My favourite girl group of the naughties have reformed (disclaimer: "favourite" as far as can I recall right now). Danity Kane are back, dearies! Well, most of them. D.Woods still remains conspicuous by her absence- which apparently isn't anything to do with her. Shame, because it would have made this moment even more perfect for me.
The new song, Bye Baby, isn't the reformed group's actual first single (so I've heard). Instead it's more of a taster of what's to come from their third, as yet untitled album. Say goodbye to the heavy electronic influences of their first two albums (I do so begrudgingly), and hello to a retro, warming sound.
The track isn't quite up there with my favourite DK songs- Damaged, Striptease, Bad Girl and Ecstasy- and the harmonies are sorely lacking the extra voice, but I like it way more than other songs that have come with a similar sort of sound (Get Luck and Blurred Lines). I just wished they'd been more inventive with the vocals and harmonies. It would have lifted the track a little more, stopping it from becoming a tad stale by the midway point.
Still, I'm happy to see Danity Kane's revival.
Thoughts?
Ok....Not a fan of this track but I still some how like it...very smooth sounding... It's one of tracks that'll grow on me...
ReplyDeleteGrew on me on first attempt. Its got a hook, nice throw-back feel to it. And is far from the run-of-the-mill bubble-gum pop/dance music that's completely ruining the music scene these days.
ReplyDeleteThis was easy on the ears. Thumbs up from me.
At first the instrumentation rubbed me wrong but I'm enjoying it now.... Like...I really like it. That 70's funk influence is my shit. And who is that girl who sounds like Brandy?
ReplyDeleteYup, the funk influence sounds quite cool. Nice that they successfully manage to make it all sound strangely current too.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I will be totally useless in telling the singer's names. I have hardly heard DK's material (that too, years ago). Heck, I can't even tell which one is Aubrey :p.
That was my biggest concern. When the beat first started I was thinking that this should have been left back in 1972 but then I waited fifteen more seconds and I was bouncing on my bed telling my imaginary boyfriend "Bye bye" with conviction and all... Like I will be downloading this...LOL...
ReplyDeleteShe does get quite large and piercing and has a dark color (Though a bit contrived), but it is more so medium. Ariana, by comparison is smaller...much smaller than she should be but still small nonetheless. (Which isn't anything to laugh about because some of the singers with small voice can run circles around some with larger voices LOL). Ariana has a foundation to be greater vocally than Demi but IDK what is going on that cute little head of hers.
ReplyDeleteBut there was this performance of nightingale that had me convinced that Demi was not a light-lyric but a full-lyric. She put on tons of darkness, had a slight reverb on and delivered something I thoroughly enjoyed, though IMHO, it wasn't perfect. With her thirst for power, she brought up too much vocal pressure and got a bit frail on some of the upper parts. If you wanna hear a very similar soprano to Demi, look at Tiffany Evans. If Demi realizes her true potential, she'd sound quite similar, though with a different more rocky tinge, and a bit odder phrasing.
Also, if you wanna hear what Demi would sound like as a mezzo, check out Kelly Price... I beleive she is the closest to what Demi would sound like vocally if she was a mezzo.
I also found a performance of "Stay" that wasn't half bad. It wasn't terribly pitchy but I still wished she could have maintained the 5th octave all the way through the end. She also had an unnecessary amount of vocal pressure to the point that it turned into vocal tension on the held notes. I was looking for extreme freedom but couldn't find it. But watching this... It just makes me wonder what she'll be in her late twenties....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5K34F58Q5M
Anyone thinking Demi and Ariana are going to release their albums during the same year?
ReplyDeleteDemi's fifth album is already getting recorded and she hopes to release it this year. Ariana's second album is already getting recorded.
If Ariana releases a new album every year like Mariah and deteriorates her voice... :O
ReplyDeleteBeauty is in the eye of the beholder; That being said, there is absolutely NOTHING beautiful about Ariana's faux, failed-attempt husky tone. She sounds as though there are cotton balls in her mouth. Her voice is not amazing, at all. It's small, unsupported and weak. Ariana's voice is the one that's generic, not Demi's. Demi NOW is verging on generic and at the moment I'm not pleased. Her live performances as of late are complete and utter garbage. Ariana's? Better but nothing amazing. Is her music better? She's only had one Album, but yes it's better than her current Album, but Demi's earlier Albums like Don't Forget and The 2nd One are better in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I've always thought Demi's style, vocally, was more at home in Pop/Rock genre. I think she felt as though it was premature which is now why she's trying to appeal to an older audience than the previous one. Now she's trying to darken and change her tone, which was BEAUTIFUL to begin with. And those runs? Good god they're awful. Demi's ALWAYS done runs and if you listen to her in the earlier Eras of her music, the runs were excellently executed, well placed and simplistically innovative. These newer ones? Ugh. Ariana, I just don't like her voice. There are those who dislike singers because of hype. That's not the case with me at all, her voice is so generic and Karaoke. People are upset when I say that but it's true lol
ReplyDeleteMore like F#5. Below that, her voice is hardly supported. People should learn to perfect all regions of their voice rather than the ones they simply believe to be the most crowd inducing. That's so amateur-ish. That is the reason Ariana will never be a true vocalist in my eyes. She has the potential but she's still too in her head and ignorant to musical standard.
ReplyDeleteMy Demi! YOU CANNOT TURN INTO CHRISTINA AGUILERA!!!
ReplyDeleteI love Tiffany Evans. She has a voice that can silence people. Sad how we lost her through the years.
ReplyDeleteI'm mad that Angelfully DARE called her a dramatic soprano...-__- She's full-lyric in all her full-lyric goodness. Demi comes off as a light-lyric mainly because she gets a little tight on the upper chest and is not as free as she could be, resulting her her sounding "smaller" but she is also a full-lyric IMHO, albeit one with garbled technique.
ReplyDeleteWhere did Demi learn these techniques. I do like that belt at the end. (F5 or is it G5/A5?)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure where she learned it but considering she's a disney girl, I'm pretty sure she had some vocal training somewhere. The note highest note she hit in the performance above was E5 and I think the highest note while phrasing stay was either a C#5 or D5. But I'm fixing to pitch it right now and get back with you.
ReplyDeleteOK Thanks. The highest note sounded so much higher than an E5 but I think it's just because of the volume. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLOL, she was still in her mid belts the entire time, it was just the way she song the notes that made them seem like they were higher. Look at this vocal range video. Her mid belts (B4-E5) sound effortless as with all the other belts. IMHO, her ease would make me think she's singing lower than she is.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKCusjTV9kQ
This here, ladies and gentlemen is a REAL VOCALIST. She executed those G's and F's and tore them to pieces.
ReplyDeletewould demi be able to tackle THE BEYONCE?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know Demi has actually a medium-sized voice, but as you said, even small voices can outsing bigger ones (Mariah is a great example: small voice and yet a great amount of volume). And yeah, the biggest problem about Demi is that she seems unable to see how amazing her voice is by itself, and therefore she tries to change it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rweoobd8TnA I know that everytime we talk about Demi I post this performance but hell, she was stunning that day, specially after the first chorus. Sure the peformance had some flaws, but that only served to add more emotion to the song. I was actually thinking of tweeting her saying: "Demi, stop changing your damn voice. This is how you sound being the soprano you are *post this performance* and this is when you try to be a mezzo *Post that horrible Neon Lights performance on X-Factor*. Decide it for yourself"
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the same level of ease when I go that high. LOL.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that she's a woman and you're a man, I think that getting to those notes is already good enough lol
ReplyDeleteOh gawd, her fans would maul you. And her vocal freedom here is like really good but yeah I see the weak spots but they don't rub me wrong like they normally do.
ReplyDeleteimao lovatics aren't that cruel...well some are but most of us are quite sorted out
ReplyDeleteYeah, but for some reason I feel like Demi would really think of it. I may be a delusional for thinking that she may even give half a fuck about what a random person says, but after she tweeted how much she hated her performance on the X-Factor, I felt like she was actually saying "OK, it looks like trying to fake my voice is not working, I should try to go back to normal". And I really hope she does.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I know but for me, I one day want to be able to belt a C6. I truly top out around Bb5 when I'm mixing like my grandma on some pound cake batter but I don't normally go above a G5 because of confidence reasons. Most of the times, I can belt higher than I can sing in falsetto, when my voice is not warmed up. Like normally, before warming up, my chest range is about A#1-G#5 while my highest note in falsetto is around F#5. After I warm up, its a bit different. My range shifts a bit, going to around C2/E2-G#5-D6(falsetto). But normally, I hate my falsetto.... The shit is cold, steely and can't make up its mind on whether it wants to be head voice or falsetto(Its a mix between foggy and piercing. Like literally, its both at the same time), so I prefer to belt.
ReplyDeleteYeah, give it a shot. You might get a retweet from her...you know she's a very critical person of herself and knows her fans are uplifting even through tough love. I'd give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteI used to tweet Jazmine Sullivan all the time, telling her I missed her and one day she and her cousin retweeted me. Now of course, I picked up my laptop (when my battery was working) and showed everyone in my damn neighborhood... But keep at it... She'll most likely see it even if she doesn't reply.
Well, since all the performances that appear when you type "Demi live" are actually the worst ones (I just checked it lol) I underestand that you are left unimpressed (to say the least) by her, but here's some great performance form Demi:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rweoobd8TnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhCJPG4uMGU(Fix a Heart (The second song) was the best one IMO)
And since I know that you're not a huge belting-fan, here's a more quiet one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HuT8bxmn3I
That's a tough cookie to bake. I'd say she probably can handle a song that is song in a higher tessitura but she'd choke on something as low as "dance for you" or "miss you". I think "XO" would best suit Demi's voice. One day when Demi gets vocally adept enough, I do want to see her sing "love on top" with all the grit and conviction that Beyonce did. That song is deceptively hard...like really hard. Going from rapid leaps and apreggiotura that make you jump between head voice and modal register, while increasing half steps from C#5-B5 is hard for even the most able soprano. That song is what we church goin' folks call a stamina bustah'...
ReplyDeleteOk, that's good to know. I generally think the worst of fanbases period....LOL....
ReplyDeleteI'd die if she ever said in an interview "Yeah, I had this little phase when I used to try to sound like a mezzo, with a more mature sound, but then I got a tweet saying that it sounded like crap and that I should go back to my old technique".
ReplyDeleteIt'd be even more awesome if I ever became a famous singer and I got to meet her and say "hey, remember that tweet? Well, it was me, you're welcome" lol
I can hit an F6 when I don't do plays too much but that's it. My chest voice is HORRIBLE.com (lol). I hate my lower register because that's the only thing I'm good at: Hitting low notes with ease. I can go to G2 if I want to but my chest voice barely goes above an E4 or if I'm lucky, an F4. My Whistle Register is PUNY. I can hit a clear F6 at least 10% of the time and since my Head Voice is really strong, I NEVER go for the WR unless it's like a vocal warm-up or something. My voice is like every singer's worst nightmare: Sometimes it's there and most of the time it's not. I think I developed nodules because my voice suddenly changed from a really high pitch to really low pitch. Not only that but if I do plays and sing too much my voice wears off easily. I don't wanna even confirm I have nodules because I want to be a Broadway performer after seeing Wicked (This December at New York). I can only hope my voice lasts for my final performance of Alex in the Haunted Lands.
ReplyDeleteI'm a LOVATIC and I don't try and maul you do I?
ReplyDeleteDUDE DO IT!!! PLSS SHE NEEDS TO KNOW.
ReplyDeletecool story movie could be made on this
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to be a Broadway peformer then you really should find out whether you have nods or not. If you happen to have them, it won't probably be too late and with some rest you'll be able to recover your voice. On the other hand, the darkening and the lose of control over your voice may be caused because of your voice changing due to puberty. I know you're still 11 and it may seem quite soon, but also changed my voice at that age, which was funny because I was really small and then my voice was all manly haha (and then that manlyness disappeard and I was left with a leggiero tenor voice, I still don't know what the hell happened ._.)
ReplyDeleteI know the struggle with nodules. Mine don't really hold me back but they probably do give me my lower extension. As far as WR and superseding falsetto, I have been having more and more ease up there but I won't attach it to my range until I can easily transiton from a D6 in falsetto to a Eb6 whistle with no issue at all. For the most part, I can shoot up to an A6 with no issue unless I exhaust my voice, then my range really shrinks. LOL.
ReplyDeleteMy voice was on that stupid shit too. In fact, when I was a treble, I sounded relatively low, thick and raspy (still noticeably a treble), then as soon as I turned twelve shit changed. I started sounding like Chris Brown. Fast forward five years and I've transitioned into a lowish tenor.
ReplyDeleteLol, that would be kinda awesome.
ReplyDeleteLOL, no... But I can never be to careful. I've never really went after a singer with something nasty to say except for Christina Aguilera ROFL....but I seriously hat the idea of that woman...
ReplyDeleteI wonder why that happens. I was facing at a frightening speed towards the low baritone line and then, at 15, my voice started to go lighter and lighter. I don't really mind, I do like my voice and I actually prefer lighter voices, but it is quite strange, specially when you consider that I can still get easily into baritone territory (My tessitura is actually more the one of a baritone than a leggiero) and get down to F2 with surprising ease. Those notes sound resonant and quite audible, and I can truly project (not operatically, but very consistently) down to A2/G#2. It's like I'm a baritone trapped in a leggiero throat or something lol And another funny thing is that I'm almost unable to reach those low notes so consistently while speaking, only when I'm the "singing attitude" I can get down there.
ReplyDeleteI just did. I couldn't write the whole text because of that pesky word limit, but the message is still the same.
ReplyDeleteI talk really high but sing relatively low. Well, it comes off that way but for the most part, I sing the exact same note I talk around...so i generally sing D3-G3 commonly and I talk around E3-A3 most of the time (I exclude the mornings because I talk around F2 LOL). For most peope, they normally sing higher than they talk which is no surprise at all in this alto world we have.
ReplyDeleteAs for my vocal change, it went in two your bouts from the time I turned twelve....going from a chis brown like timbre, to a John Legend like timbre. But my voice is still ridiculously bright which signifies I'm a tenor. My lower projected notes have been tricky. Its like I can project all the notes in the upper half of the second octave but when I try not to, no sound comes out...LOL.
Also, when are you gonna let me listen to that sexy voice of yours? LOL.
LOL, I can show you. I know a few tricks about belting. But my talking voice never gets really raspy which is surprising because my singing voice is very raspy. Most of the time when I yell or scream, its like I'm singing... I do it with spot on technique because its habitual now. LOL. Like, we had a basketball game and I was screaming the whole time but I walked away with my voice still intact while everyone elses was shot.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure you're referring to Dawn, except she could only wish that she was on Brandy's level.
ReplyDeleteWell damn...LOL, she must not be so good?
ReplyDeleteLOL Thing is Leith, if I can find that many poor performances, I am left unimpressed even if there are good performances as well. I am not saying she sucks.
ReplyDeleteI am saying .... too many poor performances to impress me. Quantity does count sometimes. ;-)
LOL The Australian bit is not why I asked. I was curious whether my guess was right because your name sounded Vietnamese (or maybe Philippines) to me (your real name I mean. The one under your competition story)
ReplyDeletewhy 90% of the comment section is just filled with only demi?ughh
ReplyDeleteBtw I do love belting. I am just of the opinion it should be in relationship to the emotions of the song. Big Streisand and Bassey fan.
ReplyDeleteAlso I listened to the links and I am also left unimpressed in general by Demi. Her phrasing sounds very generic today's pop to me.
Wanna critique my mix in this clip?? I know it's a bit heady..still working on balance
ReplyDeletesustained F5
peak at A5
downward scale (run) to F4
http://instagram.com/p/jHa86zGoCg/
Primo Uomo Assoluto Sasuke Uchiha Black Robin Brian
ReplyDeleteI really need you guys to critique my mix in this clip..I'm still trying to work on staying even but I either falter or end up sounding heady..anyways. Let me know.
http://instagram.com/p/jHa86zGoCg/
sustained F5
peak at A5
downward scale to F4 (where I run out of breath lol)
Oh. I'm neither. XD Keep guessing. lol
ReplyDeleteI had a reason for guessing. A private theory of mine but since you're neither, it doesn't fit . A "mystery" it will remain LOL
ReplyDeleteBut I would say the name definitely does not sound Chinese or Japanese to me.
Agreed,,,,I really really hope she sees that and I know she doesn't ignore what people say about her, she reads things, so maybe she'll see that she has her own style and it works for her. She doesn't need to be in that mold. But part of it is of course her label holding her back so I'm glad her deal is ending soon.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I was thinking most of her problems this year were because of her tonsil removal. Her voice changed a lot after that...Her tone changed, even her speaking voice. I can imagine that being unfortunate for a singer even though before that she was doing many performances whilst sick.
ReplyDeleteAll in all it was good. Whereas I gravitate more toward the more chest dominant sounds or proportionally even mixes, I was quite pleased with that mix, ESPECIALLY for a guy. The downward scale wasn't necessarily glacial but indicated less naturally inclined agility. Based on that, and it's silly, I came to a conclusion that you were a Baritone. And if you actually are a Baritone, that mix was very good. Honestly. And the sound was surprisingly fulfilling. Most guys who go up there either take their larynx to the heavens or end up sounding extremely thin. It wasn't entirely wholesome but it most certainly wasn't hollow either. I say your mix in the upper register given your voice type is rather impressive.
ReplyDeleteLet Ariana in the game and gave her 5 years to improve bruh, she's not TOO HEADY anymore you can hear heady notes before because she's having sinus. She's sooooo UNDERRATED in this site. But in this game, i think it's a tie. Total tie.
ReplyDeletedemi's second album beats all albums put out by her peers!it was just too good..
ReplyDeletethat would be some funny shit to watch i'm sure she would sound like a dying cat,actually i want someone to convince her to sing songs that some best contestants on xf has done whom she critisized, i want to just know if she can handle songs that she criticize other people of.
ReplyDeletethere's nothing to forgive dear but i did get your point. and it's my mistake because i wasn't specific. i should have used pop music/mainstream instead of music industry/business that's why i apologized and i edited it because i feel obliged. and yes i know that there a lot of artists that are are so talented but with little fame because the dominant demographic is choosing the untalented ones.
ReplyDeleteRight? Everything You're Not, Catch Me and Solo KILL!!!! But her Debut album was the sheeet also!
ReplyDeleteNahhhh, she can still get heady. BUT, she has evened out her mix immensely since the inception of this new Album. I remember I was the main one calling her out on her mix lol I can't do that anymore because for the most part it is now balanced. And Ariana being underrated is actually quite sane. Where she's overrated there's a problem because her voice isn't remotely great. So yup, better that than undeserved hype. Karaoke as hell, man. One can easily say that about Regine Velasquez but the difference is that Regine, despite her technique, has one of the best voices period. If she's overrated it's understandable because she has an amazing voice. If Jennifer is overrated then it's fine, she has an amazing voice. Kelly Clarkson? Amazing voice. Ariana? Generic and weak lol This is my opinion of course. She is fine though XD
ReplyDeleteShe was hired to do a job and she did it, you're being needlessly critical. I'm sure she could do something with it even if she's not as good as Beyonce right now. If she hadn't said anything, she would have been a bad judge. Even if someone is wonderful there is still stuff to work on, so get over yourself. Even if she did it and sounded amazing you'd still go around with your biased opinions that hold no weight whatsoever. You don't know anything you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteI also like that Catch Me was one of the songs no one on the label bothered to "fix up" or whatever the process is. I really hope she doesn't have to do the pop crap anymore because it's obviously not her and it doesn't really fit her vocals well sometimes either.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Regine is actually an amazing artist. That lung power :O
ReplyDeletecatch me is the type of song i would like to hear before dying,its so soothing and sweet can calm anyone down ughh i just love it
ReplyDeleteyeah it was good but immature,not vocally but lyrically but her second album was bomb.com
ReplyDeletelets play a game name any singer under 22 who's in your opinion better then or equal to either of them
ReplyDeleteOK, I've been constantly deleting saved files for my 4th album track and its getting frustrating. I only was gonna sing in a reggae accent on one of my songs but this one, it sounds like it when I'm not trying to... For one, I don't want to offend any one, two my southern twang really comes off like that of a raggae singer when singing anything upbeat and three, ITS GETTING FRUSTRATING!!!!! LOL...
ReplyDeleteTiffany Evans...
ReplyDeleteplease post a video too i want to discover new singes through this game please
ReplyDeleteoh and selena gomez is not valid for this game
ReplyDeleteShe isn't valid as a singer either.
ReplyDeleteCarly Rose from the X Factor was very skilled...and I liked her, the thing is, I feel like she's almost purely technical and the emotional side of the art is something that's weaker for her, but it might come with age. If it does and she keeps growing, she'll be extraordinary one day.
ReplyDeleteI really love that she wrote it all herself. I'd love to hear more of her songs that she's written by herself and that she label hasn't bothered messing with. That's part of the art of it and she's an actual songwriter. All in all, I just want to see 'her'. I want to see Demi. She has something, the kind of thing you don't train because you can't. She is an artist and she should let that shine rather than giving into the pressure to do what everyone else is doing. Leave that to Selena.
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeletetwo members of fifth harmony
ReplyDeletediamond white was better then carly
ReplyDeleteTori Kelly
ReplyDeleteumm yes,just yes,sorry but yes ally and dinah are if not better than demi but still good enough to give tough competition atleast to ariana
ReplyDeleteUltimate Head Dominant Duet- Leona Lewis and Ariana Grande XD
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way when she performed Imagine by John Lennon. She kept a very peaceful and quiet atmosphere that fit pefectly with the song and then ruined it by hitting a very big belt. Yeah, sure it was technically great, but destroyed her performance. However, she's very young so it's OK for her to try to show off and impress others. She'll have time to mature styilistically.
ReplyDeleteDinah is competition for Ariana for sure, tho. I'd like to hear Ariana interpret 'If I was a Boy' like Dinah did. Dinah was the only one who ever stood out to me. But even then, I think she has some ways to go which is fine because she's so young. I do think she has something special.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the track, it really moves me. A nice song you can groove too, or listen to whenever.
ReplyDeleteexactly now you agree hehe but ally is also good tho its just that she hasn't got the chance yet to show what she can do
ReplyDeletebtw who were you thinking i was talking about before i mentioned ally and dinah?
ReplyDeletecharice
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I had no idea, I just find people tend to overlook Dinah, or at least did. I haven't kept up in a while. I expect it's because she never had the same cute girl image as the others did and because she was a bit more shy. But her voice...damn. The reason I did disagree is that I don't respect Ariana on an artistic or emotional level, but I respect Demi on that level. I feel like Dinah(and maybe Ally, if I watch her more and see for myself) has that potential in her too and she's the one who stood out to me the most out of the girls. There's just one little thing she lacks that's holding me back, it might be the fact she's in a band and can't really express her self as an individual because of that or show what she herself has inside of her as much as a solo artist could.
ReplyDeleteyeah i feel you but this group thing is just a platform to gain fanbase after 5,4 years they all will be free to take individual route and i'm damn sure they all be extremely successful and good artist...since you like dinah here are some dinahs pre xf original songs enjoy:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVelcAOPrLs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZn0vCdclwY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7sCHuFrgok its a cover but its just ajjah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFaZ0ADKjFo
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES YES YES
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx5rcf7cgQg
ReplyDeleteDiamond had the artistical and emotional delivery which I prefer over technicality...most of the time anyway LOL
ReplyDeletesince you like dinah and before 5,6 years you'll not get the chance to hear her sing full songs and show her artistry here are some of her old songs enjoy :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZn0vCdclwY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVelcAOPrLs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7sCHuFrgok http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFaZ0ADKjFo
ReplyDeletehmm
ReplyDeletebonus track https://soundcloud.com/umusicians/sing-to-you/s-6CWxR#t=0:00
ReplyDeletebtw that's normani
ReplyDeleteYAAASSS. I'm so ready for this Danity Komeback. Damaged was honestly pure girl group perfection. And Buh-Bye Bye Baby is a total jam. At their comeback show around last month, they also performed a new song called "All In A Day's Work", there's no studio released yet, but it's worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteHey you want to critique my mix in this clip??
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on my balance (keeping an even amount of chest and head resonance). Tell me what you think!
sustained F5
peak at A5
downward scale (run/riff) down to F4
Sure, if you provide me a link haha. But I think there are lots more people on this site who would be way better at critiquing voice than me. Because I'm just learning and trying to improve my voice as well haha, I'm not sure why you picked me.
ReplyDeleteok!
ReplyDeletehttp://instagram.com/p/jHa86zGoCg/
I don't know you so I know you won't be biased.. I need the truth about my progress lol
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, DAMN. Because I was expecting you to be a female when you told me the notes you were singing, haha. But you sounded exactly like a female gospel singer, and I wasn't expecting that much power either. The riff was pretty good too, obviously not Mariah level, but it's not one that anyone will get down in one try, you obviously practiced it or you have some level of skill in riffing haha.
ReplyDeleteI think you should pick someone else to critique your mix, because it sounded good to me, but I personally don't know that much about the technicalities of mix yet haha. But it sounded great. And don't be afraid to ask other people on this site, they're mostly all pretty nice and will be unbiased with you.
thanks..
ReplyDeleteI'll see if I can get a few more people to help me out with the technicality bit
...no one's Mariah level loll
the riff was improv because I couldn't sustain the note anymore (I was running out of breath, hence the vocal fry at the end) and I didn't wanna just fall off the note lol
I automatically said Mariah because she's the first person that came to mind lol. But it was a good riff either way, you have to have some level of skill to just improv that, because my voice is so unagile I'd die for your talent and range.
ReplyDeleteOh gawd... Boy gimmie your upper register! LOL...I need your level of ease. All my ease disappears above E5 and I have to really concentrate on technique when I go above that. So is A5 your top note?
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm essentially a gospel singer at my core, so I guess that's where the skill comes from..stylistically they're a lot of inflections and improv (you just feel it, I guess). I have a pretty good ear too, but I guess that helps.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to work on my mix, though so I can blend my registers..It's funny because I'm a lyric baritone with a high extension, but my pure chest stops dead at like G4 lol.
thank you..
what's your voice type??
There are plenty of sopranos who have great lower registers (Mariah for example and also Whitney), and many mezzos who can sing just as high as sopranos (Rachelle Ferrell and Aretha Franklin), but then again those examples are of some of the world's greatest vocalists...
ReplyDeleteWhether someone has an emotional voice or is a good artist or not is subjective. I don't really listen to Demi to be able to say whether I think she has an emotional voice or can deliver emotion in her songs or say whether she's a good artist, but just saying not everyone may think the same.
ReplyDeleteYes A5 is my top note..
ReplyDeleteThat I can sing comfortably, that is..
I'm worried about my weight though..I don't want to sound thin and heady like most guys when they get up there so I'm always making sure to keep a proportionate amount of chest so that I can still have fullness and foundation..
I'm a lyric baritone with an odd upper extension while mixing/head voice but my chest stops dead at G4 lol
you??
oh yeah, was my scale even?? (I know I faltered and went into a wierd little fry at the F4
I wanted to sustain a bit more but I running out of breath and head to improv the run lol
what's your voice type??
you're actually right..I'm a light lyric baritone..
ReplyDeleteIt's funny because my lowest note is a G2..(comfortably) and my pure chest stops at G4
my top note is A5 for now..I've never tried to sing over that becuase that's far higher than any baritone should be singing
I have a very strange upper extension
The reason that run sounded strange is because I didn't "mean" to sing it lol..I was going for a sustained finished, but I was running out of air and I didn't want to t just fall off..it was improv more or less lol
See I have absolutely no musical background at all. My parents didn't even listen to any music at all, so I didn't get into singing or music until maybe middle school when I was opened up to radio and the internet haha. And I wasn't really introduced to GOOD quality singing until late 8th grade, and I'm in 11th grade now.
ReplyDeleteI don't think my ear is that great, but I don't know a lot of things yet haha. Stylistically I'm trying to draw influences from people, but I've yet to have my own style yet. My mix is very very chesty, I basically have no control at all, and my head voice is so disconnected from it
My highest chest note is about A4 also, but I've been struggling in recent times because I think puberty is just attacking me right now, because when I try to hit those notes my throat gets sore pretty fast now, and I can barely sustain it. My highest head note is about Bb5. My lowest is about an F2.
I'm a baritone, I'm not sure about lyric or dramatic or mezzi, because I never learned what those terms mean and even if I did I don't think I'm qualified to classify any voice yet.
I'm a low tenor, many people say spinto and I'm inclined to beleive it. I'm a very chesty belter but I rather belt in the upper third and lower fourth octave than anything else. And the reason you went into fry was because of a passagio that you may need to bridge.
ReplyDeleteBut my belting register is a weird thing. I can belt F#5s like nothing else but I also can go up to a Bb5 if I mix properly. But I lose volume at that pitch mainly because I have to lighten my voice. And vibrato up there is just tough. The highest I've ever carried vibrato was a G5 that went up to a G#5 because of vibrato. My money maker notes are definitely F4 and D5.
Tiffany, Lea, Demi then Ariana. Tiffany has a nice chest tone and quite some power... Lea's mix is balanced but I hate her enunciation. Demi's mix wasn't terrible just throaty and pushy. Ariana's mix was terrible until she got to G5... Like she sounded weak until then.
ReplyDeleteoh wow!! I would never think of going as high as Bb5 (although I prob can with lots of tension and tightness)--I'd never try it, yet lol..
ReplyDeleteyeah I'm working on blending and bridging too..
"I rather belt in the upper third and lower fourth octave than anything else" - ME TOO!! I never actually sing that high in my mix voice F5-G5 because it's odd to incorporate it into songs when my my regular chest voice is between B3-F#4/G4 lol. It's just a strange ability that I have..vibrato is my bread and butter, though.. that and my falsetto..I have a lot of ease up there despite being a baritone..most of my quality and color is in my lower 4th lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQQzy7nLIvI
it's a wierd click..i have all this darkness and raspiness going on in my lower chest but when I start mixing and dropping weight it's like instant clarity/ease and ring lol..this video best shows the two extremes of my voice lol
I understand..before puberty I sung soprano in chorus, but then the awkward stage came in and I quit singing for a while..then my voice came back slowly and was placed a lot lower..I couldn't belt anything past F#4, but I gained a weird upper extension through the aid of mixing/falsetto-headvoice
ReplyDeleteMy voice on it's own is really polarizing.. my chest voice is very dark, and it has the slightly worn, raspy feel to it..although I brighten considerably the higher I sing..I find ease when I drop weight..hence these piercing upper belt mixes..I've always had a prominent vibrato..I don't think that's going anywhere.
Have you found your passagios, yet. That would help in distinguishing your voice type..also what tessitura do you sing in..vocal registration?? Is your timbre bright or dark/warm..creamy lows?? or metallic like and rigid?? this type of information would help
:D:D
It is indeed. She is the most awarded female in Grammy history. And tied with Stevie Wonder as the most Grammy winning living artist.
ReplyDeleteAnd she got those Grammies (wins and nominations) for singing, instrumentals and producing (including other artists).
Hey Opie..You seem very knowledgeable on vocals...
ReplyDeleteI need you to critique my mix in this clip!
I'm a lyric baritione and I'm working on my balance and keeping an even mix. However, I fear that I'm becoming too thin and heady by dropping to much weight?? What do you think..I don't mind criticism lol..any tips??
sustained F5
peak at A5
downward scale (run/riff) to F4
I ran out of breath hence the vocal fry at the end lol
http://instagram.com/p/jHa86zGoCg/
Actually. I am only an experienced listener. I have little to no technical knowledge. All I could tell you is my opinion how it sounds in general ..to my ears.
ReplyDeleteAnd I find there's little to say for someone like me to fragments like this. It didn't sound awful is all I can say. :-)
But frankly I mostly find it a silly thing to judge a singer on individual notes. It's how you put the notes together in a song which to me makes the singer.
Maybe you should first find the songs you feel you really want to sing? Before worrying about which notes you can make your voice produce. :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't tag everything I say with 'but that's just me', it would be annoying and redundant and you may as well say the same to everyone here but you're not. I'm just very much into art, art in general. I don't really have respect for people who haven't a personal connection with what they're doing. There is something you can train yourself to be good with and something you're either born with or not. It's the connection and the expression side of it that is just a part of a person. And I can tell when that's there and when it isn't because it's either obvious in how they're expressing themselves or it's obvious in what they say and how they express that.
ReplyDeleteContrary to what you seem to think, I actually totally agree with you in this general statement. :-)
ReplyDeleteJust seen too little of Demi to say whether she impresses me as an artist. But then again, I have high standards when it comes to that.
You praised Demi for instance on playing an instrument but I have not seen that. I know folks say the same of Taylor Swift for instance and all I see her do is basic chord strumming. Does Demi do more than that?
I know she plays both piano and guitar, but she rarely does it live, especially these days. I think she's trying too hard to be mainstream atm, and hopefully it'll end. Although regardless, she's always put more attention on singing and moving around to the music/interacting with the audience than playing an instrument live. If this is anything to you, these are old videos, funnily of La La Land and she does fairly fast arpeggios at the end, before that it's chords
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl1D7HqrW-I
This one is clearer in audio and has a more simple setup, I just don't like it as much overall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGjUpgZoux0
I suppose with her it's just something I can feel in what she says and how she performs, specifically more emotional songs. Knowing she does write and play is something special to me, knowing it's special to her. She's doing a more mainstream thing like I said now, and it might have to do with her label hwr, that's what a lot of people think, and I don't think she's gonna be on that label for her next album. Some of it like Neon Lights is awkward to see her do, but she wanted to do a dance track apparently, so more power to her.
If it's nothing to you,though, that's fine
ReplyDeleteBefore I go on...the following is not meant to argue your view on Demi being an "artist". Like I said, I don't know enough of her to argue that statement.
ReplyDeleteBut in all honesty, if you are going to use her being an instrumentalist as proof for that claim, one would expect to see a certain skill level. One would also expect to be able to find some demonstration of that. These videos are not exactly doing that.
I mean, personally, though a different genre of course, I would expect a lot closer to this kind of instrumental skill level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGXhAHQdxpM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URv9ckCQ0BM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIVmmTPBxMY
First two songs were written by those girls themselves (neither having reached 20 yet at that time.) And the third is of a 14 year old singing and playing.
ReplyDeleteAlready addressed the videos but as far as judging whether people are artists based on how they talk about music, you might find this interesting..
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqb9hjfEFhQ
I'll admit, it's really not that much at all. I think she primarily wants to just have a connection with the audience, based on what she's said at least. But that's really not the basis of my thinking she is an artist. I know she plays and shes passionate about it, that's what I was getting at in mentioning playing instruments, that particular point. I don't know how skilled she is with it, but that to me is something good. Maybe in the future she'll do more because I really appreciate someone being connected to the music that way, but if it gets in the way of her connection with the audience, I'm not sure if she will or not. She seems like an extremely people oriented person and I think that's a huge part of her drive
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 11, I was first being able to explore music because it was the first time I was really truly using the internet and I was really disillusioned with pop culture, but I really liked Michelle Branch purely because she wrote and played music and actually sang live, she wasn't fake like most pop artists. These days, I listen to a lot of more alternative music, it's rare for me to listen to pop. Demi is part of the pop music scene, maybe not the most relevant of artists, I just feel like with all of the people who have a fake connection with their music and songs out there and who don't care that much about it, she's special. So it's from that perspective I come and having listened to what she has to say personally about music and songs and seeing that she does have an emotional connection in her performances. I've seen a lot of her and I suppose it's just something I've personally gathered. I wouldn't have given her a second glance as a singer or musician had I not watched the X Factor and grown curious about her since I found her likeable as a person
And I'll tag this as..."that's just how I feel" because that's just how I feel and my subjective experience of her having done a lot of listening and watching. She was deliberately trying to be more pop influenced, I think that's part of the problem. And she is in the end still part of the pop industry which has a huge emphasis on personality that's hard to come out when playing an instrument frequently
Oh like I said before, I totally get your point in general. That's why i am into Americana/Bluegrass/Country music. And when it comes to pop music I am more into a Marina And The diamonds and artists like that.
ReplyDeleteI am not seeing what you see in Demi. But I see it in Miley Cyrus. And much like many people probably disagree with you on Demi, they disagree with me on Miley. LOL
You really should watch that video of the TED talk. Gives a nice idea of artist v. cookie cutter singer. :-)
Although it's really not a style of music I listen to, I do love how she speaks about it. It's relevant to me too because I'm young and I want to be someone who puts my music out there, but I couldn't ever be the kind who sacrifices something that's mine for the sake of being something relevant. I just couldn't and I know that makes it feel almost impossible to make art your life when you can't live. Actually, I'm around her current age, a bit older, it kinda makes me feel like I should have put myself out there a long time ago, but I've had a lot of problems with myself emotionally
ReplyDeleteWell, I wouldn't say I see it in Miley personally, but I don't know much about her, haven't listened to much from her, so it's a similar situation in visa versa. I don't know enough to say. All I feel from what I've heard is that she's a more decent person than she presents herself as and than people make her out to be. I think Demi's done a lot more hard core partying than she has back in her worst days and I don't think she was shy about herself either if you know what I mean...And Wrecking Ball is a really good song, imo
ReplyDeleteoverall the song is pretty catchy but the chorus leaves so much to be desired and i agree about being more inventive with the harmonies
ReplyDeletealso i really dislike aubrey's verse mostly because of the way she sang it here
dawn's voice is my favorite on this track
Well, she was extremely young but I am sure you still have plenty of time to have a go at it. :-)
ReplyDeleteBut she is a good example to follow when it comes to making music your priority rather than fame and such.
I agree Wrecking ball is a good song, though it's not my fave on the album. But I meant indeed that I understand how you view Demi even if I don't view her the same way. :-)
ReplyDeleteSee for me, I have crazy elasticity and can shoot up to the 5th octave from any point and it used to be a habit I had to control. But most of the time I can slay the fourth octave. I generally get very bright from F4 on up. Generally G3-F4 is where I can almost trick people into thinking I'm a baritone.
ReplyDeleteNot to jump in but, in this order, Someone else, On my own, FU 4x4 and Do my thang are my favs. LOL.
ReplyDeleteFeel free BlackRobin, it's a public conversation. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, 4X4 and FU are my favorites with Adore you, Getitright and Someone else following closely. :-)
I haven't listened much to Miley, so it's pretty much only the very well known songs I've actually heard. I like Wrecking Ball a lot, but I particularly love the acoustic. There's also this mashup of it with Demi's For the Love of a Daughter that I feel is really nice because it brings out the emotion of the lyrics
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7dE_DkzfD4
We clashed, but we're on the same page. I suppose we relate in how we view music and we've both found people we happen to see as true artists in the pop scene, it's all good. I personally feel like most pop artists are playing a game and they don't have a true connection to the music. Music is something I'm passionate about as well as writing so it really bothers me. I sound like a major snob and I know I might be, but this is just how I feel about it. Finding the gems is a thing that gives more hope and a makes me feel a bit more openminded about pop music in general
She is, it also gives me some kind of hope in being able to make music my focus in live rather than some 9 to 5 job while still being able to eat. And I do love that she's passionate about it and it's a very personal thing for her. For me, I think life would be pointless to live without chasing those things that are personally meaningful amongst the meaninglessness that generally consumes society. I don't think I could live without being able to live for what I love, so I'm definitely still pursuing it. It's not so much that I want to be famous although I can't lie, there is that part of me inside of me that wants some recognition, it's just not the drive for me
ReplyDeleteI like the folk country vibe to 4x4. LOL. And it just has such a strong attitude. I wrote a male version that suits my personality disorder and paranoia. LOLOLOL....... I gotta get out of this habit...
ReplyDeletei don't understand she used to be so good what the h happened to her voice?
ReplyDeleteI agree, everyone seemed to prefer Lea on the video. I do like her timbre a bit better than Tiffany's just because it's warmer, but nothing can beat that power. Demi looks up to much to Xtina...I see so much in her and IDK if that's good or bad haha. Ariana's weren't too bad, but definitely not the best compared to everyone else.
ReplyDeleteThis was a few months back, but just watch this acoustic performance to hear the lack of resonance in her belts. It may have gotten better, not too sure.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF6__myqK2E
Interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much coordination you have throughout your entire range!
Untrained, I have about 3 octaves! It's just how to use it effectively is my main problem. To do this, I MUST learn how to bridge my passagios and blend my registers seamlessly. I think it's too strange for me to be singing in the "baritenor" tessitura, and then near the climax I or end of the song I switch to full female gospel singer mode lol..All of my agility is at the opposite ends of my voice. My lower chest.--G3-F4 and upper register E5-A5 (via mix/falsetto) between F#4-C#5 I have way to much tension and tightness on to be trying to incorporate runs and things up there..it would be sloppy and rigid..If I can just get this balance thing going on.
"And you have a gorgeous timeless voice that I miss in this generation" - wow!! thanks..I always thought I had a old man's voice due to my prominent vibrato (got that from impersonating Beyonce lol)..and I've always been raspy..My mom says it's reminscient to john legend.
Your voice is colder than mine?? you must have more weight in that region than me..is it metallic like?? I love those thick luscious voices..my voice is very light compared to most men. Which is why it's easy to drop weight as I ascend..because I don't have much to begin with lol!!
catchy song
ReplyDeleteHer voice matured, actually. Things she's doing right now she never would have been able to do as fetus Demi. Much more power and I like the tone too. She's not perfect, but she has a lot of power and I feel like her voice is much more unique now as it's matured
ReplyDeleteI mean when she was a kid, she kinda sounded like every other pop rock/punk girl out there. Now she can still do the rock thing, but her voice is more unique in its qualities
ReplyDeleteI am kinda vocal chameleon, able to lighten up and sound boyish (getting out the habit of saying feminine) or rather manly up to about A4. My passagios seem to be slightly higher than yours. I know my first one is around A#3-C4 and my middle one is between F4-A4 (my upper most one is E5 which is where my vocal color changes)....
ReplyDeleteDropping weight is hard for me but I can manage. I've been challenging myself to sing lighter but its hard because my voice wants to pick up tons of weight as I ascend. I tend to get stringy in the bad way around A4 when my voice gets exhausted by from the region C5-Eb5 is where my voice has the most volume and a crazy chest presence that is effortless.
I wouldn't say more weight just yet but if any, its slight.... And yes my voice has a fair amount of metal, And my voice is the opposite. My agility comes from my middle region D3-F#4 which is the main part of my tessitura I use.
But for me, I can carry a crazy amount of weight into the 5th octave but using mixing and tight jaw, I can stay there. C5-Eb5 is where I slay. I'm not to big a show off so shooting up to that Bb5 I told you about ain't my cup of tea but if the spirit hits me, I will just randomly sing maybe a F#5 or touch a G5. LOL. But anything above G#5 from me has a very noticable heady ring.
I know a quick way to bridge that F#4-C#5 region of your voice.
Considering both technique and personal preference (so it may be kinda biased) my classification would be:
ReplyDeleteF5--> Tiffany
F#5--> Tiffany/Lea
G5--> Demi
G#5--> Pretty much all except for Ariana...
A5 --> Lea/Demi (I'm still amazed by that run she does)
I'm a lovatic and I wouldn't maul Leith. It was a very objective post and is constructive criticism while also recognizing that she has talent in her. Through all her imperfections, I still think it's so completely incorrect when people say she has no talent and that's the only thing that bothers me in what people say
ReplyDeleteSo...can you still be considered a baritone when you have a passagio higher than tenors do?
ReplyDeleteTiffany has such a nice vibrato too. Her tone quality, belts, just wow! One con for Tiffany is although her vibrato is great, it can get overbearing.
ReplyDeleteLol, I disagree about that con. Lol.
ReplyDeleteDon't mix up artist and vocalist, they're two completely different things.
ReplyDeleteI also find weird that he's a baritone when his lowest comfortable note is a G2. I mean, I'm a leggiero tenor and mine is a F2.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that 90% of the comments in the whole blog are about Ariana and/or Mariah, I think it's fair for Demi to get the spotlight a little bit haha
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I know which one we will buy coffcoffdownloadcoffcoff
ReplyDeleteDefinetly also one of my favourite performances of her. The only thing I don't like about it (and about the studio version as well) is that run at 3:30 in the word "armor. Not that she didn't execute it well, but the run itself is what I don't like. I feel like it doesn't suit the climax. For me that moment is asking for a simple, powerful, straight belt.
ReplyDeleteYou've shared with me every single advice you could give about mixing, but I still have two problems, 1) I have absolutely no time to practice 2) I really need a vocal coach because it's simply not the same getting coached online and in person... The problem is that singing academies are SO DAMN EXPENSIVE
ReplyDeletePlease explain to me why you are considered, or have considered yourself, a "Leggero Tenor"? If you do, indeed, belong to that sub- fach, you're lower register must be extremely full and well developed if you are able to scale down to a comfortable F2 when putting into play how incredibly light & agile these Tenor's are and the fact that you can execute notes lower than your fuller, richer, heavier, and even Dramatic, counterparts.
ReplyDeleteAlso, are your notes below B2/C3 produced via. a solid, resonant sound or are they soft, airy-y and faint?
It was my old vocal coach who classified me as a leggiero, he was clasically trained and had his degree in singing (He was from Cuba if I remember properly, so I guess he got from a conservatory from there) so it's not somthing that I made up. He, however, said himself that it was a little soon to put me into a sub-category, but that I certainly sounded like one. I don't know much about sub-classifications (only the soprano ones) but my voice sure is light as hell.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, those notes are indeed well supported and resonant (I mean, not dramatic baritone-like resonant, but fair enough, specially for a leggiero). I actually am UNABLE to produce airy notes that low. I know it's weird because some tenors reach down there by pushing their larynx down and producing a foggy, weak sound, but the fact is that when I try to do that, it feels like my larynx is completely blocked and I can't hit the note. Therefore, down there I can only have or a well supported sound or no sound at all. If my larynx lowers a bit, the sound completely disapears. The notes, despite being well executed, are still light as fuck, though.
By the way, all those notes are hit in a non-operatic way, just to clear it.
I hate, and I mean HATE the power explotion Catch me has at the end. It was such a perfect peaceful song and she ruined it with that ending. I know that Demi is great belter, but she could restrain a bit sometimes...
ReplyDeleteShe worte Nightingale and For the love of a daughter by herself, and the last one is, for me, the most personal and heartbreaking song of her.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I'm not going to convince you haha. To be honest I don't blame you for thinking that way, Demi has been HORRIBLE this year, I just hope Demi retakes her old technique so I can prove you wrong :P
ReplyDeleteI have to say that, even though I know it's something merely subjective, I completely disagree with Demi's phrasing being generic. I do feel real emotion when listening to her sing, specially in here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jXOiNpomsM
Oh. Okay. I see... Well, in that case, I'd most definitely like to hear you sometime. Do you have any recordings? :D :D :D
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm guessing that your voice possesses all of the atypical traits & elements of your average 'Leggero (Coloratura) Tenor'?
.Light, Flexible, Voice/Bright, Boyish, Timbre?
.Extreme Agility in High Velocity Passages/Great Facility in Elaborate Ornamentation?
.Well- Developed Lower Register & Upper Register?
What style of music do you sing?
LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a video of Lea's Bb5 on Youtube, but it was taken down due to copyright. It was a performance of Halo/Walking on Sunshine, but she went for a shorter, yet sustained Bb5, versus an A5.
ReplyDeleteI really don't care. Although they may be different, Regine is amazing. She may not be the best but she's still good. Yes, all she can do is belt but that's still more than what today's deemed artists and vocalists have at their arsenal. Love what you have before losing them. Yes, even Rihanna and Miley lol
ReplyDeleteDemi needs to learn how to promote herself and her voice while retaining her Rock/RnB motives. I think Demi's still experimenting with different sounds but I really hope she goes back to her Rocky roots with her fifth album. Demi's trying to make songs and albums that sell well these days but I do hope she finds a way of selling her music without having to mimic what every artist today is doing.
ReplyDeletebut for me that ending really complete the song its like a climax to a song it just perfect idk
ReplyDelete@Black Robin It sound like you know your voice extremely well..I didn't start really singing until like, last year--to be honest..I amaze myself how effortless it seems sometimes. Your range is humongous! It's interesting that your voice picks up weight as you venture up into the upper fourth-lower 5th octave..I cannot even vocalize anything past C#5/D5 without incorporating some head resonance..This is why I know that I'm not a true tenor, despite the amount of ease and freedom in my headvoice/mix..I think I just place my voice really well up there
ReplyDeleteI played the trumpet for like 8 years during school so I had to have great breath capacity and an open throat..My soft palate does an auto-lift every time I get past E4 lol..That's the only way I can explain the amount of brightness--and evident ring. Who knows how much more freedom and ease I can acquire if I can connect my range more lol..The control and agilty is there..along with the power..Thank God for band! (my diaphram has been conditioned well during my 7 years of marching band)
I just need to get rid of the disconnect..it's almost evident in all my videos. So annoying.
What did you think of the video?? any tips you can give??
Your mix is very stellar! The perfect way to bridge passagio's is learning how to sing in the mask.
ReplyDeleteThings you need to do.
1. Hold your mouth open in the awe shape and don't go to wide.
2, Make sure your larynx is neutral.
3. Place sound in the soft pallet so it will resonate in the nasal cavity.
4. On tricky spots, always aim for Awe sounds when phrasing. Also add more vocal pressure (air flow and breath support) in the cake region.
5. I'd recommend you belt this way period because just doing it in the cake region is difficult if you have another style. But since you progressed incredibly swiftly, you may be able to incorporate something uniquely yours. I did. I combine half singing with mask resonance to give my self this warm light sound when belting. It makes me come off as light lyric but I'm perfectly content with it.
6. Try the maw maw maw scale to connect your voice as you ascend, using the technique I mentioned above.
7. Then practice it on songs that you notice have a lot of awe sounds like FU by miley cyrus.
8. Ask someone like Primo for more advice if this doesn't work out for you. LOL, I try but being behind a computer screen, I can't be there to instruct you note by note.
She's a lyric soprano, her voice is much smaller than that of a spinto, and smaller in comparison to other bigger voiced full-lyrics, such as Lara Fabian.
ReplyDeleteOH my gosh thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI well definitely star working on these tomorrow loll
anything for my vibrato (some say it's excessive...too heavy) should I cut back a bit with that??
what about my intonation?? I know I go a bit flat sometimes..
I'm soo scared of tension loll My voice isn't naturally smooth or sweet and chest resonance up there terrifies me..I don't want to be too abrassive..or maybe it's just my timbre.. I dunno
I'm trying to get out of this gospel niche thing I got going on....
even when I'm singing other forms of contemporary music, people can tell I'm a gospel singer..I don't know what that's about
I hate mash ups. I find them an insult to the work. So I am afraid I won't be giving that video any views.
ReplyDeleteHere's some Miley stuff you probably didn't hear...:-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8B4WmySOs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93CZ6oFR8Q0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLuiTLHNL4I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSpkaBeZckY
People used to say the same about me. I can sing gospel very well, it is my roots along with reggae and soul but nothing makes me feel more at home than a good ole' rock song.
ReplyDeleteAs for vibrato. its best to have variable vibrato. My vibrato is naturally slow and heavy but I can speed it up at will and have quite the freedom of vibrato. But I wouldn't recommend you cut back on it because usage of vibrato is completely subjective and if having interesting vibrato is your signature thing then so be it. You generally have two types of vibrato (that I know of). You have pitching vibrato and swelling vibrato. Pitching vibrato is generally the vibrato that changes semi-tones while swelling vibrato is the vibrato that makes you gain and lose volume. They feel slightly different. One feels like a very fast vocal trill while the other feels more like dynamics. They can be used stylistically as well. Swelling vibrato IMHO, suits more for the smoother jazzier, R&B type of you're using it slowly. Pitching vibrato is more to showcase power and can be used for up tempo songs but on slower songs, it might be over bearing if your vibrato is like mine LOL. Back to swelling vibrato, on up tempo songs, you can add a rock tinge to it and make it throaty and all that goof stuff!!!!!! OK forget about the throaty part, but knowing how to implement both can make or break a genre.
As far as intonation, its hard for me to explain but I generally go for awe and eye sounds (mainly becuase I love Janelle Monae and it gives my fat sloppy voice much more clarity).
Don't be afraid of tension. I have vocal tension too and sometimes its hard to get rid of on a hard lyrical passage. That's why I came up with the phrase rule. All my wordy songs that require extensive phrasing will not be song above F#4. if I do have to phrase extensively at a high pitch I make sure my mix is in check, I'm snug in the mask and I'm making awe sounds. I give myself a word limit too. For me, no more than 5 words but I try to keep it at one or two. Also right after I go high for a gorgeous chest note, I bring it back down with a light warm mix so that my voice has time to recover just in case I was about to go flat due to too much vocal pressure which turned into tension. Easy ways to avoid tension is to hold long high open notes at your upper middle or upper register.
Lol my voice sounds like someone is dragging rusted metal over concrete and it took me a while to accept it. I always thought it would be hard to do genre diving but it is all in the intonation, elocution (Thank you Opie if you read this), vibrato and musicianship. When you go genre diving, you have to be intelligent about it. Study different types of music (AKA go Karaoke Crae Crae) to get better virtuosity. For me, singing Soul and Rock make me feel like their's no genre I can't sing confidently (I didn't say sing well LOL), from African folk with the kettle drums and yodel-like chants to the heavily melismatic style of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Just keep trying and don't take yourself too seriously because that's when shit starts to get hard. I know I don't. LOL.
ughh..You are the best!!
ReplyDeleteI wish you had some clips!
Generic phrasing doesn't exclude real emotion in any way Leith. It's "generic" exactly because it has shown it works. :-)
ReplyDeleteBut it doesn't go to be terribly impressive as it doesn't indicate a highly personal style.
Which is the main reason Demi fails to impress me. It's not that she sounds bad, it's that she sounds to me like a great many other pop singers.
The above song is a fine example of that as it is supposed to be about something painful and, of course, therefor is sung in the standard way any such subject is treated in pop music today..starts of slow and "sensitive" and builds up to a belted climax because the official way in pop music today of expressing "deep pain" is by shouting. And it does it all exactly 'on cue" so to speak. Where and when you expect it.
Frankly, as the daughter of an alcoholic I found this a woefully obvious and superficial way to approach the subject. I'm sure Demi was really feeling it though. But she of course grew up in a culture in which this is the way you are supposed to express that feeling and those words. Which makes it...generic.
LOL "twangy" is not a requirement Black Robin. It's simply a result of where most country singers hail from. Seeing as you are from Georgia...being yourself should suffice. And is in fact a quality much admired in Country music..being yourself.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid you'd have a way bigger problem toning your vocals down than any accent related issues. ;-)
I like mashups sometimes because I love when two songs can come together in some kind of harmony, it's beautiful to me somehow. Like Kanye West's We Major imo sucks, but mixed with Intro by the XX, it's wonderful, although I wouldn't call that harmony beautiful.
ReplyDeleteShe's really good live there and she doesn't lipsync or autotune(at least often, I know most do it at least sometimes), I think the style just isn't all that for me and occasionally I've had problems with her voice, but she does have a very nice voice actually. It's nice to realize she's doing stuff that sticks to her roots rather than just the pop stuff on the radio. I like the second one quite a lot. The third one I like even more, there's a dark undertone to it I adore. I overall love the folkiness to the style of those songs, 3/4. I had never heard any of them before.
I guess I already linked some of these and you may have heard the others already, but anyway. 2013 was really rocky for Demi vocal wise what with her surgery, adjusting to her new voice(I assume she was because her voice changed, I still can't tell if she was also trying out new techniques or what), and being sick before she had her surgery. Of course her worst performance ever on txf. But these are some that that I like mostly because of emotion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWFGYqapWek
Especially like that this one was unrehearsed so it was all from the moment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rweoobd8TnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jFV6mIc9Wo
earlier 2013 pre surgery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbi2TNQKwzM
This is so old, but even though she was obviously going through a very hard time in this performance and in general then, I love the emotion. I just feel like the audience cheering for her was kinda weird.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_pOxoEfjKY
Will take me a bit to listen to all those (Though the "warrior" one you already posted and I heard already)
ReplyDeleteBut in the meantime I am wondering, about how old are you? Because I get the impression Jolene and Summer sadness are not just new Miley videos to you but that the songs themselves are new to you? Or did I misunderstand?
Yes folk and country can sometimes sound quite similar. Fortunately for me, they are usually not that similar as personally I find Folk often to be too...artsy/fartsy or too sugary.
ReplyDeleteBut 20??? And you don't know Jolene or Lana Del Rey's work?
Jolene is one of Dolly Parton's most famous songs. I almost dare not mention Dolly as, if you don't know Jolene, you probably also don't know Dolly Parton.
Which to me would be an almost unpardonable gap inf your musical education LOL Please tell me that is at least because you are not from the US?
Allow me to address that deplorable gap right here and now. At least a little bit. Because she wrote over 3000 songs.
Here are Dolly's 3 most famous tunes. First one which In 2012 was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7I_9MMcWvk
Then the one Whitney ego raped...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS-F4rfU4ns
And finally of course Jolene....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS9xwNe0ie8
I'm from the US...Texas to boot, don't kill me. I've heard of Dolly Parton, and Lana Del Rey too. Although there's always something so superficial about Lana Del Rey when I encounter her music despite my enjoying her voice and her music sometimes. I've just never sat down and listened to Dolly Parton, but I'm pretty sure I've heard Jolene at least in passing. I'll give you the gist of what I listen to a lot of the time...There's some Third Eye Foundation type of stuff, experimental/electronic/ambient, Hole/JAMC/Pixies type of music, alternative rock with either noise or something grungy and dirty mixed in. Alt rock in general, but not the cleaned up modern sound. Punk, postpunk, etc..Some twee, dreampop, shoegaze etc..Sometimes folk, preferably dark folk or something like Nick Drake. Acoustic/lofi/indie like Elvis Depressedly or Elliott Smith. I just listen to what I like, what takes me in. Not much of a patriot either. If you go to my tumblr, the last five songs I reblogged were from Hole, Joanna Gruesome, The Knife, Sonic Youth, and North Sea
ReplyDeleteTexas!!! So no excuse whatsoever LOL. A lot of my favorite musicians are from Texas actually. Politically it might be a horrid place but music scene is awesome, Especially Austin. hell, even Robert Plant lives in Austin now I heard.
ReplyDeleteI am going to leave it to any Lana fan to argue the "superficiality" you seem to hear in Lana's songs. I like her but am not enough of a fan to be insulted by that. But I dare say, if a Lana fan reads that, be prepared! Hahaha
Never heard of "freak folk" but I am guessing it is to Folk what Punk country was to country?
Aside from Hole and Pixies, Sonic Youth and Nick Drake, I haven't heard a lot of the names you mentioned. Went and checked out Elvis Depressedly, Joanna Gruesome and Elliot Smith and I think I am getting a picture of your taste now. :-)
Country and such is really not your cup of tea at present obviously. ;-)
Well, at least now you know a bit more of Dolly. Even if you will never listen to her again. :-)
She has a Hope Sandoval-ish vibe to her voice sometimes, but I'd much rather listen to some Mazzy Star, that's another artist that puts out some of my favorite music. I do like the dream like feel some of her music has. And I used to live in Austin, but I was 4 or 5, too young to get into the music scene or to go to anything like Austin City Limits which I really would love to go to right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm not always good with music genres, with these external classifications because I usually have my own ways of classifying things. I just know some of what I listen to is labeled as freak folk. Wiki says..."Freak folk is a genre of folk music which uses mainly acoustic instrumentation, but introduces elements of avant-garde music, baroque pop, and psychedelic folk, often featuring uncommon sounds, lyrical themes, and vocal styles.". My first runins with it were with Regina Spektor and Vashti Bunyan.
Now Elliott Smith is someone I think you should have heard of just like you think I should have listened to much more Dolly Parton lol..."I'm never gonna know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow". That's one of my favorite lines ever and I think it's written on his memorial. Now that guy was an artist. His voice was not in any way great, but his lyrics are what he's left as a legacy. He ended up taking his own life.
OK now I get what you say, that Demi's songs are rather "predictable", right? Then I do agree with you, specially in this last album in which all the songs were: verse, -> chorus -> verse -> chorus -> bridge -> slow first part of the chorus -> explosive last part of the chorus. I must say, however, that I also feel like the belts are completely justified in this song. I may not have gone through the same situation (By the way, I promise I didn't post this song appealing to your past, I had completely forgotten.) but I do have been in a place where someone close to you has a "bad habit" (to say it softly) that is hurting your whole family, and finally came to the point that the only thing I could do was yelling at her and appealing to her humanity (which seemed to have disappeared). And specially the line "I tried so hard to fight it but it's hopeless, you're hopless" is where I feel the belt NEEDS to ve there.
ReplyDeleteYou really should care. Someone that doesn't write his/her own music can have the best technique ever and an incredibly emotive ability but he/she won't be an artist. Art is about creating, not about taking other people's work.
ReplyDeleteI feel like her belts are totally appropriate, although her last album was not nearly as good as past albums save for some gems which really only have their lights shone when done live anyway in my opinion (like Nightingale). I'm hoping she kinda goes her own way again and doesn't try to do the pop thing like she has been. She doesn't need that. I heard her say in one interview she was actually trying to go a more pop route with the last album. But I've also read sources saying she's annoyed with her label restricting her, so who knows. I could believe that, she always seemed like she valued individuality. I'm just looking forward to what her next album will hold and I'm hoping she's either not restricted or chooses not to do something more pop just for the sake of it being more collectively desirable.
ReplyDeleteLOL I don't think you can compare Dolly's status in music to Elliott's. Its not that I think you should have heard from her (and I did mean that in the sense of knowing her biggest hits because they come by in many ways and references in popular culture. Not that I think you should listen to her music ) because I like her. But because she is an American Icon. Don't think one can say the same for Elliott.
ReplyDeleteI find a lot of that sub labeling often rather ridiculous tbh. A lot of it is meaningless drivel by quasi intellectuals imo.
And like you I am often at a loss at where to put who.
LOL I had forgotten I mentioned it before.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean the song as much as the way she chooses to sing it being "predictable" due to it being generic choices.
I didn't experience it much as a song about rage tbh. More one mostly defined by self pity.
Not to deny your emotions but I am presuming the bad habit was drugs and the family member was not your mom? These things make for very different dynamics and therefor very different emotional responses.
But if you recognize something in the song and it helps you in some way, that's great for you. I just feel no emotional connection though. Even though the subject IS connected to my life's experiences
The family member was not my mom, that's right, it was my sister. However, the "bad habit" is not drugs (I underestand how you could assume that, though) but her selfishness and the constant need to drag other people down, specially our family. It's hard to explain unless you've lived it, but it looked like the only way my sister seemed to be happy was by making us feel miserable. And the moment she took it out on our father... Even though things have cooled down and we now get along well, I can say, no doubt allowed, that I felt pure hate against my sister. I didn't know I could ever feel that way for someone (people usually "laugh" at how I apologize for almost every little whimsical or mean thing I do or say to others). The lyrics describe almost perfectly my home situation, so I can't help but attach the song (and the furious belting) to rage, be it Demi raging against her father for destroying her family or me against my sister for doing the same.
ReplyDeleteArt is about creating. If you don't create then you're not an artist, you're just an interpreter. Also, didn't Alison write her own music? I know she's done plenty of covers, but I though she had plenty of original as well.
ReplyDeleteartist
ReplyDeleteTop 1000 frequently used words
Syllabification:
art·ist
Pronunciation: /ˈärtist
/
noun
1a person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.
More example sentencesSynonyms
1.1a person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker.
More example sentences
1.2a person skilled at a particular task or occupation: a surgeon who is an artist with the scalpel
More example sentencesSynonyms
1.3a performer, such as a singer, actor, or dancer.
More example sentences
1.4 [with modifier] • informal a habitual practitioner of a specified reprehensible activity: a con artist rip-off artists
is anyone here tell me what this girls voice type and range is if possible please
ReplyDeletewow that lea's A5 was just ughh
ReplyDeleteYes, it was very stripped down and intimate. I loved the huge contrast it showed in comparison to the rest of the songs on the album. It relinquished that fierce persona she had & decided to shed light on the actuality of her feelings. In that album, more so than anything, she was truly vulnerable. That subtle shift to a more confident state was so brilliant. That truly does fit her. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteThat's why the song was brilliant. The song was intentionally bitter-sweet, though mostly sweet to show so that the veracity of the album was clarified. It can mostly indicate that she's enraged and fierce but in actuality, it's vulnerability. The song offers a contrast which is what made it brilliant in my eyes. I LOVED that song.
ReplyDeleteHer artistry is alright. The voice though? Out of this world!
ReplyDelete