This may be difficult to explain well. I am referring to songs in which the singer seems to adopt a different personality or emotion as evidenced by a change in the “tone” of his or her voice.
I have two examples:
In Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City”, Stevie’s vocals change dramatically once the character in the song has been set up, tried, and jailed. Once he’s in jail, Stevie’s voice is full of outrage; it is rougher, angrier.
In Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son”, the two characters engage in a dialogue. During the father’s part, Cat’s voice is softer, more tender. When the son speaks, Stevens’ voice is different; you can hear anger and frustration in it. Then he returns to the softer voice to represent the father.
I know this is a long shot, but can anyone think of another similar occurrence?
mmm
Not sure if this is exactly what you’re looking for, but on The Beautiful South’s “Liar’s Bar”, singer Paul Heaton seems to be channeling Tom Waits in an imitation of Wait’s distinctive singing style. Heaton’s normal singing style sounds nothing like this, so he appears to be going for a particular mood on that song.
I can think of dozens of songs where the lead singer changes his voice when he’s singing as another character in the same song, but I’m not sure that’s what you want. For example, every single Pato Banton song.
The song “Lost in the Darkness/The Way Back & Confrontation” in the musical Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde has the singer singing as the two characters. Very impressive on stage.
This is pretty common when you have a man singing about a woman, and then the point of view switches to the woman. I have to admit, thinking of specific examples is tough though. I’m kind of embarrassed at the one that popped into my head first: Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus. Skip to 2:30-3:15 for the relevant bit.
If this counts, Kate Bush’s “Get Out Of My House” is about a haunted house (inspired by Stephen King’s book The Shining) and she uses several different strange and creepy voices. Warning, it’s a little bit weird. Just a bit. Ok, a LOT. I love it of course, it’s from my all-time favorite album, but it usually causes the unbesotted to run away in terror.
Also, try “Does Everyone Stare” by the Police. I’m not even sure that’s Sting singing the first verse, but I always love when his, much smoother, voice comes in on the second verse.
Hmmm…I’m thinking “The Trees” by Rush. Wait, Geddy may just be speaking to music in the prologue part, tho. In perspective, I think he’s singing. Then, he goes into his alluring screech.
Is this what you’re thinking of, or did I miss it completely?
Many songs. One is “Cool, Calm, and Collected”, on the wonderful Rolling Stones album Between the Buttons (released January 1967). Mick sings the verses in an exaggeratedly British mock-impresario style, declaring praises to a woman which are actually sly digs at her sophistication; but in the two-line choruses, his vocal style switches to a gentle (but still biting) coo, which fits the line matching the song’s title.
(By the way, there is a lick played on an old-timey stringed instrument – the same instrument in “Lady Jane” – at the end of each of the four choruses. The lick is a quote from a different song each time. I recognize “Loch Lomond,” an altered “Star Spangled Banner,” and an even more altered “Ain’t Gonna be Treated this Way” – but is there any Doper who can identify the fourth quote? Thanks, and sorry for the hijack!)
Murder by David Gilmour. Adressed to John Lennon’s killer, the first two verses he uses his nice voice ala Comfortably Numb or Fat Old Sun, the second two verses he uses his angry rock n roll voice ala the Nile Song or Young Lust.
Harry Chapin adopts several different tones in “Sniper” – the plaintive sniper as a young man, the unhinged and resolute sniper on the day of the shooting, the robotic and indifferent voices from his past, the gleeful reporters, etc.
Further clarification: What I am looking for is a singer who changes his vocal style within the same song (not simply one who deviates from his/her usual voice for a specific song). And, ideally, there should be a reason for adopting the different style.
In “Father and Son”, Stevens’ uses a different voice for the father (soft, gentle, wise (?)) and the son (angry, frustrated, rebellious).
In this video, the changes occur at 1:25 and again at 2:25. If you don’t want to listen to the whole thing, just start at 1:10 and listen past 1:25.
In “Living for the City”, we hear the typical Stevie voice through 4:15, at which point the character in the song is set up, busted, tried, and jailed. Stevie’s narration returns around 5:15 with a voice that is filled with outrage.
mmm
King Diamond does this all the time. He does concept albums (usually horror stories) and he sings all the voices of the characters differently both in the same song and different songs.
Rush 2112 - Geddy sings the part of the protagonist in a softer voice and the part of the Priests in his usual screech.
Also lots of early Genesis where Peter Gabriel is voicing multiple parts. One that comes to mind is The Slippermen from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
I can’t remember which songs have which names, but The Second Stage Turbine Blade by Coheed and Cambria has several songs in which this happens. Sometimes it’s altered or produced differently, not just sung differently, but most of the times it’s because he’s singing as a different character.
