This is how Eden Golan prepares for Eurovision: “The vocal cords must not dry out”

This week it’s happening: Aden Golan will represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden. In a document published on TikTok recently, Golan was observed during the flight to Sweden, using a humidifier and explaining – “The vocal cords must not dry out.” We checked with the experts how the device works and how it contributes to maintaining the creepy vocal cords.Dr. Yuval Slovik, a senior otolaryngologist at Soroka Medical Center, who is in charge of the voice and swallowing clinics at the hospital, explains that the larynx and vocal cords need regular moisture “just like a car engine needs oil for its parts to function optimally”. According to him, during a flight or even when staying in an air-conditioned room, the air is dry and the humidity decreases, which may damage the function and quality of the vocal cords. “It seems that Aden uses a steam inhaler with physiological water (salt solution) to maintain the humidity even during the flight. She actually breathes through the device, which filters the air that comes in from the outside and adds moisture to it,” he elaborates.According to him, keeping the throat moist is important because the vocal cords collide with each other numerous times during the day. “It can be said that in one second of sound production, the vocal cords collide about 200 times in women, and about 100 times in men. In a situation where the phlegm in the throat is dry and sticky, the strings may stick, and their movement will become more limited, which will add effort to sound production.”

 

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The lungs also play a role

Prof. Benny Negris, director of the otolaryngology department at the Meir Medical Center of the Klalit Group, adds that the production of the voice depends not only on the vibration of the vocal cords, but also on the work of the lungs and their strength, in order for the voice to be heard strongly. “There are singers who suffer from swelling of the vocal cords due to strain and effort after intense rehearsals, or multiple performances. In such cases, and because they cannot afford to be hoarse, some of them use the inhaler device, also for the purpose of introducing drugs or steroids to reduce the swelling and improve the quality of the voice.” Prof. Negris emphasizes that it can be assumed that due to Eden’s young age, she does not suffer from a lung problem, and uses the inhaler device using substances such as water or saline solution only.

He also points out that apart from using this device, it is also important to train the voice through voice development exercises. “You can see how vocal training helps cantors, for example, who sometimes perform in synagogues for many hours, and without a loudspeaker, and thus they manage to meet the challenge without any problem. Eden is a professional singer, and I’m sure she also makes sure to practice like this before every rehearsal.”

Before the big performance, Dr. Slovik recommends that Aden also make sure to drink a lot of water, avoid smoking and staying in dry areas. Also, to keep the throat moist, he suggests sucking on sour candies that “stimulate the salivary glands to secrete more saliva, thus maintaining the humidity in the area”.