head voice vs. belted sound

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 4:28pm

There was a video on youtube of the cast recording of "The Wild Party" with Idina singing "Life of the Party" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5j41H6439E). Someone commented that her high head voice note on "free" was impressive, and someone countered, " Oh, that's easy cuz that's her head voice- the high belted note in the middle song is much harder and thus really awesome." Is this kind of the general consensus in musical theatre? Isn't a beautiful head voice just as impressive as someone like Idina or Eden (i.e. Audra McDonald, Rebecca Luker)?

Updated On: 4/30/08 at 04:28 PM

[bythesword84]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 4:41pm

I personally, will always prefer a strong or beautiful head voice to a belted sound.

I also would say, never go by comments on youtube videos. They are sometimes just wrong...sort of like here.

I always find that high belting isn't impressive. I'd much rather hear a strong head sound on the same note than a belt.

...but I'm sure people who love belting will disagree with me.

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 4:52pm

Thanks- I totally agree! Haha- and so true about youtube comments. I just wanted to see what people think in general on the board.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 4:54pm

somewhat unrelated but there was an extremely insightful conversation, on this board, a few weeks ago about head voice and chest voice (along with falsetto and belting).

you should use SEARCH and read about it.

if the high belting is **healthy** (NOT Idina Menzel), which is usually easy to determine, than it will always impress me.

I enjoy belting but there's a point where it gets screamy. It's not my vocal chords so if they want to do that, that's their choice.

sometimes I'm in the mood to listen to that kind of whiney/nasal belty stuff (Amy Spanger, Laura, Kerry, so on and so forth) ... but if it sounds extremely unhealthy, I cringe.

I do NOT want to hear that.
Updated On: 4/30/08 at 04:54 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 5:02pm

I was a first soprano in a treble choir, so I'm a little biased, but I happen to find a strong head voice much more beautiful and impressive than a lot of belters. it's not that I don't like belters or even the sound, but...there's just something about a really strong clear beautiful head voice.

my favorite example is Rebecca Luker singing "Come to My Garden" in The Secret Garden. the very last "come sweet child" she sings before Colin begins singing...the "child" is perfect. her vowel shape is perfect, her tone is perfect. it gives me chills.

and like TooDarnHot said, there was a really interesting conversation several weeks ago, which also touched on how the belting trend is affecting younger singers.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 5:04pm

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 05:04 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 5:21pm

Seth Rudetsky's 101: Head voice vs. chest voice
Part 1

[morosco]

Posted: 4/30/08 at 5:22pm

Seth Rudetsky's 101: Head voice vs. chest voice
Part 2

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 12:26pm

It really depends on the song. There are certain songs that should be belted and aren't impressive in a head voice but then there are songs that would only sound good in head voice. Just think if someone like say Patti LaBelle tried belting "Ice Cream". She'd sound crazy. But someone singing "Rainbow High" in head voice would be equally comical.

Personally I'd like someone with one voice. Someone who can belt impressively, with a killer mix and a hot head voice. They're rare but the do exsist.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 12:40pm

I prefer to listen to a belty alto voice. I HATE a "flippy " soprano head voice with too much vibrato.

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 1:15pm

Do people like belting because it sounds like it's harder? I remember someone saying on this board once, "Anyone can 'Defying Gravity' in their legit voice- it's not even a particularly challenging feat." Like, is it more impressive to be able to belt an E than to sing a high C in head voice?

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 3:36pm

Either way, I think Idina sounds great in that song

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 3:39pm

Used to really prefer the belted sound but after classical training you get used to hearing that sound. A beuatifully controlled soprano voice is absolutely amazing. There will be a comeback for them.

[Harpz2006]

Posted: 5/2/08 at 6:43pm

Ok, this is kinda dumb- but this guy and I are arguing over the highest note that can be physically sung by a female in full chest voice. He says Anika Noni Rose hits a high C in her chest voice with NO mix at all- but doesn't it clearly have to be a strong head voice at that point? Just curious!

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 12:00am

It's rather hard to put a note on it. I happen to know women who can chest High G's. It really depends on a person's voice. However there is no way Anika is belting a C without a little head. She's doing what all soprano belters worth their salt do, a good pingy forward mix that has some bite in it. I mean really? A C?! Her head would explode.

However, it doesn't HAVE to be all head up there either. Just listen to some of the things Patti LaBelle does. Like I said before, it's a mix...and no not everyone can do that. Most can't actually.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/3/08 at 10:43am

I far prefer head voice to chest voice. Belting is cool to listen to, but give me Cosette's C6 over Eponine's belted B4 anyday.

Of course, I am a legit soprano, so I may be biased. But it's easy to fake belt--you can't fake high notes.