A question on songs

Nenji · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:20 am Post subject: A question on songs

I've been thinking about it for a while, and I'm curious to know what other people are like on the matter.

The matter being vocal artists, when skill, genre and all the other factors are set to the wind which would you prefer to listen to? A male or female voice?

I'm aware many of us don't mind the other, and I'm not suggesting you hate the other gender's voice either. However I'm sure most people will have some kind of preference, if only marginal. If you really have trouble deciding think about your favourite song and who sings it.

In other words, I'd like to avoid a topic full of "I don't mind." if possible, so please give it real thought and decide if that's truly the case.
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Shakai · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:09 am Post subject:

Its not only the gender of the voice, but also the inflection on the voice...if that's even the right word thar.

I like several kinds of voices. I can want at one point, a soothing female voice, or at one point, I could want a hot-blooded-full-o'-emotion male voice. It depends on the mood I'm in honestly.

But I like female voices, more often than naught. They have a wider range than a male's voice in my opinion.
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Rock Miyabi · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:19 pm Post subject:

I probably fit into the "I'd rather hear the opposite gender sing" category. Also somewhat influenced by the stereotype that most guys can't sing and girls usually sound better anyways. Not that it's totally true by any stretch of the imagination, but generally, I'd probably have to go with female singers.

Example that contradicts my answer: 'Rain' from Cowboy Bebop. I believe the version used in the anime was just the one sung by Mai Yamane. On one of the OSTs, there's also a version by Steve Conte. Don't know if I just think the song fits a male voice better, if it's because Conte's a little clearer singing the lyrics at times, or what, but I prefer his version. Vocally, I think their range is similar in how they sing the song, putting emphasis and power in much of the same places. But I prefer the male singer in this case.

So it is hard to really prefer one over the other, when there's always gonna be some circumstance that might make you flip-flop. But I'll still stick to a female preference.
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Midnight · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject:

I agree with what was posted already.

Granted, I don't listen to music much, but the few songs that I actually do listen to are because they are pleasing to the ear. Shakai has the right word in "inflection"--it is often the quality of the singer's voice, and its texture and timbre that makes it pleasing to the ear.

It so happens that most of these singers are female. It seems that by construction, their voice boxes allow them to speak and sing at frequencies that are often softer and have a more pleasing effect to the ear. However, the quality that the voice has--from the gravelly texture of Louis Armstrong to a seemingly smooth texture of some of the singers these days--is probably the most important quality in my head.

I really don't have a gender preference to singers--whatever is pleasing to the ear is what I listen to. It so happens that the plurality of the singers that I prefer are female.
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xfyrethespooky · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:10 pm Post subject:

i really haven't thought about that. i like both, when they are done in a way that makes them sound pleasing.

what i like about vocals, though, is harmonics. sometimes, i don't pay attention to the instruments, and i only listen to the vocal harmonics. when they are done well, they put chills down my spine. and for some reason, (this also includes instruments, but i really like it vocally) i just LOVE when the harmony is higher pitched than the melody. this just adds to the "pleasing effect".
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