What Keeps Certain Singing Voices Forever Young?

During a performance in Sydney in December 2023, the artist Morrissey dramatically removed his shirt, a gesture he has made with habitual ease for decades. Despite being 66 years old, his voice remains strikingly clear and powerful, reminiscent of his prime during the 1980s and 1990s.

Similarly, Robert Smith, the frontman of The Cure, who also turned 66 recently, continues to deliver vocals that are as vibrant as ever. Observers note that his voice has matured without losing its essence, showcasing a fascinating contrast between the aging body and the youthful voice.

Typically, voices age alongside the body due to their anatomical structure, which includes the lungs as a power source, vocal cords as a sound source, and the resonance chamber from the vocal cords to the lips and nasal cavity. These components are controlled by nerves and muscles that change with age. As people get older, they experience declines in lung function and changes in the vocal cords, leading to a weakening of the voice.

Pontus Wiegert, a voice specialist researching vocal changes at Lund University, explains that while aging tends to weaken voices, those who practice proper vocal techniques may experience less wear and tear. The degree of vocal wear can depend on the singer's technique and genre. For instance, singers trained in vocal technique may preserve their voices better than self-taught rock singers who rely on instinct.

Take Kris Kristofferson, for example. When he was offered a record deal in Nashville in 1965, he initially doubted his singing ability. However, over the years, his voice developed a raw, gravelly quality that conveyed life experience and authority, illustrating how aging can enhance certain vocal characteristics.

Similarly, Tom Waits transformed his voice through unconventional methods, deliberately damaging his vocal cords through lifestyle choices. This unique sound has become his trademark, demonstrating how what might be considered vocal deterioration in one context can be an asset in another.

However, not all artists benefit from such vocal aging. Randy Meisner of The Eagles faced challenges in reaching high notes as he aged, which led to conflicts within the band. Such pressures highlight the unrealistic expectations placed on singers to maintain their youthful sound indefinitely.

Mariah Carey exemplifies the struggle against these expectations. Known for her impressive vocal range, she has faced criticism for not replicating her youthful performance levels, particularly during live performances of her iconic holiday song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You." This situation underscores a broader issue of societal pressures on female artists, particularly regarding how their voices change with age.

Women often face additional complications as they age, particularly during menopause, which can affect vocal range and quality. These challenges are compounded by the ageism prevalent in the music industry, where the focus remains predominantly on youth.

Understanding the changes that occur in singers' voices over time is crucial, especially as the industry evolves. Recent changes in policies, such as raising the retirement age for opera singers, necessitate a reevaluation of how vocal health is managed throughout an artist's career.

While certain singers may preserve their vocal abilities for longer, genetic factors and lifestyle choices play significant roles in vocal longevity. Wiegert emphasizes that, although there is no magical solution to reverse aging in the voice, targeted vocal training can often lead to improvements in vocal quality.

In conclusion, as the music industry continues to grapple with the implications of aging voices, it becomes increasingly important for both artists and audiences to embrace the natural evolution of sound. The expectation that singers should remain perpetually youthful ignores the realities of human aging.