Friend Pursues Music Dreams Despite Lack of Talent
The story
I have this friend, Carly, who’s 23 and we've been tight ever since our freshman days back in high school. She’s been chasing her musical dreams in LA lately. Carly always had a knack for writing; she even got her degree from a reputable private liberal arts college in California, majoring in Creative Writing. Most of us who know her well were betting she’d go into songwriting. However, Carly decided to take on singing instead. She's already dropped three singles and has an album in the pipeline, but honestly, they're just not good. Her vocal timbre really doesn’t cut it—it’s rather flat and nasal, plus she has this odd way of modulating her pitch. Watching her perform live is even more of a struggle. The crowd of friends she's made in LA keep cheering her on, telling her she’s phenomenal. I’m just worried about how far their praises will carry her before someone in the business pulls the plug and tells her straight up, “you can’t sing.”
What worries me more is thinking what if she ever ended up on one of those reality singing shows? Like, imagine her getting up there with that same supportive crowd, only to face the harsh critiques from seasoned judges in front of a national audience. Could you just imagine the humiliation? It’s hard enough seeing her wade through local gigs, but that level of exposure and raw feedback could really break her.
How does one deal with this? Is it kinder to let her keep dreaming while everyone around nods and smiles, or would a true friend intervene before the reality becomes too painful? Waiting it out seems like watching a ticking time bomb. Is sitting back really the answer?

Should I tell my friend she's a terrible singer?
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Points of view
It is imperative to address this situation candidly.
Carly's vocal abilities are evidently lacking; her timbre is indeed flat and nasal, and her pitch modulation is peculiar!!! The reality of the music industry is harsh, and her current trajectory is unsustainable!!! Allowing her to continue without honest feedback could culminate in a devastating public reality check!!! As a true friend, it is your duty to intervene and offer constructive criticism...!!! Encourage Carly to focus on her strengths in songwriting instead of pursuing a singing career that may not be viable...!!! This redirection can save her from potential humiliation and enable her to find success where she truly excels!!!
Carly's vocal talents are lacking, her timbre is flat, her pitch modulation is weird; she shouldn't keep singing. The music industry is tough, and she will face rejection. Encouraging her to continue is unkind it is better to redirect her to songwriting. Save her from future embarrassment. She needs this reality check 🎤
Dude I totally get your situaton with your friend Carly seriously needs a wake-up call 🤯 her singing is just not it and it’s super obvious to anyone with ears 😂 like her voice is all kinds of bad flat, nasal, and just plain odd pitch changes and don’t even get me started on her live performances it’s cringe city man 😬 honestly you’re doing her a favor by being real she’s wasting her time chasing this singing dream when she clearly isn’t cut out for it at all like why hasn’t anyone told her yet is beyond me 😩 she should totally stick to songwriting where she’s actually got a shot at making it big so yeah sometimes you gotta be harsh to be kind ya know?
your concerns are legitimate 😕 carly’s vocal abilities are admittedly subpar with a flat and nasal timbre and awkward pitch modulation she may not find success in singing 🤷♂️ it could be beneficial to gently advise her to focus on her songwriting talents 💡 this way she could still pursue her passion within the industry without facing potential public humiliation and criticism
hey there, I totally see where you're coming from, but I've gotta say, I don't fully agree with the take on Carly's situation 🤔 I mean, yeah, maybe her singing isn't top-notch right now, but everyone's got their own path, right? 🤷♀️ I remember when my buddy Tom started out in his band, and man, were they rough! but they put in the work, and now they're doing pretty well they even have a solid fan base. sometimes, it's not just about natural talent but about passion and drive, they say, "practice makes perfect," and honestly, the industry is full of surprises! maybe Carly just needs more time and experience to refine her style or maybe even discover a new niche within music 🎶 plus, hearing supportive cheers from friends could actually be motivating for her to improve. just my two cents, but I think it might be worth supporting her journey and see where it leads!
hey, I hear ya but honestly, I don't totally buy into this whole thing about carly not being able to make it. 🎤 like, who even decides what's "good" or "bad" anyway? maybe her voice isn't everyone's cup of tea, but there's so many successful artists out there with unique styles that didn't fit the norm. it's kinda harsh to say she should just stop before even giving it a shot, right? just because her current stuff isn't groundbreaking doesn't mean she's destined to fail. every artist has their awkward phase where they're still figuring it out. sure, she might not be killin' it on stage right now, but who's to say she won't improve with practice and some guidance? honestly, it's her dream, and sometimes chasing it means ignoring the naysayers and critics. give her some space to learn and grow, and maybe she'll surprise ya!
hey, i completely see where you're coming from and honestly, i kinda agree with what you're saying about carly. it's tough when you see someone you care about putting so much into their dream but not quite hitting the mark. i remember when my friend jake was all about becoming the next big dj but, like carly, no one had the heart to tell him his mixes were just not there yet. you know how it is when "constructive criticism" isn't really in people's vocabulary. it's like, you want to support them but you also don't want them to crash and burn in front of everyone. it's a tightrope to walk because maybe carly could benefit from focusing on the writing side of music for now. sometimes people need a little nudge in the right direction, and as a friend, you might be the best one to do it. it's about helping her find where she shines the most without crushing her spirit.