I know jimi hated his own singing voice its well documented he didnt like people watching him when he was laying down vocals I dont understand why though I think his voice is brilliant he might not have a massive range but its so expressive and really gets over his emotions which is the whole point.

His voice was perfect for his music...even if it wasn't the best in the biz.

I have never understood why his voice is considered by some as his weak axe ; for me too, his voice was perfect for his kind of music, and one of the best voices of the musical landscape of the time ; his voice completed very well his guitar playing.

One of the best pop vocals of all time is Hendrix's "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)".

lonelyalien said:

Jimi's voice reminds me of George Clinton's assesment of his own voice. Something to the effect of "I may not sing well, but my voice has character".

Jimi had a cool singing voice. It fit perfectly for the type of music that he played. And it was distinct.

Also, i always thought that Jimi's voice and Bootsy Collins voice sounded somewhat similar. You know, like on record, when they do that talking singing kinda thing.

JoeyC said:

Jimi had a cool singing voice. It fit perfectly for the type of music that he played. And it was distinct.

Also, i always thought that Jimi's voice and Bootsy Collins voice sounded somewhat similar. You know, like on record, when they do that talking singing kinda thing.

Bootsy sounded like he was mimicking Jimi's speaking voice here:

I've always loved the texture and grainy-ness of Jimi's voice...His vocals on the song "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland?) is one of his best. You can hear the Isley Bros/Curtis Mayfield influence in that one.

I know some people have a problem with Jimi's singing abilities, but I love his voice and like others said, it fits his music very well.

He had a very unique voice and style of singing as far as I´m concerned but technically he wasn´t that great.

Then again, I´ve never cared about great voices, and I like a lot of terrible singers, their songs and their voices, so what do I know?

KoolEaze said:

He had a very unique voice and style of singing as far as I´m concerned but technically he wasn´t that great.

Then again, I´ve never cared about great voices, and I like a lot of terrible singers, their songs and their voices, so what do I know?

I wouldn't sell myself short if I were you, because you're definitly right. There are so many song stylists who had much limited vocal range than most of their peers, yet possessed such expressive & disntictive voices. Jimi is definitly among that caliber, you instantly recongized his voice and the way he conveys the lyrics & the emotions to the listener.

JoeyC said:

Ive always thought phil lynott had an incredibly similar tone and phrasing to jimi.

lonelyalien said:

RJOrion said:

lonelyalien said:

Ive always thought phil lynott had an incredibly similar tone and phrasing to jimi.

yep, him too...a little bit... *listens to "Boys Are Back In Town"*

Great song.

JoeyC said:

Jimi had a cool singing voice. It fit perfectly for the type of music that he played. And it was distinct.

Also, i always thought that Jimi's voice and Bootsy Collins voice sounded somewhat similar. You know, like on record, when they do that talking singing kinda thing.

.

The whole Bootsy character came from him doing impressions of Jimi. It was considered funny and used on Be My Beach. Later on, the entire Bootsy and the Rubber Band schtick was based on that. It's well documented.

.

As to Jimi's voice? I like it, much more than all that noodling during all too ordinary blues jams. (compare the awesome Voodoo Child (slight return) to the boring and meandering Voodoo Chile) He made some amazing songs, but production values and blues make it hard to enjoy his entire body of work for me.

Think about the vocal on Foxey Lady for a minute. Just that "YEAH!" that ends the guitar solo is a totally convincing vocal performance. There's no artifical anything in it. "Here I come baby... comin' to GIT YA!" Goosebumps.

.

Maybe he didn't put as much thought into it as his guitar playing and didn't think it was his big accomplishment, but he was just such a natural. I never wish he had somebody else singing, that's for sure.

RJOrion said:

JoeyC said:

Jimi had a cool singing voice. It fit perfectly for the type of music that he played. And it was distinct.

Also, i always thought that Jimi's voice and Bootsy Collins voice sounded somewhat similar. You know, like on record, when they do that talking singing kinda thing.

most definitely Bootsy sang like, and sounded like Jimi Hendrix... at times, they were both (George Clinton, too) ancestors of the rap MC... delivering lyrics in almost spoken word/chant cadence sometimes...Jimi Hendrix may not have liked his own voice, but the man could sang...

I had the iPod on shuffle the other day, it landed on Jimi (don't remember which song), the wife thought it was Bootsy, when I corrected her she asked why Jimi was singing like Bootsy...

I set her straight, but, I guess now I need a good divorce lawyer. JK of course.

djThunderfunk said:

I had the iPod on shuffle the other day, it landed on Jimi (don't remember which song), the wife thought it was Bootsy, when I corrected her she asked why Jimi was singing like Bootsy...

I set her straight, but, I guess now I need a good divorce lawyer. JK of course.

.

Knows Jimi, knows Bootsy... if you let her go, I'm sure there's a line of suitors!

I love Jim's voice because it was so poetic IMO this is one of his best vocal performance......the classic The Wind Cries Mary (live in Stockholm 1967)

djThunderfunk said:

RJOrion said:

JoeyC said: most definitely Bootsy sang like, and sounded like Jimi Hendrix... at times, they were both (George Clinton, too) ancestors of the rap MC... delivering lyrics in almost spoken word/chant cadence sometimes...Jimi Hendrix may not have liked his own voice, but the man could sang...

I had the iPod on shuffle the other day, it landed on Jimi (don't remember which song), the wife thought it was Bootsy, when I corrected her she asked why Jimi was singing like Bootsy...

I set her straight, but, I guess now I need a good divorce lawyer. JK of course.

Perfect for his music.

"When Doves Cry" hardly ever sounds good when sung by someone else than Prince. The covers of it are pretty damn bad. The same goes for a lot of Jimi's songs.

Jimi wrote good melodies. His hooks are catchy, but sophisticated. Good songwriters are seldom "belters".