Vocal Type: Contralto
Vocal Range: 2 Octave, 5 Notes ( E3-C6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses:Recognisable voice that has a soft and sweet head voice, and a punchy, attitude infused chest voice that has a slight rasp to it. Her lower range is texturally thick, and has a darker colouring than the rest of her range.
Vocal Negatives: Criticisms have been levelled at her actual vocal ability when live and recorded vocals are contrasted. Her live voice doesn't appear to have the range, stamina, or tuning that the recorded vocals would suggest it does. Whether these changes are due to nerves hampering her ability during live shows, or studio trickery having been used to achieve the original vocals is debatable.
I think katy can't sing for s**T. Worst singer in the world.
ReplyDeleteThis range is wrong. The video you post is just poiting her range in her second CD if you look up in youtube u'll find a video that says she's got 4 octaves :) you'd better look up
ReplyDeleteShe does not have four octaves. Lol.
DeleteI had a look at that video, but i'm not sure if its accurate, the C7 doesn't seem right. As soon as I get the album I shall review the range! Thanks for the update though
ReplyDeleteFor anyone reading here is the link for the 4 octaves video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12H9Sc7m9TI
katy has a contralto voice type not mezzo...
ReplyDeleteShe IS a mezzo. Sorry to say that to you, but studio notes don´t count, anon!
ReplyDeleteKaty Perry couldn't sing if her life depended on it. She's pathetic. Her voice is that of an untrained singer, and even then, it's not as good as many natural voices out there. The only reason she's famous is because she's marketable.
ReplyDeleteHey! Just to let you know, Katy is actually a contralto, not a mezzo.
ReplyDeleteContralto? That's just ridiculous/laughable! She can't hit any note under E/F3 and any contralto can hit, at least, a C3, and even some notes in the second octave.
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Is there a need to classify her voice? Seriously?
ReplyDeleteshe doesn't seemed to sound anything like the record at all and she don't even hit the high notes live such as i kissed a girl and thinking of you she always skip those parts sometimes i remember when she sings i kissed a girl live in 2008 i pop concert
ReplyDeleteshe try to hit the high note but she cant so she sings a along with record that's a cheat
she cant hit the high notes because she's originally a contralto and she got low vocal range i read it in her Wikipedia
ReplyDeleteno she's not mezzo she's contralto with low vocal range read it in her Wikipedia
ReplyDeleteShe can't sing.
ReplyDeleteShe struggles doing Firework live because the song itself is not within her range. It's as simple as that. Go watch a video of her doing Thinking of You or The One That Got Away, she sounds perfectly fine. Awesome, even. But hand her a song that her ordinary pipes can't handle and she struggles.
ReplyDeleteshes not a good singer - also for negatives she sometimes tends to yodel for no reason
ReplyDeleteJust FYI: Katy actually has 3 octaves, 5 notes, and 1 semitone. Katy's natural voice is contralto. She actually sounds very good live, and often hits higher clearer notes live than on her records. She often struggles on television out of a combination of nervousness and the fact that the use of a mixed voice in a microphone produces a metallic sound very similar (but still recognizable) to the sound of auto-tune. She uses full chest voice on tv instead, which can produce a strangled sound. During her concerts and in some televised specials like, her MTV Unplugged appearance and Walmart soundcheck her voice sounded powerful and pitch-perfect. If you want some examples look up those videos as well as her LIVE vocal range video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o9cGG_mScg. Katy can sing live, and her records are NOT heavily auto-tuned. That is all.
ReplyDeleteShe is a contralto for sure....but that aside her voice is horrible. Even when she sing in tune (not an often occurence) she sounds painful to listen to!
ReplyDeleteYet if Katy wrote and composed the song and recorded it then how could it be out of her range? If this were true then wouldn't the studio recording sound just like her live? The simple truth is that Katy isn't capable of the "bigger" vocals that some songs of hers like Firework, because she's either tuned up a lot in studio or she gets nervous.
ReplyDeleteAgreed - I think they play with her vocals a lot in the studio. I suspect the same is true of Rihanna.
ReplyDeleteKaty has 3 octavas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcDOmKpD3cg u mad? :P
ReplyDeleteI just found this that discuss Katy's training and vocal ticks that she employs.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/l5sllr-_awU
katy and rihanna are studio artists who struggle singing live
ReplyDeletei mean rihanna's voice sounds great in the studio but when she sings live its no where near as good
same for katy perry
obviouslly she can sing, people are underrating her cause they her on bad days, also she can reach notes in 5th octave even tough she strugles, it's because she's a contralto, and has 3 octaves not 2, also she can hold notes form more than 10 seconds and end it with vibrato, watch her singing the one that got away in manila and in jakarta.
ReplyDeleteShe isn't a contralto. She is a mezzo-soprano. She just has a dark color in her lower register (especially in her 1st album where she was a big drinker and smoker). Her low notes are too weak and she can barely hit low notes correctly. She is most comfortable in the middle register.
ReplyDeleteFor 'longest note' perhaps this is her longest one- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixaS6R2ocPU (at 4:06) it's only 10-11 seconds but she didn't have an entry for longest note and I thought she deserved one.
ReplyDeleteher voice is annoying especially live
ReplyDeleteshe have an amazing voices but she didn't know how to use until her last tour i think she is and well become better then debut-2010.
ReplyDeleteshe needs to work on her control and support. especially live, even though i know she gets really nervous. lord knows i do, she still needs to learn how to breathe properly and support her vocals better. that and keep that vibrato from running away from her.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, whilst I am not a massive fan of hers (predominantly because her live performances have been painful to endure at best) I have seen glimpses of a decent voice in there.
ReplyDeleteShe could do with some on stage coping habits (when looking into a crowd phasing your sight is a good one) and agree if she supported her vocal lines better she could actually sound quite pleasant. Unfortunately though I get the feeling that like Christina she will hammer her voice with bad technique to the point where she has to take lessons to rebuild on years of damage - which is sad!
Well she held a note for 10 seconds with vibrato and she she belted out G5 it sounded amazing
ReplyDeleteG5 > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HbdvII7FxE
Longest Note: 4:44 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArR6K4HwTP4
i think the reason why her voice so different live is because in the studio her voice is layered so many times and thats what gives it a fuller sound
ReplyDeleteshes not a good live performer
those "last notes" shouldnt be counted because until she can show us she can do them live - then it shouldnt be counted in her range
ReplyDeleteShe's an awaful performer. She can't dance, when she tries is lame and her vocal abilities are mediocre.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're an awful speller.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell does that have to do with Katy Perry being an awful performer?
ReplyDeleteIs that the best you got? Just because I pressed a wrong key, my statement isn't less important. She can't give a good performance even if her life depends on that. Her dancing skills are poor and her vocal abilities are.. nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest the G5 sounded screechy.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading everything, I've come to the conclusion that she's a dramatic mezzo soprano ...her low notes don't produce much sound which means she's not contralto ...she struggles a bit in higher notes,means she's not a mezzo...she's dramatic mezzo
ReplyDeleteI gave her new confections album and after listening to the audio...Im not too confident that it's just studio magic. Her voice sounds very resonant and full on the records and its not the sound of compiling vocals. I think katy truly has the ability tto sing the way she does on records. But for some reason something happens live to prevent her from doing so. What I have noticed though is that on her worst performances she sounds very congested, which I know from personal experience dwindles ones vocal ability incredibly. Perhaps she has allergies lol.
ReplyDeletewhat is the note she hits 1:24 ? it sound absolutely amazing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBcx2JCbB6A
ReplyDeleteDON'T get frisky with me bitch.
ReplyDeleteI agree, in the studio she sounds pretty good, strong even. But she does sing outta her natural range a lot which is why I think she struggles live, she should just write material that caters more to the depths of her voice than anything higher. I do LOVE wide awake though....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3D5FwwtNVM
No, I don't think Katy is better songwriter... at all. She might be a better composer (I don't know if Christina has ever written melodies, because she doesn't play any instrument) but the deep and quality of Chrisitna's lyrics make her stand over any other of her peers. Maybe Gaga or Alicia Keys are better songwriters, but not Katy.
ReplyDeleteChristina wrote the lyrics for songs like The Voice Within, Oh Mother, I'm Ok, Fighter and Walk Away which, in my opinion, are better than anything ever written by Perry.
Wide Awake is definitely one of the best songs she has written so far. Im hoping her next album will have more material similar to it. I was in love with katy's debut but ever since teenage dream i've been passing her a bit. But after hearing that song I've been getting a bit more interested in her again. Im sure that with a little training she would be much better live than she is now. She definitely sings out of her range but it isnt to the point that it sounds painful. If she were to learn some control then im positive she would be able to belt those notes out no problem.
ReplyDeleteFair enough, I will agree with you there, not only has she written meaningful songs she is also adept at choosing ones she has not written, for example Hurt, Lift me Up and Beautiful (all written by Linda Perry) I just feel that Katy is more musically talented, I am not sure about the composing part though lol I am not that much of a fan, I have only judged on a whim as to what I have heard from her to this point (perhaps a little unfair of me)
ReplyDeleteChristina definitely has good taste but aside from the production of the vocals I don't think she has much input into the production of the song. I've noticed that usually in studio she is working together with Linda (who is an entire production team inside of one person) or a few producers and engineers who seem to be working on the track as she figures out the vocal arrangements. I'm not saying she hasn't ever written something I'm just saying that with songs having her credited as only a Co-writer she may not have had much more involved than a line or two.
ReplyDeleteWow I actually found a relatively recentish performance where she sounds pretty good!!! I am surprised (pleasantly), again though its an acoustic gig (the only time she seems to genuinely connect with the song and bring it to the table). Lovely arrangement too not only vocally but instrumentally speaking too....she still got a way to go to gain my full on diva loving lol
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/GRETavYtsKU
What I can't understand is why she can't sing without a Guitar? lol
ReplyDeleteHaha totally dude, I really hope that her next project is more veered to this style.....I would def invest in her if she did!
ReplyDeleteBut I guess more than likely it will be some commercial pop poop! lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ruBhDHedU&feature=related at 3:19 when she says "DUMP" I think she hitted a bit lower than E3 didn't she? does it count or not? cause she sounded like she can sing within that note...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ruBhDHedU&feature=related at 3:19 when she says "DUMP" I think it's a bit lower than E3,isn't it? does it count as part of her range?
ReplyDeleteI love katyperry
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding me. Katy Perry hitting a C6!?!? AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!! How did she hit that high note, did she reduce the price of her voice like she always does to get to that #1 spot?
ReplyDeleteShe can't even hit the Eb5 in her song Firework and you expect me to believe she can hit a C6? Hah! Riiiight. This needs revision, major revision.
Yes she hit the note and she also hit B5 and A5... she is horrible singer but she has quite good range ..
ReplyDeleteJust about any female from any vocal type can hit the soprano high C in head voice or falsetto, it's not some rare skill or talent.
ReplyDeleteAlso the point of her not being able to BELT an Eb5 (even though she has belted a G5 on several occasions) holds no barring over her ability to hit a C6 in falsetto, which is a completely different register.
And just to clarify (Because I'm sure your next response will be angered and consist of angry ranting and calling me a Katy fan or something of that nature) I am not a Katy Perry fan.
I don't see it as impossible and I am aware a majority of female singers can hit the note. No need to verse me in this literature as I am already studied enough to know.
ReplyDeleteBut it is quite obvious she cannot sustain the note and give it proper technique. True singers count a note within their range if they can hit it with proper technique and if they can sustain it. Some singers won't even count the note within their range if they are able to apply a vibrato to the note it.
And truthfully judging from those performances that note to her was basically an exclamation. She has the toughest of times hitting a C5 as it is, G5 for her is just pushing it. Everything afterwards is clearly an exclamation.
Oh and sorry to not meet your expectations of an "angry argument." Don't assume if you do not know, me. ;)
I would argue that this isn't a matter of opinion, because it is quite evident her range is untrained and unattended too.
ReplyDeleteListen to the video again my dear, it is astounding that no one else sees that the further she goes up the octaves the strain and focus on her voice utterly derail her attempts at hitting anything higher, hence the exclamations.
She is no Mezzo, yet she tries to hit those notes. It is very clear that up until recently she had no true training in singing. She has improved, but not enough to hit the notes she tries very hard to reach in the higher parts of "her" range.
Her true range is from E3-G#5. After that she is beyond straining her voice and everything sounds coarse, forced, and strained. And this is not opinion, this is an observation of various LIVE recordings of her singing.
Yeah... you are right! she tries to sing out of her range but maybe with proper technique she could hit all those notes...
ReplyDeletePossibly, but it takes a lot of time and A LOT of effort to widen your range. And thank you for understanding what I was trying to say. :)
ReplyDeleteThat note is a E5 (mi5) I Think she does can sing, she's good and she hits the i kissed a girl notes really good in her tour. She can totally sings in her concerts, but is not that good on TV
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. I notice a couple of the contraltos listed here are probably more likely to be mezzos.
ReplyDeleteHey Diva, just wondering if you've seen thin:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o9cGG_mScg
it shows how Katy Perry hitting a C#7, in a live performance through a pretty big/fast vocal slide.
Just wondering, does this count as her hitting the note? Because while it seems like an exclamation, it shows how through hitting the note she could one day sing in it, with enough coaching
Also, the F#6 that you included in Jessie J's profile was achieved through similar means, so doesn't that mean that this counts as well? Thanks
I think part of the issue is that when she is surrounded by mega production and glitz, it throws off her natural comfort and ease. The acoustics, digital sounds, and production might case her to feel nervous and beyond her boundaries. When she started out after her Christian album, she was a guitar and mic sort of performer. Katy Perry, the blue-haired candy girl, is more a recent thing in her musical development from what I read.
ReplyDeleteI think part of the issue is that when she is surrounded by mega production and glitz, it throws off her natural comfort and ease. The acoustics, digital sounds, and production might case her to feel nervous and beyond her boundaries. When she started out after her Christian album, she was a guitar and mic sort of performer. Katy Perry, the blue-haired candy girl, is more a recent thing in her musical development from what I read.
ReplyDeleteI saw this video of Katy hitting C#7 using vocal fry does this count in her vocal range? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOegh-NpEsI
ReplyDeleteBeing honest I wouldn't attach that as part of her singing range, it sounds like a squeal more than a properly sung note, also in future recordings she would be highly unlikely to sing a note like this regularly adding musicality to it, maybe I am wrong though.
ReplyDeletego fucking listen to wide awake then tell me she cant sing
ReplyDeleteDon't take that statement so literally. I only compared them in regards to the technique they use, not in the quality or ability in either of their voices.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Christina having the natural talent and whilst she has used questionable technique over the years that seems to be improving due to the vocal training she is undergoing.
Katy on the other hand does not have the greatest voice because as I said she sings out of her natural range damaging her vocal folds and making her performances usually painful to listen to, I do believe though that if she did sing in her natural lower range and learnt how to ornament it well she could sound pretty good, but thats a matter of taste and opinion..
The bottom line though is talent wise Christina is the superior singer whilst Katy is the superior songwriter.
The difference is while Christina was an amazing natural talent and has an impresive voice, Katy has never been naturally talented for singing. Christina did damaged her voice with bad technique, but hell she got a good voice to begin with. Katy has almost nothing to lose, since she's already a terrible vocalist and her voice is like nails scratching a blackboard. Even other vocalist with terrible bad technique like Jessica Simpson have a good voice, but they ruin it mainly singing out of range. If Katy ruins her voice, well it may sound worst but I don't see how that's even possible. PS: Do you dare to compare Katy with Christina? That's almost as insulting as a comparison between Beyoncé and Rihanna... Jesus!
ReplyDeleteChristina is an incredible composer and she's able to write good songs!She doesn't need any instrument,because she has a VOICE.The voice is also an instrument!
ReplyDeleteCompare songs "Firework" and "Hurt"
What song is better?:D
Hurt...only due to the vocal ability of Aguilera in the song. Overall Perry seems to write the kind of chart drivel that people seem to like, and thats about as positive as I am gonna get where she is concerned ;)
ReplyDeleteKaty Perry does have an amazing voice when the the song is right for her voice. She can sing firework well, but does struggle at times, but if you look at the range of the song, that would difficult for anyone to sing on perfection. I've seen her sing live many-a-time and believe me, this girl has pipes she can sing. If she couldn't sing she wouldn't have record labels chasing her like she did at the beginning of her career nor would Glen Ballard have helped her career and believed if she had a truly shotty voice. She can work on thing definitely, but dont we all?
ReplyDeleteKaty Perry never has an amazing voice- sure, she can deliver, and sometimes she even sounds good, but never amazing. Firework is NOT a challenging song- the range used in the song is nothing special.
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't have to be a good singer to have record labels chasing after her. It's just like commercial success- it's not a very good indicator of vocal ability. Haley Reinhart has a great voice, but she was dropped. Conversely, Rihanna and Katy Perry haven't been, although they are poorer vocalists.
Oh sweet baby J, should have known on a song comparing vocal ranges the Christina/Mariah/Whitney stans would come out. "What! You don't think she's the single greatest artist of all time in the whole of human history??!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!! Smh
ReplyDeleteIf you listen to the very end you can here then G#6 I'm not sure about the D3 but that high G definitely /watch?v=xcDOmKpD3cg
ReplyDeleteIf I may, dancing skills aren't the only necessity to a god performance. Luther Vandross didn't dance like Michael jackson on stage; it was just his voice, his suits, and beautifully dressed background singers. I find that Katy's performances are less about blowing everyone away and more about the atmosphere. Not everyone can do the Beyoncé.
ReplyDeleteoh gosh she's not a contralto. you should correct your mistakes in this site...there are many mistakes in this site...you mentioned Kesha as contralto too...no Katy and Kesha are not contraltos. xx
ReplyDeleteThe thing about Katy & her live performing quality is that it is almost never consistent. She either has an awesome performance that pleasantly surprises you or she has a poor performance. Her belting range is really where it gets painful, especially live. Katy's voice is not a powerhouse voice, she seems to definitely find her zone in acoustic settings where her vocal part compliments the instrumental & doesn't stand alone. I have to give Katy credit on singing live EVEN when she is obviously not up to it, it shows guts & genuine showmanship.
ReplyDeleteShe has the tonal quality of a contralto. Her lower to mid range is darker & is where her voice is most comfortable. Plus most sopranos can usually go higher than a C6. By general terms Katy fits the profile of a contralto.
ReplyDelete