Songs where the singer's voice (purposefully?) cracks

Cafe Society
1

I can think of two off the top of my head.

In the hilarious “Dentist!”, from the movie soundtrack to Little Shop of Horrors, Steve Martin’s voice cracks on the line, “I am your dentist, and I get off on the pain I inflict!” The voice break on the first word implies that he’s really having some sadomasochistic fun with his reluctant patient.

In Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re an American Band,” the lead vocalist’s voice cracks on the word “Saturday” in the phrase “Feelin’ good, feelin’ right, it’s Saturday night.” Doesn’t seem to have any particular significance in that song, but it’s an interesting effect.

Any others?

2

“You are so beautiful…to M&#@E!”

James Taylor IIRC.

3

Uh, Joe Cocker.

4

The Beatles. In the version of “If I Fell” that’s in the movie A Hard Day’s Night (not the same as the version on the album), Paul’s voice cracks on the final high note: If-I-fell-in-love-with-YOUUUU…

5

Merry Clayton’s voice cracks during her “Rape, murder” verse in “Gimmie Shelter” by The Rolling Stones. I don’t think it was intentional, but it really adds to the force of the song.

6

Patsy Cline does it on Faded Love.

Maybe it’s not a “crack” so much as a hitch in her breathing, like if someone hit you in the heart, which is appropriate for the song.

7

Joe Cocker’s voice just simply cracks all the time. Have you ever seen him sing? He one of the few artists that can make singing a melody look like it f’ing hurts.

8

Chis Isaak does it all the time - it’s practically his trademark.

9

Julian Cope’s voice cracks on one of the refrains of “Fight, fight, fight, fighting again” at the end of “The Great Dominions”. I’ve always assumed it was genuine (possily drug induced) emotion and it really adds to the force of this rather moving and haunting song. Which, considering it is a song that also includes the line “I’m still stuck in this pickle jar on a paper carpet” is no mean skill.

10

Like… almost every Morrissey/Smiths song ever written? :smiley:

I particularly like it in The Queen is Dead.

11

I may be mistaken, but I think Weird Al cracks his voice during “The Saga Begins,” on the line “Ooooh, but but did you see him hittin’ on the queen.”

12

Lindsey Buckingham in this amazing clip currently on You Tube. (Hurry before they get sued over this one too…)

13

Peter Brady, “Time to Change”.

14

Take me now, TAKE me now, take me nowaowaowaow…

10,000 Maniacs cover of “Because The Night”

my brother and I are torn between Merchant planning to do it, or doing it spontaneously but deliberately, or her voice cracking without her knowledge, but in any case it’s amazing.

15

Tori Amos in “Winter” - during the last “When you gonna make up your mind? When you gonna love you as much as I do?”

Relient K in “Deathbed” - during the last “I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me. I can’t believe this is the end.”

16

All I can think of where it seems to be done on purpose for effect.

If you take the meaning of “purposefully” to include the idea that somebody is singing for others’ entertainment while having a voice that tends to crack, the count would be in the hundreds, I imagine.

17

Warren Zevon does it a fair amount. My Shit’s Fucked Up and Rub Me Raw are good examples.

18

He doesn’t count- the OP specifically mentioned singers :slight_smile:

19

Every line in every song ever sung by Garth Brooks. He sounds like a friggin’ seal.

20

Todd Rundgren’s voice used to crack quite a bit. One of my favorites is on a song called “You Left Me Sore” from “Something/Anything” – he tries to drag out the “Yooooou” and his voice cracks and you can hear the backup singers laughing in the background.