Chewing gum while singing??

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MagicX

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Hey all,

So I know that a lot of people tend to frown upon people who chew gum while singing. However, it would seem that chewing gum while singing (particularly those that include an ingredient called Xylitol in them) keeps my throat moist and makes it easier to breathe. I've sang a number of times while chewing gum, so I'm not really all that afraid at this point of choking. :D Does anyone else know if this is just a placebo effect though or if there is really something to it? Also, do any of you guys chew gum while singing?
 
I don't think I've ever recorded singing while chewing. Mainly because I've barely been a gum chewer since the early 80s !
 
I am sure you have heard the old saying "he can't chew gum and walk at the same time." Nuff said.
 
If you chew gum while tracking, that's maybe ok . . . after all, you gotta do what you gotta do.

But if you are singing in public, it's not a good look.

So I'd look around for other ways of keeping your mouth moist.

Even when recording, there's a chance that you are going to pick up a whole mess of mouth noises.
 
Illsidgus said:
I am sure you have heard the old saying "he can't chew gum and walk at the same time." Nuff said.
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A friend of mine that's just died used to say "he can't chew gum and walk straight" or "he can't chew gum and piss straight".
 
Dave Grohl does it at just about every Foo Fighters show.. not sure about when he records though.
 
When singing, I always chew gum before. It gets my throat nice and moist, and keeps it that way for a little while. When it starts to get scratchy, I just throw in a piece of gum and go. As long as it doesnt interfere with your pronunciation and singing, why not?
 
I'm an actor. If I was found chewing gum on stage, I'd probably get the sack.

What's wrong with drinking water?
 
Doctor Varney said:
I'm an actor. If I was found chewing gum on stage, I'd probably get the sack.

What's wrong with drinking water?
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Well water is the best for hydrating yourself, but it doesn't really do anything in terms of lubricating your throat to keep it moist while singing. If anything, my throat dries out more when I try chugging the water on stage.
 
I see. Well, I'm the opposite. I tend to produce a lot more 'liquid' inside my mouth and throat when I'm on stage, than anywhere else. I've been told it's a sign of a 'good actor'. Not sure what that's meant to mean. :) Perhaps try chewing the gum first or maybe you could press it between your gum and cheek while you're singing? I've done that before.
 
Hello there! This is my first post by the way. You will see both John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix chewing gum while they perform if you take a look at their videos. This would probably be harder to do, but if you had the chance to come to any of my nightly performances, you would also see me chew gum all the time.
 
Choo choo chubuggy.......

Tenderness46 said:
This would probably be harder to do, but if you had the chance to come to any of my nightly performances, you would also see me chew gum all the time.
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Yeah, I might just put aside an irrational fear of flying and head out all the way to the Canary Islands, not to see you perform but to see you chew gum ! All the time !! :D
 
I encourage you!

grimtraveller said:
Yeah, I might just put aside an irrational fear of flying and head out all the way to the Canary Islands, not to see you perform but to see you chew gum ! All the time !! :D
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That sounds like a very good idea to me. You would benefit from getting over your fear, which is not a minor benefit, and then I can assure you I can chew gum like a real pro, that alone would make your flight worthwhile. Additionally, you might get yourself a few gigs over here and make your trip profitable too, or even discover your real place in this world.
 
MagicX said:
Hey all,

So I know that a lot of people tend to frown upon people who chew gum while singing. However, it would seem that chewing gum while singing (particularly those that include an ingredient called Xylitol in them) keeps my throat moist and makes it easier to breathe. I've sang a number of times while chewing gum, so I'm not really all that afraid at this point of choking. :D Does anyone else know if this is just a placebo effect though or if there is really something to it? Also, do any of you guys chew gum while singing?
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I don't know about the "makes it easier to breath part" but chewing gum would definitely keep your mouth and back of throat from drying out, and that's a good thing.
 
gecko zzed said:
No reason why not.

Except it makes you look like a bogan.
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Especially if you're wearing a flanny at the same time... :-)

I don't chew gum at all, so I don't know, but I agree that water doesn't work when singing for recording, or at least it doesn't for me... I used to sip all the time thinking it was lubricating the throat, but I just ended up full of water and unable to sing well, which is a challenge for me at the best of times.

Live... water, beer... both usually - don't want to look like a beer-swilling idiot so mainly water..
 
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