# Name a singer with an "unusual" voice. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882 "2017-10-03T16:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/101 "2017-10-05T04:11:08Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > So what is ‘falsetto’? It’s artificial. Men, or altos, singing falsetto can’t get any power or real expression behind it. I couldn’t create a link, but on YouTube, there is a recording of Michael Maniaci, a natural sopranist, singing a piece written for a castrato. He discusses why his voice is like it is, and how it is different from falsetto. I couldn’t find a really good example of falsetto, but if you look up the cast recording of _Cabaret_ (not the movie) singing “Tomorrow Belongs to Me,” it’s a mixture of countertenors and men singing falsetto. (Plus some regular tenors.) First, even singing falsetto, they don’t hit the same notes that the sopranist can hit-- he can hit a high C-- and they don’t hit it with the same power. Power isn’t the point of falsetto. I mean, it’s in the name-- it’s false. It’s somewhat expressionless, but has a bit of sadness, or maybe yearning. Listen to the sopranist. It’s just completely different, and you will hear it immediately. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/102 "2017-10-05T04:54:26Z")
Joey Ramone of the Ramones. Gordan Gano of Violent Femmes. Cab Calloway. He had a voice that sounded like a muted trumpet. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/103 "2017-10-05T05:01:06Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > Cab Calloway. He had a voice that sounded like a muted trumpet. Ooh. That’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/104 "2017-10-05T06:53:52Z")
Did I miss someone mentioning David Byrne? Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons) Christine Amphlett (Divinyls) Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/105 "2017-10-05T07:00:56Z")
Missed edit window. Christin **a** Amphlett, should have been. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/106 "2017-10-05T10:57:32Z")
The entire thread went by without Neil Young being mentioned? ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/107 "2017-10-05T13:14:54Z")
> [@jerseymule](#): > > [Rickie Lee Jones](https://www.youtube.com/user/rickieljonesofficial) I was thinking that. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/108 "2017-10-05T13:22:50Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > So what is ‘falsetto’? Would Tiny Tim (Tiptoe Through the Tulips) count, or was he truesetto? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/109 "2017-10-05T14:12:58Z")
Speaking of falsetto, how about Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/110 "2017-10-05T16:40:49Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > A very unusual (affected) accent given Colin Meloy of _The Decembrists_ a very strange (and instantly recognizable) singing voice. In the early 2000s, I always got the Decemberists, the Mountain Goats and Death Cab for Cutie confused because their singers all sounded the same to me. I can distinguish them now, but I still think they have similar sounding voices. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/111 "2017-10-05T18:23:24Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Then, of course, there is Kermit the Frog. [No kiddin’.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_gfza-cbBQ) :eek: (NSFW) ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/112 "2017-10-05T18:59:42Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > It’s artificial. Men, or altos, singing falsetto can’t get any power or real expression behind it. I couldn’t create a link, but on YouTube, there is a recording of Michael Maniaci, a natural sopranist, singing a piece written for a castrato. He discusses why his voice is like it is, and how it is different from falsetto. I couldn’t find a really good example of falsetto, but if you look up the cast recording of _Cabaret_ (not the movie) singing “Tomorrow Belongs to Me,” it’s a mixture of countertenors and men singing falsetto. (Plus some regular tenors.) First, even singing falsetto, they don’t hit the same notes that the sopranist can hit-- he can hit a high C-- and they don’t hit it with the same power. Power isn’t the point of falsetto. I mean, it’s in the name-- it’s false. It’s somewhat expressionless, but has a bit of sadness, or maybe yearning. Listen to the sopranist. It’s just completely different, and you will hear it immediately. Here’s an example of Van Morrison going in and out of falsetto: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7YTFXlTUjc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7YTFXlTUjc) If you know what his voice ordinarily sounds like, you can compare and contrast. I would take issue that there’s no ‘real expression’ behind it. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/113 "2017-10-05T19:01:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Would Tiny Tim (Tiptoe Through the Tulips) count, or was he truesetto? That’s a good question. He was equally adept, although less impressive I suppose, singing in his natural lower register. Assuming his lower register was in fact the “natural” one in his case. I hope someone can answer this definitively so I don’t have to look it up when I get back. ---
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/114 "2017-10-05T19:23:33Z")
2016 's AGT winner, 14 year old Grace Vanderwaal. She’s got an album out now with songs she wrote herself. Very odd sounding voice, but talented, none the less. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/115 "2017-10-05T21:48:46Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I thought Mortcia’s sister Ophelia was the one who sang in two-part harmony (yes, I know Caroline Jones played both roles, but still). So I see you’re old too. ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/116 "2017-10-05T22:11:58Z")
I’d nominate Ozzy Osbourne. SOME of his early Sabbath work was phenomenal. To my ears, his vocals were used more as an instrument within the context of the band’s sound. I simply loved the way his voice carried melodies with Sabbath…I rarely paid attention to the words. He had quite a range and I’ve never heard anybody nail what he brought to the table. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/117 "2017-10-05T23:14:48Z")
> [@Dante\_G](#): > > 2016 's AGT winner, 14 year old Grace Vanderwaal. She’s got an album out now with songs she wrote herself. Very odd sounding voice, but talented, none the less. Doesn’t she sing through puppets? I can imagine she uses an odd-sounding voice for that. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/118 "2017-10-05T23:49:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Doesn’t she sing through puppets? I can imagine she uses an odd-sounding voice for that. That’s this year’s winner, Darci Lynne Farmer. Last year was just a young singer. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/119 "2017-10-06T00:30:01Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > That’s this year’s winner, Darci Lynne Farmer. Last year was just a young singer. Ah, got it! I’d seen videos of Farmer and thought it was the other one. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882/120 "2017-10-06T03:15:01Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > Iris DeMent Yes. I don’t get it – does she do it as an affectation, or to imitate folk from some bygone era, or what? It’s like nails on a chalkboard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-singer-with-an-unusual-voice/797882.md?page=7)