# B-52s fans: Can Fred Schneider sing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 24, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338 "2019-12-24T12:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/1 "2019-12-24T12:58:00Z")
I’m not a huge fan of the B-52s, but am familiar with their most popular hits (Love Shack, Rock Lobster, etc.). One thing that’s immediately striking about the music is Fred Schneider’s vocals. In contrast to the band’s two female vocal leads, Schneider’s vocals are much closer to speaking than singing. I suppose the technical term for this is _sprechgesang_. I’m curious, does Schneider always perform his vocals this way, or are there some tracks of his (either with or without the B-52s) where he actually sings in a more conventional manner? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/2 "2019-12-24T13:07:11Z")
I only know the B-52s big songs and he does tend to use more of a speaking voice. In fact, looking at some of his more recent/independent stuff, he’s still sounds exactly like that. On another note, Kate Pierson sings backup on REM’s Shiny Happy People. If you didn’t already know that, you’ll never not notice it again. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/3 "2019-12-24T13:15:03Z")
No, Fred Schneider cannot “sing”, at least not that I’ve heard. Whatever you call what he does, it absolutely works but singing it aint. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/4 "2019-12-24T13:38:28Z")
Its more like a marching chant or cheerleading than singing ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/5 "2019-12-24T15:24:31Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I only know the B-52s big songs and he does tend to use more of a speaking voice. In fact, looking at some of his more recent/independent stuff, he’s still sounds exactly like that. > > On another note, Kate Pierson sings backup on REM’s Shiny Happy People. If you didn’t already know that, you’ll never not notice it again. And if anyone remembers “Candy” by Iggy Pop (I still hear it on the radio often enough), that’s clearly her doing the female lead vocal there, as well. She has such a distinctive voice. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/6 "2019-12-24T15:31:08Z")
Someone should start this thread: _Lead vocalists who don’t “sing” in the traditional sense but are still good_. In addition to Fred Schneider, I would include Lou Reed in this group. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/7 "2019-12-24T15:48:33Z")
I have 18 songs by the B-52s. He sounds the same on all songs on the songs where he sings. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/8 "2019-12-24T19:53:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And if anyone remembers “Candy” by Iggy Pop (I still hear it on the radio often enough), that’s clearly her doing the female lead vocal there, as well. She has such a distinctive voice. Yeah, I’ve noticed her on other songs as well (and then looked it up to make sure). I think she does a lot more back up work than we realize. Shiny Happy People was just the first one I knew about. I’m almost positive it was something I learned on Pop Up Video. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/9 "2019-12-24T20:40:06Z")
That’s how he always sings. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/10 "2019-12-24T20:50:26Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Someone should start this thread: _Lead vocalists who don’t “sing” in the traditional sense but are still good_. > > In addition to Fred Schneider, I would include Lou Reed in this group. Or David Byrne of the Talking Heads. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/11 "2019-12-24T21:21:02Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > On another note, Kate Pierson sings backup on REM’s Shiny Happy People. If you didn’t already know that, you’ll never not notice it again. She actually sang backup on four songs on that album. Frankly I much prefer [Me in Honey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFE-jNeFRKQ). ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/12 "2019-12-25T05:04:06Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Or David Byrne of the Talking Heads. [Not true.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZpZuIWu1tw) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2019, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/13 "2019-12-25T06:09:57Z")
Yeah, listen to “Take Me To The River” and tell me that ain’t singing. ETA: Fred, though, yeah Fred don’t sing. Doesn’t have to, he’s got singers to do the heavy lifting. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2019, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/14 "2019-12-25T07:16:51Z")
Whatever you call it, he does it a hell of a lot better than I ever could. I call him a singer. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/15 "2019-12-26T19:06:04Z")
He always reminded me of Danny Kaye, but not in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/16 "2019-12-26T19:24:52Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > On another note, Kate Pierson sings backup on REM’s Shiny Happy People. If you didn’t already know that, you’ll never not notice it again. And a Kate Pierson muppet appears in the Sesame Street version of that (“Furry Happy Monsters”). [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k7_xzAWLv-g/hqdefault.jpg "R.E.M. - Furry Happy Monsters") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7_xzAWLv-g) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/17 "2023-09-14T10:31:05Z")
I’ve done a bit more research on the subject and can now report my findings! In a 2010 interview in _Surviving the Golden Age_, Fred says this about singing: > **Your vocal style is pretty distinct. How did you develop it?** > Well, I’m more of a writer. I’ve always felt my strong point is writing. That’s how it started. Keith and I used to make basement tapes; he would play guitar and I would just recite stuff off the top of my head. I can sing but I don’t know maybe I just freeze up and forget melody. According to [this short radio interview clip](https://youtu.be/1jtuwB-GCa0?feature=shared), posted in 2019, Fred does refer to what he does with the B-52s as “singing”, before correcting himself that he really means “talk-singing”. But then he goes on to say that now he does do some actual singing, as opposed to talk-singing: > **Fred:** I didn’t sing until I was in the band, really. > > **Interviewer:** You didn’t? > > **Fred:** No, I never sang in high school or grammar school or anything. I sang with Keith on… we had, uh, basement tapes. But, uh, was I in the chorus? No. I wasn’t going to stay after school. > > **Keith:** I think I was the first person to hear Fred sing. > > **Interviewer:** Really? > > **Keith:**'Cause I would play noise guitar and Fred would… > > **Fred:** Recite. > > **Keith:** Fred always had these wonderful poems, so Fred would recite—sing—his poems and I would play noise guitar. > > **Interviewer:** And that just continued. You… > > **Fred:** I mean talk-sing. > > **Interviewer:** Talk-sing? > > **Fred:** But now I sing more. > > **Interviewer:** Yeah. Yeah, I love to hear you sing. I was curious to hear some of this supposed actual singing, so I checked out his Wikipedia page and found that his most recent album is _The Vertical Mind_ from 2017, issued by his side project Fred Schneider & the Superions. The album is available on YouTube. Most of the tracks I listened to featured his usual _sprechgesang_, though maybe a bit more melodic than with the B-52s. But at least one track does feature bona-fide singing in the traditional style. I now proudly present to you all Fred Schneider actually _singing_ “When the Dingoes Ate the Babies”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/z8AJfm0IASg/maxresdefault.jpg "When the Dingoes Ate the Babies") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8AJfm0IASg) You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Wicker\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bb73d2/32.png) [@Wicker\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicker_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/18 "2025-06-28T09:55:33Z")
He also sings in a more conventional sense on ‘Dreamland’ from the B-52’s ‘Good Stuff’ album. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/19 "2025-06-28T19:02:26Z")
I feel Fred functions more as a carnival barker. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338/20 "2025-06-29T03:44:36Z")
Karaoke Favorite. You really can’t overdo him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52s-fans-can-fred-schneider-sing/845338.md?page=2)