What Makes a Good Singer?

~~Soulflower~~ · 08-07-2014, 01:35 PM

I ask because people have their own definition and preferences on what makes a good singer. To the general music listener, a good singer is a singer that is good in "technical" terms meaning:

If a singer can sing on key
Has a passable range
Tone that is some what pleasant to the ears, they are a good singer.

However, I find that most of the good technical singers I would not rather listen to because their pitch and tone does nothing for me. Also, they lack authentic depth.

What makes a good singer is their ability to connect with audiences when they sing which is why I will always call singers like Sly Stone or Prince great singers because while they may not be good "technical" singers, they have distinctive voices and are able to emotionally connect when they sing. They can do alot of creative fancy things with their tones and voices unlike other good technical singers.

Do you think it matters if a singer is good in technical terms or do you think the emotional vulnerability of a singer is important?

Rexx Shredd · 08-07-2014, 02:06 PM

A good singer to me -- besides having the pre-requisite pitch and a good sounding voice - is a person that takes "ownership" of a song: someone that makes the song 'theirs".....You can tell on a recording when that vocalist is taking ownership by the little inflections ( the "uhs", "whoos", grunts, etc) that they put into it that gives a melody-line that soulful flavor -

its them telling you "I dont give a damn how this song was written, this is how I'M doing it!"

Music, be it a musician or a singer, is as much about salesmanship as it is talent and art. Its how well a person can sell what they do....when a singer "owns" a song and calls it theirs is one of the best ways for them to sell it

~~Soulflower~~ · 08-07-2014, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexx Shredd

A good singer to me -- besides having the pre-requisite pitch and a good sounding voice - is a person that takes "ownership" of a song: someone that makes the song 'theirs".....You can tell on a recording when that vocalist is taking ownership by the little inflections ( the "uhs", "whoos", grunts, etc) that they put into it that gives a melody-line that soulful flavor -

its them telling you "I dont give a damn how this song was written, this is how I'M doing it!"

Music, be it a musician or a singer, is as much about salesmanship as it is talent and art. Its how well a person can sell what they do....when a singer "owns" a song and calls it theirs is one of the best ways for them to sell it

Very well said!!!!

A voice is a vessel of emotion and that is all a song is conveying and if a singer does not know how to convey that then they are not a good singer in my opinion.

Black Francis · 08-07-2014, 02:37 PM

To me a good singer is Black Francis yelling like a maniac "I GOT A BROKEN FACE!" >_<

Quote:

Originally Posted by realtalk92

What makes a good singer is their ability to connect with audiences when they sing which is why I will always call singers like Sly Stone or Prince great singers because while they may not be good "technical" singers, they have distinctive voices and are able to emotionally connect when they sing. They can do alot of creative fancy things with their tones and voices unlike other good technical singers.

I was gonna give an answer in this thread but it basically would've been a variation of this so why bother..

Well said real.

i think alike but only with different artists.

Ninetales · 08-07-2014, 04:55 PM

yeah i dont think being a "technically good" singer means much to me tbh. I think its pretty rare actually for me to listen to certain bands/artists strictly because of the vocals. Im much more interested in the synergy between all of the sounds and instruments going on. So even if someones got good pipes, everything else has to be good too or it means nothing to me.

Carpe Mortem · 08-07-2014, 04:56 PM

Personally, my favorite vocalists tend to be either operatic men or gravelly-voiced women.

FRED HALE SR. · 08-07-2014, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carpe Mortem

Personally, my favorite vocalists tend to be either operatic men or gravelly-voiced women.

You have that completely backwards for me.

Carpe Mortem · 08-07-2014, 05:38 PM

Cementing the point. Different strokes for different folks, man.

Black Francis · 08-07-2014, 05:54 PM

I have a particular thing about screaming..

i don't usually like refined screaming, for example like Jared leto from 30 seconds to mars i prefer screams that sound unrefined because they feel more honest, when you scream from your gut you don't care about harmonizing it much cause that's not the point the point is to transmit all you bottled inside in a single burst..

screams like that get to me, they feel liberating.
but more refined ones don't really move me they just sound good.

FRED HALE SR. · 08-07-2014, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

I have a particular thing about screaming..

i don't usually like refined screaming, for example like Jared leto from 30 seconds to mars i prefer screams that sound unrefined because they feel more honest, when you scream from your gut you don't care about harmonizing it much cause that's not the point the point is to transmit all you bottled inside in a single burst..

screams like that get to me, they feel liberating.
but more refined ones don't really move me they just sound good.

Jared Leto screams like a newborn baby. I feel liberated having said that.

08-07-2014, 01:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
~~Soulflower~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,304	What Makes a Good Singer? I ask because people have their own definition and preferences on what makes a good singer. To the general music listener, a good singer is a singer that is good in "technical" terms meaning: If a singer can sing on key Has a passable range Tone that is some what pleasant to the ears, they are a good singer. However, I find that most of the good technical singers I would not rather listen to because their pitch and tone does nothing for me. Also, they lack authentic depth. What makes a good singer is their ability to connect with audiences when they sing which is why I will always call singers like Sly Stone or Prince great singers because while they may not be good "technical" singers, they have distinctive voices and are able to emotionally connect when they sing. They can do alot of creative fancy things with their tones and voices unlike other good technical singers. Do you think it matters if a singer is good in technical terms or do you think the emotional vulnerability of a singer is important?

08-07-2014, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rexx Shredd Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 158	A good singer to me -- besides having the pre-requisite pitch and a good sounding voice - is a person that takes "ownership" of a song: someone that makes the song 'theirs".....You can tell on a recording when that vocalist is taking ownership by the little inflections ( the "uhs", "whoos", grunts, etc) that they put into it that gives a melody-line that soulful flavor - its them telling you "I dont give a damn how this song was written, this is how I'M doing it!" Music, be it a musician or a singer, is as much about salesmanship as it is talent and art. Its how well a person can sell what they do....when a singer "owns" a song and calls it theirs is one of the best ways for them to sell it __________________ OK :) URBAN SHOKKER -- Old School P-Funk Style FUNK -- out NOW on Carbon 12 Records

08-07-2014, 04:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Carpe Mortem Crusher of tiny Nords Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ugly Bag of Mostly Water Posts: 1,363	Personally, my favorite vocalists tend to be either operatic men or gravelly-voiced women. __________________ [SIG][/SIG] Mirth is King Be Loving & Open With My Emotions

08-07-2014, 05:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Carpe Mortem Crusher of tiny Nords Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ugly Bag of Mostly Water Posts: 1,363	Cementing the point. Different strokes for different folks, man. __________________ [SIG][/SIG] Mirth is King Be Loving & Open With My Emotions

08-07-2014, 05:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	I have a particular thing about screaming.. i don't usually like refined screaming, for example like Jared leto from 30 seconds to mars i prefer screams that sound unrefined because they feel more honest, when you scream from your gut you don't care about harmonizing it much cause that's not the point the point is to transmit all you bottled inside in a single burst.. screams like that get to me, they feel liberating. but more refined ones don't really move me they just sound good. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

08-07-2014, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ninetales Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: livin wild Posts: 2,179	yeah i dont think being a "technically good" singer means much to me tbh. I think its pretty rare actually for me to listen to certain bands/artists strictly because of the vocals. Im much more interested in the synergy between all of the sounds and instruments going on. So even if someones got good pipes, everything else has to be good too or it means nothing to me.