I'm not saying Bass or Baritone voices suck. On the contrary, I think a true Bass or Baritone voice is amazing. When you hear a Baritone sing, you really feel that voice. It's unlike anything in Pop or Rock music. Opera is just different from Pop/Rock so the two really can't be compared.
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posting weirdness. How it ended up messed up in the chronology is beyond me. I deleted the text.
Hmmm. My post doesn't seem to be visible.
Anyway. There are sub-categories within in all voice types. Freddie's being a Baritone *is* a possibility.
Ever hear of a "baryton martin?"
Check it out.
If not that, then a high lyric baritone. "Spielbariton."
Baritone. IMHO.
Anyway. There are sub-categories within in all voice types. Freddie's being a Baritone *is* a possibility.
Ever hear of a "baryton martin?"
Check it out.
If not that, then a high lyric baritone. "Spielbariton."
Baritone. IMHO.
Wanna know something scary?
When I record myself on my MP3 player (though the quality is quite bad) I sound EXACTLY like John Lennon. And he was a tenor. I'm not.
Probably because of the bad quality of the recording. Or... I'm simply John Lennon.
When I record myself on my MP3 player (though the quality is quite bad) I sound EXACTLY like John Lennon. And he was a tenor. I'm not.
Probably because of the bad quality of the recording. Or... I'm simply John Lennon.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]SomebodyWhoLoves wrote: [/QUOTENAME]You people are dumb. Go listen to Bohemian Rhapsody and believe that is a baritone voice? Go listen to The Show Must Go On, or Mother Love.
Montserrate Caballe only knew Freddie for a few years before his death. During the 80s, his voice did sound heavier, and more of a baritone voice. He smoked, drank, and didn't take care of his voice. And he was dying of AIDS! Obviously to me, but not obvious to some, when you are so ill and so traumatized and shocked and depressed and suffering inside, I don't think Freddie cared too much about the state of his voice! I'm sure he had other issues, like trying to survive.
Sure, Freddie wanted to make an Operatic album, and he did. But the time in which Montserrate Caballle spent with him was very brief, and in one of his darkest periods of his life! I think her comments of Freddie's voice were ONLY of that time in the mid 80s.
But I think Queen fans who've been fans for their entire career would disagree with Montserrate. Hypothetically, I'd like hear Montserrate's voice when she: 1. Smokes heavily. 2. Drinks heavily. 3. Gets afflicted with some fatal disease. Then I'd like to hear how she sounds. I think she'd be a wreck inside as a person, so traumatized that she'd neglect her voice. And people would then say she's an Alto or some nonsense like that.
Freddie was a tenor! Ask Brian May. Ask Roger Taylor. If they say Freddie is a Baritone, then fine because they knew him best. But Montserrate is not qualified to judge Freddie's voice.
I remember Brian saying of Freddie's voice on Innuendo, "his voice got better" or something like that. Why would Brian say that? What Brian most likely meant was, during the 80s, Freddie's voice declined for reasons we now know. Freddie didn't take care of his voice. But on the Innuendo Album, despite his illness, Freddie wanted the last album to be excellent. So Freddie worked at his voice, and his voice almost did reach the levels of 70s albums. Almost, not quite, but far better than most of his 80s work.
So I would love to hear Montserrate comment on Innuendo. Is that a baritone voice Montserrate? Is Freddie's range, and timbre that of a baritone?
I think Montserrate would have to say, NO.
I think John,Brian, and Roger definitely agrees Freddie Mercury is a Tenor.
[/QUOTE]
It is so pity that you don't believe in expert's opinion - because you write that Montserrat is not qualified to answer if Freddie Mercury was a tenor or baritone. Here is a friendly and delicate attempt to explain it to you: if you are interested in the human voice there is so much literature about it; but I'd like to tell you that the human voice is a very complex instrument; f.ex. not only the range matters in the description of a voice, but also the technique, the character or better said the colour of it, its anatomy and so much more, f.ex. how your 'respiring techinque' is developed - and in fact this 'respiring technique' is - you can say - one of the most important things, because with the help of it you can actually reach and hold the notes.
You mentioned a particular example, i.e. that Freddie sounds in Bohemian Rhapsody like a tenor; you're partly right because Freddie actually sings in this song mostly in the range of a tenor, but to do it he has to sing it with a different tecnique to reach the notes - this technique is called 'falsetto' or to say it more specifically: Freddie is not singing with his chest voice but with his head voice - also some terms to describe the voice. But as I said before there are many specific books about the human voice and so many related topics that it is not easy to explain it in one paragraph - not even a couple of sites would do it. If you are interested just read and a whole new facette of the world or at least of the music world will open to you:)
Montserrate Caballe only knew Freddie for a few years before his death. During the 80s, his voice did sound heavier, and more of a baritone voice. He smoked, drank, and didn't take care of his voice. And he was dying of AIDS! Obviously to me, but not obvious to some, when you are so ill and so traumatized and shocked and depressed and suffering inside, I don't think Freddie cared too much about the state of his voice! I'm sure he had other issues, like trying to survive.
Sure, Freddie wanted to make an Operatic album, and he did. But the time in which Montserrate Caballle spent with him was very brief, and in one of his darkest periods of his life! I think her comments of Freddie's voice were ONLY of that time in the mid 80s.
But I think Queen fans who've been fans for their entire career would disagree with Montserrate. Hypothetically, I'd like hear Montserrate's voice when she: 1. Smokes heavily. 2. Drinks heavily. 3. Gets afflicted with some fatal disease. Then I'd like to hear how she sounds. I think she'd be a wreck inside as a person, so traumatized that she'd neglect her voice. And people would then say she's an Alto or some nonsense like that.
Freddie was a tenor! Ask Brian May. Ask Roger Taylor. If they say Freddie is a Baritone, then fine because they knew him best. But Montserrate is not qualified to judge Freddie's voice.
I remember Brian saying of Freddie's voice on Innuendo, "his voice got better" or something like that. Why would Brian say that? What Brian most likely meant was, during the 80s, Freddie's voice declined for reasons we now know. Freddie didn't take care of his voice. But on the Innuendo Album, despite his illness, Freddie wanted the last album to be excellent. So Freddie worked at his voice, and his voice almost did reach the levels of 70s albums. Almost, not quite, but far better than most of his 80s work.
So I would love to hear Montserrate comment on Innuendo. Is that a baritone voice Montserrate? Is Freddie's range, and timbre that of a baritone?
I think Montserrate would have to say, NO.
I think John,Brian, and Roger definitely agrees Freddie Mercury is a Tenor.
[/QUOTE]
It is so pity that you don't believe in expert's opinion - because you write that Montserrat is not qualified to answer if Freddie Mercury was a tenor or baritone. Here is a friendly and delicate attempt to explain it to you: if you are interested in the human voice there is so much literature about it; but I'd like to tell you that the human voice is a very complex instrument; f.ex. not only the range matters in the description of a voice, but also the technique, the character or better said the colour of it, its anatomy and so much more, f.ex. how your 'respiring techinque' is developed - and in fact this 'respiring technique' is - you can say - one of the most important things, because with the help of it you can actually reach and hold the notes.
You mentioned a particular example, i.e. that Freddie sounds in Bohemian Rhapsody like a tenor; you're partly right because Freddie actually sings in this song mostly in the range of a tenor, but to do it he has to sing it with a different tecnique to reach the notes - this technique is called 'falsetto' or to say it more specifically: Freddie is not singing with his chest voice but with his head voice - also some terms to describe the voice. But as I said before there are many specific books about the human voice and so many related topics that it is not easy to explain it in one paragraph - not even a couple of sites would do it. If you are interested just read and a whole new facette of the world or at least of the music world will open to you:)
Well, I went on Freddie Mercury listing rampage this weekend, which to tell you the truth, I really needed it! LOL!
I listened to ANATO in 5.1 at 90 dB (and various other albums through out his career) to get the actual full effect and so I could correctly classify Freddie's vocal range, and I can tell you, Freddie is a Choral Tenor I/ Operatic Baritone. Note, not all Choral Tenors are True Tenors. I sang Tenor I, but my professor said I was a Bariten (her words). A mix between a baritone and a tenor. For some unknown reason, Freddie was able to sing higher notes later in his life, which is unheard of, especially when you factor in HIV/AIDS.
Freddie did have a higher range than most Baritones, which is where some of the confusion comes in. Also, Freddie had the ability to switch between chest voice and his falsetto without a listener (untrained ears) being able to notice, one of my vocal coaches from my singing days was able to do this. During ANATO, Freddie used his falsetto quite often. BoRap was a song where he constantly switched from his chest voice to falsetto.
I also listened to Innuendo, and was amazed that Freddie sang higher notes in his chest voice more on Innuendo than ANATO, the fact that this was late in his life and he was very ill just hit me. I remember Brian mentioning this in one of his interviews. TSMGO is an amazing song and one should listen to it to get a full grasp of Freddie's range, which no matter how you classify it, was an amazing instrument with amazing range.
FYI, Lennon was a Baritone.
I listened to ANATO in 5.1 at 90 dB (and various other albums through out his career) to get the actual full effect and so I could correctly classify Freddie's vocal range, and I can tell you, Freddie is a Choral Tenor I/ Operatic Baritone. Note, not all Choral Tenors are True Tenors. I sang Tenor I, but my professor said I was a Bariten (her words). A mix between a baritone and a tenor. For some unknown reason, Freddie was able to sing higher notes later in his life, which is unheard of, especially when you factor in HIV/AIDS.
Freddie did have a higher range than most Baritones, which is where some of the confusion comes in. Also, Freddie had the ability to switch between chest voice and his falsetto without a listener (untrained ears) being able to notice, one of my vocal coaches from my singing days was able to do this. During ANATO, Freddie used his falsetto quite often. BoRap was a song where he constantly switched from his chest voice to falsetto.
I also listened to Innuendo, and was amazed that Freddie sang higher notes in his chest voice more on Innuendo than ANATO, the fact that this was late in his life and he was very ill just hit me. I remember Brian mentioning this in one of his interviews. TSMGO is an amazing song and one should listen to it to get a full grasp of Freddie's range, which no matter how you classify it, was an amazing instrument with amazing range.
FYI, Lennon was a Baritone.
> Montserrate Caballe only knew Freddie for a few years before his death.
Yet she knows what she's talking about. Still I disagree with her now, though I didn't do it before.
> Freddie was a tenor! Ask Brian May. Ask Roger Taylor.
Neither Brian nor Roger are experts in vocal classification. Montserrat knows much better than they do.
> If they say Freddie is a Baritone, then fine because they knew him best. But Montserrate is not qualified to judge Freddie's voice.
Bollocks: just because they knew him best? Then why don't we ask his cats to see what do they say?
> I remember Brian saying of Freddie's voice on Innuendo, "his voice got better" or something like that. Why would Brian say that?
Because it was true and because even if it wasn't, he needed to promote the album.
As I said before: some baritones can hit very high notes the same way some tenors can hit low F and the same way Michael Jackson could do low A (110 Hz).
Yet she knows what she's talking about. Still I disagree with her now, though I didn't do it before.
> Freddie was a tenor! Ask Brian May. Ask Roger Taylor.
Neither Brian nor Roger are experts in vocal classification. Montserrat knows much better than they do.
> If they say Freddie is a Baritone, then fine because they knew him best. But Montserrate is not qualified to judge Freddie's voice.
Bollocks: just because they knew him best? Then why don't we ask his cats to see what do they say?
> I remember Brian saying of Freddie's voice on Innuendo, "his voice got better" or something like that. Why would Brian say that?
Because it was true and because even if it wasn't, he needed to promote the album.
As I said before: some baritones can hit very high notes the same way some tenors can hit low F and the same way Michael Jackson could do low A (110 Hz).
=D
Sorry, I have to agree with Sebastian, artemismoon. Speaking of your post, artemismoon: To be 100%ly sure I've asked my parents who are opera singers about the terms Choral Tenor etc.: A choral tenor is a classification used only in a choir, so your teacher was very likely right; in the choir you might sing choral tenor I, but actually, as a soloist, you might be very likely a baritone.
:)
Yes ma'am you correct. I was told that my range was higher than most Baritones, that's why I sang Tenor I in High School and in College. When performing for State or UIL (Texas State Competitions), I always sang Baritone.
I can still sing if I have to, I usually start straining around B above middle C, and I can also sing a low Eb. I had a great voice, KIDS, DON'T SMOKE!
I can still sing if I have to, I usually start straining around B above middle C, and I can also sing a low Eb. I had a great voice, KIDS, DON'T SMOKE!
I believe you:)
While the collection of nitwits can agree all they want, all night if you want to, it doesn't make a difference.
Freddie Mercury was a Tenor.
Montserrate knows more about music than Brian FUCKING May and Roger Taylor? HAHAHAHA.
That made me laugh! It really did.
Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, and of course Freddie Mercury are musical geniuses. Just because Montserrate who sings opera does not make her more of an expert than the members of Queen.
Brian, Roger, John and Freddie were MUSICIANS. Not just any musician who teaches music classes, or read some books about music in Music Theory class.
Each one of them, know more about music than all of us combined + Montserrate. LOL.
This is why I say you guys are idiots.
Freddie Mercury was a Tenor.
Montserrate knows more about music than Brian FUCKING May and Roger Taylor? HAHAHAHA.
That made me laugh! It really did.
Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, and of course Freddie Mercury are musical geniuses. Just because Montserrate who sings opera does not make her more of an expert than the members of Queen.
Brian, Roger, John and Freddie were MUSICIANS. Not just any musician who teaches music classes, or read some books about music in Music Theory class.
Each one of them, know more about music than all of us combined + Montserrate. LOL.
This is why I say you guys are idiots.
Here's an idea: Why don't you write a Letter to Brian May and ask his opinion. If he says Freddie was a Baritone, then fine. I'm wrong.
Until then, this discussion is moronic.
Until then, this discussion is moronic.