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What do they mean when they say that a singer 'oversings?"


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Old 04-12-2013, 18:30
IWasBored
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And why is this a negative? Wouldn't it mean that said singer is technically better?

Isn't it subjective? EG: I've never thought that Alicia Keys oversings, but they are those who do?

Aren't there some types of voices that are more capable of runs and melisma than others?
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Old 04-12-2013, 18:32
RikScot
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To me, it means shoutin and bawling and mistaking that for soul and feel..
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Old 04-12-2013, 18:33
dsmithy2011
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Jessie J Is criminal to this!
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Old 04-12-2013, 18:58
Aries_123
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And why is this a negative? Wouldn't it mean that said singer is technically better?

Isn't it subjective? EG: I've never thought that Alicia Keys oversings, but they are those who do?

Aren't there some types of voices that are more capable of runs and melisma than others?
well the people who are repeat offenders of oversinging do have great voices and imho people who can really sing can do all that melisma stuff, but for me it sounds better when singers do it occassionally. like Adele and Jessie J both do runs/melisma but Adele doesnt oversing.
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Old 04-12-2013, 19:05
Hav_mor91
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I have great appreciation for tehnical singers anyone who trains or perfects their talent is to be commended. But that said sometimes less ismore and often singers like celine and Mariah tend to have more heart than voice and dhout through a song as opposed to singing it All By Myself a great example but i do love both
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Old 04-12-2013, 19:47
Gneiss
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well the people who are repeat offenders of oversinging do have great voices and imho people who can really sing can do all that melisma stuff, but for me it sounds better when singers do it occassionally.
This is probably my favourite example of just how effective it can be in the right hands.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt_sKT-nlE0 a breathtaking performance that just gets better as the clip progresses.

But to me, "over-singing" is far more than overuse of that "melisma stuff" anyway...

It could be as simple as trying to sing too loudly and straining, better singers can sing loudly without straining and looking like they need to visit the loo.

Even trying to overemphasis on emotional phrasing could be classed as over-singing. Or that awful modern trend toward overly "affected vocals" - Diane Vickers being a prime example.

Great singers achieve all these effects without it being obvious, to all intents and purposes it should appear effortless...
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Old 04-12-2013, 20:12
constantino_chr
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Jessie J is a prime example of this, she screeches at the top of her lungs over generic and cheap production.
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Old 04-12-2013, 20:20
Boselecta
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I've always thought it's when they sing several notes instead of one, and when one will do really. I suspect it's harder to sing a nice sustained single note for a few seconds and thus some opt to warble up and down a few notes over those seconds instead. It's flipping annoying though!
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Old 04-12-2013, 20:39
dodger0703
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to me it is when you do your vocal gymnastics for the sake of it, rather than to compliment the song
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Old 04-12-2013, 21:06
Makson
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It's when someone does this;

"Wooahh-oh-oh-woahhhhohoh-oh-woahhhhhhh"
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Old 04-12-2013, 21:08
dodger0703
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It's when someone does this;

"Wooahh-oh-oh-woahhhhohoh-oh-woahhhhhhh"
'what's new pussycat?'
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Old 04-12-2013, 22:09
iseloid
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Beyoncé is the best example from back in the day.
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Old 04-12-2013, 23:11
digichant
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Beyoncé is the best example from back in the day.
Not really..

Christina Aguilera and Mariah were/are far worse.
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Old 04-12-2013, 23:33
mgvsmith
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You are all kind of missing the point. You know a singer is 'oversinging' when you are listening to the singer and not the song. Singing is both an expressive and a performance art. Melisma may have some meaning if it contributes to the interpretation of the song. If it is sung for showing off technique then for me it is just an exercise.
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Old 05-12-2013, 02:08
IWasBored
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You have mentioned a few female singers who oversing. For some reason it's always certain female singers who get accused of oversinging, are there any male singers who oversing as well?
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Old 05-12-2013, 07:33
Big Boy Barry
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It comes in two forms.

Excessive shouting and melisma, where singers add "whoas" and "oh yeahs" onto every verse.
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Old 05-12-2013, 07:56
Naa_KwaKai
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to me it is when you do your vocal gymnastics for the sake of it, rather than to compliment the song
Yes, this. In a live performance it's ok because essentially you're err...performing and nobody just wants to hear a backing track. But on a record, sometimes the best vocal performances are the most simple and subtle. Soft notes as well as loud notes, straight notes as well as vibrato. Those little details add to the overall richness of the sound. Jessica Simpson's "I Wanna Love You Forever" is a prime example of a great song completely destroyed by over singing, climaxes far too quickly and by the end there's no room for her to go. You come away from listening to the song completely exhausted.
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Old 05-12-2013, 08:03
Ramo1234
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It comes in two forms.

Excessive shouting and melisma, where singers add "whoas" and "oh yeahs" onto every verse.
Well that's Jessie J in Thunder then, she "Yeah" like 5 times near the end of the song.
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Old 05-12-2013, 08:18
xe2a2
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Over use of melisma, high register, growling and improper use of the larynx to force out notes to the point where it drowns out all subtlety and atmosphere. Jessica Simpson is absolutely the worst example of this. Other examples...

Beyonce does oversing a lot and uses the high screechy aspects of her voice too much, but Xtina is the worst offender. Compare how restrained and sultry her voice sounds on Genie compared to how she uses it now 24/7 and you'll see what I mean.


I don't agree that it's necessarily about the singer 'being' the song though. Some songs are great just relying on vocals even from some of the 'oversinging' offenders - Bliss by Mariah for instance...
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Old 05-12-2013, 08:59
dee123
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Jessie J Is criminal to this!
True. Though she has yet to steal Xtina's crown.
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Old 05-12-2013, 09:07
WhyHelloWorld
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Xtina is by far the worst at this. Just awful.
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Old 05-12-2013, 13:02
unique
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It's when someone does this;

"Wooahh-oh-oh-woahhhhohoh-oh-woahhhhhhh"
bodyform, bodyform for yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
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Old 05-12-2013, 13:26
CerealKiller
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And why is this a negative? Wouldn't it mean that said singer is technically better?

Isn't it subjective? EG: I've never thought that Alicia Keys oversings, but they are those who do?

Aren't there some types of voices that are more capable of runs and melisma than others?
Mariah Carey:s
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Old 05-12-2013, 20:10
aquasplash3
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Everyone should listen to this from 01:50 onwards

http://youtu.be/2jPmGrrP_E8
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Old 05-12-2013, 20:20
MissMusique
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Everyone should listen to this from 01:50 onwards

http://youtu.be/2jPmGrrP_E8
I quite like that!! Very cool whether it's oversinging or not, she's doing it deliberately for an effect i guess. I'd love to see her live!
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