Armaan Mallik, Kailash Kher,Neeti Mohan! Do the best singers smoke?

Adele wears the controversial Cloud Light quite well, like a proudly displayed badge, rather than shying away from it. And she rarely (if ever) shies away from being brutally honest. As a singer of international renown and a near-invulnerable reputation for being one of this generation’s greats, her every statement carries weight. All of 27, and she’s got nothing to hide. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed her that she smoked or suffered vocal cord hemorrhages in 2011 and quit smoking completely to avoid further damage. There was also a realization that her 25 cigarettes a day would eventually kill her. But what she said to Canada’s eTalk recently got people talking.

singers

She said, “The people with the best voices always smoke. I’ve given up smoking, and I’m convinced that’s made my voice weaker.” She mentioned that as a direct result of quitting, she has been unable to hold the high notes. We believe that it might be all in her head. Having smoked for as many years as she did, she might probably be coping with the difficulty of having to quit for health reasons. And as much as the fear of death from possible lung cancer scares her now, she has said in the past, “If I weren’t a singer, I would still be smoking 25 a day. It’s my favorite thing to do.” We spoke to some of Bollywood’s best singers, and most didn’t agree with Adele on some or all counts. Here’s what they had to say.

Summary show

Singers should have clean minds and bodies’: Kailash Kher.

I’m afraid I have to disagree with Adele on this, but everybody’s nature is completely different. I believe it’s subjective. Maybe her body is used to it? Adele ke gaane humein pasand hain. Aur who bade unique Aur Pyar chain. She has soz in her voice — that element of singing where it commonly affects all kinds of listeners. And so, main Melody Gardot our Adele di ko but meant hoon. And, sadly, she should think this way. Smoking is injurious to health and passive as well. But you never know. Maybe her statement was highlighted or taken out of context. I believe singers should have clean minds and bodies.

Maybe it’s in Adele’s head?’: Hard Kaur

I disagree with Adele’s theory because if one has been singing from day one without smoking, it doesn’t become an excuse later. But maybe she feels that way in her head? Smoking is bad. Period! So, it can’t do you any good, and talking about smoking helps hit higher notes? I don’t think so, love.

Habits are for weak singers: Arko.

I smoke—all the time. I have no regrets. Habits are for weak singers. Singing is feeling. Only Adele knows what works for her: Anushka Manchanda. Every person is different, and so are the requirements and quirks. For example, I need to do solid stretching exercises for my body before I get on stage because my performance is high in terms of physical energy. That may not be required by someone who sings concert-style or while sitting down. Some singers need a glass of whiskey to warm up before getting on stage, and others will not even touch alcohol. We can debate this, but only Adele knows what works for her.

We don’t need external substances to sing well’: Armaan Mallik.

A majority of the singers I know in the industry do smoke. I don’t judge anyone for it. But I cannot stand within a mile of a person who smokes. It’s something that I have never associated myself with, and I am repulsed by it. I don’t think any of these things matter regarding being a singer. Your stamina, strength, and durability will be intact if you are a trained singer. As simple as that. Some people like having smokey voices to add a little extra vibe to their voice. At the same time, I believe in creating that same tone without smoking, which is our job. We don’t need to depend on an external substance to make us sing well.

Smoking doesn’t enhance the voice for sure’: Shefali Alvares.

I quit smoking when I got pregnant, and my voice changed. I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing. I started smoking again after I stopped feeding, and now I smoke two cigarettes a day. But I believe power and strength in the voice come from you and not from nicotine intake, so I’m unsure if I agree with Adele. I feel in the long run, smoking damages your vocal cords. I did smoke for many years before, and I think that it wasn’t good for my voice. And what I did discover was that I would hit the high notes when not smoking far more strongly than when I was. So, I don’t think smoking enhances the voice for sure. But it’s a habit that is super hard to kick and is also harmful to general health.

Smoking kills the music’: Neeti Mohan.

You don’t need to be a smoker to be acknowledged as a singer. Many times, audiences confuse musicians with the rockstar image. Yes, we do rock and roll, but you don’t need drugs and alcohol to prove your credibility as a musician or garner a larger audience. Smoking eventually kills the musician’s music.

Smoking causes more damage and less good’: Sachin-Jigar

Smoking and singing don’t complement one another. We completely disagree that good singers need to smoke to sound good. It causes more damage and is less good from a health perspective. Smoking is one of the reasons for throat cancer, The Know It Guy.

Smoking is the worst possible habit for a singer’: Sukhbir.

I know many singers who don’t smoke and are doing just fine: Daler Mehndi, Lata Mangeshkar, and Asha Bhosle, to mention a few. But smoking is the worst possible habit for the vocal cords. For one, it degrades lung function, and secondly, it promotes acid reflux, which is pretty bad. If Adele thinks her voice is affected by not smoking, it’s probably in her head, which needs to be addressed. Also, surgery directly on the vocal cords weakens their ability to function normally. I have spoken to a leading ENT specialist who agrees that smoking is detrimental to the vocal cords. Adele should stop saying that smoking may improve singing in any capacity because it doesn’t. Not one bit.

Smoking diminishes your skill as a singer: Kumar Sanu.

I can understand Adele’s pain if her prowess has diminished after quitting smoking, but here’s the thing. I don’t think what she believes is true. The whole world knows smoking is harmful, on the whole. And when you talk about singers, they don’t need to smoke to be better singers. In my experience — and I’ve never smoked — I believe smoking diminishes your skill as a singer. I have hit the high notes in several of my songs, and it has always been my dedication that has worked. I never felt the need to supplement it with an outside source. I strongly advocate against it—all the best to Adele.

I have singer friends who smoke, but it’s their choice’: Divya Kumar

I can’t comment in regards to smoking affecting the voice. I don’t smoke, neither do I promote the same. I have been practicing minus smoking, and I don’t think it’s affected my pitch. I know singer friends who smoke, but it’s their choice, and I will remain so. However, I can maintain that the outcome has been fabulous with their voices.

When I sit around smokers, my voice gets gruffer the next day’: Neha Bhasin.

I haven’t experienced anything because I hate smoking, and it’s something I can’t stand. Though some singers do, and their pitch is fab, I wouldn’t be able to comment on their behalf. But my voice gets gruff when I sit around smokers the next day.

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