Late vocal entries often begin before the note that sounds late. A held vowel, consonant, or breath at the end of the previous lyric can push the next bar out of shape. Instead of singing the whole chorus again, isolate one line ending and the first note that follows it.
The late note may start at the previous line ending
Repeating a full verse or chorus makes this problem hard to hear. Pick one lyric line that sounds messy in your recording and listen to how long the final word lasts. If the release is longer than the reference, the next entry can feel late even when your pitch is right.
Use lyrics and score to mark the release point
Open the song in Jium and look at the final syllable in the lyrics while checking the first beat of the next bar in the score. The goal is not to remove expression. The goal is to decide where the word ends, where the breath happens, and where the next note begins.
Loop the ending and the next first note together
Do not loop only the note that feels late. Include one bar before the ending, the release, the breath, and the next first note. Keep the original vocal low but audible so it acts as a reference instead of hiding your own cutoff.
Compare two takes by release timing only
Record one take as usual, then record a second take where you release the final syllable slightly earlier. In take comparison, ignore the overall emotion for a moment and focus on whether the next bar lands more cleanly. That is the signal you need for today.