How come some people can sing and others cannot?

How come some people can just sing and others can't?

• most people, without training, sound like crap and can't hold a pitch when they sing but others are born with it. is this just talent? can people who aren't born with ever get as good as those that are born with it? if so, what kind of singing lessons should they take? I used to take singing to try to get as good as those that are just born with it but he kept trying to teach me opera and crap. and I wanted to learn belting and using my real voice and not my head voice. like r&b and pop singers. would starting back with him and learning just opera help me with using my chest voice to sing? or is that pointless and should I look for an instructor that doesn't teach just opera?

• Answer:

  It has something to do with the way certain people's brains react and responds to different tones and notes. Most who are musically inclined tend to have 'the ear' (I have heard this many times, but unsure if there is a medical term) and can pick and learn tunes faster, they understand music better and are generally more able when tuning instruments by ear, etc. I find it difficult to believe that someone who lacks this basic musicality can ever be as good as someone like Alicia Keys or Charlottle Church without a HELL of a lot of effort. Learn the music YOU want to learn, you'll have no fun if you aren't doing something you love. Try another teacher or try talking to your teacher about what music you are interested, or want to preform, etc. Good luck :D