# What is it about Willie Nelsons voice that is....comforting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 11, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686 "2020-10-11T03:10:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/1 "2020-10-11T03:10:41Z")
Whether hes the lead [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kIdbsL7Oxb0/maxresdefault.jpg "September Song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIdbsL7Oxb0) Or he surprisingly shows up in someone elses song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JgZ1zfwma80/hqdefault.jpg "Judy Collins Feat Willie Nelson - When I Go") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgZ1zfwma80) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/evtmVZFeooA/maxresdefault.jpg "Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson Luckenbach Texas song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evtmVZFeooA) Is it because he is a little unpolished so he sounds like your grandad? Of course if you dont like Willie then this thread doesn’t apply. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/2 "2020-10-11T03:20:43Z")
Willie has no anxiety in his voice at all. His voice speaks of calmness, control and acceptance no matter the subject matter. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/3 "2020-10-11T04:18:10Z")
Don’t discount the sound of “Trigger” (his 50-ish nylon-string Martin) following his singing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/4 "2020-10-11T13:04:57Z")
His voice is mellifluous. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/5 "2020-10-11T14:42:35Z")
^ A 10-cent word, however, totally correct. He doesn’t employ that nasal twang thang the other country singers (ab)use. He means what he sings. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/6 "2020-10-11T14:54:27Z")
Agreed. He sings plainly about human themes that are familiar to all of us. He doesn’t use the fake kuntree-fried affectations or posturing other CW singers do. Plus he smokes weed and has girly ponytails. What’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/7 "2020-10-11T15:14:04Z")
**kayaker** , I may have used “10-cent word” incorrectly and apologize _profusely_. 👈 🤓 ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/8 "2020-10-11T20:20:34Z")
Willie is believable. Like Johnny Cash, he sounds like he really means what he is singing. ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jungian_camisole1/32/3646_2.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole1)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/9 "2020-10-12T00:31:09Z")
Plain and plaintive is a wonderful combination. He needs no flourishes to get to his point in whatever song he is singing. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/10 "2020-10-12T04:22:46Z")
I’m not a huge fan but like the man and his music enough to comment. To me his voice sounds approachable, safe. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/11 "2020-10-12T04:43:12Z")
This thread speaks to me, but like the OP, I don’t have an answer. I listen to Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius/XM quite often, and whenever a song he’s singing on comes on, it’s like I can breathe deeper and I’m more relaxed. His voice _shouldn’t_ be such a beautiful thing, but somehow it is. [I mean Waylon’s voice is great, but when Willie comes in with his “Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levi’s…” my blood pressure just goes down a notch and I melt a bit.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i85ob2DackI&ab_channel=WaylonJennings-Topic) ETA: His voice is sorta like a steel guitar: Sounds good in the background, sounds good up front, it cries, it comforts, it has a natural twang. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/12 "2020-10-12T06:14:17Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > **kayaker** , I may have used “10-cent word” incorrectly and apologize _profusely_ . 👈 🤓 I’d probably call “mellifluous” a 25-cent word, a multisyllabic word that is perhaps pretentious. I thought a 10-cent word was the pretty much the same thing, is there some other meaning to it? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/13 "2020-10-12T07:04:59Z")
I was thinking along the same lines. Willie Nelson sounds like he should be narrating a Rankin/Bass Christmas Special. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/14 "2020-10-12T10:07:41Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > > > **kayaker** , I may have used “10-cent word” incorrectly and apologize _profusely_ . 👈 🤓 > > I’d probably call “mellifluous” a 25-cent word, a multisyllabic word that is perhaps pretentious. I thought a 10-cent word was the pretty much the same thing, is there some other meaning to it?- I actually looked up the definition of the word prior to using it! 😀 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/15 "2020-10-12T14:38:56Z")
OK, here goes: My 10th grade English teacher was the nicest man you’ll ever meet (doubly so as a teacher). His constructive criticism was more “I want your story to be even better” than “you fucked up again.” In a short-short story of mine, he circled “inexorably” and wrote “a 10-cent word” in the margin and since then it’s meant, to me, a word that classes up the joint, and I’m sure that’s how he meant it. When I tagged **kayaker** ’s post (mellifluous) as such, it occurred to me that maybe the usage was incorrect–indeed, it seems to imply pretentiousness. I would never insult **kayaker** , who’s not only a decent gent but a Pennsylvanian. Hence my apology. As for **TriPolar** , due to inflation, a 10-cent word in 1975 has _got_ to be a 25-cent word today, so I will adjust my usage accordingly; thanks. Sorry for the hijack. PS Mr. Meyer, if you are out there, you have left your mark. Kudos! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/16 "2020-10-12T14:40:29Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Willie Nelson sounds like he should be narrating a Rankin/Bass Christmas Special. Thread winner. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/17 "2020-10-12T16:12:55Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > He doesn’t use the fake kuntree-fried affectations or posturing other CW singers do. That’s a lot of it- Willie’s voice is unique. He doesn’t sound like anyone else, especially mainstream country, and as a result, he sounds very genuine. I think also his songs always seems to have a bit of wistfulness or melancholy to them, which tends to make them a bit softer and more approachable. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/18 "2020-10-12T16:37:01Z")
[Mississippi John Hurt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D65WClHPsU&list=OLAK5uy_nZ4TC32zOriALH2uECgkS3HYF3sf-fLdA&index=2) fits this categeory nicely as well. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/19 "2020-10-12T17:35:59Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Willie Nelson sounds like he should be narrating a Rankin/Bass Christmas Special. If they would digitally take out Burl Ives and insert Willie narrating and singing, I’d watch that show again; why, it would save Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-willie-nelsons-voice-that-is-comforting/922686/20 "2020-10-13T03:59:45Z")
I’ve always thought he sounds like his sinuses are so utterly empty and resonant, compared to the way most of our voices sound.