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Thread started 10/16/17 2:50pm

getwild180

Prince voice started to sound different after his self titled album.

Maybe because he started to sing a little louder? I'm sure many of his fans notice how his voice sounded skinnier and lighter from his first two albums.
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Reply #1 posted 10/16/17 3:05pm

BlackSweat86

It might've just been the way that he was recording was different. After all, the "Dirty Mind" sessions were recorded at home whereas the first two were in professional studios.
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Reply #2 posted 10/16/17 4:36pm

LovePaisley

He was getting older, too. You can see his face mature from a teenager into a man. Likely maturity had an effect on his voice.
And the MUSIC continues...forever...
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Reply #3 posted 10/16/17 4:56pm

chrisslope9

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I would not be surprised if soemone told me he took voice lessons or, at least , took advice from the more serious vocalists he crossed paths with throughout his career. His voice got better and better until his last days. His range got wider and his tone got richer.

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Reply #4 posted 10/16/17 6:18pm

purplethunder3
121

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I knew he was the "skinny m'fer with the high voice" but I didn't know his voice was "skinny," too. lol

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #5 posted 10/17/17 12:05am

TrcikyChristop
her

getwild180 said:

Maybe because he started to sing a little louder? I'm sure many of his fans notice how his voice sounded skinnier and lighter from his first two albums.

He tookl vocal lessons from Seth Riggs, the same vocal coach MJ and Madonna went to. That's why his falsetto was stronger and he was able to sing stronger in his regular and lower registers as the years went on.

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Reply #6 posted 10/17/17 6:31am

bonatoc

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getwild180 said:

Maybe because he started to sing a little louder? I'm sure many of his fans notice how his voice sounded skinnier and lighter from his first two albums.


Surely you mean the opposite.


The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #7 posted 10/17/17 6:57am

CherryMoon57

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From his first album (starting with the vocalised 'For You') Prince always had a variety of singing genres and pitches depending on the song, and often used different octaves within a song.

That never changed.

Life Matters
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Reply #8 posted 10/17/17 8:42am

eyewishuheaven

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Keep in mind also that a good singer will alter the timbre of their voice to match what kind of sounds they're singing with. Those 1st two albums were very slick, and so was P's voice. Dirty Mind was rougher-edged, and Prince sang to match.

Even within one album it'll change. Cue up Condition of the Heart, Raspberry Beret, and Tamborine, for instance.

PRINCE: the only man who could wear high heels and makeup and STILL steal your woman!
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Reply #9 posted 10/17/17 9:10am

HatrinaHaterwi
tz

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purplethunder3121 said:

I knew he was the "skinny m'fer with the high voice" but I didn't know his voice was "skinny," too. lol

lol Honey, it's something new every day, ain't it? lol

I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart.
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Reply #10 posted 10/17/17 1:39pm

bonatoc

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I think the real shift happened circa 1999. From 1982, he sounds like he's finally in full control of his lower register.
I remember being surprised when "Moonbeam Levels" began circulating: "Hey! That's the 'Purple Rain' (album) timbre!".

Controversy marks the departure from the prominent falsetto.
But the lower register still sounds a bit "adolescent".

Still, CherryMoon57 is right: he had a very wide range from the very start,
"For You" the song being the most obvious example.
The '77-'78 outtakes confirm that.

Maybe if he chose to stay with the falsetto on purpose,
just for the surprise effect: "Wait until I'm ready to play a proper baritone: that'll knock'em out!".
Also, the falsetto was his first and main androgynous statement.
Really clever, if that was the intent.

Also, keep in mind that he may have found at some point the proper combination of microphone and preamp.
Prince's sound is tied to the evolution of studio gear.

[Edited 10/17/17 13:42pm]

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #11 posted 10/17/17 2:10pm

anangellooksdo
wn

Owen Husney said he had Prince lay on the floor and sing to get more volume out of him.
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