I'm listening to the vocals again after going on a 1999 Deluxe binge, and noticed his vocals are so relaxed, and closer to what must have been his natural speaking voice. It's especially noticeable on Jungle Love, Holly Rock, Make Up, even parts Glamorous Life. It's most prominant on songs he knew would be reference tracks, or get re-recorded. Anyone else notice this, and are there any tracks that got released as Prince tracks where his vocals are similar? I love that middle part of his register but it seems like he rarely used it. There's definintely songs like his vocals of Manic Monday, that are still performing but restrained, but these are different and just so much more comfortable sounding.

lavendardrummachine said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

lavendardrummachine said:

I'm listening to the vocals again after going on a 1999 Deluxe binge, and noticed his vocals are so relaxed, and closer to what must have been his natural speaking voice. It's especially noticeable on Jungle Love, Holly Rock, Make Up, even parts Glamorous Life. It's most prominant on songs he knew would be reference tracks, or get re-recorded. Anyone else notice this, and are there any tracks that got released as Prince tracks where his vocals are similar? I love that middle part of his register but it seems like he rarely used it. There's definintely songs like his vocals of Manic Monday, that are still performing but restrained, but these are different and just so much more comfortable sounding.

I'm loving Originals at the moment - I'm in love with his vocal on Noon Rendezvous I couldn't imagine it being better. Im pretty sure he is on record saying it hurt to sing in his 'normal' register but you're right he does sound relaxed - maybe the pressure is off knowing he's basically doing a guide vocal.

It's a beautiful version but hearing the drums faintly in the background just makes it a frustrating listen knowing it's not the complete 'Prince' version.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Im pretty sure he is on record saying it hurt to sing in his 'normal' register but you're right he does sound relaxed - maybe the pressure is off knowing he's basically doing a guide vocal.

Yeah, I can hear that too. It's interesting to me that we never really hear that as his speaking voice either, and when associates do impressions of him they do the deeper monotone voice instead that we've all come to characterize as Prince voice.

laytonian said:

That was before he had vocal coaching and lessons. He learned to use all registers of his voice and used vocal exercise before appearances

When did he get vocal coaching? I can't think of any songs he uses this register in but I bet they're out there.

lavendardrummachine said:

joyinrepetition said:

lavendardrummachine said:

When did he get vocal coaching? I can't think of any songs he uses this register in but I bet they're out there.

Damn U and Somewhere Here On Earth are prime examples of Prince's vocal range. Prince started vocal training, dance lessons, and acting classes prior to filming Purple Rain.

Prince(r.i.p.) has a 3 octive vocal range.

I kinda assumed that because he wrote these songs for people like Morris, Sheila, and Apollonia, he sang them in a register they could hit. That's not a dig on any of the Paisley/Starr Company players. Just saying very few people have Prince's range.

December1984 said:

December1984 said:

I kinda assumed that because he wrote these songs for people like Morris, Sheila, and Apollonia, he sang them in a register they could hit. That's not a dig on any of the Paisley/Starr Company players. Just saying very few people have Prince's range.

Pretty sure that's what was going on, but he doesn't really match the artist he's writing for either (which we hear him do for Patti Labelle). I do think he was going for a sort of neutral voice that would blend and might get used for backing vocals.....in any case, I like the rarely heard tonality of it.

mynameisnotsusan said: