Idina Menzel
Vocal Type Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal Range:2 Octaves 3 notes a semitone E3-Bb5
Whistle Register:No
Vocal Pluses: Idina Menzel is a technical singer, that has the understanding and training to be able to navigate the range with expert control, resulting in well supported and projected notes. As well as able to single vocal runs, Indina can hold notes, with or without the addition of her thin vibrato.
Her midrange is solid, and begins to show signs of the steeliness of the belting range as it ascends. However, at its lower extremes it slightly softer, and more rounded.
The belting range is clear, bright and has a cool timbre, and a youthful colouring. It has solid tone that produces notes that are impressively penetrating. Because the voice is already light in this part of the range, when it's mixed with the head voice, to hit higher fifth octave notes, the voice retains much of its character, making the belting range sound endless and effortless.
The head voice is equally piercing and bright but isn't utilised often.
Vocal Negatives: To create more resonance and a fuller tone, Idina Menzel sometimes forgoes mixing her head and chest voice, resulting in a slightly coarser sound produced, that may lead to problems if used often.
E3
He lowest note is Gb3, not D3, an error was pointed out by the creator of that video.
ReplyDeleteThanks, forgot to change that after watching the video
ReplyDeleteI really can't stand her voice. Its harsh and piercing. She sounds shouty on defying gravity. Lea Michele and Chris Cofler do a far better versions. Her voice sounds course in places and forced. Also she has a nasally twang to her voice that just doesn't sound nice
ReplyDeleteLove your brutal honesty
ReplyDeleteI think Lea Michele is a much more gifted vocalist. I believe she has more power in her voice, a sweeter tone, a wider genre of music to sing, her mix is much stronger and much better, and to top it all off, her head voice sounds easier accessed and much more full than Idina's
ReplyDeleteI can't stand her voice at all. She sounds so nasal and forced in some notes... I think she's not a gifted singer, she's just a technical one.
ReplyDeleteI am not so sure of this lady, not really heard of her but from that clip I don't think I could warm to her style. Its very show tunish and not what I would normally go for, but she does indeed seem to be that whole technical ability thing and seems to know how to use her voice effectively.
ReplyDeleteShe is indeed a Broadway singer! She gained a wider audience when she showed up on glee and duetted with Lea Michele on "Les Miserables" song " I dreamed a dream "
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp7ARm2Lwdo&feature=related
Oooh thanks for the upload.I have to say I do love that song! And this performance was rather impressive (I expected it to give me a headache with these two powerhouses) but I dont watch Glee, working shifts kills my ability to keep up with progs! Maybe I should give it more of a chance and watch in online.
ReplyDeleteIt kind of lost its magic for me after the first series, and I never really watched it after. Also, don't like the way the producer reacted so spitefully to bands not wanting him to feature their music in the show. Total tool.
ReplyDeleteThats good to know, in that case I might not bother my ass hehe Ahh I did hear he was a bit overly critical. Its the choice of the artists involved and if he was such a fan and wanted to feature their work he should have been a little more genial! His ego must have gotten the better of him, sad stuff lol
ReplyDeleteI thought that her version of the Star Spangled Banner (although hard to hear) was amazing, probably my 2nd favorite next to Whitney's
ReplyDeleteDon't waist your time on Glee...just don't...Most overrated show ever.
ReplyDeleteFrom when I first saw her on Glee I wasn't a fan of her voice. Anyway, that video is really good! Showing the notes on the piano and then highlighting the keys that are her range helped me understand it better. I wish the other videos were like that.
ReplyDeletei wasn't a fan of her voice until she sang some where with Rachel
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled to see a profile for Idina here! I agree that she doesn't use much of her head voice for mixing and I wish she would. But I still think she is great and does come across as knowing and having a lot of control of her voice. Thank you for the profile!
ReplyDeleteI reccommend watching the first season of Glee only. If you like that then you can try subsquent seasons. However, most people agree that the first season/year of Glee is the best. The rest is not as good.
ReplyDeleteI am not defending him because I agree wth DivaDevotee that he was a total tool. BUt I think his reaction was in part due to unneccessary way people diss "Glee." Some of the bands didn't just decline the offer to feature their songs they would bash the show and on and on. One even made homophobic remarks about Ryan Murphy (the creator of the show) knowing he was gay and that the show tackles some gay issues (ex: the character of Kurt).
ReplyDeleteWhen I listen to her too much I start to think the same. I love the Wicked soundtrack which I think accounts for her loyal following but she is not as great live I think. I think DivaDevotee's review of her is very fair.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you on this too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know peoples! And I agree there is absolutely no need for being agressive or abusive with someone because the are gay! I have no time for that kind of attitude.
ReplyDeleteI think if anything its an amazing thing to deal with such issues in a positive and objective way. Regardless I will try to catch the first season and see how I feel about it all! :)
You should check out the Wicked Soundtrack...I love "For Good" and "The Wizard and I" as well as "I'm not that Girl"...her BEST songs. They highlight the best of her voice. She also has the song "Take Me As I Am" from "Rent, and lastly the song "Brave" from her solo album.
ReplyDeleteEven if you don't like musicals those are her best songs and worth checking out. I promise :)
Thank you! I shall be sure to check those out! :)
ReplyDeleteI hate the use of the word youthful as a plus. I think that is the only thing I hate about her voice (along with Amber Riley's straight singing and Lea at times). I think child-like is a better term and should be a negative. When she introduces weight and darkness to her tone is when it sounds amazing (such as Amber's belts and Lea when she isn't forcing a Britney-esqu pop sound)...which is why I think people believe Kerry Ellis, Shoshanna Bean and Eden Esperanza were better Elphabas, because they carried weight all across their registers. Idina tho is an amazing technical singer and I have seen her live on many occasions. I wish Glee would let her showcase it more tho...but her character is more of a tired, unspirited person so the original songs she sings lack gusto (which is a plus for her...energy)...but as you see in this past season, her voice when layered with Lea's sounds more powerful and colorful (which it is in real life)...even more so singing This Town/You and I. Her solo work and pre-Wicked work (Wicked can also be considered as a cause for thinning out her voice because of the drastically unnecessary high belts the amazing Swartz thought would be playful lol) showcase her colorful voice and technique much more. Diva, you should do one on Kristin Chenoweth and current Bway/TV crossover star, Megan Hilty.
ReplyDelete*Schwartz
DeleteI think the has a 3.4.5 octave range. e3-c6
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be a large fan of her voice, since she got voice training. It's quite annoying sounding actually. But I wouldn't say she's not a gifted singer, as back in the 90's, before Glee or Wicked, she was a massive success in the original cast of Rent, where she had a more raw sound. It's probably strange to prefer her raspy, slightly damaged vocals to her healthier trained sound she sports nowadays, but there's something more special about it. I don't know if it's just me.. here's a link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJlOQO6ZKbY
She can go higher than this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqlLI6ZMTCs&feature=related at 2:20 ish, that's her singing. And I'm pretty sure there's clips of her doing this live. I'll research :P
ReplyDeleteThat's not Idina singing.. that's Tracie Thoms, who played Joanne in the film.
ReplyDeleteI saw her live in Vancouver, she sang with such clarity and it didn't sound forced or nasal at all! It was the first date on the tour though. Even made me cry! :P
ReplyDeleteShe was SO amazing in Wicked. I watch it all the time.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree. I think Idina's voice is quite amazing. See: Take Me or Leave Me, RENT.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Idina is a Soprano instead of a Mezzo-Soprano. Her voice is thin and child-like, making it sound rather inappropriate for full Mezzo Roles. Idina's voice sounds best in the upper part of her register, however, her head voice and full range needs to be developed more.
ReplyDeleteI take it you've heard these tracks by now since its been a year. For Good popped up on my iPod, which is what brought me here looking at her profile and commenting.
ReplyDeleteThat song is jawdropping between the two of them. I describe Kristin Chenoweth's voice in one word - perfect. That being said, I've fallen in love with Idina Menzel's voice. Maybe its her interpretation of the powerful character she plays or just a tone that gets me everytime. Listening to Kristin in the first part of that song, I'm just blown away by her and then when Idina starts singing, I just melt. (pun not intended, okay maybe :) )
Another Soprano. Great voice! Defying Gravity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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