Listening to the vocals of a song

[Snooker]

When you listen to some tracks you can hear every word in the song, especiall Frank Sinatra Nat King Cole Carpenters, and most 50's music, but in other various tracks you can not hear every word just some which you can easily pick out, noticed this when watching the Voice on tv, could only hear a few words every now and again from the singer, and the diction on my Philips tv is very good

So I am right with the above, when listening to the "vocals in particular", and normally you would not concentrate on purely the vocals but listen to the overall sound including the music, and therefore only pick up the odd word is this right ?

 

[Snooker]

I know what I am saying is probably very obvious, but to make it clearer just making sure that no matter what system you have, that you will still have the issue, that sometimes you can virtually hear all the words, and in other tracks only the odd few every now and again if listening purely to the vocals, and that normally you would not be listening for every word but the overal sound and vocals ?

 

[Thompsonuxb]

On my set you hear every word, unless the artist deliberately slurs or mumbles the lyrics.

Go's past that actually, picks out breathing and gives you an idea of how close the artist is to the mic.

On one particular Toni Braxton album you can hear her tongue hitting her palette, the spit in her mouth!

Other tracks I have you can hear the phlegm on an artist throat.....

My speakers do good vocals and midrange....

Might be time to get those ears syringed

 

[ellisdj]

would help if you listed your system after giving it that much biggun

 

[BigH]

Some singers are a lot clearer than others that I agree with. Yes often I don't pay that attention to the lyrics, years ago you used to have all the lyrics so you could check if you wanted to. Toni Braxton is clear, Beyonce is not very, Lady Gaga also not very clear, not that I play that sort of stuff anyway.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

would help if you listed your system after giving it that much biggun

Who me?

Well if it's me.....

It's a modest system a NAD c660 cdplayer a Yamaha dsp ax-620 amp and a pair of Mission 782se.....

You can read up on these if you want - they work really well together.

 

[Thompsonuxb]

Some singers are a lot clearer than others that I agree with. Yes often I don't pay that attention to the lyrics, years ago you used to have all the lyrics so you could check if you wanted to. Toni Braxton is clear, Beyonce is not very, Lady Gaga also not very clear, not that I play that sort of stuff anyway.   

Nuttun wrong with a grown man listening to TonI Braxton..... *secret*

My daughter owns Beyonce Shasha Fierce - she loses so much without the visuals .

Gaga.....no, just no.

 

[Snooker]

Yes I agree with BigH, it does vary between singers from hearing all the words or just some, especially when listening to a range of music on the radio like from "Gold London"

There is no Hi-Fi system which can make you hear all the words correctly from some singers, as it mainly depends on the singers voice and source recording

 

[BigH]

I had alook online at misheard lyrics and the top song is Blinded by the light by Manfred Mann followed by Jimi Hendrex Purple Haze, Excuse me while I kiss this guy, is actually Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

Although this is different from what snooker meant I thought it maybe of interest.

I think some bands the music does cover up the lyrics, yes a good hifi does help with separation but sometimes you really have to listen to the words to understand what they are singing.

 

[steve_1979]

...but in other various tracks you can not hear every word just some which you can easily pick out...

I challenge anyone to decipher the lyrics to this song without cheating and looking them up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V1p1dM3snQ

 

[steve_1979]

...and a love this misheard lyrics video. So funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xJWxPE8G2c

 

[BigH]

Some singers are a lot clearer than others that I agree with. Yes often I don't pay that attention to the lyrics, years ago you used to have all the lyrics so you could check if you wanted to. Toni Braxton is clear, Beyonce is not very, Lady Gaga also not very clear, not that I play that sort of stuff anyway.

Nuttun wrong with a grown man listening to TonI Braxton..... *secret*

My daughter owns Beyonce Shasha Fierce - she loses so much without the visuals .

Gaga.....no, just no.

Did not say there was anything wrong with Toni, just said she had a clear voice.

Never thought Lady Gaga could sing until I saw her duetting with Tony Bennett.

 

[jjbomber]

So I am right with the above, when listening to the "vocals in particular", and normally you would not concentrate on purely the vocals but listen to the overall sound including the music, and therefore only pick up the odd word is this right ?

If that's what you like, then you are right. I just like the emotion that a vocalist adds to the song, rather than the lyrics themselves. People like Paul Rogers are just superb from this angle. Would Howlin' Wolf have made it on just the lyrics? So give me emotion over lyrical quality anyday.

 

[lindsayt]

I think that the vocals are, in general, the most important part of any track.

A system that is genuinely good will make marginally well sung and recorded vocals easier to follow and understand than a less good system. It's about the clarity, focus, detail resolution. The ability of a system to separate the recording into its separate strands.

I know what type of system I'd want to be using to give me the best chance of following and understanding the lyrics of that Louie Louie song.

 

[Deleted member 108165]

I've only been back into a reasonable stereo system for about three years, before that I guess I just listened to music without paying much attention to lyrics, or speaker placement. I have found that a decent set-up with well placed speakers and a focussed centre-image has resulted in a playback which draws me into the lyrics of a song like never before, and as Thompsonuxb has said you can easily hear other intricate details too. This makes listening to music so much more interesting and entertaining.

My music collection is mainly pop. I rate most Motown singers and black female singers with gospel roots, eg, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight to name but a few as having excellent diction and the power to deliver it. Babs Steisand, Shirley Bassey, Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Annie Lennox, Sharleen Spiteri are also on the list. Many rate Mariah Carey, but for me she would be in the same category as Beyonce and GaGa, quite poor.

Personally I don't think there are many pop singers around today who can compete with the excellent diction or power of delivery of the singers of yesteryear, but it takes a decent system to bring this point into the spotlight. Just my 2p's worth...

 

[Thompsonuxb]

I've only been back into a reasonable stereo system for about three years, before that I guess I just listened to music without paying much attention to lyrics, or speaker placement. I have found that a decent set-up with well placed speakers and a focussed centre-image has resulted in a playback which draws me into the lyrics of a song like never before, and as Thompsonuxb has said you can easily hear other intricate details too. This makes listening to music so much more interesting and entertaining.

My music collection is mainly pop. I rate most Motown singers and black female singers with gospel roots, eg, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight to name but a few as having excellent diction and the power to deliver it. Babs Steisand, Shirley Bassey, Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Annie Lennox, Sharleen Spiteri are also on the list. Many rate Mariah Carey, but for me she would be in the same category as Beyonce and GaGa, quite poor.?

Personally I don't think there are many pop singers around today who can compete with the excellent diction or power of delivery of the singers of yesteryear, but it takes a decent system to bring this point into the spotlight. Just my 2p's worth...

Have a listen to some of these albums if you can -

Zara McFarlane - 'if you knew her'

Toni Braxton - 'libre'

Angie Stone - 'black diamond'

I own these on CD.

Just a few that image really well on my set and have great production too.

Only Zara McFarlane's is relatively new.....but still.

 

[jjbomber]

Yes, someone has carried one out. Prepare to fall off your chair:

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nickelback-beats-foo-fighters-linkin-park-avenged-sevenfold-in-lyric-intelligence-study/

 

[BigH]

I've only been back into a reasonable stereo system for about three years, before that I guess I just listened to music without paying much attention to lyrics, or speaker placement. I have found that a decent set-up with well placed speakers and a focussed centre-image has resulted in a playback which draws me into the lyrics of a song like never before, and as Thompsonuxb has said you can easily hear other intricate details too. This makes listening to music so much more interesting and entertaining.

My music collection is mainly pop. I rate most Motown singers and black female singers with gospel roots, eg, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight to name but a few as having excellent diction and the power to deliver it. Babs Steisand, Shirley Bassey, Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Annie Lennox, Sharleen Spiteri are also on the list. Many rate Mariah Carey, but for me she would be in the same category as Beyonce and GaGa, quite poor.

Personally I don't think there are many pop singers around today who can compete with the excellent diction or power of delivery of the singers of yesteryear, but it takes a decent system to bring this point into the spotlight. Just my 2p's worth...

Have a listen to some of these albums if you can -

Zara McFarlane - 'if you knew her'

Toni Braxton - 'libre'

Angie Stone - 'black diamond'

I own these on CD.

Just a few that image really well on my set and have great production too.

Only Zara McFarlane's is relatively new.....but still.

Some more you can add to your list:

Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley

Melody Gardot - My One and Only Thrill

Natalie Merchant - Motherland

Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the harvest

Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin'

Eileen Jewell - Sea Of Tears

Actually Katie Melua on a good system is very enjoyable.

Not sure if these will be your taste but maybe worth a listen.

 

[jonathanRD]

Lots of female vocalists mentioned, many I would agree with.

What about the men? My pick would be Sir Tom, although maybe it helps that I am Welsh *smile*

 

[steve_1979]

I've only been back into a reasonable stereo system for about three years, before that I guess I just listened to music without paying much attention to lyrics, or speaker placement. I have found that a decent set-up with well placed speakers and a focussed centre-image has resulted in a playback which draws me into the lyrics of a song like never before, and as Thompsonuxb has said you can easily hear other intricate details too. This makes listening to music so much more interesting and entertaining.

My music collection is mainly pop. I rate most Motown singers and black female singers with gospel roots, eg, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight to name but a few as having excellent diction and the power to deliver it. Babs Steisand, Shirley Bassey, Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Annie Lennox, Sharleen Spiteri are also on the list. Many rate Mariah Carey, but for me she would be in the same category as Beyonce and GaGa, quite poor.

Personally I don't think there are many pop singers around today who can compete with the excellent diction or power of delivery of the singers of yesteryear, but it takes a decent system to bring this point into the spotlight. Just my 2p's worth...

Have a listen to some of these albums if you can -

Zara McFarlane - 'if you knew her'

Toni Braxton - 'libre'

Angie Stone - 'black diamond'

I own these on CD.

Just a few that image really well on my set and have great production too.

Only Zara McFarlane's is relatively new.....but still.

Some more you can add to your list:

Eva Cassidy - Live at Blues Alley

Melody Gardot - My One and Only Thrill

Natalie Merchant - Motherland

Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the harvest

Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin'

Eileen Jewell - Sea Of Tears

Actually Katie Melua on a good system is very enjoyable.

Not sure if these will be your taste but maybe worth a listen.

...and Ella Fitzgerald.

https://open.spotify.com/user/steve_1979/playlist/395InKs8HjEcJ0siZ5b0lk

 

[BigH]

Lots of female vocalists mentioned, many I would agree with.

What about the men? My pick would be Sir Tom, although maybe it helps that I am Welsh *smile*

Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mick Jagger, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Roy Orbison, Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, Paul Rodgers, Jim Morrison, Bob Marley, Jeff Buckley, Bono, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Ray LaMontagne and Damien Rice.

 

[Deleted member 108165]

I've only been back into a reasonable stereo system for about three years, before that I guess I just listened to music without paying much attention to lyrics, or speaker placement. I have found that a decent set-up with well placed speakers and a focussed centre-image has resulted in a playback which draws me into the lyrics of a song like never before, and as Thompsonuxb has said you can easily hear other intricate details too. This makes listening to music so much more interesting and entertaining.

My music collection is mainly pop. I rate most Motown singers and black female singers with gospel roots, eg, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight to name but a few as having excellent diction and the power to deliver it. Babs Steisand, Shirley Bassey, Celine Dion, Lara Fabian, Annie Lennox, Sharleen Spiteri are also on the list. Many rate Mariah Carey, but for me she would be in the same category as Beyonce and GaGa, quite poor.

Personally I don't think there are many pop singers around today who can compete with the excellent diction or power of delivery of the singers of yesteryear, but it takes a decent system to bring this point into the spotlight. Just my 2p's worth...

Have a listen to some of these albums if you can -

Zara McFarlane - 'if you knew her'

Toni Braxton - 'libre'

Angie Stone - 'black diamond'

I own these on CD.

Just a few that image really well on my set and have great production too.

Only Zara McFarlane's is relatively new.....but still.

Thought I'd update this as I previewed all the artists you kindly suggested and eventually purchased a Toni Braxton greatest hits CD. I have a recording of Ms Summer singing "Un-Break My Heart", which was Toni's smash hit produced by David Foster, and she nails it in a way that Toni could only dream of doing, and Donna was 60 years old at the time! For me Ms Braxton would fall into the same category as Mariah Carey *biggrin*Just goes to show how different our tastes are!

Anyone wanna buy a Toni Braxton CD - only played once! *lol*

 

[SteveR750]

I've never been much good at deciphering singers lyrics, but then I listen to harmony and rhythm, so the singer to my ears is simply another instrument. Very few bands do I listen to because of their lyrical content - Squeeze, Pink Floyd spring to mind as examples, but even opera (mostly sung in Italian which I don't speak) is all about pitch and harmony for me.

 

[Covenanter]

...but in other various tracks you can not hear every word just some which you can easily pick out...

I challenge anyone to decipher the lyrics to this song without cheating and looking them up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V1p1dM3snQ

That takes me back! I was a mod too.

The lyrics are a mystery but it's just a dance song so it doesn't really matter. All the Ska and BlueBeat stuff that came out then was a mystery too. What is 007 about? We used to sing "Dem a loot, dem a shoot, a Shanty Town' without a clue what it meant but it didn't matter, it was the feeling of the thing.

Chris

 

[SteveR750]

I defy anyone to work any of these out, here is just one example.