People who aren’t really well-versed in vocal pedagogy don’t really care about supported singing or good vocal techniques. They’re more focused on how unique a voice sounds because they just don’t know about technical singing.
O’, I appreciate your channel and I’ve learnt a lot. It bothered me a little that you insinuated the influence of Black Gospel and blues as “bad technique” as opposed to western and classical technique as good technique. With all of the great and varied vocalists that have come from Black and African (and Eastern) music surely there is a place for diverse styles to be considered good technique. This is by no means an attack just a genuine question as I’ve only recently begin analyzing/understanding vocal technique but I’ve always loved world music.
Thanks for watching and commenting! When editing the video, I realized that what I said might be taken this way and so I took a little bit of a risk by posting it. It's funny because I'm HIGHLY adamant against making non-classical techniques the enemy of proper vocal technique. That's absolute garbage. Let me explain what I meant. Western Classical styles of singing are probably some of the least "risky", as students are taught not to distort their sound, but sing in a way that was deemed most "natural" in that it didn't introduce any distortion to the sound created. African-American techniques found in gospel, R&B, etc. introduce stylistic distortions of sound. This introduces a level of risk, because when done the wrong way, they can be damaging. HOWEVER, the vocal distortion found in these styles have time and time again been produced in ways that didn't damage the voice (ie. Karen Clark Sheard, Marion Williams, Ella Fitzgerald). It is VERY much possible to produce squalls, growls and other non-classical adjustments to phonation without damaging the voice. My point was that, people with good technique sometimes don't know how to step out on the risk of vocal distortion and thus can be sometimes caged emotionally. The grit that these genres introduce take singing to an entirely new world of emotionalism that I LOVE to listen to. (I personally don't like to try because it just isn't my style.) The language can seem to have a moral weight to it, but its simply tailored to best explain the way the voice behaves in its most natural and relaxed state. Squalls, etc. introduce a level of manipulation that graduates from simply creating a sound with your voice. I apologize for the miscommunication. But yeah, I am EXTREMELY bothered by people who look down on non-classical genres with a condescending gaze. It's a lot of what inspired me to aspire towards coaching. Hopefully helped clear things up! No shade, here!
I agree on some of your points especially on your third and fifth reason because some pop singers today don't really care about vocal pedagogy, IMO. They only care about either fame or money. Although, I highly disagree on the statement that "Vocal Technique Does Not Matter". If you want to prolong or take care of your voice, it actually does matter and it can help you discover your voice more and become a vocal master. One good example is So Hyang, after years and years of training, she has reached her amazing vocal prime at the age of 39/40. That's actually pretty rare. It's a shame that some people don't really care about vocal techniques anymore. Love your videos tho. Very educational. 💕
Glad you took the time to watch! Don't be fooled, I believe vocal technique matters. Essentially the title of this video was just to get people to watch. The reality is that in the areas I listed, vocal technique takes a backseat and becomes less important than glamour and flare. And in that case, Vocal technique, in those areas, doesn't matter. Other things take precedence.
I think you are completely right with these points, but at the same time there are positives to every point you've made and I wish you would've added these! They're not to argue against you, but opinions I would like to put alongside your list. 1. Autotune is also a tool used to creatively express yourself. It can be used as a "sound" to add something new to a production. Also pitch correction allows you to use vocal takes that sound amazing on every aspect except pitch, and make them useable for a production. Our ears notice pitch faults a lot more clearly in a studio setting then we would in a concert. Even if a note is pitched 8 cents to high or too low it can be noticable in a production, and without pitch correction a beautifully executed note (on a technical or emotional level) could end up being useless. 2. Today's microphones and live around technique also brings people with softer voices forward and can allow you to get even more dynamic. I think a voice like SoHyang wouldn't go over an orchestra, because she sings in a softer manner. 3. This one also makes the artform 'music', a bigger one. You don't have to be an amazing musician in order to express yourself through music, which I think is amazing. There are so many amazing artists who use the visual arts to lift their music even higher. And yes you're right on the looks for commercial pop, but there are so many genres whose fans don't rely on looks or visual. There's still room for pure music with integrity. And don't you think looks mattered in the past, in an opera for instance? It has always mattered. 4. Can't bring anything into this. Whish people wouldn't mislabel emotion with vocal effects. 5. Also no positive side to add onto that. But there are ways to use grit and loudness in a healthy manner. Haha sorry for the long comment, just really wanted to add some stuff I think is very important. Love your videos!
1- Autotune and pitch correction. 2- Sound amplification 3- Audio is no longer good enough. Audio is married to visuals. 4- People who have great vocal techniques, can be imprisoned emotionally. 5- Not everybody is a singer. Your analysis is brillant sir 👏🏽
So I must say....THANK YOU FOR WATCHING ALL OF THESE! You like created notes for everybody who will watch after you! That's amazing! The support is much appreciated!
Hi there O'Neil 😊. Your channel is super fascinating! I've watched a handful of your videos after discovering your channel through your Christina Aguilera vocal analysis, and didn't expect that I'll be hooked 😏. I learn a lot! Thank you sir. You just earned a new avid subscriber 👍.
Hi first of all i love your videos, i think you should first react to So Hyang before you do the "why DOES vocal technique mater" cause you will be watching one of te best voices in the music right now and one of the best techniques in the world i really love your videos, hope you read my comment
Thats very true, in POP music of this generation, you dont have to know how to sing, to be a singer. I wish it was more like the 60s 70s to the 90s when there area lot of raw, talented, skillful singers. There are gems of this generation too who work hard on improving their voice and what it can do. So many use auto-tune and so much altering in the studio which is sad. It also encourages people who cant really sing feel like "hey she sounds awful an she sells millions so I can too"... Another great video.
Sadly, you don't hear about the work that singers do behind the scenes to improve. Maybe one day I can cover that. And hope isn't lost, I think technology can only go so far!
People disliked the video based off the title alone without actually watching the video 🤦♂️ I thoroughly enjoy being subscribed to this channel and I agree with the discussion in this video 👍
I have the hottest of hot takes but I’ve been thinking this for years. Katy Perry and Rihanna allowed mediocre to be accepted as good in the pop music performance space. Therefore, mediocre and poor performances at concerts, award shows, and elsewhere are accepted and seen as “relatable”.
Thank you for your videos they are insightful,creative,and truthful.Do u also thing age has a lot to do in the music industry for example someone coming out at age 32 might be treated differently then someone 21
I don't think amplification necessarily causes bad technique. Ella and Sarah sang with a mic and no one can malign her technique. But using the *same* techniques as opera singers isn't going to sound good or be sustainable for modern styles which are more speech like. A mic helps tremendously by preventing oversinging/shouting in that speech like style. Although many singers make the mistake of thinking you need to be loud to be good, I don't think amplification is the main culprit.
Amplification isn't a culprit because it "causes bad technique". It simply amplifies whatever technique is being used. But quieter, less sustainable techniques that once were unable to be on the stage are now able to be there. This means that more non-singing related qualities can come into play with choosing a singer for a job, simply because the standard for how good you have to be to occupy a stage has been lowered because micing levels the playing field for good and bad techniques to be displayed equally. It's not about the technical habits caused by sound amplification that I was getting at, but the access to the stage that is now much wider.
I feel sort of sad - I knew about auto tune, and big budget Music producers and labels going after the dollar, and forcing artists to do it their way for the money. But I always thought that a "LIVE" performance meant that I was getting the real stuff (obviously through a mic), but without all of the engineering. Is that not so?
I know EXACTLY what you're feeling. When I realized this is what was happening, I felt very sad, too. But it's true; pitch correction is very prevalent now during live performance. I generally don't fully trust televised performances anymore, even. I have to match it up to lower quality live recordings to ensure pitch correction isn't being used. But yes! This is happening. I'll have to do a video on this!
There are different kinds of POP music. Brandy does it all the time weather she puts it on an album or not. Human is a POP album. I love it! It's inspirational, and Brandy sang her butt off! She dounds so beautiful! A lot of the unreleased tracks that leaked around that time, were POP too. That's Brandy. She can sing anything and knock it out of the park because she has trained herself. She's a master vocalist. So with POP, I look padt the beat, and.look at what they are doing vocally. Brcausr some of these people be goin' the fuck off! Lol
I feel like that’s what happened to Britney Spears. Like the comparison with her before and after debut voice is like night and day. It could be that she forgo continuing voice lessons. But it’s just sad. 😢
I ADORE this channel. Could you please please PLEASEUH make a reaction and possible analysis of Celine Dions Vocal Retrospective 2017 😂😂 It would be so great because shes vocal royalty and id love to see you give an analysis of her vocals and slayage
Reason no 6: You can't soil your pants with a good technique. In order to get the feeling of deep emotion and anguish a singer today has to strain enough to feel a rock or a flowing lake down there.
O’Neil : Question I have auditions for some vocal competition in those auditions I been told that I have amazing voice but I don’t have the so called look they wanted. Other than that told me I need vocal training I have never had vocal training before. I have recordings of me singing but I’m not sure how I go about getting vocal training.
I would do a Google search for coaches and teachers in your city! Find someone who has lots of experience and has a physical place you can go to. You want to get a very PHYSICAL experience for your voice and training. Let me know how that goes!
Rofl vocal technique is most important thing in singing. whether classical or modern singing. No great pop singer lays on fucking autotune. How embarassing if you dont even sound live as in your recorded stuff omg lmao
If your artist is a westerner thats probably accurate but at the eastern side of the globe there's a culture there where vocal support or lipsyning is ostracized. So yeah your artists just keeps getting worst and worst.
