# Besides "Lovin' You"- pop songs where the sings hits a really high note? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 3, 2007, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227 "2007-08-03T01:54:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/61 "2007-08-05T16:20:02Z")
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Lou Christie yet. He had the ability to hit extremely high (for a man) notes as well. Check out “The Gypsy Cried” and “Two Faces Have I,” both from the early 1960s, for examples. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/62 "2007-08-05T23:21:48Z")
The Who, “Behind Blue Eyes”. There is a line, “But my dreams, they aren’t as empty as my concience seems to be.” In the middle of the word “dreams”, Roger Daltry casually jumps up about an octave, then scales back down to the regular pitch. It’s not an extraordinarily high note, but going low-high-low in a fraction of a second is not easy to do. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/63 "2007-08-06T02:05:26Z")
How about Gordon Sumner singing “Roxanne”? ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/64 "2007-08-06T11:16:21Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] Dude, have you read any of the posts in this thread? The very first one says, in bold type, “Besides “Lovin’ You”- pop songs where the sings hits a really high note?” [/QUOTE] Whoops. Note to self: thinking means keeping it inside my head. Sorry for the interruption, I’ve been a little loopy this week. I wasn’t bringing up _that song_ as a new contribution, just a comment on the OP. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/65 "2007-08-06T11:26:45Z")
[QUOTE=Caractacus Pott] Whoops. Note to self: thinking means keeping it inside my head. Sorry for the interruption, I’ve been a little loopy this week. I wasn’t bringing up _that song_ as a new contribution, just a comment on the OP. [/QUOTE] Thanks for the link. I’ve now learned about the “whistle register”. So that’s what Mariah Carey’s been doing! ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/66 "2007-08-06T12:18:50Z")
Bit of a hijack, but when it comes to guys singing high notes, are we talking about hitting a high note with a regular singing voice, or are we talking about singing a loud (amplified?) falsetto? Are there any singers in this thread? What’s the difference between singing a high note and singing falsetto? Is there really a difference? All the male pop singers who sing really high notes – are they just singing falsetto, and doing it in a rocky/screamy kind of way? Do “real” singers disdain guys who hit high notes by singing falsetto and amplifying/distorting it? Has someone already mentioned Tiny Tim? ---
**Author:** ![Thomas\_McKeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Thomas\_McKeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thomas_McKeon)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/67 "2010-12-26T02:24:44Z")
Ray Peterson & Roy Orbison both had 4 octave ranges and could hit higher notes than virtually any rock singer especially in natural (not falsetto) voice. Listen to “Corrina Corrina” and “I Could have Loved You So Well” (Both Phil Spector productions), “Tell Laura I Love Her” and “The Wonder of You” by Ray Peterson. Roy Orbison Hit High G sharp with natural voice, not falsetto at the end of his number one hit “Running Scared.” The engineer told producer and Monument Records owner Fred Foster that he was not sure he got that on the tape and Mr. Foster told him that if he did not he did not have a job the next day. (It was on there). Also listen to his “Crying”, “In Dreams”, “The Crowd”, and “It’s Over” for other examples of good high notes, many in natural voice and of his range. For one poster, the answer is yes there is a difference between falsetto and high notes in natural voice. Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. Some very good falsetto singers not mentioned who could hit very good high notes were doo wop singers Angelo D’Aleo of the Belmonts and Larry Chance of the Earls - listen to “Remember Then” or its predecessor “Remember When.” Thomas J McKeon ---
**Author:** ![Thomas\_McKeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Thomas\_McKeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thomas_McKeon)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/68 "2010-12-26T02:32:59Z")
I did not discuss Bobby Hatfield in my post as he was previously discussed. However shortly before he died he was quoted as saying his range was more (by one note) than when he initially recorded his hits such as the definitive (Phil Spector produced) version of “Unchained Melody.” Thomas J McKeon ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/69 "2010-12-26T02:46:57Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > Speaking of Styx, I just picked up Larry Gowan’s “Strange Animal” CD, and went to YouTube to watch him perform “A Criminal Mind.” I was surprised to see that it was him doing the very high voice at the end on the line “just like these prison walls.” I always thought it was a woman singing that, but he’s one of those guys who can sing obscenely high. He’s one HELL of a singer. Pick up “Great Dirty World” or “…but you can call me Larry” for some excellent stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/70 "2010-12-26T02:56:50Z")
[Rush](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_eZA3lwBkU), anyone? With Geddy Lee singing, it’s pretty much every song. Although I think he has trouble with some of the early stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/71 "2010-12-26T03:55:11Z")
Geddy Lee’s highest notes ever: From 1975, _[No One at the Bridge](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltn56BtQ6k4)_, at 2:44 where he sings, “Scream out desper-A-tion, BUT” From 1978, _[Cygnus X-1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkIIlkyZ328)_, at 9:00 where he sings “Like a spiral SEA UNENDing” and then at 9:25 on “Every nerve is TORN APART” He sang very high on the following album, 1979’s “Hemispheres” and in places on 1980’s “Permanent Waves”, but never again hit notes as high as he did in the songs I’ve linked. Since the late 80s he’s sung much lower. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/72 "2010-12-27T04:49:24Z")
In many of Michael Jackson’s songs, he has all sorts of high-pitched whoops and “hee-hee-hees.” “Billie Jean” and “Man in the Mirror” come to mind. I always try to sing along but can never reach that high. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/73 "2010-12-27T06:18:31Z")
In a number of Electric Light Orchestra songs, such as “Do Ya” and “Shangri-La”, bassist Kelly Grocutt hit some pretty high falsetto notes. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/74 "2010-12-27T14:55:19Z")
This thread would be incomplete without this monstrosity: [The Sneeze - Half zine. Half blog. Half not good with fractions.](http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000570.php) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/75 "2010-12-27T15:31:37Z")
Sarah McLachlan can [go up there a ways](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfqqXzOOkJQ) when she feels like it. ETA: and a decent overall range. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/76 "2010-12-27T17:03:51Z")
Zombies can hit high notes And I don’t think anyone has added[Hocus Pocus - Focus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW6v-mqo17Q&feature=related) to this thread ---
**Author:** ![banjoDavid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@banjoDavid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/banjoDavid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/77 "2010-12-27T17:20:33Z")
Bobby Osborne, Bill Monroe, and Ralph Stanley all had VERY high voices. The term “high lonesome sound” was very descriptive of the high tenor, sometimes falsetto vocal style. Check out the Osborne Brother’s track Ruby for some paint-peelin’ high notes. David ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/78 "2010-12-27T22:35:09Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > This thread would be incomplete without this monstrosity: [http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000570.php](http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000570.php) WTF?! Who is this? ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/79 "2010-12-28T01:30:53Z")
The lead singer from The Darkness in the song “I believe in a Thing Called Love.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227/80 "2010-12-28T02:45:51Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Oddball Queen Fact! > > The truly high notes on Bohemian Rhapsody (and a lot of the other stuff) is done by Roger Taylor, the singing drummer. For a guy who wore his testosterone on his sleeve he has the ability to hit higher notes than just about anyone. That’s actually pretty normal: bases tend to have higher falsettos than tenors. We have to bring our falsetto down so it’ll blend with our upper voice. For example, before I started training as a tenor, I could easily hit that F# in the Sparks “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us.” I had a high A. Now my high A is the one an octave lower–but a lot more powerful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besides-lovin-you-pop-songs-where-the-sings-hits-a-really-high-note/414227.md?page=5)