How did famous falsettos come to dominate the rock charts? When did the public become so fascinated with men singing like girls? How did we evolve from Alpine yodels to Little Richard?
I agree about those performances, two of my all-time favorites. However the experts say Bobby Hatfield did not use falsetto on "Unchained Melody" but was a countertenor with a range of four and a half octaves and was singing in his head voice. His highest note, a G5, was sung in his head voice, from what I understand. I will mention him, however.
There's a difference between singing falsetto and being able to sing in a high register with full voice. I'm struggling, for example, to think of an example of Robert Plant singing falsetto. 'Since I've Been Loving You', which is my contender for their best song and certainly his best performance, is impressive largely because it's in full voice.
Opinions are split on what Robert Plant does. I asked AI and got this consensus response:
Yes, Robert Plant does use falsetto in his singing, but he also blends falsetto with chest voice and head voice to create a dynamic and expressive sound.
Some falsettos are more powerful than others. Frankie Valli and Lou Christie had powerful falsettos.
Frankie Valli is pretty noticeable when he switches, no idea who Lou Christie is? AI (or more properly an LLM) carries no particular weight with me. I still can't think of an example of Plant singing falsetto. Can you?
From what he said in the interview, he discovered his full-throated falsetto in the 1960s, then chose not to use it later in his career because he thought it was (paraphrasing) a kind of posturing.
Michael, I agree with everything you’ve written about these artists and I think most of your lists are spot on. I even remember Lou Christie. 😊
I am wondering however about your omission of Bobby Hatfield???
Surely there is not a better performance of Ebb Tide nor Unchained Melody than his
I agree about those performances, two of my all-time favorites. However the experts say Bobby Hatfield did not use falsetto on "Unchained Melody" but was a countertenor with a range of four and a half octaves and was singing in his head voice. His highest note, a G5, was sung in his head voice, from what I understand. I will mention him, however.
There's a difference between singing falsetto and being able to sing in a high register with full voice. I'm struggling, for example, to think of an example of Robert Plant singing falsetto. 'Since I've Been Loving You', which is my contender for their best song and certainly his best performance, is impressive largely because it's in full voice.
Opinions are split on what Robert Plant does. I asked AI and got this consensus response:
Yes, Robert Plant does use falsetto in his singing, but he also blends falsetto with chest voice and head voice to create a dynamic and expressive sound.
Some falsettos are more powerful than others. Frankie Valli and Lou Christie had powerful falsettos.
Frankie Valli is pretty noticeable when he switches, no idea who Lou Christie is? AI (or more properly an LLM) carries no particular weight with me. I still can't think of an example of Plant singing falsetto. Can you?
Lou Christie rivals Valli on songs like "Lightning Strikes" and "Two Faces Have I."
Well worth looking up.
Robert Plant said himself that he sang in an "open-throated falsetto." I have the quote in my updated article.
As an aside, was that on the originals, or when he had to reproduce them when he was older?
From what he said in the interview, he discovered his full-throated falsetto in the 1960s, then chose not to use it later in his career because he thought it was (paraphrasing) a kind of posturing.
Interesting, thanks.
Being of German extraction, I'm impressed with male yodeling, it's al about range and voice control.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_UnANdDqJc
.
The best yodelers are very impressive.
.