Mariah Carey strikes a funny pose at club Tao in the Venetian Hotel on New Years Eve in Las Vegas, NV.

The 'Fantasy' singer, who has to stop talking for two days before a big show
to give her voice a rest, believes a "robot voice" machine similar to the
one used by the paralysed scientist would be useful.

She said: "Before a big show I have to do 'vocal rest' where I'm not allowed
to speak for two days. It's so boring having to write notes to everyone! I
need Stephen Hawking's voice machine for when I'm on vocal rest.

"I'd like a machine where I can just think and it comes out in a robot
voice - that would be amazing!"

The 37-year-old musician also revealed her unique singing voice is down to
nodules on her vocal cords.

She added to Q magazine: "One of the reasons for my voice is I have nodules
on my vocal cords. My mother says I've had them since I was a kid. That's
why I have the high register and the belting register and I can still be
husky.

"The only thing that really affects my voice is sleep. Sometimes if I'm
exhausted I can't hit the really high notes."