Showing posts with label lyric-soprano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lyric-soprano. Show all posts

Thursday 8 September 2016

[Vocal Profile] Morissette Amon


Morissette Amon

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: Four Octaves Two notes (C3-E7)
Vocal Pluses:Morissette Amon  is known for a vocal range that spans four octaves and two notes. She has an extensive, connected range, allowing her to transition into other registers smoothly. Capable of riffs and runs throughout the voice and  holding notes without wavering, her skill suggests good breath control and overall technique. Known for her "squeaks" and intentional vocal breaks, the Diva applies them both when jumping between octaves and for artistic effect.

Tuesday 8 September 2015

[Vocal Profile] Selena Quintanilla


Selena Quintanilla

Vocal Type: Lyric soprano
Vocal Range: 2 octaves, 3 notes and A semitone (D3-G#5)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Strengths: Selena Quintanilla had a voice that possessed a rich powerful tone, and a husky character. Capable of melisma and an impressive vibrato, she stunned live audiences with her breath support and emotive voice.

Friday 24 July 2015

[Vocal Profile] Demi Lovato


Demi Lovato

Vocal Type: Full-Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: C#3 - Bb5 - EB7 (4 octaves one note)
Vocal Strengths: In possession of a strong, dark, raspy and mid-weighted soprano voice, Demi Lovato is known for her powerful instrument that is piercing in tone and able enough to cut through thick instrumentation [Remember December].

Demi, unlike most "entertainers" of today, relies heavily on her voice to convey the drama and emotion of a song. It's perhaps because of this, she continues to develop and train her instrument. The gains are most noticeable during performances where it has helped to remedy previous live vocal inconsistencies. Alongside this training, Lovato has also improved her musicality, creating a unique, contemporary-oriented style of harmonising that works with her voice and melodies [Lightweight].

Tuesday 24 June 2014

[Vocal Profile] Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: C3-Bb5 (2 Octaves 5 notes and a semi tone)*
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: On the whole, Jennifer Lopez possesses a light voice that is well connected throughout the registers. For the most part the Diva prefers to stick to her middle range when singing, as it's where she finds the best tone and stability- with a smooth, easy sound [Hear: On The Floor].

Her lower range is where she loses vocal confidence, though surprisingly she is able to sing down to a G3 with some ease. Even at the lower end of the third octave, the Diva manages to maintain the character and tone of the voice [Hear: Jenny from the Block ], but this suffers the lower she goes.

Monday 30 September 2013

[Vocal Profile] Charlotte Church



Vocal Type: Full-Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 2 Octaves 5 notes and a semitone (Eb3-C6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Being a product of the classical world, Charlotte Church has received vocal training that has allowed for her to manage and understand the inner workings of her instrument. With this knowledge comes a voice that is confident, assured and skilful in its delivery. She would also have been taught about breath control, and this is shown in practice by Church’s ability to hold notes and navigate long phrases, often through registers, without losing breath or the correct support. It also affords the singer excellent mastery of dynamics; being able to begin a phrase loud and projected, but end it gentle and soft [Hear:Breach Of The Peace].

The lower range isn’t particularly extensive-  beginning in the third octave- but the control here means that Church is able to produce tones that are substantial and without the fogginess many Divas exhibit in the lower extremes of their range [The Rise]. Her voice leads seamlessly in tone and timbre into the midrange, and both share a distinct and identifiable character.

Church is primarily a midrange belter, being most comfortable at the upper end of the fourth octave and lower end of the fifth. This being so, the singer produces a tone that is weighty, full and resonant. As her head voice overlaps the chest voice- being heard as low as a  B4- the singer is often heard jumping between the two parts to create interest in the vocal line. However, she is capable in either register.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Church’s range is the head voice. Having honed it during her early years in the Classical world, the Diva exhibits a skill in this part of her voice that allows for impressive tonal variety. The voice here can be light and airy [Hear:Lasts, Or Eschaton ], thick and operatic [Sparrow], or balanced so brilliantly with its chest voice counterpart that it skirts the line between the two, never sounding quite like either.

Being so capable in her head voice and her mix, Church has no problem transitioning through the range; making it sound as if there are no breaks to be found in the voice at all. To further polish her notes, the singer is able to add a balanced and controlled vibrato that can either sound operatic or contemporary depending on the how she chooses to apply it

Vocal Negatives: It would be impressive if Church worked further on her fifth octave belting, while simultaneously developing her lower range.

Sunday 10 February 2013

[Vocal Profile] Delta Goodrem


Delta Goodrem

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves notes (D3-D6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Delta Goodrem possesses a naturally agile and fulsome soprano voice. Marked by a direct yet rounded and clean tone, the entirety of the range is known to be void of any harshness or crackling in its tone.

The lower end of the range is husky and velvety, whilst still being reasonably audible- a rare feat for most sopranos. This part of the voice is also marked by a darkness in timbre not evident in any other part of the range

The middle section is surprisingly confident and rich, which adds a warmth to the tone, while her distinct intonation marks it as instantly identifiable. Her fourth octave register retains a velvety texture and is well connected to her lower range, ensuring a fluidity right from the bottom to the top.

Goodrem, however, comes into her own with her upper belts and head-voice. This part of the range adds a soft and full penetrating timbre, that is of a healthier quality than that produced in the lower extremes of the voice. Her belts, taken from C5 right up to G5, are robust, clean and delivered by an even and striking vibrato. Of her head-voice, accessed from approx A 5/ B5, it would be classified as warm, illuminating and potent in quality.

Overall, Delta has a strong and characterful voice which traverses its higher regions with what appears to be great ease, all whilst producing a pleasurable and healthy sound throughout the registers (bar the extreme lows). The result is a voice that has both a high standard of musicality and natural raw ability.

Vocal Negatives: Some have described the tone in Delta Goodrem's upper registers to be slightly whiny and immature at times, often as if she is crying in a high tone. Also as the voice is clean of grit and lacking in overt power it has been claimed she is somewhat “boring” to listen to vocally.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Vocal Profile: Kristin Chenoweth


 Kristin Chenoweth

Vocal Type: Lyric Coloratura Soprano
Vocal Range: E3-F6 3 octaves and a semi-tone
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Extremely individual tone that makes it impossible to mix her voice with others’. A simply stunning technical singer with perfect breath and pitch control, with the voice never sounding pinched or forced because of it. Classically trained as a coloratura soprano.

Her lower register is considerably weaker than the rest of the range, but still maintains a full sound (Over the Rainbow, I’m Not That Girl), reaching a good bit lower than most soprano ranges are able to go (down to E3).

The middle range from around A3-A4 is round, warm, and bright, having a beautiful supported tone that is where the voice finds its most versatile colouring.

The belting range, when used, is well-produced as Chenoweth progressively mixes her belt to produce notes up to E5 [The Girl in 14 G, Thank Goodness, Popular, My New Philosophy]. The tone never loses its warmth, however it does lose most all of the delicacy found in the lower range.


The head voice, spanning all the way to an impressive F6, is perhaps the most defining feature of the voice. It has brightness, clarity, warmth, and an unmistakable tone and easy vibrato that can be removed [Home], but is mostly employed. The upper part of the head voice loses the warmth of the lower range, but still maintains an impressive amount of power and clarity in the uppermost reaches of the voice [Glitter and be Gay , Der Holle Rache]. Impeccable breath control in this top range also makes it possible for her to sustain high head notes without diminishing their quality, displaying the ease that this range presents for her, most noticeably in Glitter and be Gay with several sustained Eb6s.

Vocal Negatives: The voice can sound nasal and unpleasant to some people’s ears. Also, while brilliant for Broadway, light opera, and jazz singing, the voice seems uncomfortable singing pop music, losing some of the ease and warmth found otherwise. The very uppermost reaches of the head voice can sound shrill even with the use of vibrato (starting at D6), though this may change with time.

Big thanks to Marty M for composing this Profile!

Friday 6 July 2012

Vocal Profile: Alison Goldfrapp

Alison Goldfrapp

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range:3 Octaves 5 Notes F2-E6
Whistle Register:No- high notes sound like head voice.
Vocal Pluses: Vast expansive connected range that is able to go from low to high easily; expanding into the baritone ranges and well beyond the typical soprano ranges.

Lower register is characterized with a light and husky character to it, that though despite her higher vocal type she is able to sing within this area with relative ease due to a healthy and established technique.

Brilliant mixing technique allows the voice to access any note within the belting range with frightening ease, showing no signs of approaching its limit even up to Soprano Eb (Eb6).

However, the voice seems to find its home within the head voice. In which it is able to sustain notes for long periods of time, perform a series of vocal acrobatics, (see Happiness, Voicething, Pilots, Horse Tears, Utopia). The head voice also posses a duality to it, being able to take on an operatic tone (See the intro of Utopia) or a more contemporary likening (see Happiness).

 The voice as a whole posses an instrumental quality to it, and is often utalized in this way to paint the sonic landscape of the songs.

Vocal Negatives: The middle register of the voice lacks character, and most belts (from G4-E5) don't contain the characteristics usually associated with "belting"- for example power and projection. Though this is more of personal preference than actual fault in technique.

Monday 7 May 2012

[Vocal Profile] Brandy Norwood


Brandy


Vocal Type: Lyric-Mezzo Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 octaves and 5 semitone. G2- E6
Vocal Pluses: Brandy possesses an extremely dexterous voice that allows her to sing complex vocal runs effortlessly and subtly [Warm It Up (With Love)]. This skill can be used through the registers, meaning she can begin a vocal run at the top of her range and end up at the bottom with a speed and delicacy that belies its true skill [Over the Rainbow].

Thursday 9 February 2012

Tarja Turunen- Vocal Range/ Profile [Lyric-Soprano: 3 Octaves]

Tarja Turunen

Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves 1 note and a semitone (F3-Ab6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses: Tarja Turnunen's voice has a duality to it that has been created by her classical training and her time in a rock band. Thus,she can create a sound that is operatic, but equally adapt to sing in a more contemporary tone.

The low note are achieved comfortably with great support, creating a controlled and measured tone that moves into its midrange with brilliant mirroring of timbre and tone. The head voice is the strongest part of Tarja Thunrunen's voice, thanks to its classical training. It's full, rounded and with a sweet timbre. It can create a resonant operatic tone, creating stunning crescendos, or utilise a softer timbre that contrasts texturally, but that's not so resonant. As the head voice climbs higher, towards the sixth octave, its colouring remains bright, polished and its tone stays clear and resonant, though less powerful than the lower half of the head voice- hear the introduction to Damned and Divine.

Tarja Turunen's brilliant technique allows for sweeping trills, resonant held notes and the implementation of a classical vibrato that is beautifully executed with even spacing.

Vocal Negatives:Over reliance on head notes, but that may be solely due to the type of music she sings. Still, it would be nice to hear how her belting range sounds in the fifth octave.

Friday 6 January 2012

Jessica Simpson Vocal Range / Profile



Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves 2 notes and a semitone (E3-G#6)
Whistle Register: Yes
Vocal Pluses: The midrange is smooth and slightly smoky. Depending on the placement of the voice, the chest voice can be bright and smooth- when mixed- or edgy and coarse-when it's pulled up into the throat. The lower half of the belting range- up to a C5- is where the voice finds its strongest sound; being resonate and controlled. The vibrato is stable and pleasant and smooths out any harshness in tone that poor technique may induce. Has the strength and stamina to hold notes for impressive lengths of time throughout the belting range without wavering in pitch.  The head voice is heavy with a piercing quality and fullness to it.
Vocal Negatives: Poor technique; the belting voice is often placed in the throat, making the sound produced sound like shouting in the higher extremes, and the control over the voice can be inconsistent.

Friday 4 November 2011

Jewel- Vocal range/ Profile


Vocal Type: Lyric-Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves   (E3-E6)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Strengths: A versatile instrument that be smoky and light or sold and clear depending on what the song calls for. The voice is strongest and healthiest in it's midrange and it includes where she belts best. This is the characterful part of the voice where it finds its consistency, weight and power. Her fifth octave chest register isn't as strong as the midrange but its still capable of producing bright, clear notes with deft mixing of registers. Her head voice is a beautiful addition and harmonises brilliantly, providing textural depth to the vocal depending on how she chooses to implement it: airy and light, or fuller and rounder with an operatic-like tone to it.Though not keen to show it off, Jewel is capable of complex melisma and her excellent breath control means she is capable of holding long sustained notes.
Vocal Weaknesses: Her lower range can sound unhealthy, and pushed.
Must Hear: Amen

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Cyndi Lauper- Vocal Profile/ Range




Vocal Type: Lyric- Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves 4 notes F3-C7
Whistle Register: Yes
Vocal Pluses: Expressive, versatile voice, that can switch from sounding innocent and sweet like a child to coarse and throaty like a rock star to crystal clear and dramatic like a diva extraordinaire all within the space of a lyric. The voice sounds most impressive when belting clearly with her dramatic vibrato applied.
Vocal Negatives: Lauper's deployment of the child like singing style is an acquired taste and can quickly turn off a listener.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

LeToya Luckett (Original Destiny's Child member)- Vocal Profile/ Range




Vocal TypeLyric Soprano
Vocal Range:  2 Octaves 3 note D3-G5
Vocal Pluses: Latoya's strength lies in her strong chest voice. It's well supported and maintains an impressive tone in its upper reaches ( D5 to G5) that is further polished by the application of her striking vibrato.
Vocal Negatives: Limited range in the extremities of her voice.

Friday 1 April 2011

[Vocal Range] Jessie J



Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 octaves and 5 notes C3- A6
Whistle Register: Yes
Vocal Pluses: Jessie J has the ability to sing quick and complex melisma through the range without issue, a feat often noted as being a signature of her style. Along with this ability, she has the control to sing trills, staccatissimo through complex melodies with pinpoint accuracy [Stay With Me], and add texture to vocal lines via grunts and growls.

Her control, in regards to vocal dexterity, is mirrored in her breath control. As a result she can hold notes for lengths of time without loss of quality to the sound [I Will Always Love You (Live)], and sing complex and lengthy vocal lines in a single breath [Domino (live)].

Monday 29 November 2010

[Vocal Profile] Nicole Scherzinger


Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Whistle Register:Yes
Vocal Range: D3-G#6 (3 Octaves 2 Note and a semi tone)
Vocal Pluses: A trained singer, this Diva is comfortable singing in a variety of styles [Jazz: Feeling Good/ Theater: Phantom Of The Opera / Classical: Io Ti Penso Amore ] Along with control and power, Nicole is able to sing complex melisma throughout her range, expertly alter the dynamics of her voice mid-phrase and, thanks to excellent breath control, hold notes effortlessly [all demoed  here].

This Diva's mid-range is versatile and can be manipulated to add character and emotional colouring to a vocal. For instance: Nicole gives her delivery attitude and aggression and an icy, slightly gritty tone in Poison; while softening, aerating and warming her tone in Happily Never After. Whatever choices she takes with her mid-range, the character of Nicole's voice is retained making a song easily attributable.

Present is a flexible and elastic belt that is expertly controlled. The lower half is dark and rich [Right Now] with a suitable volume to it. As it climbs the fifth octave the voice takes on a nasal placement causing it to thin and and take on a metallic timbre. It's due to this shift that Nicole is able to impressively hit, and hold, upper fifth octave notes (even with with a measured vibrato) [Club Banger Nation]. It should be noted that Nicole can add a rock edge to her belts by "pulling up" her chest voice [Run Live].

Nicole's head voice has a dual aspect to it. In a contemporary setting the Diva is able to produce a soft and sweet head-voice that can be harmonized and remains unobtrusive to a song's backing [Heartbeat]. However, it can be made to sound impressively resonant with a theatrical quality to it. In this styling her tone is full, warm and measured, and the Diva is able to add a controlled vibrato, play with volume and crescendo beautifully [Io Ti Penso Amore ].

Vocal Negatives: Belted notes can sometimes sound harsh and more akin to shouting due to improper placement of the voice, especially when it forgoes vibrato.

Monday 16 March 2009

[Vocal Range] Celine Dion


Vocal Type: Lyric Soprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves 1 note and a semitone B2- C#6 (approx)
Longest Note: 13 seconds - 'The Reason'
Vocal Pluses: Celine Dion is a technical singer who has great understanding of vocal placement, support, and projection. With this knowledge comes the ability to sing complex vocal runs with speed and accuracy. It is also responsible for her ability to hold a note, perfectly on pitch, without any wavering, better than most- see All by Myself .

Celine Dion's lower range is dark and slightly raspy but, for the most part, well supported and accessed via healthy technique. Her midrange can be warm, and slightly airy with an easy, lyrical quality- see Falling into You- or can be soft and sweet, though more substantial in its weight- Because You Loved Me. It leads effortlessly into her strong, clear belting range. This part of the range is noticeably contrasting to the lower half, being cooler in colour, thinner in texture and sharper in timbre. Celine Dion is astonishingly able to reach up into the sixth octave in this part of her range, so brilliant is her ability in mixing her belting voice with her head voice.

Celine Dion's head voice alone, is full and weighty, with an operatic tinge and control-see video below- though it is not often used by the singer.

Vocal Negatives: The nasal quality of Celine Dion's belting voice, as well as it's piercing quality can become overwhelming at higher frequencies. Also her lower range is weak and breathy.