# Notable High Notes in Rock Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465 "2008-11-13T02:06:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/41 "2008-11-13T14:59:09Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Sting - The Police - Roxanne Reminds me of Synchronicity II. The high notes aren’t exceptionally high compared to the rest of the notes but it’s deceptive. It sounds like the standard new wave/emo/Eleanor Rigby whine except that it’s a few notes higher than them, so when I actually tried to sing it in Rock Band my balls almost dropped off 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/42 "2008-11-13T15:02:09Z")
“Under Pressure” - Queen/David Bowie ‘Whhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy’ ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Black\_Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/43 "2008-11-13T15:12:37Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > All these post and no mention of **Steelheart** ’s “I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)”? > > That dude has an outrageous voice. Go, download, listen. I was at a party this summer that had one of the best cover bands I’ve ever heard. When they played the opening riff to this song, I thought, “No way this singer (who was really drunk) is going to pull this off.” He did - dead on. I can’t sing for sh\*t, but I love trying to sing along to this in the car. I almost made myself throw up once. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/44 "2008-11-13T15:23:40Z")
I don’t know if she counts as rock, but Kate Bush “Wuthering Heights” ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/45 "2008-11-13T15:34:29Z")
Chris Cornell of Sound Garden/Temple of the Dog - “Say Hello to Heaven” and various other early stuff was rediculous. That guy was the man. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/46 "2008-11-13T15:38:04Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > All these post and no mention of **Steelheart** ’s “I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)”? > > That dude has an outrageous voice. Go, download, listen. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/62Nb9oYTAqQ/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/62Nb9oYTAqQ?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Damn impressive ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/47 "2008-11-13T15:44:28Z")
A lot of Don Henley high notes in the **Eagles** , the big one that comes to mind is the ending of The Last Resort… “…kiss it goodbye yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…” ---
**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:** [November 13, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/48 "2008-11-13T17:05:03Z")
Tiny Tim, who could rock when he wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/49 "2008-11-13T18:12:59Z")
Maybe Zebra’s only a Long Island tradition, but “Tell Me What You Want” certainly has high enough notes to fit the OP’s request (and yes, we here consider them a rock band). ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/50 "2008-11-13T18:23:58Z")
**Young American** by David Bowie - “Break down and Cryyyy” ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/51 "2008-11-13T18:31:26Z")
Respect by Erasure. “Give a little respect to-oo-oo-ooo MEEEEEEEEEEEE!” ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/52 "2008-11-13T18:42:49Z")
Gotta mention Geoff Tate from **Queensryche** here. There’s an iconic high note from “Take Hold of the Flame” just before the song starts rockin’ which needs to be #1 on this list. How about Jon Anderson of **Yes**? All over songs like “Long Distance Runaround” and “Heart of the Sunrise.” ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/53 "2008-11-13T18:45:50Z")
> [@Queen\_Bruin](#): > > Rob Halford of Judas Priest hitting the opening scream of “Dissident Aggressor”. Yowza. > > Oh and the closing note too. Also “Exciter”: Stand by for exciter… [/higher]Stand by for exciter… [/even higher]Stand by for exciter… [/omfg]Stand by for exciter… Not only did he have a pretty wide range but his vocal cords and lungs must have been made by the local ironworks. ---
**Author:** ![Flip\_Pancake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f1d935/32.png) [@Flip\_Pancake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip_Pancake)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/54 "2008-11-13T19:08:59Z")
“Wow-ow-ow-OW sweet child of miiiiiine” Also, Jeff Buckley and ‘Last Goodbye’ ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/55 "2008-11-13T19:11:13Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Yep, and in terms of exact pitch and clarity the ‘Galilleo’ parts are higher. > > Freddie could do a lot, vocally, but it was Roger who delivered all of the truly high pitches. I suddenly had a “Wayne’s World” moment…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/56 "2008-11-13T19:12:22Z")
“Gonna Get Close To You” from Queensryche comes to mind, along with a large chunk of their catalog [mmm, Geoff Tate…] ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/57 "2008-11-13T21:47:32Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > The Darkness - I believe in a thing called love Beatcha at #11. Sorry, but I so rarely get to do this! Also the cheesy pop balled, “Time Will Reveal,” (“cause thiiiiis time loooove’s for real” near the end.) Oooh, lots by Prince, especially that “oooh”, in “When Doves Cry”, but he hits some fairly bizarre notes in a lot of his songs! ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/58 "2008-11-13T22:58:49Z")
> [@ShelliBean](#): > > I don’t know if she counts as rock, but Kate Bush “Wuthering Heights” Gotta love Kate! “Song of Solomon.” At 2:51 (and repeating thereafter), what note is that? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/owAkE4GLH4w/hqdefault.jpg "Kate Bush - The Song Of Solomon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owAkE4GLH4w) Peter Gabriel at the end of “Shock the Monkey.” He hits some pretty high notes on the way, but then at 3:43…:eek: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oy9S6U7kPlI/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/oy9S6U7kPlI?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque If we’re going to mention Minnie Ripperton I guess we better throw in Mariah Carey, “Someday,” at 3:45 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzLlKW81848](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzLlKW81848) :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/59 "2008-11-13T23:16:21Z")
Well if you’re going to mention Mariah Carey, then “Emotions” goes higher, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465/60 "2008-11-13T23:29:44Z")
Tori Amos, in “Yes Anastasia” has one note that goes up three times until it’s ridiculous. You can hear it [at about the 8:17 mark.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi28VU59bYo) James Brown has one ear-splitter in [“Superbad”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UH635bu6b8) at around 3:55 that isn’t even a word, it’s just a shriek following a string of “Gimme!” Scares the cats. This is a great song because of all the hehs and huhs and ayes and random phrases, including “Sometimes I feel so nice, I wanna try myself with you, huh!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notable-high-notes-in-rock-songs/472465.md?page=4)