We all can agree on the fact that anxiety is a massive inconvenience and one of the biggest pains in the rump. One of the worst parts about anxiety is the physical ailments it entails. Whether it is twitchy eyes, a closed throat, or a tight chest, all of it is equally horrid, and one demographic of folks who unarguably agree are musicians with stage fright.
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If you have ever spoken in public or given a presentation in front of a class, you might know what stage fright entails. Needless to say, it can be brutal, and even though performing is a musician’s main job, some of them still have a difficult time grappling with the mental ailment. So, just remember you’re not alone, as these three famous musicians also have and or have had crippiling stage fright.
Adele
Adele is soothing and seemingly relaxed while on stage. However, this is not a natural thing for her, rather, she has to extensively prepare herself before every show, given her debilitating fear of the limelight. In previous instances, Adele has revealed how stage fright has affected her career, as she told Billboard, “I puke quite a lot before going onstage.”
“But then… I sh— myself before everything…” she added. “The bigger the freak-out, the more I enjoy the show!”
Even though Adele trembles before every performance, the audience can seemingly never tell thanks to her ability to mesmerize folks with her melodic vocals.
Ozzy Osbourne
Nothing about Ozzy Osbourne‘s on-stage disposition alludes to a sense of fear and anxiety. After all, the man has literally bitten the head off a bat on stage. So on the surface, it seems that he is wildly comfortable with being himself. However, per Osbourne’s past comments, it seems his onstage antics are just a hyperbolized and animalized way of coping with his stage fright.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Osbourne described his stage fright and anxiety as a “wild animal to be respected and understood.” Despite this mental health plight, Osbourne has learned to cope with it. And consequently, he is one of the most memorable performers of all time.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand has been a consistent performer for nearly 50 years. However, stage fright is still a consistent battle for Streisand, though she has luckily figured out ways to manage it. Concerning her stage fright, Streisand stated, “I don’t like live performances. I’ve always had a bit of stage fright.”
“I have to have blackness when I sing, so these arenas give me the blackness,” she continued. “I can’t perform. I’m just very uncomfortable performing live.”
Streisand might have stage fright, though, she has been able to remain one of the most integral singers in pop culture history.
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AD
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