# "That was a guy singing?!" wrong calls on singers' genders thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808 "2007-04-27T00:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/81 "2007-04-29T15:46:56Z")
In Harry Chapins Taxi the girl part is sung by a bearded band member in falsetto. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/82 "2007-04-29T15:51:20Z")
[QUOTE=mikeargo] Turns out that it was a guy, Norman Smith, who once worked as a recording engineer on early Beatles albums. [/QUOTE] You make it sound like he was there by happenstance! “Normal,” as John Lennon like to call him, was a fixture at EMI throughout the sixties. He quit recording The Beatles after engineering their, and scores of others’ recordings since 1962, to go work with his new discovery, some unknowns called Pink Floyd. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/83 "2007-04-29T16:49:15Z")
[QUOTE=Daithi Lacha] I recall at the time that Kasey Kasem pointed out her voice had been altered to make her sound like that. Big novelty thing. [/QUOTE] Ah! So I was partially right. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/84 "2007-04-29T18:56:41Z")
[QUOTE=Queen of the Felines] “The Neverending Story” by Limahl. The hair didn’t help either. [/QUOTE] OK, I know Liamhl’s a guy, and he sang that song, no problem. I even have the video to that song here on my computer. But there \*\*\*is \*\* \* a girl singing in half that song, right?? The one that always threw me, even though by listening to the lyrics it’s fairly obvious, was Teenage Dirtbag. ---
**Author:** ![berff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@berff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/berff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/85 "2007-04-29T19:41:00Z")
The Mars Volta. I’m still not sure whether the singer is a guy or a girl but I don’t care enough to look it up. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/86 "2007-04-29T19:43:48Z")
[QUOTE=berff] The Mars Volta. I’m still not sure whether the singer is a guy or a girl but I don’t care enough to look it up. [/QUOTE] Guy. It’s the fellow from At The Drive-In, if that means anything to you. ---
**Author:** ![Grey\_area](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/87 "2007-04-29T19:58:30Z")
Brian Molko of Placebo is known for his androgynous style and voice. Just from listening to his voice you could very easily assume it’s a woman singing. [The bitter end](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KkarMNlTzY) by Placebo ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/88 "2007-04-29T20:25:50Z")
Not only was a sure that “Holding Back the Years” (Simpy Red) was sung by a woman, but I assumed it was a Black Woman. Bzzzzt!! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/89 "2007-04-29T20:40:45Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Not only was a sure that “Holding Back the Years” (Simpy Red) was sung by a woman, but I assumed it was a Black Woman. Bzzzzt!! [/QUOTE] Angie Stone did do a cover of that song. Are you sure it was the original you heard? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/90 "2007-04-29T21:51:11Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Angie Stone did do a cover of that song. Are you sure it was the original you heard? [/QUOTE] Yes, because I only found out he was a White guy when I saw the video on MTV. And this was back in 1986 and when they first released it. You don’t think he sounds like a woman on that song? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/91 "2007-04-29T22:48:19Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Yes, because I only found out he was a White guy when I saw the video on MTV. And this was back in 1986 and when they first released it. You don’t think he sounds like a woman on that song? [/QUOTE] I can’t, at this point, call up the aural memory of the Simply Red version enough to tell you that. It’s been so long since I’ve heard it I don’t remember. I only offered the Angie Stone version because you said you thought it was a black woman singing it, and Stone is a black woman. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/92 "2007-04-29T23:53:38Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] I can’t, at this point, call up the aural memory of the Simply Red version enough to tell you that. It’s been so long since I’ve heard it I don’t remember. I only offered the Angie Stone version because you said you thought it was a black woman singing it, and Stone is a black woman. [/QUOTE] Judge for [yourself.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbQl14tJIWM) ---
**Author:** ![Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kneepants_Erasmus_the_Humanist)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/93 "2007-04-30T00:25:09Z")
I remember being quite surprised when I found out that “I Saw the Light” was by Todd Rundgren and not Carole King. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/94 "2007-04-30T02:12:00Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Judge for [yourself.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbQl14tJIWM) [/QUOTE] Thanks, **Loach**. The only clip I could find was a newer version that sounded different. I should’ve known to look on YouTube! And you gotta love those 80s haircuts! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2007, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808/95 "2007-04-30T03:34:16Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Thanks, **Loach**. The only clip I could find was a newer version that sounded different. I should’ve known to look on YouTube! And you gotta love those 80s haircuts! 😃 [/QUOTE] Give me a second, I’ll find the video of you typing that post. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-was-a-guy-singing-wrong-calls-on-singers-genders-thread/401808.md?page=4)