Stupid Question: Is It Possible to Be Missing an Octave?

[MrMidwest]

Stupid Question: Is It Possible to Be Missing an Octave?#0

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:32pm

What I mean is, could you possibly possess the vocal ability to sing in two octaves that follow one another, but not have the octave after that, but to then have the octave that follows the one that you don't have (the fourth octave i suppose). I wonder this because I was thinking about Mariah Carey and I've heard her sing pretty low and pretty high, but I can't recall if I've heard her sing a song where she sings in a normal soprano range (like Julie Andrews, perhaps). Maybe it's just been a long time since I've heard her older songs.

I'm not a singer, so forgive me if this is moronic. :P

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

[apdarcey]

re: Stupid Question: Is It Possible to Be Missing an Octave?#1

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:36pm

mariah care has a middle register... you can lose certain parts of your voice when you are sick, but generally, what you're talking about is impossible.

[JailyardGuy]

re: Stupid Question: Is It Possible to Be Missing an Octave?#2

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:37pm

I'd go back and listen, picklepie :) In nearly every one of her ballads, she utilizes the range you refer to (notationally, that tends to fall between middle line B to the C above the staff). Does her voice in this register even remotely resemble Julie Andrews', or any other legit-voiced soprano? No. She has a tremendous high belt, a great mix, and occasionally manages a nice floaty head voice, but it's never legit-sounding, which is probably why you never equate it with the soprano register, but it is. Listen to "My All", "Love Takes Time", and "I Don't Wanna Cry" for starters...

Suzanne: I never use catalogs. I'd rather go in the store and see all the salespeople groveling and sucking up to you. Julia: Pardon me, I never knew they were so solicitous at the K-Mart.

[MrMidwest]

re: Stupid Question: Is It Possible to Be Missing an Octave?#3

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:42pm

Yeah, I suppose you're right, it's just because her voice is unique. Thanks guys.

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

[WOSQ]

re: Stupid Question: Is It Possible to Be Missing an Octave?#4

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:44pm

Don't worry about not being much of a singer or missing an octave or so.

Lotte Lenya made a whole career out of missing several octaves. What's more, her missing ones would change from performance to performance.

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher