Shakira
Vocal Type: Coloratura contralto
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves 1 note E3-D6
Whistle Register:No
Vocal Pluses: Unique and versatile vocal styling that incorporates a yodelling like technique as well Arabic influences. The voice has a heaviness pervading throughout, though surprisingly it seems to be most prevalent in the midrange and low belting range. This weight can be removed, revealing a contrasting crisper, lighter and more youthful sounding timbre. Her head voice is strong and bright, becoming more piercing the higher it becomes, but isn't often used. She is capable of complex meslisma, usually built on a middle eastern musical scale, as well as able to hold sustained notes with or without vibrato. The vibrato itself, is quick but controlled.
Vocal Negatives: Her voice sounds as if it's artificially gaining its weight via her larynx being forced down, as her talking voice is light. Her vocal styling and intonation can also make comprehending her lyrics hard to do.
Omg! I'm so happy you added Shakira. I've been wanting you do to her for the longest. She's one of my favorite singer due to her unique voice! :)
ReplyDeletewrong, she's not a mezzo-soprano, she's a Coloratura Contralto.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Shakira is a contralto at the least. :)
ReplyDeleteGood spot, that was a typo. Copied the profile structure from another singer and then changed the bits for Shakira, missing the vocal type. Its the same reason why people would have seen Diana Ross noted as having a whistle register until I spotted it the day after posting and sharply changed it! Amened now.
ReplyDeleteYou forgot the part about her containing a goat in her throat ;o).
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
ReplyDeleteHey there...her voice just takes some getting used to, lol. But I know sometimes it does sound that way.
ReplyDeleteVocally, she's good. She has good qualities and would be a good singer, but the tone of her voice, kinda nasal, is incredible annoying. I don't like her voice at all.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I just wanted to let you know that I really love this blog. It's like the best thing I've accidentally stumbled across in awhile. :)
ReplyDeleteSo what causes her to sound like a goat? Is it vibrato?
ReplyDeleteThis is not a 'coloratura contralto'. That term is distinctly an operatic distinction. It is however, an alto voice.
ReplyDeleteShakira is one of my favorite artists but your the above term associated with her voice is incorrect. A coloratura contralto would be Ewa Podles. She is an opera singer from Poland.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a 'coloratura contralto'. That term is distinctly an operatic distinction. It is however, an alto voice.
ReplyDeletethe fact she can yodel explain why some times she sounds like a goat
ReplyDeleteI personally think that a lot of the criticism of her sound comes from the fact that she is not a native English speaker- there is a marked difference in the way she sings in Spanish versus the way she sings in English. She's improved drastically at pronouncing English sounds (earlier in her career, for example, she had a much harder time with pronunciation), but it's still not her first language. Personal preferences and intonation aside, she's quite a good singer.
ReplyDeleteGeez who writes these things??You've probably never heard a true contralto or you don't know the meaning of the word.She's definately no lower than a lyric mezzo soprano...
ReplyDeletei heard that she was a mezzo soprano but i disagree shes an alto
ReplyDeleteShe's an alto, definitely. I can sing many of her songs effortlessly, and I'm an alto myself (my vocal range is similar to hers but my voice is obviously not as good as hers!). But she's definitely does NOT have an operatic voice. So, to call her a 'coloratura contralto' is taking things too far.
ReplyDeletei think she is a mezzo! the tone when she speaks is a little more high than an alto
ReplyDelete