# Examples of songs with multiple concurrent vocal lines **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030 "2011-04-03T12:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/1 "2011-04-03T12:06:38Z")
I was watching an episode of Mad Men which ended with a [cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0voSWdX4jo) of Don Mclean’s River of Babylon. I linked the episode song rather than the original since I prefer it a bit. Anyway, it reminded me that it’s a shame that music rarely tries to have different singers doing multiple concurrent vocal lines because you can do some interesting things with them that make them more musically diverse than a typical single vocal line. This also can include when the vocals are double tracked and a single vocalist has seperate vocal tracks like in the Radiohead song [Idioteque](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtn4Kt05_Y). (It’s relatively subtle there compared to the above song.) What I’m not talking about is when multiple singers are singing at the same time just to create harmony. There has to be some sort of seperation and interplay between the vocalists or tracks. Anyway, that style of vocals interests me so I would like people to list (preferably with links) songs that make use of the technique. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/2 "2011-04-03T12:11:10Z")
The one that occurs to me immediately is [Scarboro Fair/Canticle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEhAXQ5QQzs) by Simon and Garfunkel. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/3 "2011-04-03T13:13:59Z")
T’pau, Heart and soul: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGmLfS0un5Y&feature=youtube\_gdata\_player](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGmLfS0un5Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player) Nearly a one hit wonder, I guess they used up all their good ideas on that one song. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/4 "2011-04-03T13:28:37Z")
“I’ve Got A Feeling,” by the Beatles. “Eleanor Rigby,” to a lesser extent, also by the Rutles. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/5 "2011-04-03T13:43:06Z")
“Harborcoat” by R.E.M. “Something’s Always Wrong” by Toad the Wet Sprocket ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/6 "2011-04-03T14:12:37Z")
I think these are examples by Spock’s Beard: [The Emperor’s Clothes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yviFJ-MA-zE&feature=player_detailpage#t=122s) [Gibberish](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXtLLdNu6ag&feature=player_detailpage#t=54s) [A Guy Named Sid - Part V](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn_Xu68Kv0o) [June](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiuYjG3h5aI&feature=player_detailpage#t=77s) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/7 "2011-04-03T14:19:20Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > T’pau, Heart and soul: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGmLfS0un5Y&feature=youtube\_gdata\_player](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGmLfS0un5Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player) > > Nearly a one hit wonder, I guess they used up all their good ideas on that one song. Huh, I didn’t even know they had any songs other than _China In Your Hand_. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/8 "2011-04-03T14:25:54Z")
**The Great Curve** by Talking Heads has some of the most interesting and sophisticated concurrent vocal lines of any pop song I know–anywhere from 3 to 5 different vocal parts going on simultaneously. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/9 "2011-04-03T14:46:40Z")
[Fugue for Tinhorns](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxAX74gM8DY) from _Guys and Dolls_ [Here’s the Wiki page for Fugue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugue): “a contrapuntal composition in two or more voices, built on a subject (theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation and recurs frequently in the course of the composition.” Oh, and [here’s The Muppets doing Nilsson’s “Coconut”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wg_L0wGTyA). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/10 "2011-04-03T14:49:24Z")
My immediate thought was _West Side Story_, and I haven’t been able to think of others, in spite of agreeing with some earlier posts. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/11 "2011-04-03T15:09:44Z")
[She Has Funny Cars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1St6x_xVEQ) - Jefferson Airplane. And for something completely different: [Happy Days Are Here Again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTHGOsT-Nc0&feature=fvst) - Judy Garland & Barbra Streisand. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/12 "2011-04-03T15:33:56Z")
[Dinner Bell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=defmWE2N_74) - They Might Be Giants ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/13 "2011-04-03T15:49:44Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > [Dinner Bell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=defmWE2N_74) - They Might Be Giants That sure was one weird selection for video, BTW. (and one of the things I’m starting to dislike about youtube…go find lady gaga Born this way…the official one…go on, I dare ya! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/14 "2011-04-03T15:56:00Z")
Just include Vevo in your search for the title and the first hit will always be the official music video. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/15 "2011-04-03T15:58:04Z")
There’s also the finale of The Music Man where the leads’ themes come together - he’s singing 76 Trombones at the same time she’s singing Goodnight My Someone, and they fit together very well - and halfway through the song they switch. Very clever. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/16 "2011-04-03T16:04:28Z")
“Confrontation” and “One Day More” from **Les Miserables**. “Prima Donna” from **Phantom of the Opera**. It’s an often used device in musicals. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/17 "2011-04-03T16:04:49Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > That sure was one weird selection for video, BTW. (and one of the things I’m starting to dislike about youtube…go find lady gaga Born this way…the official one…go on, I dare ya! Well, yeah… that was the first thing that came up when I searched for the song. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/18 "2011-04-03T16:21:05Z")
The band Invocal does this a lot. [Try Small Anxious Waltz on here](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uneven-Keel/dp/B002HDRJK2/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1260134405&sr=8-30) - lots of the other songs have multiple vocals but not in the first few seconds that you can listen to on the sample. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/19 "2011-04-03T16:41:00Z")
[Wanderlust](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XssYovzh3O4)by Paul McCartney. [I’ve seen all good people](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJM7TdshUbw) by Yes ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/20 "2011-04-03T16:49:20Z")
[“Love Makes the World Go Round” - Powerpuff Girls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zQgKk3g7Uo) Also [“Silly Love Songs” - Paul McCartney & Wings](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK9QVN0bpa4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030.md?page=2)