[Vocal Profile] Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams

Vocal Type: Lyric Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal Range: G#2 - Bb5, 3 Octaves 1 Note and a Semitone
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Strengths:Williams is in possession of a distinct vocal tone clean of grit and impurities, as well as solid musicality which she demonstrates with superb intonation and vocal phrasing. These intrinsic skills have served her well not only in the studio but during live performances (which include time on Broadway).

The lower regions of the voice from G#2 to around C3 display a slightly smoky if distended texture. The notes are achieved through impeccable technique, but are somewhat less audible than the upper regions of the range. Here Williams tends to flirt with the range rather than spending prolonged periods of time.

The middle of the range is where Williams’ vocal prowess fully comes into play. Here the voice takes on a fuller, more creamy timbre with slightly velvety undertones. She shows a dexterity here, being able to skip through notes from the mid-range, down to the lows, and ascend into the head voice. This is something that is shown with great fluidity in Saved The Best For Last. The way in which she tackles the upper chest region can be of a sweeter and softer nature [Colour of The Wind], or more direct and pronounced such as in The Right Stuff, where the notes are executed with a well balanced mix of both the chest and the head voice.

The upper register/head voice is reflective of the rest of the range in its purity of tone and clean execution. Williams can hold notes within this part of the range and can choose to access it with a vocal run, or to hit them with a clean jump upwards- as displayed in Breathless. As she begins to pass D5/ F5 the tone of the notes quickly thins out, becoming somewhat more robust in tone whilst retaining some weight and fullness.

Overall Williams is not only an adept vocalist but a canny musician with a good ear and the ability to emote a song superbly. A technical singer, with a clean and fresh sounding vibrato that never becomes gratuitous, Williams is considered an underrated singer by many.

Vocal Weaknesses: The uppermost notes of the range can become somewhat pulled and quickly lose Williams’ distinct vocal tone. Some notes in the lower register can also sound dry and muddy, but this has improved with age.

Thanks to Stuey!


Thoughts?