# Is there a name for this hyper-annoying singing style? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704 "2014-01-02T15:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/343 "2019-02-04T23:40:36Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > You’ve never actually listened to Cat Power, then? Came here to say this. Cat’s got a bit of the scratchy breathy thing, but not the vocal fry or stupid fake diphthongs. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2019, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/344 "2019-02-05T02:45:40Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > That isn’t a reason. > I’ve been a 15-year-old girl. And a 17-year-old girl. > > Hell, even when I was a 9-year-old girl, I didn’t speak in a baby voice. She’s imitating a toddler. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUHC9tYz8ik) and [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skHbZBsS7hM) doesn’t sound like any toddler I’ve ever met. Yeah, it’s got the effect under discussion, but “sounds like a toddler” isn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/345 "2019-10-09T02:00:22Z")
I apologize for what I am about to do. Listen to this Gillette commercial, but first have someone tie your hands down so you won’t be tempted to jam something sharp into your eardrums to make the awfulness go away. Then have that someone press play on the video and run for their life/sanity. Ready? Here it is: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxbZsZ5mOQM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxbZsZ5mOQM) Gah! Not only does this singer take an energetic pop song and turn it into a funeral dirge, but she also appears to have learned to “hip sing” by studiously following the directions in the instructional video that was posted upthread: > [@port](#): > > [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e-0K77ccAOU&time\_continue=47&ebc=ANyPxKrIqIjLv6IdxyYCgd3rBrI7SciOIqnr8jcK8-wIJa3WXLBF9dGoHautZu3Fsy1Qhuoz1cc6pdBnVhNhWXfHAgkv00daeA](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e-0K77ccAOU&time_continue=47&ebc=ANyPxKrIqIjLv6IdxyYCgd3rBrI7SciOIqnr8jcK8-wIJa3WXLBF9dGoHautZu3Fsy1Qhuoz1cc6pdBnVhNhWXfHAgkv00daeA) “It sounds the same when everyone sings it, but it’s very (cough) unique.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/346 "2019-10-09T16:37:29Z")
That singing style may have been inspired by chanteuses from France, who have been singing in a breathy whispery style for years, right? An example is: [Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un m'a dit - YouTube](https://youtu.be/EC7Re8cczj0) ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/347 "2019-10-09T18:14:59Z")
Someone crank out a neologism for this travesty already. How about TWAT Rock (too wounded and tired)? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/348 "2019-10-09T18:38:01Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [troll] But … the “hip singers” sound _nothing like_ Tori Amos…[/troll] I’m not familiar with the examples the OP provided, but they sound much closer to the Cat Powers, Fiests and Regina Spektors of the world. What I like to call “Female Indie Singer/Songwriter” . They clearly derive influence from Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Jewel (“Adult Alternative Female Singer/Songerwriter”) but are very different “Female Adult Contemporary” artists like Celine Dion. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/349 "2019-10-09T22:00:16Z")
I like all the artists you named, which probably helps explain why I fail to share the outrage over this musical style. Although I don’t love the latest offering (the Gillette commercial), it is simply boring, not grating. > [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > That singing style may have been inspired by chanteuses from France, who have been singing in a breathy whispery style for years, right? An example is: [https://youtu.be/EC7Re8cczj0](https://youtu.be/EC7Re8cczj0) Yeah, I dig it. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/350 "2019-10-09T22:14:16Z")
IMO - there are two different axes of annoyance, and we should take care to distinguish the two. We’re getting some hate for Regina Spektor and Cat Power, but really their only sin is to use their breath to do strange things with their timbre. This is no different from how every young woman talks nowadays, and I find a lot to like about it. To me, the real sin is all the vowel-bending from an artist like Sia. Nobody does that except maybe if you’re emulating an Ozarks accent like CCR did back in the day. Nobody talks like that. All these singers are just imitating this pretentious thing for no discernable reason. It sounds horrendous and I don’t understand why anyone would imitate it. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2019, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/351 "2019-10-10T12:17:30Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I’m not familiar with the examples the OP provided, but they sound much closer to the Cat Powers, Fiests and Regina Spektors of the world. What I like to call “Female Indie Singer/Songwriter” . They clearly derive influence from Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Jewel (“Adult Alternative Female Singer/Songerwriter”) but are very different “Female Adult Contemporary” artists like Celine Dion. Whoosh…it’s a reference to how when she started Spektor was accused of being an Amos clone (like Tori in turn was considered a Kate Bush wannabe). Obviously wrong, but it happened. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/352 "2019-10-10T13:33:00Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > IMO - there are two different axes of annoyance, and we should take care to distinguish the two. > > We’re getting some hate for Regina Spektor and Cat Power, but really their only sin is to use their breath to do strange things with their timbre. This is no different from how every young woman talks nowadays, and I find a lot to like about it. > > To me, the real sin is all the vowel-bending from an artist like Sia. Nobody does that except maybe if you’re emulating an Ozarks accent like CCR did back in the day. Nobody talks like that. All these singers are just imitating this pretentious thing for no discernable reason. It sounds horrendous and I don’t understand why anyone would imitate it. I tend to agree with this. I don’t love the breathy, barely audible style of singing, but then again I don’t love the singing/screaming at the top of her lungs that a lot of (mostly female) singers do. But what annoys me like fingernails on a chalkboard is the affected bending of vowels and fake accent that you describe. If it were one singer’s go-to style, then OK. But it is copied over and over and over and is just annoying. That Gillette commercial is horrible, and a fine example of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/353 "2019-10-10T16:21:04Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > [Cat Power](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS614A5GzEw)? I was thinking [Mazzy Star](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImKY6TZEyrI) ---
**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:** [October 10, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/354 "2019-10-10T16:51:36Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I was thinking [Mazzy Star](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImKY6TZEyrI) Hope Sandoval strikes me as more mumbly than breathy on most of her songs. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/355 "2019-10-10T16:59:20Z")
“Dragging Finger Nails Slowly Across a Blackboard”? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/356 "2019-10-13T02:57:41Z")
Nevermind, zombie thread ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/357 "2019-10-13T04:11:16Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Nevermind, zombie thread I don’t think it really fits that bill. It has been returned to so many times over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/358 "2019-10-13T18:54:08Z")
Yes, this thread is not undead. It is immortal! ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/359 "2019-10-16T03:53:47Z")
Great way to put it! Timeless. Evergreen. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/360 "2019-10-18T00:51:16Z")
It cannot die. Just recently: not only the “Venoise” thing which I get so much pleasure from hate listening to. The one about “Are you curious… Forget all the prople make you furious” “We were made for each other and that is precious They’re just jealous They’re just jealous” ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/361 "2019-10-18T04:54:22Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The one about > “Are you curious… Forget all the prople make you furious” > > “We were made for each other and that is precious > They’re just jealous They’re just jealous” [Moonlight Breakfast - Summer (Official Video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tuvug9dwLc) Catchy tune. Can’t stop listening. Thanks for reminding me of it! But the video is kind of lame. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704/362 "2025-07-01T10:22:56Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I can’t see cat power being part of this. She seems to have some artistic integrity thats missing in it. Agreed, and again I will not idly stand by and hear Cat Power defamed like this. Her timbre is not an affectation, she just sounds like that. She _may_ have benefitted from the surge in popularity of that style, but she has vocal and emotional range as well as songwriting chops. She is not a “waif” by any stretch, nor is she trying to be one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-hyper-annoying-singing-style/677704.md?page=19)