Is there a term that defines how a singer incorporates breath sounds into the beginning and end of the lyrics they sing?
December 14, 2012 6:41 PM   Subscribe

Is there a term that defines how a singer incorporates breath sounds into the beginning and end of the lyrics they sing?

I've heard this become more and more prevalent over the years, particularly in American pop. Although it's something that Bono could certainly do with forte, it seems quite cliche.
This evening on the tube I saw the video for Britney Spears' "Hold it Against Me" in which she blatantley adds breathing and moaning and a whimper before and after every lyric sung. You can here this all over the XM radio Pulse channel, as well.
So, does anybody know if there is a singer's term for this? Help me dislike it even more, just like I do Autotune.
posted by No Shmoobles to Media & Arts (16 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Vocal aspiration, perhaps?
posted by singinginmychains at 7:15 PM on December 14, 2012


Response by poster: I've found the term "phrasing" in which a singer does in fact put effort into audible breathing sounds along with the lyrics. However this doesn't quite describe it. It's more that these vocalists are trying to emphasize emotions, or make sexy breathing sounds. It may be too modern of a thing for there to be any classical terminology associated with it. Perhaps my question should expand to solicite suggestions for what it should be called?
posted by No Shmoobles at 7:21 PM on December 14, 2012


This is usually an artefact of compression, which boosts quiet sounds and quietens loud sounds. Most pop vocals are very heavily compressed, and the breath sounds are edited out, but sometimes a breathy vocal is what they're after, so they leave them in. It's very easy to achieve... sing quietly, with tons of compression, close to the mic. The effect is of a very intimate conversation, like someone whispering into your ear.

So, anyways, 'breathy' and 'compressed' are the words you're looking for.
posted by unSane at 7:45 PM on December 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


The "moaning" is Vocal Fry.
posted by rhizome at 7:54 PM on December 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


What unSane said. It’s usually not so much that the singer is doing that on purpose, it’s an effect of the recording and mixing process and the people involved decide how much they like it or not, and how much they want to use.

Vocals have always been fairly compressed, but they need to be really compressed now to be heard over the wall of sound.
posted by bongo_x at 8:04 PM on December 14, 2012


Response by poster: unSane, after following rhizome's suggestion that it's Vocal Fry, I've found that singers actually use vocal methods of compression when singing in addition to the studio mixing compression. And while Vocal Fry comes close (I've disovered reference to it being a warmup and opening of the vocal chords exercize), what I'm hearing is more of a deliberate affectation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Edv8Onsrgg
posted by No Shmoobles at 9:20 PM on December 14, 2012


Help me dislike it even more, just like I do Autotune.

Done.
posted by flabdablet at 1:49 AM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]


Some vocal teachers do teach this, by having the pupil 'cry' the notes. You hear it all the time on those TV contests.
posted by unSane at 4:06 AM on December 15, 2012


Response by poster: flabdablet, that isolated track really emphasizes what I'm talking about. Sad thing is that Michael Jackson never needed Autotune. I didn't hate that so much as I just sat there listening with my face all screwed up and not knowing what to do with my hands. It was disturbing.

Still wondering what we should call this.
posted by No Shmoobles at 6:16 AM on December 15, 2012


Pandering? Pretending to be in heat? Ignorance of better musical ideas?
posted by TheRedArmy at 10:50 AM on December 15, 2012 [2 favorites]


I don't know there's a word for it, but it's definitely a thing. "Aspirations" is probably the best word I can think of.

For a saturated example of this, listen to the end of every single phrase of this Jonas Brothers song. As my pop music teacher said to the class about this: this is a decision. Nobody naturally arrives at that vocal sound without a conscious decision or (more likely) prompting from a producer.
posted by Zephyrial at 1:36 PM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]


Still wondering what we should call this.

Hiccups.
posted by flabdablet at 9:05 PM on December 15, 2012


Hiccupato.
posted by flabdablet at 9:05 PM on December 15, 2012


Hiccupatura.
posted by flabdablet at 9:05 PM on December 15, 2012


Or, since that little huffing release of breath at the end of the note is indicative of breathing being controlled from the throat rather than the diaphragm, what about just "piss-poor vocal technique"?
posted by flabdablet at 9:10 PM on December 15, 2012


Is it an aspirated glottal stop?
posted by unSane at 3:24 AM on December 16, 2012


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