Monday 9 December 2013

[Vocal Profile] Chaka Khan


Vocal Type: Spinto Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal Range: F2-B5 (3 octaves and a diminished fifth) (B2-E6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Chaka is a unique singer, with her own style of inflection and timbre. Her voice has some similarities to other singers of her generation, but always retains a sound distinctly her own. Though her timbre is bright, she has an unusual amount of power behind her notes.

The low range is quite impressive, spanning down into the second octave. Her lows can either be smoky and whispery or more solid and defined, and though never achieving the same volume as her high range, her low notes retain her tone and style The lower range stays mostly homogeneous to the rest of the range.

Her middle range, starting around G3, has many timbres and textures that it can assume, and transitions absolutely seamlessly from the lower middle range to the top of her voice. The middle range has a peculiar ‘forward’ sound that gives the impression of the tone used in the belted range, aiding the sound of seamless transition.

The belted range is technically incredible, and the defining aspect of her voice. Going all the way up to a thrilling B5, the belted notes are brassy, bright, and full in sound – they are always mixed perfectly, and flow easily, though time has stripped Chaka of the top belts. Thanks to her mixing, she goes to the absolute top of her viable range, but belts far beyond ‘typical’ highs for any voice type.

Her head voice (whenever it is heard) is light, bright, and somewhat breathy.

Vocal Negatives: Her head voice on its own is rarely heard and sounds quite weak compared to her powerful, brassy belts. Because of her unique singing style, it may take time to adapt to her sound on the whole. She has a tendency to waver in pitch on the low notes, and the low range on the whole seems a little variable as to whether it will be solid or weak on a given day.

Credit goes to Marty M for this profile!

44 comments:

  1. LOL, she's just a dramatic mezzo if she happens to be a mezzo. There is not really a spinto mezzo-soprano. I'm not the most to familiar with her voice but I do hear a dramatic color. It seems she is a dramatic mezzo.

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  2. Yes well, I am afraid I stopped buying the excuses some time ago. ;-)

    She was not the only artist performing in the cold that day and many artists have performed under similar circumstances without such drastic effects.

    Here's Alison performing in the freezing cold ( you could see their breaths). Not hearing any drastic lessening of her tone and they played a full set and this was at the end of that set.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKE6x3FZDkI

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  3. Well...

    Chaka Khan has a very bemusing timbre to her voice.

    Vocally speaking - the coloring of her tone is highly akin to that of a "Dramatic- Mezzo-Soprano" (which I think she, ultimately, is) however there have been many times in which she has exuded the tonal qualities of a 'Falcon Soprano' - when judging by her ease with singing in the Soprano tessitura and the fluidity of her upper-register, especially in her prime (the 1970's/80's).

    "Dramatic- Mezzo-Soprano" or "Falcon Soprano" - which one is she because she certainly is not a 'Spinto' of any kind or type?

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  4. DAMN...

    That is ALOT of work and revision/studying to be doing. I do miss school, however. Hopefully, I will be starting my degree in 'Health & Social Sciences' in June so... I hope it all works for you nonetheless. You seem like such a smart, lovely, intelligent, Man - you're future is set.

    Well, at the moment... I am in Milan - I have another photo shoot commencing on Wednesday. I have been quite distressed lately also; family issues/problems etc. and so I am starting to feel the strain of having to work abroad and be there for my Family at times. But, it should all work out fine because I will be back on Saturday and will not have to work for another 3 weeks - I'm really missing my Mom, Grandma and friends back home in England right now. I cannot wait to get back to my ORIGINAL bed and eat some home cooking and just relax. LOL. You know? ; - )

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  5. Yes she is a dramatic mezzo, and your right there is no such thing as a spinto mezzo soprano. People have been saying WH was an spinto mezzo soprano too. I have no idea how people even come up with this.

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  6. Im really liking this site but some of these proflles are really off with the voice types,
    Mariah Carey is listed a lyric, Tamar Braxton is listed as a
    Coloratura soprano, which should be switched around. Chaka is a dramatic Mezzo.

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  7. I could definitely see her being a Falcon Soprano like Coleman mentioned below

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  8. Wow listening to that was...a little much. Call me a weenie, but 6 minutes of high frequency belting was too much for me!

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  9. lol Reminder that I still don't approve of the excuses I made. Just possibilities of what may have happened. I'm still very disappointed in her.

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  10. I love me some Chaka, but I do think her voice resembles the tone of Anastacia and I think their vocal akin is Dramatic Mezzo.... I
    did not even know there was a spinto mezzo, thought it would have just been coloratura...

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  11. Actually both are lyric, But Mariah should be the coloratura you are right.

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  12. It's best to take all "vocal type" classification with a pinch of salt. Besides most people don't agree on the fachs the divas get put in anyway. Mariah's is an example of one that i changed because people were saying the original classification wasn't right. It's always going to be a lose/lose situation, whatever is written.



    But the comments are here for you guys to disagree, so I don't get offended when people don't agree- I'm sure Marty won't be ether ! Regardless, I'm always glad for input and readership, so thanks for taking the time to do both. :D

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  13. I don't. She is too metallic to be a falcon. A falcon is essentially a lyric voice with spin to sized. Not to mention, she has a bigger volume output than what a typical falcon would.

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  14. I know Eric. You are a sane fan. :-)
    I was just explaining how I feel about the multitude of excuses I have heard time and again, since I started reading this blog, for almost all of the Diva's when, time and again, they fail to deliver live.

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  15. I don't. Chaka is too metallic to be a falcon. A falcon is essentially a lyric voice with spin to sized. Not to mention, she has a bigger volume output than what a typical falcon would.

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  16. Unrelated, but why did you stop making vocal profiles, if you don't mind me asking?

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  17. are you going to do a review of Britneys new album ?

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  18. LOL. I know... I felt my ears starting to quiver on every note she hit 'post- G5'.

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  19. This will FOREVER be my jam... : - D

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm_cFzVAoo8

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  20. Let's consider: there are not only two varieties of voices. You can't lump everyone into two categories and just expect that to be it. For that reason, sopranos have their multitudinous categories, as do tenors and baritones. Where does that leave your average mezzo? They only have three fachs to choose from, and you're either lyric or dramatic, with a possible 'coluratura' added on.

    I personally think that's a little stupid.

    Chaka may exhibit some of the qualities of a dramatic mezzo-soprano, but she also exhibits qualities of a lyric mezzo-soprano. Coupled with her large, but not dementedly large sound output in the belted range, her rather quiet low range, and warmer tone in the middle range, I think Marty has a point in calling her a spinto mezzo.

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  21. By 'bad', I just mean a little rough around the edges. My voice teacher once told me that women have three voice 'changes' - once in their teens, once in their twenties, and once in their thirties. Usually, the lyric and high voices develop first, while the dramatic and low voices develop last. After each change, you more or less have to relearn how to sing, especially after the last one.

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  22. Omg yazzzz!!!! The queen of soul funk! They don't make music like this no more!

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  23. I understand the whole "Drinking and Lessons" issue but what kind of excercise do you think she isn't doing? You do know she works out right?

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  24. There are several reasons why. All my profiles were rather subjective. When DD edited my profiles, they came off as contradictory. And I'm terribly lazy. I was doing some requests but they stopped being fun so I gave up on them... I don't think I'll ever start back. The only one I'll revamp is Janelle Monae because hers is just terribly wrong and I love her too much for her profile to be so incorrect. Lol

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  25. I figured. :)

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  26. I'd say more of a dramatic - strong lower register and a lot of power and volume output in the upper register, coupled with a metallic timbre.

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  27. dahling as you can see i was transitioning from importance of singing to commercial success, for someone with a degree you sure can't understand words put together that has a meaning (sentence) LOL. anyway im 18

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  28. Primo Uomo Assoluto10 December 2013 at 14:27

    Based on your numerous grammatical errors, far more than those I have (please, learn the difference between "there" and "their") someone whose first language isn't english. I think it is you who cannot comprehend simple sentences, much less write them well.
    Mentioning commercial success when one is talking about the quality of singing is like mentioning McDonald's sells a lot of burgers when talking about the quality of organic fruits and vegetables.

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  29. Primo Uomo Assoluto10 December 2013 at 14:30

    Have you personally met Barbra, met people who work with her, have had the chance to talk to people involved in the making of her albums and other projects? No?
    There are many people in the industry who know each other or of each other. And by industry I don't mean the commercial side of the music industry, I mean the musical and production side of it as well as all the stuff behind the scenes.
    You don't even live in USA, so your arrogance to believe what you want to believe without further proof of it is immense and child-like.

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  30. LOL Sure babes, because you live in the US I should take your word for your "good sources'' knowing what they talk about rather than you being a pretentious sod trying to pass yourself off as knowing stuff because you know and believed some gossips.
    Tell me..is your real name Perez by any chance?

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  31. LOL sorry about the "there and their" i didn't see that but oh well i thought my grammar was ok. I'm not writing any research or thesis, im just talking to you so I'm not taking the grammar too seriously. Anyway i don't think you're getting my point so this conversation is very useless and it's just my opinion by the way, you're the genius here right? you don't have to get butthurt. I really thought you were open minded.

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  32. LOL i hate Perez. He is such a bully shit.
    Anyway Opie i just wanna say how much you inspire me that my research for one of my subject is about Feminism. I thought you could give me an idea

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  33. LOL Hence my question to il meno there Josh.
    I am flattered I inspired you to study feminism but beware Josh! Like all social sciences a lot of it is , imo anyway not very factual. Always keep thinking about what the books say and checking it against what you see in reality.
    Not sure what you mean with the last sentence.

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  34. Nice reply Josh! :-)

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  35. i think you're the best person i know who really embodies feminism to be honest here in my country females who are strong are viewed as "bitch" and it hurts me. i've done some research already and wow i saw this: http://mattforney.com/2013/09/16/the-case-against-female-self-esteem/

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  36. LOL I think Matt is just the bloggers equivalent of a shock jock.
    I really have not made all that much of a study of "feminism" Josh. I just happen to be a woman myself who has been raised to think for herself.
    I can tell you that two women whose thoughts on women in society ( and many other societal issues) I found particularly interesting are Germaine Greer and Ariel Levy.
    Greer's most famous book is The Female Eunuch, Levy's is called Female Chauvinist Pigs; women and the rise of raunch culture.

    Greer also writes for The Guardian
    http://www.theguardian.com/profile/germainegreer

    Levy also writes for The New Yorker Magazine.

    http://www.newyorker.com/search?qt=dismax&sort=score+desc&query=ariel+levy&submit=

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  37. I have Soooo many issues with the Grammys, I don't even know where to begin. First off, I'm not sure if there are any rap fans out there, but I thought Kanye West's album "Yeezus" was hands down the greatest album of 2013. How it was not nominated for album of the year (as well as some tracks for song and record) is completely beyond me. Also, Ariana Grande more than deserved a Best New Artist nod as well as a gander at pop vocal/album and album of the year, and maybe Honeymoon Avenue for some nods. I thought Yours Truly was definitely one of the strongest. As for Miley, I'm aware that Bangerz missed the cut off date, but I think "We Can't Stop" was an especially strong and unique track that was definitely a lot stronger than people thought. Look beyond the surface and the image, the song is practically ageless. I have not gotten tired of it since its summer release and it still sounds so fresh.

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  38. You're damn RIGHT! It is, and so far I'm done with 3/5, and I'm trying my hardest to relax. Hell ends tomorrow, and I am OUTTA there lol Back to Villa Rica and then away to Toronto I go, back to home I've always known, and the FOOOOOD! haha. I LOVE social Sciences, but you have to read a LOT...it's too tiring. Intriguing, but tiring as well lol What other classes will you be taking? & June? Yikes haha. & Thankyou. I'm probably only one of those, but thank you =D
    As for future, there's this one job that pays EXTREMELY well, & it's dancing (which I'm decent at). If that works out I just may become a tripper. Hell, a porn star even lol


    Milan??? You know, I'm really starting to hate you now lol What themes were you given for the photo shoot?


    And trust me, I know exactly how you feel. Honestly, I can understand why most people drop out. I don't think it's thethe rigour of the curriculum, but more so the fact that it puts such a wide gap between 'business' & 'reality'. Honestly, I don't know what this is at the moment lol I'm dying to go home so I can finally feel like me again & collapse onto my bed when I wish to escape things. Although, I wouldn't mind being in your shoes ;D

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  39. Evaluator of Music13 December 2013 at 09:51

    I would say that the grammys should include Ariana Grande as the Best New Artist nominee. I am not an Arianator, just an person who critiques music like you do. I feel that Ariana Grande should win because she has a sweet head voice capable of mixing belts and her high notes, instead of screams, come out as a soft sweet voice. She has a whistle register as well. It's just a pity that most of her songs in her album are not 'mordern' enough, maybe that's why she is not popular enough to make it into the nominees list.

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  40. LOL. Yes... Things are quite strenuous right now. So far, today, I have just been relaxing; recieving multiple lives from Beyonce's new album. The Bitch has, well and truly, stolen my wig - no doubt she will hold it captive for another several weeks. : - (

    Wait, what? "A Porn Star"? Then again, that isn't a bad idea. I, in all honesty, you used to contemplate becoming a "Stripper". LMAO. I know, for a FACT, I would be a hit. LOL.

    But seriously, if you do, ever, go down that route... I have to watch your videos. (Namely, you... Of course)

    It's auch a shame that you don't have 'Twitter or 'Instagram'. I could give you my e-mail, if you'd like?

    Yes, Milan. Its a nice city. The people are extremely polite (the ones I've come across) and welcoming.

    The photo shoot theme was "Urban Jungle". I will send you a picture.

    So, what are you studying exactly? You will do absolutely fine. You seem to be very dedicated.

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  41. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3opsSvDsmqI Her voice gets so deep why?

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  42. I can listen to Mariah all day, she is the best.... nuff said.

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  43. It is still obvious this is a playback track, only blind lambs couldnt accept.

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  44. why is katy perry even nominated?! and taylor swift for album of the year? grammys are worst every year

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