# Is there a name for the annoying "superfluous Y" singing style **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903 "2018-01-31T18:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/1 "2018-01-31T18:31:16Z")
Not sure if I can describe this with text, but I’m sure you know what I mean. There is a trend, primarily among female singers, to inject unnecessary Y’s into words. You’ll hear it abused [here](https://www.smule.com/recording/johnny-cash-hurt-piano-cover/547466936_1971304801) (link to a rendition of Hurt). Instead of simply singing “I hurt myself today” you hear something like “I hu-yrt myse-ylf today” ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/2 "2018-01-31T18:36:43Z")
**Moderator Action** Moving thread from GQ to Cafe Society, our home for singing style questions, annoying and otherwise. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/3 "2018-01-31T19:39:10Z")
I’ve wondered about this myself. I don’t know how to describe it either but it makes me think of an exaggerated New York (Brooklyn?) accent where “nervous” would be pronounced “noyvous”. Except not exactly 😕 Shawn Mendes does it too. On _Stitches_ he sings the line “your _woyds_ cut deeper than a knife”. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/4 "2018-01-31T20:27:58Z")
Singer sounds like Melanie. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/5 "2018-01-31T20:55:25Z")
“Johnny Cash cover” Jesus Christ. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/6 "2018-01-31T21:02:48Z")
It’s known as “indie girl voice” and it’s a fad, but an unfortunately long running one. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/7 "2018-01-31T21:11:02Z")
I think they are adding syllables. It is super annoying, what ever it is. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/8 "2018-01-31T21:46:56Z")
Anna Kendrick does it in “when I’m gone” – it becomes “when I’m goahhyn” when she sings it. I think I asked about it here but people weren’t sure what I was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/9 "2018-02-01T00:02:08Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > It’s known as “indie girl voice” and it’s a fad, but an unfortunately long running one. [No, really.](https://youtu.be/7zGdXfE8x5o) ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-the-annoying-superfluous-y-singing-style/807903/10 "2018-02-01T03:48:38Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > “Johnny Cash cover” > > Jesus Christ. Indeed. > [@MoonMoon](#): > > It’s known as “indie girl voice” and it’s a fad, but an unfortunately long running one. That’s as good a term as any, I guess. That plus vocal fry is a sure fire way for me to change the radio station (why was I on that station to begin with?)