iSing Issue 1 | Page 70

Look, Listen & Feel iREViEW meaningful way.   Using exaggerated vowels allows Perry to drop her jaw, loosen her face muscles, and belt the hook with less strain on her vocal cords.   The emphasis on the vowels also highlights an internal rhyme.  ! ! Watch on YouTube (breath) I got the EYE of the TI-ger,! (breath) a FI-ghter,! (breath) DANC-ing thrOUGH the FI-re! (breath) 'Cause I am a CHA-mpion! (breath) and YOU’re gonna hear me ROAr! LOU-der, (breath) LOU-der than a LI-on! (breath) 'Cause I am a CHA-mpion (breath) and you’re gonna hear me! RO-Uh-Uh-Uh-Uh-Uh-Oar! (breath) Uh-Uh-Uh-Uh-Uh-Oar! (breath) Uh-Uh-Uh-Uh-Uh-Oar! (breath) YOU’re gonna hear me ROAR! KATY PERRY “ROAR” WRITERS: Katy Perry Lukasz Gottwald Max Martin Bonnie McKee Henry Walter Anyone who has attempted to cover a Katy Perry song, whether singing in the shower or at an open mic, knows how much vocal stamina is required. “Roar”, Perry’s single from her album Prism, is no exception. ! ! In the verses, Perry uses a comfortable chest voice fitted to telling her story of self-discovery and empowerment.  The melody is simple and she reserves the use of vibrato and breathiness for ending her phrases, so it’s very easy to sing along with (unlike a typical Whitney Houston ballad replete with runs that last as long as phrases do).  Perry’s d iction and pronunciation are clear and she exudes a certain swagger in her delivery, characteristic of her individual style as a singer. ! ! Much like her previous single, “Firework”, “Roar” is an anthem and the hook is sung in the upper register of Perry’s chest voice at high energy.  There are two major things she does to maintain control of her voice: good breath placement, and the use of exaggerated vowels.! ! Proper breath placement does more than give her the power to execute those notes with precision; it allows her to phrase the lyrics in a iSing | issue 1 
 ! ! ! ! ! ! Note: If you find yourself needing to cover this song, it would serve you well to internalize the breaths, phrasing, and vowel placements.  If you have a hard time singing this live, don’t feel bad cause it isn’t easy for her either.  It’s a very tough song.
 Katy Perry has a down-to-earth, relatable voice; she has mastered smooth transitions between her different vocal registers and is dynamic in her delivery.  So, whether you love it or hate it, it is a catchy song that is well-matched with Perry’s vocal strengths.■ SOPHIA MOON WHO IS SHE? Sophia is a seasoned recording artist, singer-songwriter & performance coach with an entrepreneurial spirit. She released her solo album, Staring Back at Me, on iTunes in 2009. In prior years, she co-founded a record label (Fifth Street) and released an album (No Limit) with two featured artists from the label. Most recently she released the single, Real Thing; and started her own boutique marketing agency, JaggerMoon Creative Group. WEBSITE? www.iamsophiamoon.com isingmag.com