# Singers whose singing voices sound way different than their speaking voices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293 "2010-01-17T05:38:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/1 "2010-01-17T05:38:31Z")
Of course Bob Dylan is probably the king of this topic. [Warning! 90s R&B: This song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrBnEaQd4ZY&feature=fvw) gave me the idea for this thread. The lead singer sounds like he’s putting on some kind of affectation instead of singing straight. There was also an 80’s raspy voiced thing from some male singers whose names I can’t think of. More examples anyone? ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/2 "2010-01-17T05:41:42Z")
Geddy Lee. It was even mentioned by **Pavement** in the song _Stereo_. [QUOTE=Pavement] What about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy? (I know him and he does!) [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/3 "2010-01-17T05:42:56Z")
[Jim Nabors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nabors). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/4 "2010-01-17T07:28:42Z")
The Bee Gees’ lead singer. Maurice Gibb? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/5 "2010-01-17T07:30:27Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Jim Nabors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Nabors). 😃 Beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/6 "2010-01-17T07:32:14Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Beat me to it. Yep. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/7 "2010-01-17T07:33:31Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > The Bee Gees’ lead singer. Maurice Gibb? Are you sure you don’t mean Barry Gibb? He was the one noted for his falsetto singing. His late brother Maurice sang lead on average on only one track per album. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/8 "2010-01-17T07:44:13Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Are you sure you don’t mean Barry Gibb? He was the one noted for his falsetto singing. His late brother Maurice sang lead on average on only one track per album. It probably is Barry. ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/9 "2010-01-17T08:17:35Z")
Mel Tillis. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/10 "2010-01-17T08:37:29Z")
Rod Stewart’s speaking voice is deeper than his singing voice. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/11 "2010-01-17T08:48:05Z")
Prince is a very soft-spoken guy, with very measured, often quite hesitant speech. In song, he’s quite willing to let go, be loud, and be loose. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/12 "2010-01-17T09:22:52Z")
Here are a couple of live clips that point up the startling difference between spoken voice and (one of her many ) singing voices. [“Soon”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHpvrXVo3OE) (Yes cover) [“When The Rain Come Down”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zzcMmfGBjY) (the startling bit kicks in at about 1:47 and again later on a couple more times) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/13 "2010-01-17T10:18:26Z")
I know this isn’t what you mean but I am always amazed in _Family Guy_ when you get stuff like [Seth MacFarlane as Stewie Griffin doing Bryan Adams](http://www.fresh-buzz.com/2009/02/22/stewie-griffin-singing-bryan-adams) because we all know he really sounds like Brian. Surreal. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/14 "2010-01-17T13:56:10Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I know this isn’t what you mean but I am always amazed in _Family Guy_ when you get stuff like [Seth MacFarlane as Stewie Griffin doing Bryan Adams](http://www.fresh-buzz.com/2009/02/22/stewie-griffin-singing-bryan-adams) because we all know he really sounds like Brian. Surreal. Bryan Adams was who i was thinking of. Listening to the original, there’s not as much rasp as I remembered. Bryan Adams triggered John Mayer who triggered Dave Matthews. Also there was an American Idol audition where the guy sang with a heavy rasp to his voice. Simon thought he was putting the judges on and asked him to s ing Mary Had a Little Lamb. Same voice. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/15 "2010-01-17T15:17:00Z")
Michael Jackson! ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/16 "2010-01-17T15:44:13Z")
[Crazy Guggenheim (Frank Fontaine)](http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Sing-Jackie-Gleason-Show/dp/B0009A6MVW) ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/17 "2010-01-17T18:06:19Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Michael Jackson! I think MJ’s singing and speaking voices are similar except for when he’s doing that gritty thing like in Smooth Criminal. ---
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/18 "2010-01-17T20:49:37Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > Bryan Adams triggered John Mayer who triggered Dave Matthews. Was John Mayer around the pop scene before Dave Matthews? I thought it was the other way around, but I don’t really like pop that much. My contribution: Alison Krauss. I don’t have the capability to access YouTube right now for a cite, but I remember the first time I heard her talk. She was accepting an award, probably around the time she did that song with Shenandoah. If you’ve never heard her sing, you owe it to yourself to check it out, but she’s got one of the most crystal-clear, penetrating soprano singing voices, and it’s really just beautiful to listen to. When she talks, she sounds like a totally different person. ---
**Author:** ![Daffyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daffyd/32/8923_2.png) [@Daffyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffyd)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/19 "2010-01-18T08:46:52Z")
How about [Dennis Day](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Day) from the Jack Benny show? He had a sort of high, innocent sort of voice - (most likely a character, but it seemed to stick) - on radio, but when he sang, he had an amazing tenor voice. ---
**Author:** ![VanillaGorilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@VanillaGorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanillaGorilla)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293/20 "2010-01-18T09:59:30Z")
How about Axl Rose? [Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohf0sz5mAS8) is an example of him talking. We all know what he sounds like when he sings, of course. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-whose-singing-voices-sound-way-different-than-their-speaking-voices/525293.md?page=2)