# Where the Backup Singer Is (deliberately) a Fraction of a Second Off the Lead Singer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-backup-singer-is-deliberately-a-fraction-of-a-second-off-the-lead-singer/983642>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** music\
**Created:** [May 5, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-backup-singer-is-deliberately-a-fraction-of-a-second-off-the-lead-singer/983642 "2023-05-05T23:10:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2023, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-backup-singer-is-deliberately-a-fraction-of-a-second-off-the-lead-singer/983642/1 "2023-05-05T23:10:55Z")

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I don’t claim to have the best ear for music, but it sounds to me like the backup singer [here](https://youtu.be/FFqb1I-hiHE?t=214) is juuuuust a fraction of a second off the lead vocalist. I’m going to conclude that this was done deliberately, because a) it works, and b) no one can claim that The Band was anything but a great … band.

1. Does this technique have a name (and if so, what is it)?
2. What other songs use it?

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-backup-singer-is-deliberately-a-fraction-of-a-second-off-the-lead-singer/983642/2 "2023-05-06T00:00:35Z")

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Robbie Robertson called it “staggered vocal harmony”.

> “We didn’t really get it that organised until we recorded it,” said Robertson. “And it came pretty simply. There was something about it that was so natural that it didn’t take a lot of organising… And then this thing at the end of the chorus where the voices stagger for that last line? It was a thing that came to me, like, in the last minute of working on the song. A lot of people say those spontaneous things are the best things and, well, this is one of those cases where that was very true!”  
> ["I said, ‘Well, it’ll just be a back-up song in case some other things don’t work out’" – How Robbie Robertson wrote The Band's classic song, The Weight | MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-band-the-weight-robbie-robertson-guitar-interview)

I’ve heard it on other songs, but suspect the effect was created in the mix rather than a conscious choice by the singers. However, there is a live recording of The Who performing “Listening to You” on _The Kids are Alright_ soundtrack where Pete is staggering his vocals with Roger especially on the last word of each line.

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**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-backup-singer-is-deliberately-a-fraction-of-a-second-off-the-lead-singer/983642/3 "2023-05-06T20:16:53Z")

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Something like this?  
[Billy Bragg & Wilco - “The Unwelcome Guest”](https://youtu.be/5yIuyCcjrsk)

(Jeff Tweedy’s background vocals don’t kick in until around the 1:50 mark, if you want to jump ahead.)