves in the ear drums, its better to hear something like a ringing than to be deaf right? [secretbear]
i see no reason why not. I assume the person had hearing when they learnt to ding? therefore it is unlikely to impact upon it now blessed be [ESKARENA1]
of course there will be a difference if the other ear is impaired. you can just try it, like cover your other hear and you hearing will be different. ^__^ [secretbear]
How tragic! She's a lovely singer. (Bleh, I too have minor tinnitus, but I never really did sing very well anyway, and probably couldn't have anyway, even if I didn't have it haha... but I do play several instruments, albeit not very well) I think it might be possible for a singer to sing without hearing, but I think it would be difficult and the ability would probably deteriorate with time. Then again, I really do not know for sure. [Ariander]
its really tragic. i hope her other ear would function perfectly well. ^__^ wow. you can play instruments? what kind? [secretbear]
Whenever I read this it actually made me think back a couple of years and I remember a singer who actually went deaf...they went to bed being able to hear and then the next morning they just got up and couldnt hear anything and they really did freak out because they thought that their singing career was over and that scared them...but if i am thinking right they have went back into the studio since then and have put out cds and they can sing just like they always did...so to answer your question yes i think they can! [jhl930]
who's singer was that? and maybe they didn't really had any problems like ayu. maybe they just imagined that they were deaf. ^__^;; [secretbear]
It is really hard to tell so I am merely guessing. I believe that assuming to being deaf that person has sung already, then that person can surely sing. The problem most likely will be is if he or she is singing it right since she won't be able to hear the sound of his or her voice. If assuming that she was born deaf, then it is very hard to start with. First and foremost, she cannot hear the sound and she has no idea how to speak properly more so in singing. But I believe there are deaf people who can do this. Man per say can always adopt to things and quite many have excelled despite their physical ability. So there is a big possibility that the subject person you are talking about may be able to accomplish the task. I would be very interested to know the outcome of Ayumi, so if you could kindly update us later on. [jpso138]
i heard she had launched a new album. ^__^ that's ayu for you. [secretbear]
I am so sorry about that. But fortunately she has right ear. I think singing has no problem, while singing well is more difficult for her anymore. [sprout]
hi sprout! ^__^ i hope singing won't be too difficult for her now that she only has one good ear. [secretbear]
I feel this is possible. Coz when any sense organ fails the other 4 starts getting more developed. I have read an article in which the blind lady takes photos of the all the things around her. How ?? She can hear even the smallest sound made around her.. SOmething that is not natural.. but its there. [RedCore]
wow. a blind person taking pictures?? that's interesting. i also heard that blind persons have strong senses. [secretbear]
I have never thought of that. I honestly don't know the answers. A deaf person such as Beethoven was able to be a genius at composing and playing, because he could feel the pulses and beats to his music through his piano. He cut the legs off of his piano so he could feel the vibrations in the floor. He ended up writing many of his greatest pieces, so anything is possible. However, I don't know if someone who sings can continue without the ability to hear. Interesting. [mamasan34]
hi mamasan! ^__^ that's a really interesting story about Beethoven. i have never heard that before. that was a really creative way of conquering his impairment. [secretbear]
hi, secretbear. Beethoven back then was totally deaf when he was old. but he still composed his music. I think Ayumi will still be able to sing with one ear remaining. with her strong character, I believe she will continue until the last moment of her remaining right ear's ability. so ... let's pray for the best for her. I hope her right ear will remain working for her forever. I still want to hear her singing. :( [bongkarpasang]
hi bongkarpasang! i sure do pray that she will still be singing until forever. she's such a great artist. ^__^ [secretbear]
i am deaf, i did wrote some song of my very own and pass to hearing singer they can singer for me i am sure deaf can do that !! [DEAFWORLD]
really? you're deaf? how do you write a song? do you only do the lyrics or the melody too? [secretbear]
yeah i heard it too, it is quite sad that Ayu-chan lost her left ear (hearing) however indeed that she stated that she will continue singing even if such thing like this had happened to her. Im very touched because it only means that she doesnt want to disappoint her fans. shes really a professional singer. I think even if she lost one of her hearing capability, she still can produce beautiful songs, its in her personality that she wants to continue the things that she enjoy not only for her self but also for those who appreciates her music. [kawaiijamichan]
its really hard to let down people who appreciates and enjoys your talent. and I bet Ayu very much thinks like that and she jut loves to sing that's why she felt she can't stop. [secretbear]
I think it was Mozart who was deaf from childhood it did not stop him making music. What many of the deaf singers do is to get the vibes from the speaker box or what is coming through the floor. They may not be able to hear it but they feel it. [hiccup]
yeah, true blue musicians not only hear the music but also feel it. ^__^ [secretbear]
of course anyone who is a singer can still make a song and sing it even if they gone deaf...just by using their ingenuity they can do it since its the thing they do before they become deaf...the harder one is if they were born deaf,i doubt it if they can sing since they dont have any idea how to it... happy [johndur]
i agree john. if a person have been previously singing and exposed to music and that person gone deaf, i think he would still be able to remember all of it and can still sing. happy [secretbear]
I have watch someone that is deaf and understand not our language but how we open our mouth. They say that there are institution who still give chances for those who really want to aim high like in case of singing. I'm not sure because, it is just a show in the television. We all know that deaf is accompanied of not talking because they have no idea how to say it.Maybe it was all depend on how strong their will to learn no matter how tough it is. [alexigne]
hmmm... i think natural born deaf can't learn music since they can't hear and doesn't know what are the different tones. it'll be hard for them to learn how to sing. [secretbear]
awwww i'm sad to hear that about ayu :( but that is why you need to protect your hearing if you are a performer on stage....from what you've written, it looks like she became deaf from not being careful. tinnitus only happens with prolonged exposure to loud sounds, and if musicians do not wear appropriate earplugs, they could hear ringing sounds for the rest of their life! i would prefer to be deaf in one ear, than to always have ringing. i have experienced short term tinnitus and it is NOT fun at all! but i think with a voice/hearing coach someone who had good hearing and then WENT deaf, might be able to continue singing. it would be different if the person was deaf from a young age. also, in ayu's case, she has the money for it...she could get a cochlear implant. it is a pricey procedure, but for those who really want to be able to hear, it is the best solution after hearing loss. the technology is improving ... until now the implants usually give a kind of 'mickey mouse' sound to everything until the patient's brain gets used to it. eventually after some recovery time and voice/ear training, ayu might come back to singing like she used to! [shmeedia]
so that's how an earplug works. i agree that musicians should use something like that. especially hard rock musicians who are often exposed to very loud music. [secretbear]
No reason for no reason not to feel the injury since the tragedy.to have self-confidence.a person living here to care for their homes. [myshoo1314520]
I would like to a question,you said to be a problem. who only know the answer.I think you will Caibu Chu! Even pigs have guessed you have not guessed it. [myshoo1314520]
yes . if she or he love singing and can sing with heart. [beth214]
thanks for the response beth. happy [secretbear]
I think that a deaf person would be able to sing if they were singing before they became deaf, but I do not think that they would be as successful as they were before, because it would be harder for them to get the song sounding right, because they would have to trust other people's opinion completely and no how their voices work extremely well. [Elixiress]
i think so too. if they are able to hear before they got deaf, they probably would still know how to sing but not as perfect as before. and it would be harder to correct themselves since they can't hear their own voice. [secretbear]
A lot of musicians go deaf from having loud music assault their ears constantly. Eric Clapton is deaf and so was Ludwig von Beethoven. Beethoven could hear music in his mind and a story is told that after he conducted his symphony, the audience applauded with a standing ovation and being deaf, he could hear nothing. He had to be led and turned around to see everyone standing and clapping. [underdogtoo]
i see. i didn't know that. wow. eric clapton sure is amazing. happy [secretbear]
I'm sure she sure can sing when she goes deaf. Her voice will still be intact despite the deafness. However, she needs to have a good sense of rhythm to do that. She may need to do more a cappella performance too. If she were to sing with music, then the person playing the music has to coordinate with her. It's quite difficult though. If beethoven can compose music deaf, I'm sure singers with real talent singing can sing deaf too. [poohgal]
i don't have any news about ayu right now. i hope she's not having difficulties anymore with singing with only one good ear left. i hope she had already resolved it. happy [secretbear]
Frankie Valli, the lead singer of the 4 seasons was nearly deaf by the early 70's (http://community-2.webtv.net/GREG32JOHNSTON/TheJerseyBoys/page4.html) . He continued to sing and don't forget - Beethoven was deaf and composed. [Debs_place]
oh i see. so frankie valli did lose his hearing. that must be the saddest thing to happen for a singer. [secretbear]