Warbling

[Clive]

There's a certain type of vocals that really bugs me. It's an old fashioned warble, female vocalists seem especially prone to this. It's when a note is not held but instead the throat is vibrated. Examples include Susan Boyle / Wild Horses (an extreme example), Streisand, Joan Baez. I can only think they do it because they are terrified of being off key (flat or sharp). The "beautiful" voices don't do this - eg Alison Krauss. So, is this warbling an indication of a lack of confidence or a poor voice?

[John]

Not sure think some artist think it adds an interesting effect kind of like vibrato

[Clive]

Not sure think some artist think it adds an interesting effect kind of like vibrato

Well I hate it! Probably I'm a philistine.

[Alex_UK]

This is just a wild stab in the dark - wonder if it is something more "tired" (older) voices do - the latest Beverley Craven album (I know, I'm sorry, but I had such a fantastic "romantic moment" to 'Promise Me' that I have had to buy all her albums when she releases them - mercifully only 3 more since the self-titled debut! ) is plagued with warbling, and yes, it bugs me!

[Barry]

This is just a wild stab in the dark - wonder if it is something more "tired" (older) voices do - the latest Beverley Craven album (I know, I'm sorry, but I had such a fantastic "romantic moment" to 'Promise Me' that I have had to buy all her albums when she releases them - mercifully only 3 more since the self-titled debut! ) is plagued with warbling, and yes, it bugs me!

Interesting speculation Alex. I assume that this observation is based on the latest recordings. I don't know how old Beverley Craven or Susan Boyle are, but they're not that old surely? Joan Baez is in her late sixties and I doubt if she is terrified of being off-key; she has perfect pitch.

Perhaps it's because these singers can no longer hold a sustained note for long. I have not heard any of Baez's later recordings but have many of her sixties and early seventies output.

One artist that I like, but can be accused of overdoing vibrato is Buffy Sainte-Marie. At times it bugs me too!

Regards

[hifi_dave]

I can't stand the yodelling - Leona Lewis for instance.

[Rare Bird]

Yodeling..Thought this was gonna be a Thjis Van Leer thread

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpV5InLw52U

Magic

[Joe]

Didn't Edith Piaf do a lot of warbling, or was she just being French?

[Clive]

Interesting speculation Alex. I assume that this observation is based on the latest recordings. I don't know how old Beverley Craven or Susan Boyle are, but they're not that old surely? Joan Baez is in her late sixties and I doubt if she is terrified of being off-key; she has perfect pitch.

Perhaps it's because these singers can no longer hold a sustained note for long. I have not heard any of Baez's later recordings but have many of her sixties and early seventies output.

One artist that I like, but can be accused of overdoing vibrato is Buffy Sainte-Marie. At times it bugs me too!

Regards

Baez does warble from quite early years. It used not to bug me but it does now, shame oz I love her songs. Calling it vibrato just seems like using a latin term to cover up an unpleasant sound. You'd never call warbling a pure sound but the the likes of Alison Krauss are pure - no warlblng. I suppose I'm just becoming picky.

[Barry]

Baez does warble from quite early years. It used not to bug me but it does now, shame 'coz I love her songs. Calling it vibrato just seems like using a latin term to cover up an unpleasant sound. You'd never call warbling a pure sound but the the likes of Alison Krauss are pure - no warbling. I suppose I'm just becoming picky.

Can you give me some examples Clive? I have much of her early stuff and can't say I've noticed. Another person who didn't 'warble' was the late Sandy Denny.