[meowface]

And "feeling" it usually just means intuitively adding satisfying and interesting expression to the performance while in a flow state, which at the end of the day is just slight changes in the tempo, rhythm, dynamics, durations, etc.

We're not feeling the "feeling it". We're just enjoying the new and potentially song-improving alterations that often come from a performer getting deep into a performance. If you were to take a pre-recorded piece with those exact same alterations, with no live performer (but could hypothetically make the audio quality the same as a live performance), I bet the audience would feel it just the same when you play the recording. All that matters is what the music sounds like.

[loons2]

You're not a singer. ;-)

[meowface]

True, but I do play piano a bit.

Conveying emotion probably has many extra factors when it comes to vocalizing, so I'd agree on that point.