Butterflies Michael Jackson - Choosing a song that makes the most of not having a mix

[gemma.sugrue]

Hi guys! 

 

I'm a vocal coach primarily but have my own short comings/insecurities as a vocalist myself which I would love to get your feedback on. I make a major effort to produce a twang sound in my head voice when singing pop as I really struggle with singing in my mix due to my training being classical. I also think I'm just genetically set up to sing predominately in my head voice. Any tips welcome on how I could get in to that mix or let me know if I tricked you during this track in to thinking that I used mix at any stage. 

 

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[Gsoul82]

I LOVE that song.  Very nicely done. I'm not too technical with things, so somebody else might have a better answer than me. What I did to help this is take songs, sing slowly and make a conscious effort of incorporating my whole range into them.

[gemma.sugrue]

I LOVE that song.  Very nicely done. I'm not too technical with things, so somebody else might have a better answer than me. What I did to help this is take songs, sing slowly and make a conscious effort of incorporating my whole range into them.

 

Deadly, thanks for that feedback. I know, such a great song, I'd happily sing slow jams only! That's a really good idea about slowing it down. Might be worth playing it on my slow downer app and zone in on the notes I'm transitioning from thick folds to thin folds. Aw, I want to practice now but I'll wake my house mate!  

[Sexy Beast]

You sound great

 

I wish i could sing like that!

[Bono]

I agree, sounds awesome!

[KillerKu]

Sounds good to me. But it doesn't sound like a purely twanged head voice in places. Now I'm not a vocal scientist, but the loosest jargon I've got to work with in what a 'mix voice' would potentially mean, would be the

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroarytenoid_muscle

 

and

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricothyroid_muscle

 

Achieve a certain balance that allows the passaggio to to be controlled in volume without straining or shouting. One way of activating the cricothyroid is crying, while twang involves more thryoartenoid activity.

 

1:52 to 2:00 has a plaintive (cry) sound that sounds like it is gluing the sound together and sounds like there is more closure. Another section is 2:06 - 2:08 sounds like a purely twanged head voice to me.

 

So you would have fooled me into thinking you had a balance in on those sections as the timbre is plaintive, not airy, clearly defined, and not strained or pushed. But 'mix voice' is a really vague term. Of the various singing philosophies I've encountered, Speech Level Singing seems by far the least least interested in physiology and scientific measurements of the body. They were talking about 'zipping up vocal folds' and all sorts of crazy stuff with literally no evidence to back up this stuff back when I was reading the material.

 

If you're interested in obtaining this mixed sound, it can be found on a very soft moan or whine. It feels plaintive and a bit restrained like you're withholding bit of the sound, but definitely not like holding your breath. Imo, it's the trickiest thing about singing I've found, cause the minute someone hears 'restrained' they want to hold their breath. It feels comfortable and good when done right. The most important thing, is if it feels trained or like you're holding your breath, rest, don't do that, go back to a comfortable head voice and relax. Try again from a different approach later.

[aravindmadis]

Awesome      I would love to struggle and sound like this when I sing in my mixed voice      

[ronws]

[ronws]

Sounded good, no matter what you called it. But I would think you were mixing most of the way, even if it didn't seem like it. Especially on the higher notes.