Brandy
Vocal Type: Lyric-Mezzo Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 octaves and 5 semitone. G2- E6
Vocal Pluses: Brandy possesses an extremely dexterous voice that allows her to sing complex vocal runs effortlessly and subtly [Warm It Up (With Love)]. This skill can be used through the registers, meaning she can begin a vocal run at the top of her range and end up at the bottom with a speed and delicacy that belies its true skill [Over the Rainbow].
Brandy’s vocal tone is often noted as one of its defining trademarks. Smoky and airy with a slight edge to it, the voice has a timbre that lends itself well to being layered. This allows her to create harmonies that not only maintain the unique characteristics of her singular voice but also allows for them to remain light and bright despite multiple overlays [A Capella (Something's Missing)].
With a developed lower range, Brandy’s voice find unusual strength and beauty in the low and midrange. The lowest notes are dark and maintain the characteristic “hazy” quality of the rest of the voice (bar the upper belts)[Sittin Up In My Room (live)]. However, not particularly weighty or full, they point to the singer not being a true contralto- as many consider. Her midrange has an easy, effortless quality to it, as well as a slightly metallic colouring [All In Me]. Brandy can also solidify and round out the wispy edges of this part of her voice if needed [rapping in Whenever You Like], which adds to the textural variety of the voice.
Brandy’s belting range is light, bright and slightly more solid in timbre than the lower part of her range [What About Us]. Her mix is flawless, meaning notes in the fifth octave are hit without strain or a decline in the quality of the voice. It is possible for her to produce notes that are more resonant, and fuller if she forgoes this mix, but this is produced in such a way that it is harder to control the dynamic of the note, or to hold it without putting strain on the vocal chords [A Change Is Gonna Come (A Capella)].
Vocal Negatives: Brandy’s belting range can sometimes sound nasal, and often lacks resonance, especially the higher it gets.
BRANDY, BRANDY, BRANDY!!!! Wow she is defo one of my fav diva's.....her voice is super gorg for sure!!! My fav songs...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9v7SaxmwoM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALEmbB4c7yI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzwoJ10UyO0&ob=av2e
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuiSFDuo3ac
Good voice!
ReplyDeleteShe's my favorite singer <3 great voice
ReplyDeleteHer voice <3 my fave songs are I Tried,The Definition, and Learn The Hard Way.
ReplyDeleteI've got to be the only person in the world who doesn't like her voice. Maybe I haven't heard enough of her stuff...
ReplyDeleteI don't like her voice either, tho I do like 5 of her songs. But I can't deny that she has great skill. Her voice just sounds really ugly.
ReplyDeleteAnd I feel she lacks real soul.
ReplyDeleteHer belts are all in the mask. How could they lack resonance?
ReplyDeleteWell said ! :)
ReplyDeleteColoratura Contralto
ReplyDeleteYour not, I dont think she is a good singer, she just carries a tune, just a studio magic artist. But she was better vocalist when she debut.
ReplyDeleteYou are crazy! Her voice is much more mature, sultry, husky and controlled now (she's always had great control though). Her voice is so versatile. Her harmonies, runs, pitch and intonation is amazing! Studio magic?! Ha this is Brandy we're talking about, not Rihanna!
ReplyDeleteI know my opinion may be differ from most, when it comes to her, I just dont hear what others hearing. I have not followed her music. There's probably 1 or 2 songs of hers I like, but the few live performances ive seen of hers she sounded nasily and somewhat strainned, when she would sing Eb5 over higher and didnt really have any volume. I may be along in this but I think Ciara is a better vocalist.
ReplyDeletebrandy never strained to hit high notes nasily was but never strained,
ReplyDeletethe reason why brandy is the best female vocalist is not because of her
songs, its her tone the way she sings and how she uses her voice as a
instrument she is not just singing i can name many singers who reads the
brandy book "vocal bible" however since you dont hear the way you
should when you hear a brandy song you will never know her craft
I think she is a mezzo soprano with a very developed lower range her voice beyond C5 are very bright and high compared to a lot of alto's
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit harsh--this person just doesn't see what people like in her voice. It's a matter of taste--however, that doesn't change that her vocal technique is quite good. I mean, I'm not a fan of many vocalists that I can say are beyond well trained and ahve great voices--just not to my taste.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I guess its an aquired taste like Fantasia, I know some people think she a great vocalist and other think she is just medeocre. I have met others who thinks she is the best and those who think she cant carry a tune. I happen to flip the channel and saw her this morning on a talk show perfrommng. She did not sound strained. She just dosent offer me anything. But I give her props on her technical aspects. I
ReplyDeleteI do apologize to both of you i just get a little upset when people knock brandy down because she is so humble and she is very insecure with her talent and her look. I'm a brandy fan is all, This is a page for brandy and every site i find seems to have negative comments on her or others try to find a way to believe she is not that great
ReplyDeleteLove her voice! She truly uses it as an instrument. Her harmonies are just... ineffable. lol
ReplyDeleteI understand, and agree with you some people go out of there way to pick at her. I do think there is definatly a place of her the industry and she improvement, she actually looked better than I have ever seen her and her performance was solid.
ReplyDeleteStudio magic? Her studio versions are boring compared to her live performances. I can understand why you don't like her voice. She has a "Hit or run" voice; either you REALLY like it, or you just don't care for it. I like contraltos because they have sexy, sultry, voices that I find perfect for R&B and sometimes pop whereas most people like Mezzo-Sapranos, because their voices are more 'current', 'versatile' (IMO) and 'with the times'. I don't think she was better when she first debuted though. That's why I keep up with her; because she improves each album. I can only imagine what she'll sound like 5 years from now.
ReplyDeleteYou said that Ciara is a better vocalist? That is such an insult!!!!! Ciara can't even hold a note. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI used the wrong word when I said vocalist so I will take that back, I was meaning her live performances, the few Ive seen. I was highly supprised when I have seen her live performances based on her not so great studio work, I thought she would be one of those singer who wouldnt be in tune or say on key at all. Actually she is very consistant and had good stamina. I know she has been known to mim and personally I dont care for any of Ciara's music. Brandy on the other hand has 4 songs I kinda like.
ReplyDeleteAnyone doubting Brandy's vocal power please take a listen to the whole Full Moon Cd.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Brandy's bathroom youtube videos? I really recommend that you take time to research her live performances as well. Especially her most recent. I think you will have a change of heart. To compare Ciara to Brandy is very insulting.
ReplyDeleteBrandy's voice is impeccable! She may have a lower range than half these females but she is superior to them when it comes to control and intricacy. She may not be able to hit the high notes they can hit but then again they would never be able to hit her lower notes which probably takes a lot more skill. Her tone alone and vibrato, how she flows effortlessly, freely, from her mask to her chest voice. The chick is a beast when it comes to transitioning and her placements. Timbaland said it the best “Brandy is the best singer! Her voice is like a humming bird. There’s too many words to describe Brandy, shes just INCREDIBLE”
ReplyDeleteA lyric, coloratura contralto for sure. If you want to hear her without a use of such heavy harmonies, listen to "Without You" off of Two Eleven <buy & support
ReplyDeleteOMG! so a stumbled on to this online... this thus far my favorite live performance from Brandy.. she really came prepared!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bet.com/video/bethonors/2013/performances/brandy.html
Brandy is nobody's contralto. She is a lyric mezzo in the pop/r&b music format. Her voice has no weight on it. Her tone begins to lighten up in the third octave, and by the time she hits the mid/high fourth octave- going into the fifth- she sounds like a young girl. Beyonce retains more weight and depth in the fifth octave than brandy, and she is a real pop coloratura mezzo.
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you got this or not but Brandy hit a Bb5 backstage at Luke James' concert.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEhCn1t5j7s
Does anyone else hear some whitney in her voice?
ReplyDeleteThere is a singer which I have been listening to for about 2 years now has a very similar tone to brandy... She embellishments are a bit the same as well... Has anyone her heard of Dawn Richard? She was the Alto voice in the girl group Danity Kane.
ReplyDeleteBrandy's a Mezzo Soprano as well. Love the smoky quality and rasp to her voice. Makes it very enjoyable listening to her. And her runs are CRAZY. This girl has mad talent. I remember watching her show when I'd get bored. She's also a talented actress, which most singers/actors aren't. They're either good at one or the other or decent in both. Brandy? EXCELLENT singer & an exceptional actress, far above the average. She needs to drop more music.
ReplyDeletehaha haters are always gonna hate. I knew you were a common hater, the moment you said she's not a contralto. Bye
ReplyDeleteGuest, Hannah and ToshW are the same people, and this is not about liking her voice. You might not like it but doesn't change the fact that she is a vocal beast. I don't like Fantasia's voice either but I can't deny that vocal, she's right there with Beyonce at the very least
ReplyDeleteobviously, you do not have an ear for music, you're simply not a singer, I get it. You wouldn't understand unless you're an actual singer
ReplyDeletelol at Brandy being insecure, that's a downright lie. Pls do not confuse humility with being insecure.
ReplyDeletewhat live performances did you see? did it occur to you that maybe the sound quality was bad? did it occur to you that maybe the sound engineers were doing a bad job? pls, if you have never heard Brandy sing live as in being physically there at her concert, and not some YT vid, then FOH
ReplyDeletewell you obviously don't know what real music is, and saying Brandy lacks soul bahaha, said one person ever. Go on and listen to your ciara and rihanna, they got soul right? #lies
ReplyDeletethis needs to be updated because the " vocal Bible" just killed and while doing so she hit a solid Eb6!!! so im wondering if she might be a coloratura mezzo???? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmY-m46fGxQ
ReplyDeleteshe is a mezzo soprano at its best able to utilize both ends of her range
ReplyDeleteIts legit but she's simply a light-lyric mezzo-soprano. She is incredibly agile and has the making for a coloratura but I dont hear much coloratura structure when she sings melisma's. I got faith in her but I'll hold out on that coloratura claim for now.
ReplyDeleteBrandy can go higher than we thought ... I think I heard an E6. She can also go as low as B2 comfortably.
ReplyDeleteE6 note: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmY-m46fGxQ
C6 note from backstage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEhCn1t5j7s
Her range should be updated to B2-E6 .. #justsaying
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmY-m46fGxQ
ReplyDeleteBRANDY PLAYING AROUND WITH HER VOICE. 20 years into her career and we still haven't seen all she can do :)
thank u this bitch aint even that good foreal, she sounds nasally. Please Rihanna can outsing this bitch anyday
ReplyDeleteThat's like the the first time I heard Brandy sing in her head voice...
ReplyDeleteToo much vocal pyrotechnics. I get tired of it very quickly.
ReplyDeleteHer Coloratura is brilliant. Why she's as underrated as she is I'll never begin to fathom. Also, Low Lyric Mezzo, not a Contralto.
ReplyDelete