# Songs in which the singer purposely alters his voice (more explanation follows) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 26, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847 "2012-09-26T02:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/1 "2012-09-26T02:23:49Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/2 "2012-09-26T02:30:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/3 "2012-09-26T02:58:42Z")
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. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/4 "2012-09-26T03:00:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/5 "2012-09-26T04:37:51Z")
Peggy Lee as both Si & Am. And there’s Jim Nabors, but I dont think that is what you mean. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/6 "2012-09-26T05:10:44Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2wTDX_jo8c) by Wheatus. Skip to 2:30-3:15 for the relevant bit. I’ll try to come up with a better example soon. ---
**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:** [September 26, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/7 "2012-09-26T05:28:16Z")
If this counts, Kate Bush’s [“Get Out Of My House”](http://youtu.be/8NXp7yVYAKc) 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. ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/8 "2012-09-26T05:38:12Z")
Ha! Good call on Pato Banton. 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. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/9 "2012-09-26T06:23:48Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > 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 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? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/10 "2012-09-26T07:31:49Z")
_It’s Oh So Quiet_ by Bjork, although the way she alters her voice in that song is just normal for her. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/11 "2012-09-26T08:02:56Z")
His voice varies a lot between the verses and the insane screaming choruses Limp Bizkit - Faith [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/l-EdCNjumvI/maxresdefault.jpg "Limp Bizkit - Faith") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-EdCNjumvI) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/12 "2012-09-26T11:55:35Z")
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!) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/13 "2012-09-26T12:01:16Z")
[_Murder_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D9TUhIKDbw) 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._ ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/14 "2012-09-26T12:23:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/15 "2012-09-26T12:27:12Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOwBjQrdtqs&feature=fvst), 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”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc0XEw4m-3w), 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 ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/16 "2012-09-26T12:28:02Z")
How about “Ain’t Got No Home” by Clarence “Frogman” Henry? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/17 "2012-09-26T12:43:59Z")
[King Diamond](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/18 "2012-09-26T13:37:36Z")
“Three Little Pigs” by Green Jelly. “Not by the haaaair on my chinny chin chin!” ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/19 "2012-09-26T13:38:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/20 "2012-09-26T13:46:35Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847.md?page=2)