yesterday, i saw a little show. It was 2 guys and a girl with guitar who sing pop music. it wasn't very a good show, but a good entertainment while we were ice skating. The guys were not bad guitar player, but it was the girl (as usual) who took my attention. She had a very good voice. She sing in tune and have a very powerful voice. The only bad thing about it was that she didn't knew the lyrics of the songs by heart. She read the lyrics on a computer screen (karaoke style). Also, it was clear that she didn't knew what she was singing. She probably speak only french (vive le Quebec libre!!) and sing some songs in english. So in the end, it was good, but no emotion in her voice. It misses the little something that can take a song from "not bad" to "wow!".
I suggest to everyone who sing in a foreign language, to traduce the lyrics to know what the song is all about. If you do not know what the lyrics are about, you may sing a sad song with a big funny smile on your face!!
I t is sometimes hard to remember all the songs we can sing
I sung hundreds, and I surely need my song books, even for a concert
Just a lack of memory with the age growing (johnny Haliday has a promptor)
But you are right, there will be more emotion if you know them by heart !