# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/41 "2012-09-27T14:57:12Z")
_Smells Like Teen Spirit_, Nirvana (maybe) [Goodnight Saigon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CABCIseO8Zo), Billy Joel, which builds to several screaming, angry crescendos. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/42 "2012-09-27T16:03:39Z")
[Industrial Disease](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rWuc5kar3Y) by Dire Straits has Mark Knopfler adopting a different voice as “Dr. Parkinson.” ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/43 "2012-09-27T17:12:19Z")
In a number of songs - _How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?_ comes to mind - Barry Gibb alternates between a full, deeper voice and a breathy, almost-but-not-quite falsetto voice. He, of course, also used falsetto a lot, but I can’t remember hearing all three in one song. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/44 "2012-09-27T18:46:50Z")
Biggie Smalls does it on “Gimmie the Loot.” Well, that’s cheating, because he clearly uses studio equipment to alter his vocals. So how about [this video?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaeJ60Zazvk). Gets interesting at 1:08. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/45 "2012-09-27T19:57:50Z")
In the Pogues’ cover of “The Gentleman Solider,” Shane MacGowan sings in his normal voice for the narration, an exaggeratedly low and growly voice for the titular soldier, and a ridiculous, Python-esque falsetto for the seduced girl. [You can listen to it here.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21dRPu_v1xU) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/46 "2012-09-29T23:27:33Z")
Singers who record A Cappella albums solo via multitrack pretty much have to do this. Todd Rundgren’s [album _A Cappella_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cappella_%28Todd_Rundgren_album%29) features Todd singing every part in a wide range of voices, some recorded directly, some sampled and re-pitched. Examples include the very odd [Lockjaw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noZTlEg-7ZE) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/47 "2012-10-01T15:14:57Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Would Paul McCartney’s “Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey” be an example of what you’re looking for? Also in “You Never Give Me Your Money”, he starts with his “sweet” voice and switches to a more “growly” voice in the “all the money’s gone, nowhere to go” part. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/48 "2012-10-01T15:25:57Z")
Billy Joel again, with “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me.” The lyrics are in the form of a dialogue. The question lines (_"What’s the matter with the car I’m driving?_") are sung as if by one guy with a lower, more mumbly voice, while the answer lines (_“Can’t cha tell that it’s out of style”_) and the chorus are sung as if by a different guy with a more brash, harsher tone. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/49 "2012-10-01T15:26:40Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Also in “You Never Give Me Your Money”, he starts with his “sweet” voice and switches to a more “growly” voice in the “all the money’s gone, nowhere to go” part. Although Paul sometimes did alter his voice, I always though that the more “growly” part in that song was John. I may be mistaken, but, after all, it begins “Out of college, Money spent…” John actually did briefly go to college. Paul did not. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/50 "2012-10-01T15:34:10Z")
Guitarzan by Ray Stevens. He does Guitarzan, Jane, and the monkey. Very impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/51 "2012-10-01T16:02:58Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Although Paul sometimes did alter his voice, I always though that the more “growly” part in that song was John. It sure sounds like Paul to me. > [@](#): > > I may be mistaken, but, after all, it begins > “Out of college, > Money spent…” > John actually did briefly go to college. Paul did not. That doesn’t mean much. Do you believe John when he sings “I am the walrus,” or do you believe him when he sings “The walrus was Paul”? > [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Guitarzan by Ray Stevens. > > He does Guitarzan, Jane, and the monkey. Very impressive. Good one. Ray does multiple voices on several of his songs, but that one may be the best example. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/52 "2012-10-01T16:28:33Z")
Digital Underground – Shock G and Humpty Hump are the same person in real life, but Shock G basically puts on the Humpty persona – edgier, funnier, sometimes harsher, for many of the songs. Shock G’s base persona seems cooler, sometimes angrier, but in a subtle way. Anyway, many many DU songs have this. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/53 "2012-10-02T11:01:05Z")
The National’s “[Available](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMrMFA2fMYs)”? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/54 "2012-10-02T11:34:59Z")
Hocus Pocus, by Focus. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/55 "2012-10-02T11:39:08Z")
Peter Gabriel, “Family Snapshot”. The assassin’s part of the song isn’t really all that different from Gabriel’s normal singing voice, which I think is a conscious choice - the killer is not some weird creature, he’s a person, same as the listener. But the last few lines are sung in a sadder, softer, and more childlike voice. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/56 "2012-10-02T17:10:54Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@3:20:59 or bust](#): > > > > 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. > > > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > > > Stewart sings the intro. He also wrote the song. I was gonna say this! Also, Positive K’s [“I Got A Man”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvYIpa1Ulvw) - the woman he’s trying to pick up is actually Positive K. Man, he sounds sexy. I feel all weird now… ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/57 "2012-10-03T04:49:15Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you believe John when he sings “I am the walrus,” or do you believe him when he sings “The walrus was Paul”? No, but then I think it is highly unlikely that either of them was ever actually a walrus. Going to college and coming out of it broke is rather a different matter, especially considering John actually did do that. Likewise, “You Never Give Me Your Money” would hardly be the only example of a Beatles song made up of separately written song fragments, some by Paul and some by John, stitched together into a whole. “You Never Give Me Your Money” is clearly made of of fragments like this. Whether the fragments are actually written and/or sung by different Beatles (as was the case, for instance, in “A Day in the Life”) is another matter, but it nothing like as implausible as the notion that any member of the band was once a walrus, and to my ear, although most of the song is clearly sung by Paul, the bit in question sounds like John, with that slightly harsher, more nasal quality he had to his voice. Admittedly it is hard to tell, especially as there seems to be some sort of slight electronic distortion applied to the vocal for that part. Paul did not actually do gravelly, growly stuff very well anyway, as evidenced on the other side of _Abbey Road_ by his painful performance of “Oh, Darling” - a song that would almost certainly have been a lot a better sung by John (although it would be a pretty weak song by Beatles standards, whoever sung it). Unlike “Oh, Darling,” the growly bit of “You Never Give Me Your Money” works very well. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/58 "2012-10-03T05:14:08Z")
As a long-time Beatles fan, I can guarantee you it’s Paul all the way through. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/59 "2012-10-03T06:58:48Z")
Im surprised Im not seeing Queen here, bohemian rhapsody to be exact. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847/60 "2012-10-03T12:52:39Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > At the risk of being obvious, I will nominate, “The Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Stairway to Heaven.” > [@Declan](#): > > Im surprised Im not seeing Queen here, bohemian rhapsody to be exact. Isn’t there some sort of SDMB rule that whenever someone says “I can’t believe no one’s mentioned \_\_\_\_\_,” someone has, in fact, already mentioned \_\_\_\_\_. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-in-which-the-singer-purposely-alters-his-voice-more-explanation-follows/635847.md?page=4)