Help a bass find a song to sing!

[Keela]

Dear Escapists,

I need your aid in finding a song to work with at my voice lessons. My teacher has asked me to bring in another song to try to sing with her guidance, and I'm kind of at a loss.

I am very fortunate to be something of a mid-range bass at the age of 17. My vocal range is very suitable for country music, and I've thought about trying out some Johnny Cash-ish music for a while, but I just don't have much of a soft spot for that particular style of country. I've brought in John Turner's "Long Black Train" already, and that went rather well. At least my instructor says so. But I kind of always think I suck, so whatevs.

I'm open to any suggestions you guys and gals can think of. I tend to lean towards acoustic music if that helps, but by all means give me anything and everything you got.

I know someone will say Barry White, but most of his songs are about the hanky-panky. I want to be able to sing comfortably in front of my peers some day, and I also don't have much inclination to go that cheesy when I have to practice in the same house my parents live in.

 

[Dags90]

Here are some of my suggestions.

Spoiler: Probably the most obvious suggestion.

You had to know someone would make that joke, now it's over.

Spoiler: A little less obvious, but still good.

This whole musical is obviously a gold mine, as Emile and his songs are all supposed to be sung by an operatic bass.

As far as mainstream music you're pretty much left with RnB/soul or country.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

I'm currently doing my best, but bass vocals aren't the most common in popular music as I suspect you know.

On that note, my recommendation would be Queens of the Stone Age's This Lullaby [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMO3hpqzuPY]. Not that long a song, but it is acoustic and Josh Homme has a fairly bassy voice in it.

 

[DugMachine]

You really should give Johnny Cash himself a try not "Johnny Cash-ish" stuff.

 

[Aris Khandr]

One of the more popular bass songs you'll find. I'd have other recommendations, but most of them tend to be a bass lead, with others providing back-up vocals. Not really sure how well they'd work solo.

EDIT: Thought of a couple that would probably work solo. Look up "Barrett's Privateers" or "Isn't It Grand?" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdsr2fWeAD0].

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Spoiler

Just so you can sing at parties.

 

[Basement Cat]

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"? That's the first one that came to mind, and it's a classic.

 

[Launcelot111]

Spoiler

These are all personal favorites to sing, and I'm a bass myself. Both the vocals and the backing music seem like they could be adapted pretty easily to your tastes.

 

[StylinBones]

David Bowie - Space Oddity. Good tune.

 

[Keela]

You really should give Johnny Cash himself a try not "Johnny Cash-ish" stuff.

Haha, that's what I meant. I was just trying to say "Jonny Cash and that sort of thing". I should have clarified, but I was rushing to get to my homework.