Vocal Type Mezzo Soprano
Vocal Range: 3.2 Octaves. A2- C6 (approx)
Whistle Register: No
Longest Note: 16 seconds - Greatest Love Of All (Live)
Vocal Pluses: The timbre of Whitney Houston's voice is her crowning glory: thick, luscious and velvety. Her midrange is where the voice finds its strength, and she is famed for her powerful, dark and emotive belting at the top part of this range. The higher chest notes, past a C5, lose power and weight as they ascend higher and are mixed with the head voice, but they still retain a notable, and identifiable, character. The head voice, on its own, is thick, warm, and slightly smoky with a resonance that mirrors that of her midrange belting voice. Whitney is able to switch to this part of her voice with apparent ease.
Whitney Houston is famed for having brought melisma/vocal runs to the masses, and as such, it is no surprise that her voice is able to execute incredibly fast, and complex runs with pinpoint accuracy. She also has the stamina to hold notes- see I Will always love you- for lengths of time without wavering in pitch. Notes can also be coloured with the use of her impressive vibrato, which she can modify the speed of to dramatic effect by quivering her lip. Her trademark vibrato, along with the midrange belt and thick head voice, is one of the iconic aspects of her remarkable voice.
Vocal Negatives: Whitney Houston's voice can become shrill in the upper range, especially when attempting to belt the higher fifth octave notes.
Whitney has a four octave range.
ReplyDeleteI think she has a 4 or 5 octive range
DeleteWhitney doesn't have the ability to go in the whistle register
Delete3 octaves I can believe, but another on top of that seems a little unbelievable. Evidence please?
ReplyDeleteWhile Whitney's longest studio note may be approximately 10 seconds, her longest live note is between 21-22 (even during her last 2010 World Tour she sung 16 second notes with excellent control).
ReplyDeleteAs for her range, at prime, it was 3.3 octaves. Now, at 47, it's just over 2.
Whitney can hold longer, you have in greatest love of all live version she hold 14 seconds. Plus she could sing C♯6.
ReplyDeleteI will always think she is the most amazing singer ever to have walked this earth. Although this is only my opinion. I love the way she used to express herself in songs and the tone of her voice as well as the sheer power of her voice. It's so sad she's lost all of it. I don't think she'll ever get it back, but I know that she still has this amazing thing about her when she sings, that is just incredible.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, whitney has sung plenty of times longer than 15 seconds, you should edit this.
ReplyDeleteWhitney was like a mezzo in the 80s, but her voice changed in the 90s. She became somewhat an alto. Nonetheless, she's one of my favorite singers on earth. I listen to great singers no matter what their voice classifications are.
ReplyDeleteCorrection,houston used to be a spinto soprano 1977-1990,sh bcme a dramatc soprano 1991-94,1995-2003 a coloratura mezzo,2005-presnt dramatic mezzo,she usd to have a range up to 4 octaves,thn dropd half in mid 90s,and 3.3 in late 90s,nw she has a range of up to 3 octaves.
ReplyDeleteThe drugs toke her range over!
ReplyDeleteWhitney in her prime was amazing. She wasn't only vocally gifted, but also possessed an emotive voice. I think her ability to emote is still unmatched today. Her technique however, was faulted from the start. Which is quite sad, considering the fact that her mother Cissy was an amazing and technically brilliant soprano. I don't think her voice was ruined all because of the drugs and smoking. She had always been singing with a high larynx position. You're able to do amazing things with your voice when you're young. Once age kicks in.. Well.. Whitney's voice had already begun deteriorating by the time she filmed The Bodyguard, with the deterioration worsened further by nodules on her vocal cords, as well as the drugs, which morphed the texture of her voice. I do think that in time, and with enough vocal rest as well as vocal training, she will be able to recover partially. I don't think she'll be able to sing like she once did. But heck, I don't mind. I think after all the drug and alcohol issues, she's acquired even more emotion to her voice. And I do think that it's touching that she's picking herself up again.
ReplyDelete"
ReplyDeleteNot always comfortable singing vocal runs." She uses vocal runs but only when she feels the song in that way kinda like Aretha.
Her live vocal range spans from Eb3 to C#6. Notes like C3 or lower are confused, she never wasn't able to go so low. Her longest note that i found is 14-15 seconds from 'Song for you' live.
ReplyDeleteSo true... there are alot of incorrect things here...still don't know how Mariah is an alto?? lol
ReplyDeleteDamn... you should do an 80's Whitney profile... it would have turned out alot better than this one...lol... now she's no better than Mary J...so sad
ReplyDeleteRIP, Miss Whitney. You will always be loved.
ReplyDeleteWish you haven't said it now don't you RIP Whitney Houston
ReplyDeleteRest in peace, my most talented idol singer Ms. Whitney Houston. God is with you.
ReplyDeleteNow that she has passed away I find it really disrespectful to have this (Pre-Drugs) in the title =/
ReplyDeleteWhy? It's an analysis of her voice before she became addicted to drugs. Plain and simple. If the title didn't say 'pre-drugs' then that would imply that DD would include the negative impacts drugs had on her voice in the vocal negatives section.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Is it not the truth? Besides it was created before she died, with the intention of having a separate profile for her voice after. Its a profile I may still create.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Hannah. Thanks for being civil, and articulate with your response.
ReplyDeleteRIP Whitney :(
ReplyDeleteher timbre is beautiful and i have yet to hear a mainstream singer with a voice that is anywhere as good as whitney
ReplyDeleteA2 to C6 is 3 octaves and 2 notes, not 3 octaves and 3 notes.
ReplyDeletethanks for the spot!
ReplyDeleteHer use of her jaw to incorporate vibrato puts me off.
ReplyDeleteshe is a Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano, (A2-C#6) 3 octaves, 3 notes and 1 semitone. But very accurate vocal profile,:)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAqNqjDSVD0&feature=related
ReplyDeleteHey marky, that top note is almost like a squeal, and is created because the chords aren't functioning properly. It doesn't do whitney any justice to include a note like that.
ReplyDeleteShe is and will forever be one of the greatest voices of all time
ReplyDeleteLeona Lewis there you go.
ReplyDeleteShe will be missied
ReplyDeleteshe was like the ionic singer if you wanna learn how to sing just listen to Whitney
ReplyDeleteHe longest note is 10 seconds in her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner from 0:25 - 0:35 in this video
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jeUINzHK9o
yeah but leonas voice is softer and whitneys tone is just incomparable
ReplyDelete"The higher chest notes, past a C5, lose power and weight as they ascend higher and are mixed with the head voice"- This is about the stupidest thing I've ever read. Mixing doesn't make you LOSE power, its purpose is to help you maintain it. Which is EXACTLY what she did. All her belts were solid in scale. Her entire range was
ReplyDeleteAnd Whitney Houston "pre-drugs" was a soprano.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not the truth. Whitney had been using drugs almost ALL her career. It only became heavy after The Bodyguard, as she had said herself.
ReplyDelete"The higher chest notes, past a C5, lose power and weight as they ascend higher and are mixed with the head voice"- You're SUPPOSED to drop weight the higher you go.
ReplyDeleteerm, I know that. Did i say it was a bad thing? Isn't it under the heading "vocal pluses" ?
ReplyDeleteShe was never a soprano, I watched her first TV performance and I can assure you that she was always a Mezzo (her mid-range and belting range make that clearly obvious), see below.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/Q_8SguJTgHA
That aside, she was always one of the finest singers to walk the earth.
Lol dude, you need to change 'her trademark vibrator'.....have to say I had a wee chuckle at reading that lol
ReplyDeleteLOL! Thanks for the spot! LOL
ReplyDeleteHAHA!
ReplyDeleteYou say you know that, yet look at the way you phrased the sentence:
ReplyDelete"The higher chest notes, past a C5, lose power and weight as they ascend higher and are mixed with the head voice"- Why would you name a vocal negative (losing power) and a vocal plus (losing weight) next to each other without making a distinction? Also, you said that she loses power as her notes are mixed with head voice, yet mixing doesn't make you lose power at ALL. So it's pretty obvious that you didn't know. You said something similar on your Aretha one as well:
"Though her voice becomes lighter as its frequency increases, it still retains its resonance and power up into its top reaches."
Yes, she WAS a soprano. None of what you mentioned has proved that she was a mezzo. She usually sang in soprano tessitura, had the vocal color and registration of a soprano as well.
ReplyDeleteActually not only did I prove that, but I also provided evidence with the video.
ReplyDeleteClearly this is just a difference in opinion but from everything I have heard Whitney sing (including her pre-fame gospel performances) I have not heard her sing in a natural soprano tessitura (she has never had that ringing and bright tone) and if she had it was when she was MUCH younger. In which case she probably was a soprano, but most pre-pubescent females are so that hardly counts.
How about you provide me with some kind of evidence - then maybe I will be convinced. Thanks! :)
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
ReplyDeleteSorry, you DIDN'T provide evidence. Saying "her mid-range and belting range make that clearly obvious, see below" and sticking in a video link isn't proof.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't say ANYTHING about why she's a mezzo soprano: weight, registration etc. You don't even know what a tessitura is, hence your comment. I'll give you a clue: it's NOTHING to do with tone color.
And Whitney's voice is WELL KNOWN for having a LOT of treble and squillo, so you fail.
Thanks.
Please dont insult my intelligence by claiming I know nothing about the various terms you describe, merely to get your clearly own 'bias' opinion across. Doing so is not only ignorant but extremely rude.
ReplyDeleteI merely came here to get my view across and felt no need for such an attitude. Clearly if you could read I MORE than know what I am talking about thank you very much! And by they way I said just as much if the the same amount in regards to my view of her not being a soprano but you know what? As you and your various names and accounts clearly know better than anyone else, meh and whatever....You can throw all the terminoligy around and dismiss others all you like if still doesn't change anything! She was a mezzo for her ENTIRE recording career and any decent musician with an ears on their head could tell that!
But as I said most of the people on this site can manage to put their opinion forward in a genial and contsructive manner, perhaps you should try it sometime!
I didn't have to insult your intelligence, you did that yourself: "I have not heard her sing in a natural soprano tessitura (she has never had that ringing and bright tone)"
ReplyDeleteAs I said, tessitura and vocal color aren't even CLOSE to being the same thing.And again, as I said, Whitney's voice was FULL of treble and squillo. Oh, and a "ringing" tone can be present for ANY kind of voice, so you fail even more for labeling that as natural soprano tessitura.I'd LOVE for you to tell me about her vocal registration, coordination, range and ACTUAL tessitura (not vocal color).The difference is I actually know what the terminology means and can correctly apply it, whereas you obviously can't.#DEAD! Identifying vocal fach has NOTHING to do with ear training. Musicians usually deal with THEORY, which is totally different vocal pedagogy. Thanks again for proving me correct.Instead of getting mad at me for your lack of knowledge, why don't you get some instead?
Its a shame because if you were so confident in the words you so cleverly spout you would be able to put your point over in an appropriate fashion without being so offensive and rude (I managed to get my point across without the need for such an attitude), you only confirm my thinking really. And that wasnt anger - it was indifference at the fact that you cannot take the opinion of someone else and debate it in a healthy manner. So what would be the point really?
ReplyDeleteSo let me break it down for you in simple terms, the reason I stated "I have not heard her sing in a natural soprano tessitura (she has never had that ringing and bright tone)" is because as a soprano she would sing more easily in head voice, thus producing said tone and she would do so consistently as that would be where her voice naturally sits. The reason I disagreed was simply because I believe she passes easily in chest voice whilst retaining a more natural, healthier and less forced sound (ranging from approx B3 - B5). Now bearing in mind that the range of a non-classical soprano ranges from around a C4-C6 that hardly puts Houston in that category! Added I believe that for her uppermost range from a G5-C6 she employs the use of falsetto more predominantly
Note that also squillo (a technique classical singers use to slice their voices through a full orchestra) is not something that should be used to describe or judge any non-classical singer. Period! So drop that one as if you actually knew what you were talking about you would know that!
As for the treble part, well yeh obviously she has that, she is not a contralto is she?
And as a musician myself I am more than aware for the need for a balance between practical learning and theory! Why would you even question that? What does it have to do with the subject in question? Nothing really, just something for you to bite at!
Regardless I can be man enough to say that I respect your opinion, it's a shame you can't do the same and let it be. Instead you would rather just slam others....sad really....
I LOVE this guy^
ReplyDeleteThanks dude! I know this is an issue we have both had recently and its totally un-called for. Its one thing to make a point, its another thing entirely to just attack a person because you disagree (nothing better than bully tactics really, something I will not lay down and tolerate).
ReplyDeleteEither way it's merely an opinion and shock horror humans often disagree and thats fine! Thats what makes life interesting and people unique. Ignorance might be bliss but for me it would be hell:)
"Now bearing in mind that the range of a non-classical soprano ranges from around a C4-C6"- #DEAD at you going to Wikipedia for this info. Many pop sopranos don't even know they're sopranos and sing in lower registers. And the ones who DO know they're sopranos usually display 2.5-3 octaves.
ReplyDelete"Added I believe that for her uppermost range from a G5-C6 she employs the use of falsetto more predominantly"- Uh, no. It's a very connected head voice she used. The homogeneity in her voice was flawless. All connected and even from top to bottom, no holes.
"Note that also squillo (a technique classical singers use to slice their voices through a full orchestra)"- Squillo is NOT a technique, it's a PRODUCT of technique. Oooops! So much for me not knowing what I'm talking about....
Squillo is just another word for "ring" or RESONANCE, which Whitney's voice was chock full of.
"And as a musician myself I am more than aware for the need for a balance between practical learning and theory!"- Of course you are, which is why you said any musician with a good ear can identify vocal fach, when that is far from the case. Ooops to you again.
"So let me break it down for you in simple terms, the reason I stated "I have not heard her sing in a natural soprano tessitura (she has never had that ringing and bright tone)"- Sorry, for all your ranting, you still didn't explain anything. The fact is you confused tessitura and vocal color. And they're two different things.
You can sit now.
Hilarious. I said you didn't provide evidence, and then YOU responded w/ "don't insult my intelligence", and then in the same post, decided to come at ME personally. If you can't take it, don't dish it.
ReplyDelete"I have not heard her sing in a natural soprano tessitura (she has never had that ringing and bright tone)" is because as a soprano she would sing more easily in head voice"- What nonsense. There are singers of all vocal fachs and weight in this world who haven't discovered and may not even DISCOVER their head voice. Does that stop them from being sopranos, mezzos, or contraltos? Nope.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be rather confused???? I only dish out what I get dear!!! If you hadnt come at me with the caustic attitude you would never have got it back. Simple.
ReplyDeleteNow back to what we were talking about. Ah yes! Wikipedia?? Oh please! I might happen to be an editor there but most of my work revolves around healthcare edits and nothing to do with this or the subject matter in question, so again before attacking think about the person you are attacking before judging (my life does not just revolve around this).
As for your defence in using squillo (which is vocal slice not ring - ring is created by the use head voice) as a form of judging singers we both know that is cannot be used but you cannot accept that so fine, thats up to you not me! And the treble part - yes she has it because she has a mezzo range so she can achieve such quality of sound in her higher range (that doesnt mean though that she used it often).
Plus, if I was ranting as you say I would be using regular cutting and forceful language to get my point across. I however didnt, I just tried my best to explain why I thought what I did. Plus my lack of evidence has only been equalled by your own, you brought nothing to the argument other than insults and nothing technical at all - only words which you know should not be used in the case of a contemporary singer..
The bottom line is you are simply trying to sabotage comments that just cannot be. I don't know why but its really not necessary and will only make yourself look in an even more unflattering light than you already do.
How about you dont reply to any more of my comments here or ever as to be honest I dont communicate with others that cannot at least show manners because trust me if you stretched yourself to use them you would get them back and not the unpleasant and unflattering light that you recieved after so quickly dishing out. Goodbye ;)
LOL now you are DENSE! My initial comments to you said that you didn't provide evidence and that you don't know what tessitura is. You replied with "Clearly if you could read I MORE than know what I am talking about thank you very much!" So who dished out the first insult again? You? I thought so.
ReplyDelete#DEAD! The word "squillo" means RING and it allows the VOICE to "SLICE" over the orchestra! #FAIL again for you!
"Plus my lack of evidence has only been equalled by your own"- LOL the little voice in your head that told you so lied.
"you brought nothing to the argument other than insults and nothing technical at all - only words which you know should not be used in the case of a contemporary singer"- Which is why YOU mistakenly attributed the range of C4-C6 to a non-operatic soprano voice, when in fact, it's only an estimate for an UNTRAINED soprano voice.
Squillo, registration, coordination, these words can be used for ANY singer. The words that SHOULDN'T be used would be things such as "dramatic, lyric" etc. Resonance is not exclusive to opera singers, nor is vocal registration, something you still failed to tell me anything about regarding Whitney's voice. Ooops to you AGAIN.
"And the treble part - yes she has it because she has a mezzo range so she can achieve such quality of sound in her higher range (that doesnt mean though that she used it often)."- LMFAO I almost forgot you thought it took a musician w/ a good ear to identify voice type. No wonder why you're saying such crap. You don't even know what squillo or tessitura are. How can I expect you to know what a soprano vocal color sounds like? Have several seats.
I will reply to what I choose to reply to, and you'll have to deal with it. You don't have to reply, but don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do.
"I have not heard her sing in a natural soprano tessitura (she has never had that ringing and bright tone)" is because as a soprano she would sing more easily in head voice"- What nonsense. There are singers of all vocal fachs and weight in this world who haven't discovered and may not even DISCOVER their head voice. Does that stop them from being sopranos, mezzos, or contraltos? Nope.And have you HEARD Whitney's head voice? The woman was FREQUENTLY singing in it."The reason I disagreed was simply because I believe she passes easily in chest voice whilst retaining a more natural, healthier and less forced sound (ranging from approx B3 - B5). Now bearing in mind that the range of a non-classical soprano ranges from around a C4-C6 that hardly puts Houston in that category!"- Huh? That HARDLY puts her in the soprano category? Whitney had a 3.2/3.3 octave vocal range! LMFAO!Plus, if you really knew what you were talking about, you'd know that range is the LEAST important thing in determining vocal fach. Timbre, registration, tessitura and weight are FAR more important.Thanks again for confirming everything I said, Stuey.
ReplyDeleteI would rather be dense than demented like yourself and repeating the same shit over and over again.
ReplyDeleteWell as we are being free of speech at this point, I have made many valid points. You choose to ignore them thats up to you but at least I have.
So where insults go why dont you just go fuck off, sit down and have a nother hit of haterade which you are so clearly addicted to. Waste of space....
#DEAD at me being demented when you didn't even know that you insulted me first. Your brain must feel brand new, seeing as how you've never used it.
ReplyDeleteBitch, I see you're mad and it amuses me immensely. You've made NO valid points. You were wrong regarding tessitura, wrong regarding range, wrong about how voice type is identified, wrong regarding squillo, you couldn't even tell me anything about registration or vocal weight, and you don't know the difference between a connected head voice and a falsetto. I'm a waste of space, but at least I've got some to waste. You, on the other hand, are trapped in your skin-tight bubble of failure, which is your life's only option. If it was a drug, you'd have overdosed on it. Haterade? LMFAOOOO best believe there ain't shit to hate on. We've already established that you're a loser, and that's all you're ever gonna be, so why would I hate on someone who's lower down on the totem pole? As you were.
Technically you insulted him first when you told him he insulted his own intelligence. And please #DEAD? What are you twelve? I'd rather listen to Christina Aguilera straining her ass off than see someone trying to make a point in a juvenile way. I believe that also applies to several others on this site since all you've done since you've arrived here is insult and bash anyone that thinks differently than you rather than correct them in a constructively criticizing way. For someone trying to pass themselves off as a professional you sure are Juvenile in your way of portraying yourself over the internet.
ReplyDelete"Technically you insulted him first when you told him he insulted his own intelligence. And please #DEAD? What are you twelve? I'd rather listen to Christina Aguilera straining her ass off than see someone trying to make a point in a juvenile way."- How about no? He insulted my first by insinuating that I couldn't read. Seat for you.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm not 12. Are you?
That's nice, but this is about Whitney, not Christina. Another seat for you.
"I believe that also applies to several others on this site since all you've done since you've arrived here is insult and bash anyone that thinks differently than you rather than correct them in a constructively criticizing way."- Don't tell me what you believe. Tell me what you actually KNOW. There's a difference.
Hahaha I love how it only takes a few choice words to REALLY bring YOU out! My bubble of failure, dont make me laught, twat! I am a nurse who saves lives day in day out - while you on the other hand sit here and get all hairy because you dont like the truth, and clearly have nothing better to do with yourself (awwww what a wee shame, my heart bleeds purple pish for you hahaha)....why dont you go find a cliff or something (take your vile parents who made you the way you are) and throw yourselves off!! Is that insult enough??? I can come up with more if you should please...
ReplyDeleteBrian, you are a legend! Please though if I end up as I have done with this discussion and getting all nasty too, feel free to give me the hairy side of the hand :/
ReplyDeleteThe comment I just posted below;
ReplyDeleteHahaha I love how it only takes a few choice words to REALLY bring YOU out! My bubble of failure, dont make me laught, twat! I am a nurse who saves lives day in day out - while you on the other hand sit here and get all hairy because you dont like the truth, and clearly have nothing better to do with yourself (awwww what a wee shame, my heart bleeds purple pish for you hahaha)....why dont you go find a cliff or something (take your vile parents who made you the way you are) and throw yourselves off!! Is that insult enough??? I can come up with more if you should please...
Please allow me to take that back, to even think such a thing is totally and utterly unacceptable I would never with that apon anyone regardless. I will admit I was mad and to be honest between the both of us there was no need for it to go as far as it went.
I am sorry! That was an evil thing to say!
I have to agree with @c4af24fdb1fddcd49f54026caffa848e about the recent influx of people who are using language that can be deemed argumentative and aggressive. I am all for people disagreeing with me or each other, but I don't want this site to be one where people fight and argue in a way that is not constructive or focused on the point at hand.
ReplyDeleteChimier Chimier like that your arguments use technical knowledge and expertise to back it up, its what I want for this site. But I don't necessary like the tone in which you do so. Its almost like you are trying to rile people up. If that is your style then please tone it down or if you can't then simply move on- there are a myriad of other sites/blogs that solicit that kind of commenter. However, this is not the kind of base I am looking to build, so please keep it civil and light. Thanks
Stuey You are a regular here, and I've never seen you react like that, so I know that you were considerably irked. Thanks for being big enough to apologise and lets just move on from it.
Ignoring the previous row, there is no way Whitney was a soprano. She had a thick voice with a reasonable weight to it and this is because of the vocal folds themselves. The thicker the folds, the heavier tone a voice has.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, if she were a soprano - she would be able to ascend into the fifth octave without having to mix quite so early in chest voice alone if you were.
And to Chimier Chimier, whether you disagree (or should I say abusively attack) or not, my opinion will stay the same and furthermore any abusive comments shall be ignored. Many thanks :)
Thickness of voice is where fach comes in: lyric, dramatic etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes someone a soprano/mezzo etc. is vocal registration, tessitura, color, and last (and least important of all), range. How high one takes up chest voice is not evidence of whether or not someone is a soprano.
Anyone can take chest up high regardless of what kind of voice they have.
And Whitney's voice was mid-weight. Dramatic sopranos have bigger and thicker sounds than normal sopranos, but they're still sopranos. A great pop example is Patti LaBelle. She has a thick voice and she's still a soprano because of her tessitura, vocal color and registration.
Those are FACTS. Voice type depends on tessitura, color, registration, not chest voice belting.
And Ginge2, IDK who you are, so you're not so important for me to 'attack' you.
"Hahaha I love how it only takes a few choice words to REALLY bring YOU out! "- LOL speak for yourself! Weren't you the one who got mad and insulted me when I pointed out you didn't know what tessitura meant and that you provided no proof? Oh.
ReplyDeleteIt went as far as it did because you decided to insult me because I stated places where you went wrong in my first post to you. You mention define soprano tessitura as a "bright, ringing sound" when that describes vocal color. And you have the nerve to get mad at me when I say you don't know what tessitura is? All you had to do was post the proper definition of tessitura (which is the AREA OF NOTES where a song lies/THE AREA of notes where a voice sits most comfortably) and prove that Whitney had more ease in the mezzo tessitura than the soprano one. SIMPLE. Instead, you decide to say I couldn't read, and so I insulted you right back. So if you wanna get mad, get mad at yourself.
However, it is in my heart to forgive, so I accept your apology.
I get argumentative when people insult, so I insult back and it kicks off from there. But I'll do my best to keep it light and civil.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated :)
ReplyDeleteHey dude, thanks for that. I actually do appreciate that (believe it or not) but my main reason was the comment I dropped being - "why dont you go find a cliff or something (take your vile parents who made you the way you are) and throw yourselves off!! Is that insult enough??? "
ReplyDeleteThat for me was not on! Anyway as I said we both have diff views of classification ect on vocal types and thats cool, if anything it helps to better place people anyway! I hope that we can genuinely put this behind us and move on in a positive manner.
You're extremely impolite in my opinion, but you're right in the facts you listed. But in my opinion Whitney had a mezzo voice since the beggining, or at least since 1992 when The Bodyguard came out. Songs like 'Run to You' and 'I Have Nothing' show the power was in her belting register and mid range, the coloration and timbre of her voice was the one of typical mezzos. I don't know enough about her to argue (specially with someone like you), so if you disagree, is OK. I may be wrong, since I haven't heard a lot of her discography, only 13-15 songs.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, how can you be so... mean? I can't believe you said things like "Your brain must feel brand new, seeing as how you've never used it" over an argument about a voice type... That's just INSANE!
Light and civil? Say that Stuey never uses his brain is keep it ligth and civil, really? I think you should really apologise for your behavior.
ReplyDeleteThanks for trying to start up something that ended hours ago. And by ended, I mean we all made our peace and moved on from there. So at this moment, your comments are irrelevant and unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteHave a good day.
I think you should keep your nose out of what doesn't concern you, especially when said subject has been over and done with. I mean, your comment didn't even make sense in response to mine. Have you lost the way to what you really should be worried about? As Beyonce sang, "keep straight and you'll see the sign right there".
ReplyDeleteAnyways peoples, casting the drama in the cellar!
ReplyDeleteWhat are your top five Whitney songs?? For me it would be;
1. I Believe in you and me
2. I look to you
3. Run to you
4. Heartbreak Hotel (Feat. Faith Evans & Kelly Price)
5. I will always love you
I will always love you, definitely. It's her signature song after all.
ReplyDeleteThe crack whore died people. Stop fighting over the crakhead and find a reason to love some other. Marian is alive n still singing in her hip hop persona n beyonce is popping out babies. So move on. Crack or no crack, she was perfection
ReplyDeletehey DIVA heres a version from a girl on american idol -
ReplyDeletenow no ones can come close to whitney but i was wondering
what do you think of it from a technical point of view -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPX-H3KGjJI&ob=av3e
Whitney had a lighter tone and more flexible upper range in the 80s. She was definitely a soprano on her first couple of albums. Just listen to the tonal quality back then...more feminine/high. In my opinion, she became a mezzo-soprano, (perhaps even a high mezzo) with that deeper, richer timbre, in the early to mid 90s not because of drugs, but rather because of vocal maturation due to age. The drugs started taking effect, and those lowered her voice too, but she remained a mezzo, perhaps going down a semitone or two.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the best songs that showcase Whitneys amazing voice are;
ReplyDelete#1 Run to You. Very difficult song. She very rarely performed it live.
#2 Didnt We Almost Have it All. While I do not care for this song too much, it really does show just how much power her voice had.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2mMPz_a4vY&feature=related
ReplyDelete1994...Mezzo?
oh...Hi everybody :-)
Whitney's the most impressive Mezzo-soprano I've ever heard, I always thought she was a Soprano. sopranos sing with more ease and flexibility than mezzos. she has the mid-range voice but can sing flexibly like the soprano, she is the loudest than most soprano's and Mezzo's. I'm stunned to the fact that she can't use her whistle register. voices that can go so high calls for the use of whistles. her voice is very loud due to fact that she has the most elastic and flexible vocal cords which is pretty amazing. I would say her tessitura is a lyric mezzo-soprano because lyrics can go higher than normal Mezzo-sopranos.
ReplyDeleteWhitney is one of the greatest pop vocalist of all times but she never possessed a whistle register. It does not take away from her phenomenal vocal skills. She use to have great control over her voice. Whitney actually sounded better on live performances than recorded vocal performances which is usually the other way around for most artist that is what added to her greatness.
ReplyDeleteHey Diva! If you haven't seen this yet, you should watch. Whitney singing a bit of opera with Pavarotti, Sting and Elton John. Showing off her classical/operatic voice, demonstrating that incredible powerful head voice she had, and it's a lot of fun besides. She does sound more a soprano here though ;)
ReplyDeletehttp://youtube.com/watch?v=Q2mMPz_a4vY
*nudge* in case you missed this :D
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the vocal range you have written down for Whitney is completely incorrect!!! She has 5 octaves! And I know that for a fact!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the vocal range you have written down for Whitney is completely incorrect!!! She has 5 octaves! And I know that for a fact!
ReplyDeleteWhere is the proof to back up your claims? Whitney has only ever showcased 3 octaves in recordings and live performances.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brian I'm afraid, having such a large range is a massively rare thing, for her to have said range she would need to be hitting some massively high whistle notes (which she never did) or be hitting some seriously deep manly sounding notes (again she never did).
ReplyDeleteThe same applies for Celine Dion, she has nowhere near a 5 octave range.
Well said! I agree with most of the things you've said! despite the determination that whitney was a soprano in her prime .
ReplyDeleteEven at the 80's whitney's vocal tessitura and color was pretty heavy , so in my opinion she has always been a mezzo soprano. (A Coloratura Mezzo Soprano probably)
the longest note of Whitney are 18 seconds ,on the music A Song For You, of her new album I Look to You
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Whitney. If i was a new to her and just listened to her original recording of "All at once" I would've assumed she was a Soprano. But considering how much her voice changed in between the 80's-1997 I don't think anyone can really put a definite voice type. Yes her head voice was very light and pure but since I work with a Coloratura Soprano every week I know Whitney wasn't a true Soprano. I would say she was Mezzo just because of her belts. We just need to appreciate her for who she was and the great music she gave us.
ReplyDeleteSo uhm
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAqNqjDSVD0&feature=related
They claim she hits an A6 in here. Idk if it's that note, but it's pretttty high. And it sounds sung because she does a bit of a trill on it.
It's right near the end, they put a "A6-G#6" caption up before it.
Just wondering if I could grab your thoughts, DD x
yah, i saw that awhile ago. It sounded like her voice was fraying, almost as if she was congested.
ReplyDeleteShe was sick, and was just kind of squeaking.
ReplyDeleteThere's a couple incidents of Whitney being sick and "hitting" notes in the 6th octave.
I don't know. I get where you're coming from, but I can do that with my voice, and I just know its not the proper technique. She seems to control it, like I said, with a bit of a trill on it, so I get the feeling its intentional.
ReplyDeleteLike she could just be using bad technique to hit notes up there.
ReplyDeleteCorrection again, Whitney Houston is a Falcon. an intermediate voice type between Soprano and Mezzo-soprano. It lacks the high notes of a true soprano and the lower notes of a Mezzo. but it has an almost full soprano like quality but not fuller that real sopranos. her ability to hold a long note distinguishes her from being a full Mezzo. her runs and melisma is amazing compared to many singers so if she must be a mezzo then the tessitura must be a coloratura. in classical opera coloratura is capable of leaps and ornamentation. in western music we call it melissma.
ReplyDeletewhitney houston has always been a mezzo soprano because i have all her albums and she has never been an soprano
ReplyDeletei agree but shes a mezzo soprano duhhhhh
ReplyDeletedrugs have nothing to do with her vocal range
ReplyDeleteshes not as talented as whitney houston you must be crazy dont ever compare whitney houston to leona houston two different artists
ReplyDeletethank you
ReplyDeleteshe was never an alto in the 90s sweetheart
ReplyDeletemariah carey is an mezzo soprano not an alto
ReplyDeleteGosh this is very interesting. I dont know much of voice types but now i know. If anyone could help me find my range please tell: Im a male, 18 years of age and can sing "TRY IT ON MY OWN" in chest voice and in head voice i can hit notes like she did on "I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY, SO EMOTIONAL, I ALWAYS LOVE YOU, RUN TO YOU etc. I have more power in my head voice rather in chest. I have to admit that her head voice is much thicker than mine. So what is my range if you can answer my question? Oh and my longest note in chest voice is about 8-12 secs and in head voice 10-22 secs. Plz help me guys. Thanx:)
ReplyDeleteI Will Always Love You Too Whitney\
ReplyDelete-Cocaine
Whitney<3 From what I gather from watching video performances, Whitney's voice was relatively the same from the mid/late 80's to 1993. Around 1994 her voice began to change from drugs but it wasn't until 1995 when you could tell. Example: Her live 1995 performance of Why does it Hurt so bad. The later 90's lowered her voice even more. She was always a Mezzo with a very pure and misleading head voice. I love her so much.
ReplyDeleteWhitney never was shrill, even when she was belting F5 or G5. Beyonce (thin AND shrill), Pattie Labelle are shrill, not Whitney. She almost doesn't thinned out, her voice was as rich and ringing in high belts as it was in medium notes.
ReplyDeleteOh, Whitney was shrill. Heartbreak Hotel. Listen to the part where she goes "Why'd you do it." It's all nasal and thin.
ReplyDeleteLOL IMO whitney was never an alto period.
ReplyDeleteMC is a soprano lolz.
ReplyDeleteWhitney's tone was heaven.
ReplyDeleteYou can't just judge talent like that. Provide proof. Back your claims.
ReplyDeleteDrugs changed her range.
ReplyDeleteHi DD, according to this vid, Whitney could hold notes longer than 9seconds:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXN0EoQvUlA&feature=related
Agreed. Definitely a mezzo. She might have still been a passable soprano on the very first album as her voice hadn't matured yet but her voice was thicker and weighty in later albums, chest belts were extremely powerful and her peak resonance was also in the chest register. Mezzo hallmarks.
ReplyDeleteOnly in some strange world where she acutally uses whistle tone.
ReplyDeleteCan u do a vocal range on the Legend and cousin of Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick? She has such magnificent F5s and E5s in her good days before smoking took effect. She even hit a G5 at the New Hope Baptist. When she sings, her strongest part of her voice would be the belting voice or chest voice. I have never heard her head voice, which is weird considering Whitney's abilities. More like a mezzo-soprano and unusually very bright chest voice with lots of emotion. Dark and almost hoarse under voice below the chest voice and her low notes are very dark, and emotional. Voice has quality and such characteristics that you can identify it as her own in any recording. Maybe one of the best voices standing next to Whitney and the other great singers. She is very under-rated and believe me if you watch this, you'll see her brilliance shine! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CO8eYwDsiw
ReplyDeleteWhitney is a coloratura mezzo-soprano with a big voice. this should explain her ease of melisma and vocal runs as coloratura mezzo-sopranos in opera are noted for their agile leaps and ornamentation of voice. the upper register is light and this timber is confused a lot with the Soprano because it is the highest mezzo-soprano tessitura. Her voice is very unique and I've never heard another singer with a tone quality as similar to hers. This voice was indeed a worldwide treasure
ReplyDeleteSome people say that Whitney Houston isn't as good as Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, or Celine Dion. In my opinion, she was so much better than all of them. Although they influenced her, she proved herself to be a beautiful voice. There will never be another Whitney Houston. We all love you Whitney.
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if whitney ever sounded shrill,it was after 2000,post crack,especially on her X mas album,please remove that vocal negative,she really was an artist who can infuse a lyric into memsmoring melodrama,meaning she was not known for just hitting the note,like (some artists)but making every note alive ,thats what singing is,wat an instrument she had...THE VOICE!and heatrbreak hotel,she said she was having her periods,thats why her voice was not on par,bring up something else...
ReplyDeleteWhitney has a thick, plush, and spicy tone to her voice. her mid belts were extremely powerful and ressonant.....easily one of my favorite singers.
ReplyDeleteThis entire website is bullshit. Listen to her cover of "The Greatest Love of Alive" (Live in 1990 at the Arista Anniversary, her longest note definitely goes beyond 9 seconds you idiot. Foolish people writing articles that know nothing about music! What a joke!
ReplyDeleteWell then, bye bye. Best of luck setting up your own site.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to need it if your comment is anything to go by. You couldn't even tell us how long it IS.
All your incredible knowlege manages to produce is ''deinitely goes beyond 9 seonds'.
Hope you'll also use a bit more imaginative language when writing articles than in above comment.
Celine didn't infleunce Whitney
ReplyDeleteI think your list is almost exactly like mine though 4. would be Exhale
ReplyDeleteMmmm I would go as far as to say that it was the other way around.
ReplyDeleteI think Celline would agree :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree that what your saying is highly possible. It would be incorrect, IMO, to state that Whit didn't influence Celine whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteLol maybe both Celine and Whitney were inspired by the same people?
ReplyDeleteI know Celine mentioned Aretha ( and Streisand) as influences. I would definitely put money on Whitney also having been influenced by Aretha.
I'm sure during their simultanuous careers they took note of eachother. But personally I don't hear anything in Celine's style which would have come from Whitney in particular rather than from a shared influence.
I know Celine said she was influenced by Whitney but frankly I don't put much stock in obit statements.
She only named Whitney in an obituary moment. Streisand she named early on and when working with her. And like I said, I hear nothing particular to Whitney and nobody else in Celine.
ReplyDeleteI would disaggree, I honestly believe whitney influenced maybe not a great deal but some. she covered the greatest love of all and when sining the phone book you can hear her imatating her I don't think she studied whitney but I must take Celine word that Whitney influenced her. And I have always thought celine was Barbra-esque. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nklB693QI8o
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between being able to imitate someone,showing someone respect and being influenced by someone.
ReplyDeleteI simply do not hear anything of Whitney in Celine's style. Because seriously? That video really makes my point...she sings the same melody yes, but in a very different manner than Whitney.
And personally I say ''thank heavens'' .
But hey...we can disagree. I'm fine with that. ;-)
And her voice was unmistakeably Whitney. She still had it, even though it was compromised. She made the best of it and sounded great. God rest her soul.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you try and find some compassion in that black hole in your chest? Whitney was only human and she made a poor choice. She only hurt herself with her drug habit; she never encouraged anyone else to do drugs. She gave more good to the world than she gave to herself. If you can't register that, you have no soul.
ReplyDeleteGuess you in all your ''compassion'' never considered what it is like to have a alcoholic/junkie as a mother. Or a sister.Or a daughter. Way to gloss over reality dude! Just go on pretending she didn't hurt anyone but herself.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think we are looking at influence two different ways you are looking for technique wise I am talking more mannerism wise
ReplyDeleteErm, no. The only singer I can think of whose voice sounds any similar to Whitney's (in the mid-range anyway) is Jennifer Hudson.
ReplyDeleteThat's mainly because her vocal decline was in full-force. She could belt well up to about F5 up until about The Preacher's Wife, but being more of a mezzo it was understandable that her belts wouldn't be as powerful.
ReplyDeleteI don't think she eve performed Run To You live :(
ReplyDeleteVocal negative: While her belts were rich and full, they were sung with a high larynx and this poor technique aided her decline after The Bodyguard Tour, along with the development of her nodules.
ReplyDeleteShe was also shrill closer to her debut as well. Listen to her highest belts in "The Greatest Love of All" and "One Moment in Time". The notes sound very forced and shrill. I have, in the past, described them as sounding like squeals.
ReplyDeleteGuess you in all your cynicism don't know how to mind your own business. The tone of your post tells me that you are trying to assuage your own demons.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a drug addicted family member, thankfully. Have you? Is that how you know for sure what it's like to have one?
All I know is that Whitney gave her daughter love while she made bad personal choices. Logically, she should not have had children given her propensity to abuse substances, but a heavy religious background will fill your head with the compulsion to do so.
In any event, her personal life was hers, yours is yours, and mine is mine. All that concerns me is the good she gave to the world while she could do it. You are not God and you have no right to judge, or to criticize those who actually have compassion. Methinks you doth protest too much.
First off...this is an open blog. Anything posted is everybody's ''business'.
ReplyDeleteSecond off I find it quite hilarious how you are accusing other people , who's comment btw by your own standards was not only ''not your business'' but also almost a year old, of ''lack of compassion'' yet now here you are. Posting a comment suggesting that the only reason I am able to understand the reality of what drug addiction does to relationships of any kind would be having family members who had such an addiction.
And with a 'tone'' which suggests I should somehow be ashamed of that.
Well, truth is...no, I have no relatives with a drug addiction. But I have seen people talk who had, I've seen documentaries on drug addiction, I read and I have a working brain. I have also seen junkies. Clearly you have not.
Or you would know how exactly how much ''love'' and care they are capable of.
Fact is dear, you are being a big hypocrite. No doubt because you are a Stan for Whitney.
And I guess...considering how much judging you just did in your comment...I am speaking to that ''god'' you claim is the only one allowed to judge?
Excuse me while I go inform the deluded religious masses their ''god'' has spoken...over on a blog called DivaDevotee. 'He'' is posting under the equally delusional moniker of ''free spirit'''. Rejoice all ye sheep!!!
Opie, your rudeness is the weak person's imitation of strength. It speaks more about your own character than mine. Your post has degenerated into an ad hominem attack, which is the last refuge of someone lacking any logic or argument. You attacked me personally instead of addressing the issue at hand. Nobody gets as defensive as you are unless they are hiding from something of which they are vaguely aware.
ReplyDeleteJust who do you think you are to question my grasp on reality when your own perception of reality is so tainted with hatred and judgment?
This may be an open blog, but we are subject to basic rules of decency and courtesy. That is what I was pointing out to the first poster. Why should the fact that I was responding to a year-old post bother you? You think I have nothing better to do with my life than to visit this site whenever I feel like it?
As I said, mind your own business about Whitney's personal life (that is what I was referring to with the "mind your business" reference). She was an imperfect human being who made poor choices and was unable to overcome them. The past is past and no amount of judgment on your part will undo it. What can be done is for us and everyone else to learn from the past so it is not repeated.
"Just" a singer? Have you no heart? That's the only explanation as to why you weren't touched by the uplifting emotions she expressed. She also inspired a lot of people vocally, myself included.
Fact is, I've never seen firsthand what damage a junkie can do to their family. I have seen what cigarette addiction can do, having lost several relatives to smoking-related cancers. Frankly, if I don't know the person, as I did not personally know Whitney, then it's none of my business. All that concerns me here is the fact that Whitney gave so much good to the world with her gift. You act as though junkies have nothing redeemable whatsoever. Were you living in a cave for the last twenty-eight years? Now who's being judgmental and hypocritical? Try practicing some compassion. You'd be surprised at how much lighter you will feel.
If you weren't so afraid of your own life, you might be a lot happier. Right now, you're being hysterical and self-righteously sanctimonious. You're attacking me because you fear what's inside yourself: hypocrisy.
Hey Opie, I resent the 'sheep' comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm a lamb, remember? ;D
That's not a vocal negative so much as a technical negative. And the 'high larynx superstition has become highly disputed.
ReplyDeleteLol stan, you are a joke. This whole thing started because you responded to a blindingly obvious almost a year old troll comment with a utterly personal attack. You really are determined to go for that title of Hypocrite of the Year it seems.
ReplyDeleteTrying to, equally obviously, turn reality upside down isn't going to disqualify you for the title.
I am far from hysterical. I am being rational about what heavy drug use does to an addict and her relationships with the people around them.You however are trying to deny real facts. And/or are extremely ignorant of said facts. Because really dude? You are seriously comparing the effect of nicotine addiction on the addict and her relationships with a cocaine/alcohol addiction???
As for your question who now is judgemental and hypocritical? The answer is still ''You are!"
Hahaha I remember. But I also remember you are agnostic about that 'god'' stuff. I wouldn't think you to be a sheep who thinks Hypocritespirit here is actually "god''? ;-D
ReplyDeleteNopie, Opie. You are the hypocrite. You're judging me for pointing out a person's lack of compassion and then you're calling me names. And the fact that you are so obsessed with the word "hypocrite" tells me that you doth protest too much. Like I said, you're attacking me because I remind you of your own demons. Your argument is nothing but an ad hominem attack with nothing meaningful.
ReplyDeleteRight now, you are indeed being hysterical; heaping hysteria upon hysteria, as it appears. You're taking this way too seriously. I was trying to remind people to show compassion to another human being. And what are you doing? Name calling and personally attacking me. You're not part of the solution; you're part of the problem.
Whitney never hurt any of her fans and none of us knew her personally. What she did in her personal life is none of my business. What matters to me is the gifts she gave to the world with her exceptional talent and compassion. She treated us better than she treated herself, which is unfortunate, but it is what it is. And since she is no longer with us, that's the best way to remember her by. So let her rest in peace.
Your nihilistic cynicism is quite disturbing. Are you really that miserable?
And incidentally, my name is not Stan.
Stan ( I know that is likely not your name. It's descriptive), your entire reply is in fact what you accuse me of doing. An personal attack, ignoring the issue and any argument brought forth. As have been all your replies.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I use the word hypocrite as well. Not 'calling you names'' but describing your comments.
But you are obviously as blind to the reality of what you are doing in your own comments as you are to the realities of what drug addiction does. So, guess I will just leave you to both delusions. You have a nice day now. :-)
Can we please take off the pre-drugs snide remark? I find that to be incredibly insulting to her legacy, considering the fact that none of us can pinpoint when it 'truly' started. With new admission from her brother, she was doing drugs in the 80's, the same time her voice was considered at its ultimate. So, in that case, there is no pre-drugs, and that remark is just an attack on her legacy.
ReplyDeleteI agree
ReplyDeleteHey, this was written before whitney's untimely passing, but I kept the title as I planned to do an "after drugs" profile. However, I've gone off the idea, so will be rectifying the title today.
ReplyDeleteI think that is good because most of your profiles show the voice as it has changed over the years perhaps you could include it in this profile.
ReplyDeleteByeeeeeeeeee! http://24.media.tumblr.com/4e13dc69e2e090b0ab082d51e6be05bc/tumblr_mjihdm3jdS1qewcpuo6_r1_400.gif
ReplyDeleteThanks for that!
ReplyDeleteThen you need to get some ears. There's nothing "shrill" about it. Her voice had tons of treble. That's what you're hearing. Not shrillness.
ReplyDeleteThe vocal profiles on this site are dreadfully inaccurate. Does the person (or people) who make these actually study voice?
ReplyDeleteYou need some lessons in etiquette. What does shrill mean? A quick search on google comes up with a "high and piercing sound" and a "thin and whiny sound". Both of these can work as descriptors for Whitney's uppermost belts. I'm sure many will agree that her belts were "piercing", and a smaller percentage would agree that her high belts were "thin and whiny".
ReplyDeleteIt's all about how individuals and their perception, however. You may have a different threshold about what constitutes thin and whiny. For me, Whitney is thin and whiny enough at the top of her range to qualify as shrill.
Also, a quick search on the word "treble" comes up with just "a high pitched voice, esp. a boy's singing voice". It seems that you can be shrill AND possess treble, as their definitions overlap somewhat.
all of the singers best,,,but we need to know who's best of all times???????
ReplyDeleteYeah, I meant technical negative. And yes, I can understand the disputed idea of her high larynx condition as she had so much strength and control up until around 2000, but if you watch her when she performed, her neck was very tense and you can see the muscles and veins almost bursting out of her.
ReplyDeleteNo: that's not what I meant. Some schools of music are now disputing that high larynx is detrimental. The CVI in particular preaches about consciously manipulating the larynx.
ReplyDeleteSPEECHLESS!
ReplyDeleteWhich does not in any way negate my statements.
ReplyDeleteThere's a big difference between desiring to hear someone sing and ''being influenced by''.
Whitney paid 1500 dollars to hear Streisand sing. Yet she obviously was not ''influenced'' by Streisand at all.
Celine in contrast...very clearly is influenced by Streisand.
tina turner is the best
ReplyDeletetina turner is better than whitney
ReplyDeleteShe has never really raised her larynx. If her larynx was raised, where did the vibrato come from, how can she still imply the Gospel technique, and how could she still go from a note like D5 to Eb5 in seconds? When raising your larynx, you can't deliver notes and exchange them that fast.
ReplyDeleteShe was more a spinto soprano in her early days but I'd say she was a coloratura mezzo in her later years.
ReplyDeleteYou raise good points and I agree with you, but there have been a few vocal coaches who have analysed her voice and said she sang with a high larynx. I've studied music but not am not a singing expert but know people who have agreed. To me it looked like she fighting to keep the larynx neutral more than actually raising it up, hence the wobbly jaw thing she always had going on when applying vibrato and belting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your mature response. It's hard to have someone reply maturely these days but thank you for replying maturely. I agree to a point but then I start to disagree by the time I read the "wobbly jaw" part because the "wobbly jaw" is what keeps the vibrato coming and is one of the best techniques to use if you want to sustain a note longer or have a neutral larynx position and many opera singers use the technique. The technique also gives the user a louder voice hence the power coming from Whitney's voice. Also, I agree because the "wobbly jaw" can also destroy voice if you start raising your larynx.
ReplyDeleteperhaps, but coloratura mezzos have sharper high notes so it could be a possibility since Whitney had good high notes. but the weight of her voice sounds Lyric to me
ReplyDeleteHonestly I don't even care anymore about what she was. All i know is that she had the most beautiful head voice and amazing belts.
ReplyDeleteVocal weight and lyric type voices don't go side and side. When it comes to mezzos, it gets much more complicated. She has a modest amount of vocal weight but doesn't actively throw it around. Later in her career she was a big metallic mezzo, which you are surprisingly right about. But mezzos can be thin like Beyonce, thick like Jazmine Sullivan, or weighty like Anastasia.
ReplyDeleteAnd when she debuted she was a spinto, albeit a steely spinto, not so much a more trumpet-like spinto such as Jessie J.
I miss her voice
ReplyDeleteWhitney had one of God's most amazing gift. Her voice was and still is one of the most powerful and considered the greatest voice of all time. We need to forget about the drug use and other varieties and focus on the beauty of her voice. Her voice transcends between time and space. Even after her death, her voice still shined with the brightness of a star and it will do so.
ReplyDelete"The stage has lost it's Queen. It mourns for another voice yet, it never finds the voice that one voice. The stage truly has lost it's Queen."
- Anonymous
If you consider the A6 then Whitney's vocal range would be A2-A6 which would be four octaves.
ReplyDeleteHow?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eGIo_SCrN8&list=RD02SUAkJf-ILgQ
ReplyDeleteMost amazing medley in history.
I love Mariah, Celine, and the other divas but I have yet to see a performance at this level.
I suspect she started off as a spinto soprano and matured into a lyric mezzo who retained good weight. But her voice always had a ringing quality to the resonant timbre all the while until her decline.
ReplyDelete"I suspect she started off as a spinto soprano and matured into a lyric mezzo"- That's not maturation. Spinto voices mature into dramatic, not lyric, voices.
ReplyDeleteWell, let's go with "changed" then. Again, not splitting hairs.
ReplyDeleteYes, but it didn't suddenly jump into a different fach. Yes, it changed from soprano to mezzo. In terms of size, it was still a spinto, but because there is no "spinto mezzo soprano" fach, it would have been classified as a dramatic voice. Of course, due to her drug problems, a dramatic voice that wasn't working as efficiently as it should have been. However, this all happened circa 1995.
ReplyDeleteTomika Arnold, has a similar tone, not as good as whitney but close.
ReplyDeletevoicehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbcoqMLpZnE
wendy moten from the movie the pagemaster both ladies have similar tones but still not as good as whitney, it's not a very common tone very hard to replicate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFMRuGWiL00
i think whitney was dramatic soprano whitney's voice was powerful like a patti labelle's voice
ReplyDelete