# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/41 "2011-04-04T14:54:37Z")
"[No Intention" by Dirty Projectors](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAqmjOER-PU). ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/42 "2011-04-04T14:59:45Z")
> [@icallbull](#): > > First time posting a link so forgive me if its done incorrectly…but this is one of my favorites and always look to share this with friends. > > [Life on Mars by the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW0ACEOEq6w) > > Brilliant Thanks, that’s wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/43 "2011-04-04T15:14:22Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > “I’ve Got A Feeling,” by the Beatles. “Eleanor Rigby,” to a lesser extent, also by the Rutles. I was going to chime in with “I’ve Got a Feeling,” probably the Best example of what the OP is discussing. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/44 "2011-04-04T15:20:23Z")
One of my favorites is [Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdjeO7jh8e0)from the musical **Chess**. The scene is a discussion between The Russian chess player, his manager/political minder, Florence (the American’s second) and the Arbiter, after the American player has stalked off in a fit of pique. The Russian manager is engaged in political blustering, the Russian chess player is needling Florence in a flirty sort of way, Florence is fending off both of them, and the Arbiter is rattling off esoteric rules for the chess match. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/45 "2011-04-04T15:33:30Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > The South Park musical (Bigger, Longer, and Uncut) features a medley-style song that has more than one song coming together in one piece and being sung simultaneously. It’s been a while, but I think that “Blame Canada” and “La Resistance” were in it; “Up There” might have been another song in the mix. Actually, that round was _four_ way, with the kids singing the resistance song, the mothers on “Blame Canada”, the devil on “Up there” and the men singing “Tomorrow Night”. ---
**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 4, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/46 "2011-04-04T16:38:26Z")
Spoon’s cover of “Don’t You Evah” does this in the choruses. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/47 "2011-04-04T16:45:22Z")
I’m not somewhere I can pull it up to listen, but isn’t there a section in Manfred Mann’s ‘Blinded by the Light’ where that occurs? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/48 "2011-04-04T16:54:07Z")
The second verse of “Teach Your Children Well” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. At work so no obligatory YouTube link. Also, unless I’m understanding wrong, “That’s Not My Name” by the Ting Tings. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/49 "2011-04-04T17:05:27Z")
[“You’ve Got Your Troubles”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omouwax-4uQ) by the Fortunes, in the passage from 2:26-2:39. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/50 "2011-04-04T17:12:39Z")
Cool! I think/hope the first song that came to mind hasn’t been mentioned yet. [Gang of Four - Love Like Anthrax](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd3UiGZBTOU) I freakin’ LOVE this song. The two voices not only sing over each other, but they seem to run at cross purposes: like the low, flat voice is the official veneer the singer’s character presents to the world, and the singing voice is the internal voice. The whole effect is wonderfully creepy and claustrophobic, while the beat is big and great. NOTE: The first minute or so is a squall of feedback - very arty of them, but after a listen or two, just a waste. Skip it - but let the song itself build up, which starts when the drums come in right after that… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/51 "2011-04-04T17:12:58Z")
It’s probably common in opera. One example is the [quartet from **Rigoletto**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJMy_rv-Ix8). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/52 "2011-04-04T17:44:40Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I’m not somewhere I can pull it up to listen, but isn’t there a section in Manfred Mann’s ‘Blinded by the Light’ where that occurs? [Yes, at about 6:00](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJh47LybCkU) ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/53 "2011-04-04T19:01:52Z")
My two favorites: The ending to [Randy Scouse Git by The Monkees](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iFEa7pRO1o) (bad video matchup to audio, sorry) Most of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/54 "2011-04-04T20:05:01Z")
“Harborcoat” and Sleater-Kinney were the first ones I thought of, but they’ve already been mentioned. So I’ll go with another R.E.M. song: “Fall On Me” - the choruses only, but there are 3 different vocal lines going on (“Fall on me”, “It’s gonna fall”, the “What is it up in the air for?” part). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/55 "2011-04-04T20:26:56Z")
And My Chemical Romance’s ‘Mama’ ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/56 "2011-04-04T20:39:47Z")
The Indigo Girls do this a fair bit. There’s a little bit of it toward the end of “Galileo” and a lot of it in “Prince of Darkness,” for starters. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/57 "2011-04-04T20:41:25Z")
> [@sco3tt](#): > > My favorite example of this has always been the closing section of the Doobie Brothers’ **Black Water** (the [“Dixieland/Honkytonk”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km4-eKvv3EM&feature=player_detailpage#t=202s) part). This is what I came to post. ---
**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 5, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/58 "2011-04-05T01:21:22Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > “Harborcoat” and Sleater-Kinney were the first ones I thought of, but they’ve already been mentioned. So I’ll go with another R.E.M. song: “Fall On Me” - the choruses only, but there are 3 different vocal lines going on (“Fall on me”, “It’s gonna fall”, the “What is it up in the air for?” part). Another R.E.M. one: Binky the Doormat, during the chorus-y bit. I really dig the Stipe-Mills countermelodies. They do it a lot… I’m sure I can come up with more if I think on it a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8baadc/32.png) [@Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicest_of_the_Damned)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/59 "2011-04-05T01:41:35Z")
Tori Amos does this in several songs, some that come to mind are the end of Space Dog (starts at around 3:55): [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCy75GI6M0o) Father Lucifer has a really nice example (IMHO) (about 2:10): [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ux7GMOc6k) And the Doughnut Song (about 1:25): [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0jAEFpKI4k) I believe she does all the vocals herself. ---
**Author:** ![loshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce73a5/32.png) [@loshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loshan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030/60 "2011-04-05T01:49:05Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > The one that occurs to me immediately is [Scarboro Fair/Canticle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEhAXQ5QQzs) by Simon and Garfunkel. I opened the thread to post this. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/examples-of-songs-with-multiple-concurrent-vocal-lines/577030.md?page=4)