you know how you can always tell when it's Mick Jagger singing? or MJ? or John Lennon?

what is it about Prince's singing voice that you pick up right away that tells you it's Prince singing?

Aaaowwwahhh!!

He has a slightly nasal, warmth to his lower registers. The slight nasalness remains in his higher registers but he has very bluesy and soulful falsetto.

Spinlight said:

He has a slightly nasal, warmth to his lower registers. The slight nasalness remains in his higher registers but he has very bluesy and soulful falsetto.

interesting description.....are you in the biz?

He sounds like a girl.

cuz it's Prince

luv4u said:

Aaaowwwahhh!!

luv4u said:

Aaaowwwahhh!!

Yeah that's pretty unmistakable.

I don't know anything about vocal ranges and tones and all that jazz, but I think once you hear a voice enough if it's distinctive enuff you KNOW who it is. His voice is just like that. I could hear a song for the first time, and as soon as he started singing I'd know it was him. Same with Chaka or MJ or Patti or Aretha. U just know. You've heard his voice so much it has a permanent place in your memory. That's how it is for me anyway...

When I hear a long falsetto note in the beginning of the track or a grunt, I can instantly recognize it as Prince.

I'm impressed by how little his voice has changed over time.

I keep listening for signs that it might be dropping (which would be natural), or worn out from misuse (he never struck me as the type to worry about 'his instrument'), and the only thing i come up with is that he doesn't scream as much as he used to.

Like, really eff'n screech.

Which seems to be more a change in personality than anything vocal.

I've noticed that also. I mean Whitney's case is a bad one since she fucked up her voice with that crack or whatever the hell it was she was smoking..

... I saw Anita Baker a few years ago and she basically talked her way thru her songs.. not sure if it was an off night or what, but I was disappointed. The audience basically sang her songs. It was a huge womp for me. I've noticed that P may not always use his falsetto in songs he recorded in falsetto, but he's always in perfect key, at least to my ears. You're right, there is limited screeching tho, I'm sure if he wanted to he could still do it and do it WELL.

I miss the screeching.. I want some Something In The Water Does Not Compute screeching for old times sake.

[Edited 8/20/10 21:12pm]

jaybendy said:

I've noticed that also. I mean Whitney's case is a bad one since she fucked up her voice with that crack or whatever the hell it was she was smoking..

... I saw Anita Baker a few years ago and she basically talked her way thru her songs.. not sure if it was an off night or what, but I was disappointed. The audience basically sang her songs. It was a huge womp for me. I've noticed that P may not always use his falsetto in songs he recorded in falsetto, but he's always in perfect key, at least to my ears. You're right, there is limited screeching tho, I'm sure if he wanted to he could still do it and do it WELL.

I miss the screeching.. I want some Something In The Water Does Not Compute screeching for old times sake.

[Edited 8/20/10 21:12pm]

How long ago was a few years? I remember seeing some video of her performing in, I believe, last year, and she sounded great.

jaybendy said:

I miss the screeching.. I want some Something In The Water Does Not Compute screeching for old times sake.

[Edited 8/20/10 21:12pm]

Seconded.

It's like everything in his water is computing just fine these days (Everybody Loves Me!), which is good for him, but...ya. Sigh.

Y'all know how Prince is private and all. He might've had some vocal nodules and now he can't do it. He'll do his little screeches on tour but never on record.

Timmy84 said:

jaybendy said:

I've noticed that also. I mean Whitney's case is a bad one since she fucked up her voice with that crack or whatever the hell it was she was smoking..

... I saw Anita Baker a few years ago and she basically talked her way thru her songs.. not sure if it was an off night or what, but I was disappointed. The audience basically sang her songs. It was a huge womp for me. I've noticed that P may not always use his falsetto in songs he recorded in falsetto, but he's always in perfect key, at least to my ears. You're right, there is limited screeching tho, I'm sure if he wanted to he could still do it and do it WELL.

I miss the screeching.. I want some Something In The Water Does Not Compute screeching for old times sake.

[Edited 8/20/10 21:12pm]

How long ago was a few years? I remember seeing some video of her performing in, I believe, last year, and she sounded great.

Oh boy lemme think.....

06 maybe? 07. I know it was summer because it was an outdoor venue out on Long Island. Like I said maybe it was an off night, but I was kinda disappointed. I wanted to hear Anita SAAAANG, that's what I paid for. It was nice to see her, but when I'm in the audience holding the notes longer than you are, then something in the water does not compute.

Timmy84 said:

Y'all know how Prince is private and all. He might've had some vocal nodules and now he can't do it. He'll do his little screeches on tour but never on record.

Awww... now u made me feel bad for wanting the screeching. I miss the screech but not at the expense of his little vocal chords.

jaybendy said:

Timmy84 said:

How long ago was a few years? I remember seeing some video of her performing in, I believe, last year, and she sounded great.

Oh boy lemme think.....

06 maybe? 07. I know it was summer because it was an outdoor venue out on Long Island. Like I said maybe it was an off night, but I was kinda disappointed. I wanted to hear Anita SAAAANG, that's what I paid for. It was nice to see her, but when I'm in the audience holding the notes longer than you are, then something in the water does not compute.

Ah I see.

jaybendy said:

Awww... now u made me feel bad for wanting the screeching. I miss the screech but not at the expense of his little vocal chords.

Yeah you just never know... I know Elton John had to take nodules out and his voice was actually lighter than it is now (his voice is VERY husky now) so the same could've happened with Prince.

Whenever he sings, it sounds as if he's making love.

sexyfunkystrange said:

He sounds like a girl.

sounds like baby angels making love on a pillow of clouds

but sometimes hes sounds like he is in constant pre-burp stage in his lower register

[Edited 8/21/10 10:57am]

I wish he used more falsetto.

The ballads only rule is meant 2b broken

Always!

luv4u said:

Aaaowwwahhh!!

my ex girlfriend hates his voice... we where listening to Laydown in my car she was digging it until he started singing

I believe most men think his falsetto is too feminine, but he has style. His voice is pretty unique normal and falsetto.

Is it my impression or he is singing better in the last years? I noticed that on ´Somewhere here on Earth´ and love his singing on ´Future Soul song´.

BlackAdder7 said:

you know how you can always tell when it's Mick Jagger singing? or MJ? or John Lennon?

what is it about Prince's singing voice that you pick up right away that tells you it's Prince singing?

ABUNDANCE,

he can do everything with his voice

P.S. Madona can,t do it ,ect...................

You know it's Prince's voice because you'll feel as warm and fluffy as a Butter Milk biscuit!

sexyfunkystrange said:

He sounds like a girl.

Interestingly, most female singers cannot sing the high notes Prince is able to hit. It has something to do with the length of their vocal chords, a male's becoming longer after puberty.

Usually I can tell a Prince song by the music before he even begins to sing. ARock said that his girlfriend couldn't stand his voice. The same goes for a friend of mine, who digs the music, but then can't listen to the song once the singing starts.

XNY said:

Interestingly, most female singers cannot sing the high notes Prince is able to hit. It has something to do with the length of their vocal chords, a male's becoming longer after puberty.

^Off topic, but....

That irritates me! Guys being able to sing both high and low...