Monday 7 May 2012

[Vocal Profile] Brandy Norwood


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.







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49 comments:

  1. Stuey7 May 2012 at 01:56

    BRANDY, BRANDY, BRANDY!!!! Wow she is defo one of my fav diva's.....her voice is super gorg for sure!!! My fav songs...

    http://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

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  2. Opie Ever7 May 2012 at 13:35

    Good voice!

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  3. Anonymous9 May 2012 at 14:06

    She's my favorite singer <3 great voice

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  4. clarksonic12 May 2012 at 07:36

    Her voice <3 my fave songs are I Tried,The Definition, and Learn The Hard Way.

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  5. Hannah15 May 2012 at 01:20

    I'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...

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  6. DrPayne'sTrain28 May 2012 at 16:16

    I 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.

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  7. DrPayne'sTrain28 May 2012 at 16:17

    And I feel she lacks real soul.

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  8. Stefano4 July 2012 at 00:42

    Her belts are all in the mask. How could they lack resonance?

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  9. יובל מיכאליס31 August 2012 at 09:34

    Well said ! :)

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  10. emrys12 September 2012 at 13:24

    Coloratura Contralto

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  11. ToshW17 October 2012 at 00:55

    Your 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.

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  12. Huuuuh?19 October 2012 at 01:05

    You 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!

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  13. ToshW19 October 2012 at 06:45

    I 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.

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  14. marc20 October 2012 at 01:35

    brandy never strained to hit high notes nasily was but never strained,
    the 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

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  15. kim20 October 2012 at 01:39

    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

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  16. Gray20 October 2012 at 01:45

    That'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.

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  17. ToshW20 October 2012 at 02:54

    Thank 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

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  18. marc20 October 2012 at 04:12

    I 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

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  19. Mel R20 October 2012 at 04:48

    Love her voice! She truly uses it as an instrument. Her harmonies are just... ineffable. lol

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  20. ToshW20 October 2012 at 06:10

    I 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.

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  21. ricky9421 October 2012 at 16:12

    Studio 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.

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  22. Remedy26 October 2012 at 02:32

    You said that Ciara is a better vocalist? That is such an insult!!!!! Ciara can't even hold a note. Wow!

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  23. ToshW26 October 2012 at 03:05

    I 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.

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  24. canlexi25 November 2012 at 18:08

    Anyone doubting Brandy's vocal power please take a listen to the whole Full Moon Cd.

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  25. Laurie1 December 2012 at 22:23

    Have 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.

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  26. Jenna17 January 2013 at 23:46

    Brandy'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”

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  27. disqus_3ouxuZ0Jrl22 January 2013 at 01:20

    A 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

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  28. Edwin L. Morgan27 June 2013 at 16:59

    OMG! so a stumbled on to this online... this thus far my favorite live performance from Brandy.. she really came prepared!

    http://www.bet.com/video/bethonors/2013/performances/brandy.html

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  29. Guest29 August 2013 at 23:57

    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.

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  30. md16 September 2013 at 17:42

    Don't know if you got this or not but Brandy hit a Bb5 backstage at Luke James' concert.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEhCn1t5j7s

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  31. DivaOfSoul19 September 2013 at 04:58

    Does anyone else hear some whitney in her voice?

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  32. Kitprince30 September 2013 at 22:05

    There 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.

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  33. Sasuke Uchiha10 November 2013 at 07:49

    Brandy'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.

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  34. Somebody11 November 2013 at 06:30

    haha haters are always gonna hate. I knew you were a common hater, the moment you said she's not a contralto. Bye

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  35. Plaintruth11 November 2013 at 06:31

    Guest, 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

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  36. Somebody11 November 2013 at 06:33

    obviously, 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

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  37. Anonymous11 November 2013 at 06:34

    lol at Brandy being insecure, that's a downright lie. Pls do not confuse humility with being insecure.

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  38. Plaintruth11 November 2013 at 06:36

    what 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

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  39. Plaintruth11 November 2013 at 06:38

    well 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

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  40. @4evershelton14 November 2013 at 20:23

    this 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

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  41. samantha may15 November 2013 at 06:59

    she is a mezzo soprano at its best able to utilize both ends of her range

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  42. Black Robin15 November 2013 at 19:25

    Its 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.

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  43. Sarah17 November 2013 at 00:21

    Brandy can go higher than we thought ... I think I heard an E6. She can also go as low as B2 comfortably.

    E6 note: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmY-m46fGxQ

    C6 note from backstage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEhCn1t5j7s

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  44. Wanye17 November 2013 at 00:24

    Her range should be updated to B2-E6 .. #justsaying

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  45. Guest27 November 2013 at 16:07

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmY-m46fGxQ
    BRANDY PLAYING AROUND WITH HER VOICE. 20 years into her career and we still haven't seen all she can do :)

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  46. Artese Bolts26 February 2014 at 02:31

    thank u this bitch aint even that good foreal, she sounds nasally. Please Rihanna can outsing this bitch anyday

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  47. Jsoul12 April 2014 at 02:25

    That's like the the first time I heard Brandy sing in her head voice...

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  48. yellowdogdemocrat13 April 2014 at 08:10

    Too much vocal pyrotechnics. I get tired of it very quickly.

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  49. Guest5 May 2014 at 00:00

    Her Coloratura is brilliant. Why she's as underrated as she is I'll never begin to fathom. Also, Low Lyric Mezzo, not a Contralto.

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