Call me old-fashioned, if you want, but one of the things I like about music from my parents’ generation is the vocal harmony. Groups like the Beach boys knew how to harmonize, and did it well.
I like barbershop quartets and bluegrass, for the same reason. Even old Southern Gospel music.
Is this a talent that is disappearing these days? Are there any modern groups out there that can and do harmonize well?
Bad Religion do harmony pretty well, for a punk band, and a genre not known for harmonies, but even they are old now. I don’t know why it’s disappeared from pop music.
I suppose it is rare these days because it is a lot of work.
Note that much of the popular acts these days are solo. It’s difficult to do harmony by yourself.
I am in your parents’ generation, and I prefer music from your grandparents’ generation.
You might want to check out The Rescues.
What about the neo-folkies? I thought furry bands like the Fleet Foxes were supposed to be bringing the harmony back? Lumineers and Mumford and Sons do harmony work. Alison Kraus absolutely kills with the harmonies she wrapped around Robert Plant’s voice on the Raising Sand album (I couldn’t possibly imagine how hard that was for her - with Robert Plant, pitch is a suggestion more than a precise thing… ;))
Unless you have an experienced musician’s ear, you may think that more songs are completely lacking in vocal harmony than actually are. It can come from background singers or pre-recorded tracks that are layered using the voice of the vocalist him/herself singing the second/third parts. There are certainly popular songs that are nothing more than a single vocalist with a guitar or piano and no vocal harmony. But most rock bands and pop artists these days have background vocals. They’re just not the focus. The Beach Boys did a lot of vocal acapella, and that’s all barbershop quartets do. That style has kinda fallen out these days, but there’s still plenty of vocal harmony if you know what to listen for.
I’ve seen/heard some great stuff on YouTube where someone has recorded multiple tracks of their own singing creating beautiful harmony.
There are some mighty fine harmonies here but they are on the chorus and outtro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NEU6Xf7lM
This is one of my favorite versions of this much beloved song, by me anyway
Capt
Yeah, but a lot of those are extremely obviously Auto-Tuned. Problem is, Auto-Tune does equal temperament, which doesn’t sound nearly as good, IMO.
But, yeah, I’ve not noticed a lack of harmony in general, just in duets. Background vocalists are still around.
Eh, what? Oh, yeah, the four Norwegian singers covering “Hallelujah.” That is brilliant, and it isn’t even Kurt “World Idol” Nilsen carrying the others. They’re all good. (And Espen would shine very brightly without Kurt.) I see they’ve collaborated even more. Thanks for reminding me of them.
Fair point earlier that there are backup singers all over pop music. We just have an industry that wants to focus on leads.
I’m sure there is, but the really popular acts these days are nearly all solo artists (or have one lead singer). Harmonies might be background singers, who are good, but not the type of tight harmony the OP seems to be talking about.
“Hallelujah” is known the to person who uploaded that video as the “Shrek Song”. :smack:
lots of bluegrass still does.
I feel the lack, too, but Civil War does it in spades.
i recommend The Four Freshmen for amazing harmony treatments. The Beach boys said they were a major influence. My favorite, dating back to my high school days, is Blue World.
These are all of a type (female vocalists performing acoustic Americana). If you like harmony, they come highly recommended.
[ul]
[li]The Living Sisters[/li][li]Ditty Bops[/li][li]Mountain Man[/li][li]They’re not recording together anymore, but the Be Good Tanyas really hit the harmonies as well.[/li][/ul]
How about The Staves three sisters from Watford UK.
Wiki Link
I have a lousy ear for Auto-Tune. 