Prince’s sudden death has highlighted falsetto as a vocal technique of debatable artistic merit. Me? I love it. I can’t get enough of it. Prince’s Kiss is a perfect example, probably in the top three falsetto performances of all time.
I suspect Prince was impressed by Eddie Holman’s Hey! There Lonely Girl. I certainly was.
Do Afterworders have other cases for or against.
This lot had so many hots in the 70s all graced with Russell Thompkins’ s falsetto
They had hits as well
Prince covered Betcha By Golly Wow, you know. From Emancipation…
http://youtu.be/gS9YjkCoYxI
for me, the Stylistics made some of the worst records of the 70s, utter shite IMHO.
Aye – some of it was – but then there’s something strangely hypnotic about this – particularly the lengthy instrumental outro:
Being against the falsetto is absurd. It’s been a part of pop music since god knows when. Tom Waits said of I Just Want To See His Face by The Stones: “That song had a big impact on me, particularly learning how to sing in that high falsetto, the way Jagger does. When he sings like a girl, I go crazy,” Waits says. “This is just a tree of life. This record is the watering hole.”
And what about Sympathy For The Devil? Radiohead In Rainbows, Thom Yorke shines on that record with his high notes. Mighty Real by Sylvester. Falsetto can be stunning, taking off into the stratosphere at it’s best.
My favourite blur song has Damon going all girlie around 1.17.
I can’t say I’m fond of Alburn’s voice. In fact, it makes me cringe. That falsetto is a clear improvement. I think someone should squeeze his testicles all the time.
This.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VelGCEqtVbQ
(Klaus Nomi – Lightning Strikes)
That man gives the impression that falsetto is just for weirdos and perverts.
Weirdos and “perverts”? I don’t understand.
Don’t mind the weirdo part. Weird is perfectly OK in my book.
I think @Tiggerlion should explain what he means by the “Perverts” part of his post though.
I was joking (badly, obviously). The line was meant to be delivered in the tone of an ex colonel who is making a complaint to the Daily Telegraph. Sorry.
Ahh. Now I get it. No problem. Cheers Tiggerlion.
Fairy Nuff, Tiggs.
Boom Shuv’apeny, as RobC might say.
Michael Stipe goes falsetto all the way through “Tongue” (off ‘Monster’)
That’s just awful
Adore this track, as I do Monster in general.
Wrong, wrong and wrong. No place for falsetto anywhere anyhow. Probably why all of Prince passed me by (and until today I had absolutely no idea the guy could play guitar that well: wow!!)
I think you’ll enjoy PLECTRUMELECTRUM with 3rdeyedgirl. It’s a pure Rock album with lashings of guitar (and one duff reggae track).
I was a bit bricameroned last night so my statement re falsetto may not be entirely true.
As it says above the entrance to Wrongness Hall – “Quodam Modo, Semper Malum”
“I was a bit bricameroned”. Afterword T Shirt.
Leo Sayer. Beautiful falsetto, beautiful song, silly costume.
I’m fond of Leo Sayer. He knew how to wrap his tonsils round a good pop song.
Johnny Adams is what Tom Jones would be if he was any good. One of the best singers I have ever heard.
Yes, this song is probably on your list of songs I never want to hear again. But, listen to what he does with it. The little ad-libs after ever line. And then the most glorious falsetto at the end.
I dance to this, right in front of Johnny, in a wee New Orleans club a good few years back.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009361237233&fref=ts
Where’s the edit button? Posted the wrong link. This is he.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EjnavYNLmI
That’s awesome @Jorrox. I much prefer it to Tom.
Streets ahead of Zingleburt Dambledack’s reading
It was a country and country soul standard long before the hump got his hands on it.
How can you not love falsetto?
I always loved this song. Listen to how the falsetto and cookie monster voice swap lines in the chorus. Marvelous.
Falsetto was very big during the neo-doo wop movement of the early 60s. It was all over those Four Seasons classics and featured heavily on this ball-tearing hit from 1964 by The Newbeats – Bread and Butter
The lead singer of the Newbeats, Larry Henley, co-wrote ghastly power ballad “The Wind Beneath My Wings”.
That’s good info r-d.
The first recording of Wind… was by Roger Whittaker, the whistling Kenyan.
The first charting version came in 1982 by Aussie songstress Colleen Hewett
Little Richard ?
Any particular examples, @Junior-Wells?
Did someone say falsetto?
Does Neil Young count as falsetto (given how deep his normal speaking voice is)?
If you ask me, I’d say no. He doesn’t do that leap into a higher octave, he whines. In the early seventies, his jeans were plenty tight enough.
I think you are probably right. That said, I have decided to claim it as a falsetto in spirit, given that Young has a very deep speaking voice.
I can see the purpose of falsetto but I still don’t really like it. Sure the odd song is fine. Yet I like a man with a high voice a la normaletto, Neil Young say, or Green Gartside. This next clip for me sums up the awfulness of falsetto, or at least the risibility of it, however good the actual song is
But, in terms of noises I don’t appreciate, it’s way better than the female growl mid word
Thank you, retro. Your post has made me relisten to a wonderful album I haven’t heard for some time. I hear that track as a deliberately daft break from the intensity of the rest of the LP. Besides, how can you tribute Soul without including a nice bit of falsetto?
We do that one live with the Bootleg Runners. But only when playing the entire album.
I immediately thought of Italy’s Franco Battiato. But after listening to a few songs, I realise that his “normal” singing voice is so unusual, it’s difficult to know when it’s falsetto.
The chorus of this very catchy, very odd song fits the bill.
Bizarre.
The auditorium is too big for that song. The miming is terrible. The audience remains unmoved (bar, maybe, three people). His stage craft is, well, limp. Towards the end, when he switches to listing iconic songs in English, he has to crowbar a non-scanning Ruby Tuesday in a feeble attempt to fit.
No applause from me. Nor from anybody else present at the time.
The wonderfully macabre, peculiar Tiger Lilies …..
You redeemed yourself there, KFD. Just.
Thank heavens for that! I do take your threads very seriously Tigger.
@duco01 and I have just had a long chat about falsetto singing and he tried to explain it to me. He seems to understand what happens to the airwaves.
A few years back we saw a remarkable concert by early music ensemble L’Arpeggiata where there was an amazing male singer with a very high voice. But as he always sings like that (like a counter tenor) then he isn’t singing falsetto.
But I still like Battiato. He loses something in (lack of) translation.
And Tigs, do you not have a monster urban track for the Hip Hop Odyssey thread? I look on you as the AW’s very own Mr Hip Hop.
Thank you, KFD. You are too kind.
Falsetto is produced by the outer edges of the vocal chords. It is a special art.
I’m an older white guy who remains interested in modern day music. Hip Hop or Rap is probably the most important music genre of the last couple of decades and its influence shows no sign of fading. I wouldn’t say I’m the hip hop go-to guy on the AW. Bingo is your man.
I must confess that I sometimes find your threads confusing. There are times, I don’t quite understand what you are looking for. But, if you want Urban Hip Hop, there is plenty about.
You’re certainly right about Bingo knowing his hip hop, Tigger. But then again Moose, Moseley, Deviant, Alias and BigJimBob not to mention your good self, have been posting some marvellous stuff.
You don’t understand what my threads are about? That was tactfully put. You think I do?
Whereas your threads are clearly focussed and meticulously curated, I haven’t a clue where mine are going. I just throw a few stones in the deep, dark AW pond and wait to see what comes to the surface.
And then nervously hope it won’t eat me.
I wouldn’t worry. The best threads are the ones that take off on a life of their own. Meticulous curation isn’t necessarily a good thing.
So true, Tigger. But then again I do think contributors really appreciate a curator like yourself who listens carefully to stuff that is posted and always has an interesting comment to make.
Some bloggers have a fireworks approach to a thread. They light the fuse and then leg it and are almost never seen again on the thread.
Fair enough. It’s another way of doing things.
Meticulous curation? A career in the diplomatic service awaits.
Damn right! Send Ambassador Tigger to Washington!
I’m not sure you are being complimentary but I can feel a flush coming on.
The great falsetto voice of the Black Ark – Cedric Myton of the Congos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDBvuGAZe3I
Ah, the falsetto in Reggae. I think you’ve hit a fine seam there, duco. Lee Perry was especially fond of it. Junior Murvin’s outer vocal chords must have been made of silk.
Police And Thieves
Cornell Campbell had a sweet falsetto, perfect for Lovers Rock.
http://youtu.be/NvHF9M93SGk
The Gorgon
Pete Wingfield – 18 With A Bullet.
This reached #7 in the UK charts in 1975
A perfect pop song. How can anyone fail to admire its beauty.
There’s a great version of Into the Mystic from a German TV show which has Pete on keyboards backing Ivan.
At the time, it stood out in the charts like a sore thumb. But, then, so did 10cc’s Donna.
And 10cc’s record owed a huge debt to Oh Darling which was not falsetto, of course.
It’s a lot funnier: “you make me sit down, Donna, you make me stand up…” and so on..
Oh Darling, in turn, owes something to Slim Harpo.
Where’s @johnw and his love of Sparks? Or @minibreakfast and @Moose-the-Mooche and their love of innuendo?
Amateur Hour
Sorry! Been busy. I thought I’d give other lesser artists the chance to be mentioned!
Too sweet for some – but Ted “the Wizard” Mills of Blue Magic is/was a great singer – love this 10 min sweeping epic with full on Tom Moulton treatment.
Now well into my sixth decade, there is little that arouses me more than the phrase “full on Tom Moulton”, especially in the context of falsetto.
Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons- Walk Like A Man
How can you possibly have a thread on falsetto singers without mentioning Phillip Bailey?
You’re all mad…
I was drumming my fingers waiting. Phil Bailey has the voice of an angel and Reasons is his tour de force. I’m looking forward to see him again this June.
When I first clapped eyes and ears on this lot, I though it was a piss-take.
It felt like every Glam/Metal cliche rolled into one bands
Nope – they were serious, and fair play to them.
Firmly believe the debut is a superb slab of chromium.
(Not convinced about the later albums, but still generally good and inoffensive listening)
Darkness – I Believe In A thing Called Love
As far as I am aware, they are Lowestoft’s only contribution to popular culture (if you don’t include appearing briefly in an episode of Top Gear) which I don’t.
I got my motorbike licence in Lowestoft in 1986 you know.
HeeBeeGeeBees – Meaningless Songs In Very High Voices
I’m just going to ignore this. Kay?
Ace stuff as ever from Phil Pope
Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville – Don’t Know Much
The Neville Brothers are superb. Aaron’s voice may be a falsetto but it’s so warm, it’s like bathing in The Blue Lagoon.
Fearless
George Perkins – Cryin’ In The Street
Wow! Where did you find that @Alias? I don’t think I’ve heard falsetto so impassioned, yet nuanced. I’m definitely going looking for more. Thanks.
I first came across that on the NME Pocket Jukebox cassette in the days when Charly Records was the king of the reissue labels. It is currently available on at least a couple of Ace compilations, Change Is Gonna Come The Voice Of Black America 1964 – 1973 and How Sweet It Would Be Back To The River: More Southern Soul Stories 1961-1978.
Thanks
Bono on ‘Lemon’
(No, you f**k off)
https://youtu.be/b_dLirLT6cA
I’m on your side with Zooropa. At least, I’m backing you up by standing right behind you.
Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up
Genius!
The whole of Curtis’s There’s place like America today for that matter.
Or, indeed, any of his albums up to 1975 and the odd one or two after that as well.
Mika – Grace Kelly
There are parts of the chorus that are so high, only doges can hear it
Good to hear a modern day artist at it.
Communards – Never Can Say Goodbye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxsLoxbxeug
Did he ever do anything that wasn’t in the falsetto register?
Billy Mackenzies range was so vast of course he did falsetto……….
Aren’t their albums being reissued soon? Most specifically Sulk. Well worth the money.
Yep, 6th May, all worth a re-visit. Have a listen to this version of Wild Is The Wind and dip your toe gently into his solo stuff (ignore the wig, poor Billy)
Fabulous. Truly fabulous. It’s hard to believe a human being can make such a fabulous noise.
He absolutely hypnotises me when he sings. It’s from “Transmission Impossible” So is this, it could be my favourite thing he’s done
Nocturne IIV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLJVb23K9eI
@Dave-Amitri you’ve just done me a huge favour. I didn’t own this. I do now. Thank you.
A pleasure, hope you enjoy it
Shamelessly retro, mainstream pop, but surely we can’t ignore the Rubettes’ Number One hit single?
Sugar baby love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7j7XSOOZD8
Ok. I suppose we could.
But we can’t ignore Cruising with Ruben and the Jets.
Doo wop was certainly a musical genre where falsetto was king,
For some reason that makes me think of Bennie And The Jets, best experienced briefly on The Muppet Show.
Jeff Buckley; Jonathan Higgs of Everything Everything; a-ha; Sufjan Stevens… I’ve got “a thing” for a falsetto!
Choose something exquisite, andie.
This popped up while I was cooking last night – gorgeous mid-tempo forgotten 80s UK soul gem by a great singer – glass shattering vocals around the 3.30 mark. Think he ended up doing housey/dancey stuff.
I’d love to spend a whole day in your kitchen listening to whatever pops up. Where do you live?
I live in the badlands of South Cambs. Tea’s on the table at six!
I’ll be round tomorrow.
It’s Sunday so Veedon Fleece is my favourite Van Album. Here’s some great falsetto from the grunting Ulsterman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQcnepLAu0k
I have no alternative but to unleash the greatest chamber pop song of the 21st century so far.
Finally! A man who speaks my language.
Falsetto in Rap? Outkast – Spread
Rhye…
From a splendid album once the subject of a Nights In review by one Moose the Mooche, which was greeted with the customary tumbleweed.
I’m sorry, did you say something?
Actually, that’s a lovely song from a lovely album. Even in a high register her voice has the warmth of a baritone. I think it’s the huskiness.
If only you’d just posted the photo.
The vid was inspired by the song’s working title, “Knobbed On A Beach”.
Rhye are excellent. As are his other band Quadron.
But I’m sure you knew that Moose.
Quadron is/are/was/were even better, especially the second album. Played it only this evening.
No new release from Quadron for ages. But here’s some Coco from Danish telly for you. Moose.
Gravel and honey. And a falsetto that just soars into the stratosphere.
David Ruffin
Walk Away From Love
Beautiful. There are times I think David Ruffin is the best singer I’ve ever heard. Then, I remember Marvin.
http://youtu.be/t4bEGxMJVqg
Marvin Gaye – Trouble Man
I hear you on Marvin. But my favourite is David Ruffin. Unless it’s Bobby Womack, of course.
He uses falsetto sparingly but when he does …fireworks
Through The Eyes Of A Child
Bobby Womack
He was wise to use it sparingly. Prince sang falsetto less as his career progressed. It hurt. Maxwell shredded his vocal chords to such a degree he rarely sings any more. His falsetto was silky smooth.
Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)
Blame it on the boogie
Reprised for soundtrack to TV series Suits
http://youtu.be/mkBS4zUjJZo
This is not as high as I remember it, but there is some falsetto in there.
Bloodstone – Natural High
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbjQm-4SWY8
Nice song. Nice photograph, too. I wonder what the connection between the two might be.
As the car is a low rider my guess would be that Bloodstone are from East LA.
From a few years earlier – The Invincibles – Heart Full Of Love
That’s not just a “head voice”, is it? I enjoyed its laid back vibe. Very soulful.
At the crossroad of carnal and spiritual – the Reverend Al Green
Belle
Ah, The Reverend. One of the last great soul troubadours. He is still alive, isn’t he?
Uncertain if this is falsetto or just high, as in Jon Anderson, but, interesting
Woods is the band.
I’d say that was a ‘head’ voice, retro.
Enjoying this thread very much – George Perkins…Bloodstone…Maxwell – here’s Sylvester on one of the finest ever disco records – originally on a much-sought after 12″ promo. All the right ingredients – Ashford and Simpson song…Harvey Fuqua production…cast of thousands gospel choir…top notch tambourine action….nine minutes of falsetto – it’s all going on.
Brilliant! But, I’m thinking a Tom Moulton remix would be even better.