I leave it to the pros to define great, but Cee-Lo, the MC, sings better than mos if not all of the so-called singers in (passes for?) r&b today.

Graycap23 said:

BlaqueKnight said:

Cee-Lo can sing his ass off.

People have become so appearance oriented that it is part of the difficulty of his acceptance.

People have become accustomed to having all of their singers wrapped in a pretty, skinny or ab-ripped package. True, some people are put off by the character of his voice because its unique, which translates to "odd" to some but many people dislike his appearance because he doesn't look like a "pop star" and yet he's in the same stratosphere.

The music industry has become such a caricature of itself that you only see "normal" looking people when they come from shows like American Idol. He doesn't fit the "mold" and American audiences have been conditioned for the past 15-18 years or so to expect their celebrities to be "t.v. pretty" at the least.

Also, the fact that he comes from a hip-hop background plays a part as well. He's always had sort of a sing-rapping rap style but some people still see him as a rapper and in most peoples' minds, singing and rapping are very different. It would be as if Rick Ross started singing on records and sounding like Luther Vandross. It would be a hard pill for people to swallow.

Anyway, dude has skills.

Dude has major skills. i guess the real question is: define great.

He is a great vocalist to me because I love the tone and character of his voice. I love his whole approach to singing and songwriting because he is very distinctive, soulful and versatile...what he looks like ain't even an issue.

Hell, as pretty as Prince is, I wouldn't have much interest in him if he couldn't throw down the way he does.

I think Cee-Lo's a better MC, but he could still sing his ass off!

It's the same thing with Lauryn.

I think they both have great voices no matter if they sing or rhyme.

Mention Autotune and people go Ape shit...

Guess what folks,

EVERYONE POPULAR USES IT

Get over it,

EmbattledWarrior said:

Mention Autotune and people go Ape shit...

Guess what folks,

EVERYONE POPULAR USES IT

Get over it,

and I asked you again. One what track does Cee-lo use it? Cause if you can't point out a track, then your statement is not only a general one, but a pointless one.

shorttrini said:

EmbattledWarrior said:

Mention Autotune and people go Ape shit...

Guess what folks,

EVERYONE POPULAR USES IT

Get over it,

and I asked you again. One what track does Cee-lo use it? Cause if you can't point out a track, then your statement is not only a general one, but a pointless one.

ALL OF THEM!

I worked a gnarlz barkley concert in 08,

ceelo, came , Dude brought his own Autotune rackmount...

but it's cool,

I still like him as an artist.

don't get your panties in a bunch...

everyone uses it.

Does it really destroy it that much for you?

EmbattledWarrior said:

shorttrini said:

and I asked you again. One what track does Cee-lo use it? Cause if you can't point out a track, then your statement is not only a general one, but a pointless one.

ALL OF THEM!

I worked a gnarlz barkley concert in 08,

ceelo, came , Dude brought his own Autotune rackmount...

but it's cool,

I still like him as an artist.

don't get your panties in a bunch...

everyone uses it.

Does it really destroy it that much for you?

I am not getting my panties in a bunch, young'in. There ARE artists that use special filters on their voices during the recording process to make their voices sound cleaner. That being said, you can tell if someone is using autotune simply because it sounds different from most other effects. On every one of his recordings I have yet to hear autotune. Also, just because he brought a rack to the concert, does not mean that he used it. Again, you have yet to name a specific song, that he used it on.

shorttrini said:

EmbattledWarrior said:

ALL OF THEM!

I worked a gnarlz barkley concert in 08,

ceelo, came , Dude brought his own Autotune rackmount...

but it's cool,

I still like him as an artist.

don't get your panties in a bunch...

everyone uses it.

Does it really destroy it that much for you?

I am not getting my panties in a bunch, young'in. There ARE artists that use special filters on their voices during the recording process to make their voices sound cleaner. That being said, you can tell if someone is using autotune simply because it sounds different from most other effects. On every one of his recordings I have yet to hear autotune. Also, just because he brought a rack to the concert, does not mean that he used it. Again, you have yet to name a specific song, that he used it on.

Look man if you think i'm one of these orgers that likes to get into mindless arguments on the internet, arguments that have no resolve in the distance...

You're... half right hehe...

Seriously though,

Fundamentally it is a PITCH CORRECTION device...

some people use it as a vocoder. Yes.

BUT ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE.

You have to be really keen in your ears to actually hear it.

What I said about the formants is true though,

Go and youtube his MC performance in ATL

when he stops mcing, and he tries to sing, he's off, and voxes are more gritty

then you look at his BBC performance of Fuck you, you'll hear the pitch perfectness.

It's all good though

seriously,

I don't know anybody who doesn't use it...

except for nelly furtado...

and I never really liked her anyway...

Umm...no

No He sure can't "sing his off".

Somone post a video of him showcasing vocal runs, range, transitions and other vocal techniques. I know he's a good Al Green imitator but that's about it.

liltalkm said:

He is has an extremely unique voice (that many people do not like).

I'll agree with this.

Autotune is not noticeable if used in moderation. When used correctly most people won't notice it unless you're A/B'ing a wet and a dry track. It's been used in studios for ages, the abusive use has just gotten popular more recently.

Cee-Lo, well, I've liked some of his stuff. He seems to be the type of a vocalist that I personally get tired listening to in the album context though. But, I mean, you try to sing "Crazy" as well as he does.

novabrkr said:

Autotune is not noticeable if used in moderation. When used correctly most people won't notice it unless you're A/B'ing a wet and a dry track. It's been used in studios for ages, the abusive use has just gotten popular more recently.

Cee-Lo, well, I've liked some of his stuff. He seems to be the type of a vocalist that I personally get tired listening to in the album context though. But, I mean, you try to sing "Crazy" as well as he does.

I agree I can never get through Soul Machine in one sitting, by the time I hit track 10...

I feel like calling it quits.

I do like his artistic vision though, one of the artist that I'm proud not to hate.

EmbattledWarrior said:

novabrkr said:

Autotune is not noticeable if used in moderation. When used correctly most people won't notice it unless you're A/B'ing a wet and a dry track. It's been used in studios for ages, the abusive use has just gotten popular more recently.

Cee-Lo, well, I've liked some of his stuff. He seems to be the type of a vocalist that I personally get tired listening to in the album context though. But, I mean, you try to sing "Crazy" as well as he does.

I agree I can never get through Soul Machine in one sitting, by the time I hit track 10...

I feel like calling it quits.

I do like his artistic vision though, one of the artist that I'm proud not to hate.

I have NEVER listened to any album I owned in one setting no matter how hard I love it. I enjoy all of my music experiences in doses.

babynoz said:

Graycap23 said:

Dude has major skills. i guess the real question is: define great.

He is a great vocalist to me because I love the tone and character of his voice. I love his whole approach to singing and songwriting because he is very distinctive, soulful and versatile...what he looks like ain't even an issue.

Hell, as pretty as Prince is, I wouldn't have much interest in him if he couldn't throw down the way he does.

Harlepolis said:

EmbattledWarrior said:

I agree I can never get through Soul Machine in one sitting, by the time I hit track 10...

I feel like calling it quits.

I do like his artistic vision though, one of the artist that I'm proud not to hate.

I have NEVER listened to any album I owned in one setting no matter how hard I love it. I enjoy all of my music experiences in doses.

Some albums are meant to be listened to in their entirety, which is something I try to do...

Revolver...

Darkside of the Moon

Zeppelin IV

Voodoo

Love is Hell

Sure I have favs

bu I think the entire album needs to be an experience.

EmbattledWarrior said:

Harlepolis said:

I have NEVER listened to any album I owned in one setting no matter how hard I love it. I enjoy all of my music experiences in doses.

Some albums are meant to be listened to in their entirety, which is something I try to do...

Revolver...

Darkside of the Moon

Zeppelin IV

Voodoo

Love is Hell

Sure I have favs

bu I think the entire album needs to be an experience.

Oh I agree. On paper, it seems like a cool concept to sit and listen to a certain album to get the full musical experience,,,,,action wise though, its a different story for me Lets take two examples from your list.

Voodoo for one. I have that album since the day it was released and it was only LAST year where I've tried to stay faithful to its original configuration and never miss with the skip button,,,,it was the works, I had to track down the album's outtakes. Wonderful.

Now I tried the same method with an album I was on the fence about for a long time - "Darkside of the Moon", and guess what? I didn't make it till the end I tried so much to hear what everybody's hearing to no vail, unfortunately.

I look at "Darkside" the same way my husband look at David Lynch. We're on the opposite end when it comes to that, he's trying to make me get into Pink Floyd the same way I'm trying to make him get into Lynch and both of us are doing a pitiful job at that

[Edited 11/12/10 4:52am]

I think cee-lo has a pretty damn good voice. Everybody is not gonna sing like Sam Cooke or sound like Luther Vandross. I think if he practiced his voice would exceed that.

I think he does a pretty damn good job!

i was introduced to cee-lo through collaborations with TLC and esthero. his voice is silky smooth (singing and rapping) and i agree with the person that stated his is one of the better voices in modern pop music. i think that what makes him a great vocalist is his ability to insert his character onto the song despite his penchant for creative, different sounds.

i was sold after "i'll be around" and "getting grown" that this dude was the real deal.

also i respect that he is both a singer and a rapper but he has not been turned into a "hook/chorus" type where he just does support on a track. if he guests on something, so does his personality.

[Edited 11/12/10 17:56pm]