Robert Merrill, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin TV Special 1977 

You're right. I remember that; as if it were yesterday. As you know, Bing, Dean, and Frank were in a movie singing this song back in the day. Bing died on October 14th., 1977

@@donaldperez7981 I remember that too, though I was eleven at the time. I heard something about Bing making jokes about having slipped on a banana peel. Even at that age I was a fan of his.

lmao I love Robert Merrill but that's so true. He had a beautiful voice, one of the best baritones of the last century, but man he had a problem with words.

Now, now....Merrill was such a great singer! Maybe English text was easier for him to remember than another language ...

After a lifetime of singing on the operatic stage, you get used to singing operatically. It’s a matter of audibility without a microphone - Merrill would have never sang with a microphone in 900+ appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, so the methods of projection are different. From the perspective of an opera singer, it is IMPERATIVE that you sing with a low larynx, supported from the chest, which creates a darker, freer, less white sound (which you refer to). The other two’s voices would not carry at all without microphones to an audience of 3000. Merrill’s technique is perhaps harsh with a microphone, but is perfect in theater.

Also keep in mind that opera is MUCH, much harsher on the voice than pop. Merrill is retired from the stage here, and is very far past his prime.

I sing opera, and am mostly used to operatic technique, but I also sing old-school rock, hard rock, and modern pop. I’m sure Merrill could do the same if he tried - the vast majority of pop is extraordinarily easy compared to opera. I could upload a comparison with my singing if you would like. Let me know.

No. The question is, why can't "normal" people sing like opera singers (which is usually more technically correct & pleasing to the ear)?

@@johnconway3834 unfortunately I disagree 100%. Opera singers are the most painful and irritable noise in existence, but if you enjoy it then I leave it to you.