Vocal Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal Range:3 Octaves D3-D6
Whistle Register:No
Vocal Pluses: Instantly recognizable voice with a poppy and colourful tone that is well supported from the bottom to Middle of the voice and this is where it finds its most comfort. Gwen’s voice has managed to stay , relatively, in the same condition throughout her career (an aspect which is rare among most of todays singers).
The lower register, albeit lacking resonance, is very rounded, showing much control. The voice can easily mix into the upper belting register but Gwen stylistically often sings with a punky- throatier edge. The voice finds its ring within the middle of the belting register. The head register is light and agile, being able to instantly and seamlessly transition into it after a belted note.
Known for her unique trademark vibrato, Gwen’s voice is easily capable of transitioning from a solid belt to a Yodeling vocal wobble.
Vocal Negatives:Technique can be questionable at times. Her chest dominant belts can often sound heavy and strained due to the edgier sound she chooses. When performing live the key of her songs are often lowered so she can keep up with the band. Also, her head register is weak as it is often used merely for expression or exclamations; yet, can become much more resonant if properly executed. Also her Vibrato may not be to everyone's taste.
Thanks to Brian for creating the profile, and Serendipity for directing me to the video!
I forgot to add that she is the only vocalist I have ever heard to have Belted all the way up to a C6!
ReplyDeleteNice one Brian! :)
ReplyDeleteLove Gwen and her voice!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :D
ReplyDeleteReally o.o?
ReplyDeleteI can name a lot of ladies and a few gents that can belt it out to those heights, or higher.
Really? Who? I mean most people hit notes in the 5th octave with head notes. Gwen is the only person I've heard to have mixed a belt all the way up there. O.O
ReplyDeleteAretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Vanessa Amorosi (in my opinion one of the most unique belters, everything past F#5 sounds like a guitar), Alison Goldfrapp, Nika Anoni Rose, Erykah Badu, TIffany Mosley, Kelly Clarkson, Monica Naranjo, Ann Wilson, Pat Benatar, Amber Riley, SoHyang, and a few more ladies.
ReplyDeleteI know a male singer who could belt up to Eb6, can't remember his name though.
The highest belted note I have ever seen was a G6 done by a gospel singer, who unfortunately I have not a clue of her name but she's featured in a belting compilation video on youtube.
Do you think you can help me on the next profile Im working on? I need to find out how many notes Zooey Deschanel can sing but I can't seem to find any videos and Im not trained to define pitch so...:)
ReplyDeleteSure :)
ReplyDeleteJust send me songs were you hear anything noteworthy, high or low.
I went through a 2 week pitching boot camp (not literally, it was a part of my Music Theory class), we all would stand with our backs to a piano while the teacher would play out random notes, and on occasion we'd have to replicate what we heard on the piano. So my pitching is pretty spot-on :)
Lol i hear ya. I had an Opera singer as a teacher so she forcibly made me match her Soprano voice with My Baritone voice at about 3 octaves lower - so I developed a pretty good ear. My training never went past proper technique though. I need to learn more! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aPvL-lty4Yhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWZeawmMIbo
She has sung higher belted notes before but I can't seem to find the videos! I'll keep searching though.
Haha I hear ya. I was trained by a Traditional Opera Soprano so I went through some tough training (talking about emmy nominated comedy tough- she had a squirt bottle meant for cats to use on me when I hit the wrong note.)- but all worth it for the natural technique and singers ear I have now. My training never delved into sheet music and notes though. I need to learn more! For some reason disqus wont let me send through the youtube links but ill keep trying...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aPvL-lty4Y
ReplyDeleteNot that words are even needed but one springs to mind, class!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtTj4cramPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzOOQfhPFg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S7Qu5HMiCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGwZ7MNtBFU
In that national anthem rendition she sang from Eb3-Bb4 :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWZeawmMIbo
ReplyDeletehere's another...
She sounds like a real average singer to me. You must be crushing a tad Brian. ;)
ReplyDeleteIn terms of range and ability Zooey doesn't really have much above the average trained vocalist but much like her acting career (ironically) she has this air about her tone that reminds me so much of classic rock and oldies that just sends across a sense of nostalgia. Her tone to me really is unique among all of the Mariah's and Whitney's that are slowly beginning to get out of style in todays music scene. She & Him was one of my favorite bands a few years ago (Zooey being the lead singer). I would think you would appreciate some of their material Opie :)
ReplyDeleteBoth she and her sister sure got something real unique going. But it's as persons more than them being great singers or actresses. I like whatever it is that they have going on though.
ReplyDeleteLike I think Emily is real funny here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcSldGYOzsY
I am not familiar with Zooey's material. Just watched the two links here.
What are some title's you think I would appreciate?
Much of Zooey's material has the whole Indie-folk sound going with it. Here's a single of hers that got a little popular a few years ago :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ3cTwI9bIw and I think all of her material with She & Him is worth listening to :). She never really stresses her vocals but I think thats what makes her more unique. And I agree about why Adele is so popular. Usually when an artist is more unique and present something new they tend to be more successful with less comparisons.
Love this girl and everything she does !!! Good profile, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteive always loved gwen - her songs especially her earlier songs with no doubt have always just stuck with me for some reason - plus shes in her forties yet she still looks like a 20 year old.
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute spoof ( I am pretty sure it was meant to be a spoof?), but I am afraid you read my taste wrong if you think I like indie folk. I listened to a few more songs by She&him and I liked Thieves but all in all her poor vocal qualities keeps slightly putting me off.
ReplyDeleteNot fond of the genre anyway but I particularly am not fond of hipsters and generally speaking a lot of those Indie folk artists I would consider hipsters. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a1FdDf72AQ
I keep forgetting that not everyone is fond of near all genre's like I am <:). Oh wells. But being friends with Hipster's myself that clip is actually very accurate...scary. lol
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daF6fV7BRfQ Her work in this film just makes me love her even more XD.
ReplyDeleteLOL I would definitely never claim to love near all genre. I WOULD claim there are songs I love in near every genre though.
ReplyDeletei have no hipster friends. I am working class AND dislike posing, hipster is my natural enemy ;D
Not familiar with that movie but the song is very cute and happy. :)
ReplyDelete...has thou truly never heard of Winnie the Pooh?!
ReplyDeleteLOL OF COURSE I heard of Winnie the Pooh. Though to be a big fan of the character became "hip" long after I reached adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI think I read one book at some point as a child. Didn't really get into it then either. I was into Jip and Janneke at that age. Whom I bet you never heard of. ;)
But I really meant I haven't seen the movie.
Nice to see you writing articles for this site, Brian! Great profile!
ReplyDelete"When performing live the key of her songs are often lowered so she can keep up with the band."
ReplyDeleteCan anyone explain this to me? It sounds like the band is more at fault here for the vocal negative, not Gwen.
It is a negative because that means the original format of the songs need to be changed so that Gwen can actually sing, whereas most singers tend to sing the original song. Gwen as a studio artist has a pretty light and fast voice- but on stage her voice gets heavier and slower.
ReplyDeleteI love Gwen but her live voice isn't good anymore! Especially on push and shove!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement on how the band changes how they play live to adjust to Gwen's vocals. I know this off-topic, but I would totally love to see a profile of Shirley Manson's vocal range on this site. Would you consider making a profile of her vocal range? Pretty please? Garbage is one of my fav bands.
ReplyDeleteShirley Manson please!
ReplyDeleteSHIRLEY MANSON AND BRODY DALLE!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSHIRLEY MANSON =)
ReplyDeleteI was just listening to P&S and discovered Gwen sings B2s and C♯3s in the harmonies of "Gravity"!
ReplyDeleteI love No Doubt it can sometimes be a little painful to listen to her voice.
ReplyDeleteGwen and No Doubt have some very fun songs, but she's not a very good live singer to be frank. I do like Gwen, but her songwriting (ability to write catchy, fun songs) is way better than her actual singing.
ReplyDelete