Female singers...

[theboyfold]

Why is it so many modern day female vocalists feels it's required for them to warble all over the place when singing?

I've just had a look at the finals from the Voice and have heard Nothing Compares 2 U and Man's World killed by 2 singers who feel they have to wobble and moan all over the place.

Also, Beyonce 'covering' Etta James, she utterly murders what is a great song.
Beyonce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIYdIU4Mnz8
Etta's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YApNirMC9gM&fea...

Adele doesn't suffer too much from this affliction, which is nice, but she's certainly in the minority at the moment. Is it just me who finds this affliction bothersome?

[DoctorX]

theboyfold said:

Why is it so many modern day female vocalists feels it's required for them to warble all over the place when singing?

I've just had a look at the finals from the Voice and have heard Nothing Compares 2 U and Man's World killed by 2 singers who feel they have to wobble and moan all over the place.

Also, Beyonce 'covering' Etta James, she utterly murders what is a great song.
Beyonce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIYdIU4Mnz8
Etta's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YApNirMC9gM&fea...

Adele doesn't suffer too much from this affliction, which is nice, but she's certainly in the minority at the moment. Is it just me who finds this affliction bothersome?

No I hate it too. I think there is a distinction to be made here between the warbler (e.g. Maria Carey) and the singers who can't hold a note until the end and have to end each line with a sort of ...uh! (e.g. that girl from The Voice, a least one X Factor contestant each year, Delores from the Cranberries etc etc). The latter really gets on my nerves.

(I thought Leanne was great in The Voice, definately not in these categories)

[theboyfold]

DoctorX said:

(I thought Leanne was great in The Voice, definately not in these categories)

Really? It was her killing Man's World that made me post this up: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00tf110

1:35 in, that's my point right there... Wobble wobble wobble

[Kinky]

Dumbing down of music.

I'm just so glad that dreadful show is over. Can we have our £22m back now please?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

theboyfold said:

I've just had a look at the finals from the Voice

There's your mistake, right there!

Saturday night tv used to be packed with people who had made it, now it's packed with people who are trying to make it. It's a downgrade in our entertainment and most people don't even realise it.

I refuse to watch any of these talent (and I use the word loosely) shows. If no one watched, they'd have to go back to giving us established talent.

You wanna be a singer, well bugger of around northern clubs for 20 yrs and learn your craft.

[theboyfold]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

There's your mistake, right there!

Saturday night tv used to be packed with people who had made it, now it's packed with people who are trying to make it. It's a downgrade in our entertainment and most people don't even realise it.

I refuse to watch any of these talent (and I use the word loosely) shows. If no one watched, they'd have to go back to giving us established talent.

You wanna be a singer, well bugger of around northern clubs for 20 yrs and learn your craft.

I'm not just talking about people from the Voice, look at my OP, Beyonce and girls like that are all the same.

[DoctorX]

theboyfold said:

Really? It was her killing Man's World that made me post this up: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00tf110

1:35 in, that's my point right there... Wobble wobble wobble

Didn't catch that one but thought she was great in that duet with Tom Jones. This is the style of singing which gets on my nerves - can't just hold the note without some inflection in the voice and sounding a bit oirish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj6Tfii6B-Q&fea...

[theboyfold]

DoctorX said:

Didn't catch that one but thought she was great in that duet with Tom Jones. This is the style of singing which gets on my nerves - can't just hold the note without some inflection in the voice and sounding a bit oirish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj6Tfii6B-Q&fea...

Oddly I quite like that style, the fragile kind of female singer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPKDfBdxkMM

[DoctorX]

theboyfold said:

Oddly I quite like that style, the fragile kind of female singer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPKDfBdxkMM

No, no that's quite classy. Not what I meant at all.

[theboyfold]

DoctorX said:

No, no that's quite classy. Not what I meant at all.

Ok. It's funny how different people hear different things, I don't see there being a massive difference in style between the two clips, quality yes, but style no.

What about Sinead O'Connor? Nothing Compares 2 U?

[DoctorX]

theboyfold said:

Ok. It's funny how different people hear different things, I don't see there being a massive difference in style between the two clips, quality yes, but style no.

What about Sinead O'Connor? Nothing Compares 2 U?

OK forgive the XFactor content, but this is a another example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX-Nj539cY0&fea...

[Ozone]

The warble seems to have originated in Gospel Church choir singing, where 15 notes are squeezed in when 2 will do - utterly utterly annoying. The youngers think it's a sign of a good singer.

[theboyfold]

DoctorX said:

OK forgive the XFactor content, but this is a another example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX-Nj539cY0&fea...

Basically you don't like Irish singers I know what you mean, I still find it quite charming.

Ozone said:

The warble seems to have originated in Gospel Church choir singing, where 15 notes are squeezed in when 2 will do - utterly utterly annoying. The youngers think it's a sign of a good singer.

Yep. The irony being lots of the soul greats most likely started as gospel singers. I'm sure Ms Franklin et al were all in Gospel choirs at one time or another. However, they didn't seem to think that vocal gymnastics were required every other line.

[davepoth]

theboyfold said:

Yep. The irony being lots of the soul greats most likely started as gospel singers. I'm sure Ms Franklin et al were all in Gospel choirs at one time or another. However, they didn't seem to think that vocal gymnastics were required every other line.

Well no. Every gospel singer was also a blues singer in those days, and the blues is where you learn that the most important notes are the ones you leave out.

[glazbagun]

Something that I notice a lot of from modern musicians (which I blame on X-Factor, etc, though it's probably always been around) is the need to blast out every note to show off how great your voice is, paying no attention to the song you're actually singing.

Comparing Tracy Chapman, Fast Car. Relaxed, storytelling singing voice (though maybe a bit wobbly for OP ):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orv_F2HV4gk

Elizabeth Gillies Cover. Metronomic vocal exercise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWyOe_jfPmI

[SkinnyBoy]

They are not all crap, there are some very talented young fillies out there at the moment, just stop listening to commercial pop bilge.

Hayley Mary from the Jezebels has a cracking voice

http://youtu.be/QD8xnIi2A3w

Kimbra likewise is aurally perfect

http://youtu.be/AeoFPKX43is

Nicki Bluhm has a utterly gorgeous tone!

http://youtu.be/WJiCUdLBxuI

Stonefield are an all girl band and they rock!

http://youtu.be/CPTVbWvW240

So there you have it just a sample of the vast female talent out there. If you listen to commercial shyte god kills a kitten!

[glazbagun]

Love the Jezabels.

[SAB888]

glazbagun said:

Love the Jezabels.

I recently discovered The Jezabels and starting to like their songs quite a lot. Another new discovery is Paper Aeroplanes and vocalist Sarah Howells has a lovely voice.

I've always been drawn to strong female vocals starting way back in the 70s with Stevie Nicks. Another beautiful singer is Lene Marlin. For me, it has to be a combination of a great voice and good songs. Another favourite for me is American Megan McCauley, virtually unknown in the UK.

All of the singers above (apart from Stevie Nicks) were discovered from hearing small pieces of music on films or tv programmes.

[Fire99]

Mariah Carey bought the 'every note but the original' to the fore. Like many things, everyone jumps on the bandwagon and hey presto.. It's warble all over the shop!

Anne Wilson (Heart) can always get my attention when she sings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W52PP3lYlUs

[DoctorX]

Fire99 said:

Mariah Carey bought the 'every note but the original' to the fore. Like many things, everyone jumps on the bandwagon and hey presto.. It's warble all over the shop!

Anne Wilson (Heart) can always get my attention when she sings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W52PP3lYlUs

Oh yes, now you're talking.