Besides his massive talent with numerous musical instruments, one of the things that's most recognizable is his voice. Though someone commented on a video saying he didn't have any range, insinuating that he's mostly falsetto. Of course this is absolute GARBAGE, and I directed them to a few songs to listen to in order to prove them otherwise.

I LOVE HIS FALSETTO (Damn U comes to mind )

AND I LOVE his lowest registers just as much (like AnnaStesia, or the speaking section at the end of Thieves in the Temple extended version or PEACH - just off the top of my head) AND of course I love everything in between.

I wanted to hear your favourite examples of both his falsetto, and his baritones and everything in between. I can be the first to admit there are a lot of Prince songs I have yet to discover (which these days makes me sooo relieved). I am aquiring all the albums (for the THIRD TIME! Robbed twice But I didn't have his online release and was wondering what songs out there I may not yet have heard that are your recommendations with these vocal examples in mind.

Also any songs that stand out to you lyrically. Thanks in advance for your input

[Edited 7/17/16 19:44pm]

[Edited 7/17/16 19:45pm]

A couple songs that highlight P's vocal range to me are Solo off the Come album and Hardrocklover off HnR1. Solo, he obviously received some operatic vocal lessons for that number. Hardrocklover, I think that's the highest I've heard him sing. In addition, I noticed just recently that the reason why P's voice is so awesome is to me...his voice mimics a guitar. His voice can be smooth, then go scratchy, high then low, and moves between notes like fingers on a guitar. It's amazing. The only other person(s) I can even think can come close is Rance Allen and Phillip Bailey. Bilal is OK, but he does not have the diversity in vocalization as Prince.

[Edited 7/17/16 19:44pm]

Solo and For You for me. Because good god man those are some pretty pieces, vocally.

Also, Daddy Pop works for the interesting switches in high/low.

I love the way he switches ranges in Most beautiful Girl in the World.

oceancrayon said:

So, ForeverPaisley, you are in a unique position. So sometime early 2000s Prince unfortunately lost some of his range. His falsetto was affected. Since you know the main releases, you are familiar with The Dance from 3121, tell me now then how you feel about the vocally superior version from the internet release The Chocolate Invasion? Personally I kinda wish they could paste the Chocolate vocals over the 3121 track lol

Sounds like The Chocolate Invasion next on my hit list? I will have to compare. Some people don't really like 3121, or Musicology for that matter ----> I like them! Then again, I've always been able to find something I like in the tracks. Either the sound of his voice, the emotion, grittiness, or sometimes the jarring or raw lyrics. (I'm the same way with favourite actors too, can always find soemthing to like in EACH film, even ones that are dogged by other peeps).

As of the most recent releases - I can't bring myself to open them I figured I would have by now but I just can't make myself do it. I think I will have to also purchase digital copies. I love the songs that are on available on YT from WB so far. But I haven't found myself missing any range on them so far. I will keep these thoughts in mind when hearing the rest of those and definitely scope out the Chocolate Invasion this week and give you the deats whether I agree with your sentiments

roxy831 said:

A couple songs that highlight P's vocal range to me are Solo off the Come album and Hardrocklover off HnR1. Solo, he obviously received some operatic vocal lessons for that number. Hardrocklover, I think that's the highest I've heard him sing. In addition, I noticed just recently that the reason why P's voice is so awesome is to me...his voice mimics a guitar. His voice can be smooth, then go scratchy, high then low, and moves between notes like fingers on a guitar. It's amazing. The only other person(s) I can even think can come close is Rance Allen and Phillip Bailey. Bilal is OK, but he does not have the diversity in vocalization as Prince.

[Edited 7/17/16 19:44pm]

Hands down, 1000% agree. He definitely has such vast inflictions and sounds. It's fun to try to listen for the differences.

Just listening to this one now. Definitely great range in the song but I feel like some of his earlier songs have some hiiiigghhh falsettos.

Blakbear said:

Solo and For You for me. Because good god man those are some pretty pieces, vocally.

Also, Daddy Pop works for the interesting switches in high/low.

Since Solo got two votes of contention, I am listening to this one now

Agreed about Daddy Pop (Diamonds and Pearls the album, when listened in its entirety, reaches such an expansion in vocal abilities. LOVE it!)

Wow. SOLO is a FANTASTIC example of his impressive range. Very moody and emotional...LOVE it! Someone made a lyric video (in spanish but whatevs) but the video accompaniment was superb!

.

Thank you for that suggestion Roxy831 & Blakbear! Looking forward to checking into the rest of these, if not tonight, then tomorrow evening. Have an ULTRA early shift tomorrow - first in EONS - so need to shut 'er down.

Keep 'em coming guys. I am LOVING these!!

blueshouse21 said:

I love the way he switches ranges in Most beautiful Girl in the World.

I absolutely love his range and the ultra high falsetto. Truly love this song Not sure how someone could hate on this song (the outfit in the video, now that's a different story ) but leave the song ALONE!

oceancrayon said:

So, ForeverPaisley, you are in a unique position. So sometime early 2000s Prince unfortunately lost some of his range. His falsetto was affected. Since you know the main releases, you are familiar with The Dance from 3121, tell me now then how you feel about the vocally superior version from the internet release The Chocolate Invasion? Personally I kinda wish they could paste the Chocolate vocals over the 3121 track lol

I think his 2009/2010 performances may prove that statement wrong ... Montreux comes to mind. I Love You But I Don't Trust You Anymore & Somewhere Here On Earth, for examples.

[Edited 7/17/16 23:33pm]

No matter what range he used Prince as a vocalist was Awesome

ForeverPaisley said:

ForeverPaisley said:

Wow. SOLO is a FANTASTIC example of his impressive range. Very moody and emotional...LOVE it! Someone made a lyric video (in spanish but whatevs) but the video accompaniment was superb!

.

Thank you for that suggestion Roxy831 & Blakbear! Looking forward to checking into the rest of these, if not tonight, then tomorrow evening. Have an ULTRA early shift tomorrow - first in EONS - so need to shut 'er down.

Keep 'em coming guys. I am LOVING these!!

You're welcome!!!

roxy831 said:

ForeverPaisley said:

Wow. SOLO is a FANTASTIC example of his impressive range. Very moody and emotional...LOVE it! Someone made a lyric video (in spanish but whatevs) but the video accompaniment was superb!

.

Thank you for that suggestion Roxy831 & Blakbear! Looking forward to checking into the rest of these, if not tonight, then tomorrow evening. Have an ULTRA early shift tomorrow - first in EONS - so need to shut 'er down.

Keep 'em coming guys. I am LOVING these!!

You're welcome!!!

OH! Check out The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, too. At one point, I was working in an animal shelter, and had this playing on the cd deck we had. People thought it was a woman singing most of it. I lol'd a lot that day.

But then, his falsetto was really that good when he chose to use it well.

anangellooksdown said:

THE LADDER: (baritone/bass) https://youtu.be/UKZj3T5dazA Here's a longer version of the video (Lovesexy footage from the documentary): https://youtu.be/VW2Jnv2vNXs

I'm at work atm but so stoked to listen to the Ladder - I his baritone/bass lower register!

Blakbear said:

roxy831 said:

You're welcome!!!

OH! Check out The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, too. At one point, I was working in an animal shelter, and had this playing on the cd deck we had. People thought it was a woman singing most of it. I lol'd a lot that day.

But then, his falsetto was really that good when he chose to use it well.

Actually Old Friends 4 Sale is one of the ones I'm really wanting to add to my collection! Well all of the ones I don't yet have, but for some reason this one is high on the list. The Album title is intriguing

Prince has a falsetto like no other. Many songs come to mind....

Damn U

Extraodinary

Somewhere Here on Earth

Betcha by golly Wow

Love to the Nines

I wanna be your lover

I do not think he lost anything on his falsetto. I've seen him in concert many times and never thought anything had changed, even the last time I saw him which was just one month before he passed.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World really shows off his true vocal range.

Me personally, I always like his raspy, rock sounding, somewhat lower register in tunes like "Shut This Down", "Chaos and Disorder", "Interactive", "Elephants and Flowers" and "Endorphine Machine" plus the funky, edgier "rap" delivery in songs like "Face Down", "Days of Wild", "Gett Off", "DMSR", "The Future", "When Doves Cry" and "Laydown". LOVE that shit.

Then there's the slinky, hard to pin down delivery in tracks like "Hot Thing", "Calhoun Square", "Jukebox With a Heartbeat" and "Sign O The Times".

The Truth album is a pretty broad quilt that shows off a bit of everything and his vocals on that record are stellar and pretty much make the album for me. The title track and "Don't Play Me" alone just floor me witht the range he displays.

I can take or leave a lot of the falsetto, higher register stuff and Camille for the most part, but every once in a while it grabs me and seems "right". "Sticky Like Glue", "Lady Cab Driver", "Damn U", "The One", "Mountains", "Housequake", "Shockadelica", "Sweet Baby"....

So yeah...I'm all over the place here...but overall I like that middle to deep range like "Automatic", "Superfunkacaligragisexy", "AnnaStesia", "Dance On", "Lovesexy" and "GlamSlam", "Positivity", "Alphabet Street", "Seven", "Money Don't Matter", "Electric Chair", "AnotherLoverHoleInYoHead"...Songs where Prince seems to be using his natural singing voice, plus the deep sound that he didn't do much of, like "There is Lonely".

Come to think of it, and after reading what I wrote, I apparently really like his vocal pitch on Lovesexy. The tracks I don't really like on it (When 2R in Love, Eye Know, I Wish U Heaven) all have the falsetto. I never liked the falsetto on "Kiss" either.

Shit, sorry for that rant. I'm bored and have opinions about Prince.

has anyone suggested Ur Gonna C Me?

The scream in Endorphinmachine gives me goose bumps each time.

herb4 said:

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World really shows off his true vocal range.

Me personally, I always like his raspy, rock sounding, somewhat lower register in tunes like "Shut This Down", "Chaos and Disorder", "Interactive", "Elephants and Flowers" and "Endorphine Machine" plus the funky, edgier "rap" delivery in songs like "Face Down", "Days of Wild", "Gett Off", "DMSR", "The Future", "When Doves Cry" and "Laydown". LOVE that shit.

Then there's the slinky, hard to pin down delivery in tracks like "Hot Thing", "Calhoun Square", "Jukebox With a Heartbeat" and "Sign O The Times". <Sign of the Times has actually grown on my over the years - I didn't NOT like it, but I'm liking it more than I used to. Jukebox with a heartbeat sounds intriguing... >

The Truth album is a pretty broad quilt that shows off a bit of everything and his vocals on that record are stellar and pretty much make the album for me. The title track and "Don't Play Me" alone just floor me witht the range he displays. <I know I have an appalling memory but do not recall this album!? I will have to add it to the mile long list - It's actually comforting having many songs to listen to still. New to me Prince songs...is still a thousand times better than no new Prince music. >

I can take or leave a lot of the falsetto, higher register stuff and Camille for the most part, but every once in a while it grabs me and seems "right". "Sticky Like Glue", "Lady Cab Driver", "Damn U", "The One", "Mountains", "Housequake", "Shockadelica", "Sweet Baby"....

So yeah...I'm all over the place here...but overall I like that middle to deep range like "Automatic", "Superfunkacaligragisexy", "AnnaStesia", "Dance On", "Lovesexy" and "GlamSlam", "Positivity", "Alphabet Street", "Seven", "Money Don't Matter", "Electric Chair", "AnotherLoverHoleInYoHead"...Songs where Prince seems to be using his natural singing voice, plus the deep sound that he didn't do much of, like "There is Lonely". <YES YES YES a trillion songs yes! I LOVE the natural to lower register. There's another layer to it, a grittiness if you will, that is so damn good! Definitely agree with your examples here though think I will check out there is lonely tonight! >

.
<I think Forever In My Life SOTT Live version is his 'normal singing voice' and I LOVE IT MORE THAN WORDS! >

.
Come to think of it, and after reading what I wrote, I apparently really like his vocal pitch on Lovesexy. The tracks I don't really like on it (When 2R in Love, Eye Know, I Wish U Heaven) all have the falsetto. I never liked the falsetto on "Kiss" either.

Shit, sorry for that rant. I'm bored and have opinions about Prince.

I just replied in your block as it was easier ^^^

And no worries about the rant. Everyone is entitled to their opinon and I appreciate your input

jumanji2016 said:

Insatiable is a vocal favorite of mine. Especially the intro.

ABSOLUTELY AGREE!