Morrissey's Alternate Singing Voice

[phrenzy]

Hmmm.. I'm wondering why Morrissey stopped this singing style.

It is the style that seems to come from a different part of his throat when he sings, a little deeper and more monotone (less melodic) - This voice is probably best shown on "what difference does it make" - but also sort of in "Hand in glove" and a few other smiths era songs he uses this same style... I really liked it - it was kind of a cynical , eye rolling sound to his voice...

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Anyway, he has never used this style since the smiths - which is disappointing to me cuz I loved it...

[I started a joke.....]

irish blood english heart ?

> Hmmm.. I'm wondering why Morrissey stopped this singing style.

> It is the style that seems to come from a different part of his throat
> when he sings, a little deeper and more monotone (less melodic) - This
> voice is probably best shown on "what difference does it make" -
> but also sort of in "Hand in glove" and a few other smiths era
> songs he uses this same style... I really liked it - it was kind of a
> cynical , eye rolling sound to his voice...

> Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

> Anyway, he has never used this style since the smiths - which is
> disappointing to me cuz I loved it...

[phrenzy]

> irish blood english heart ?

Yeah, actually - that's probably the closest he's come...

Another one in this style is "Reel around the fountain"

[david]

> Yeah, actually - that's probably the closest he's come...

> Another one in this style is "Reel around the fountain"

interesting thread...I've never really thought about this before...

[Mindy]

of course, i love morrissey's youthful voice, but he's gotten older and his voice seems to have changed. i don't think he can really help it. if you listen to his speaking voice in old interviews and from breaks between songs in concert, it's a lot wispier than it is now. now, he sounds like a man. his voice is no longer boyish. i think his voice is still melodic -- it's just richer and deeper. i love his voice either way.

[CrushingBore]

There's also a style he uses (I think only in live performances, I can't think of an instance from the studio, but there's something troubling me at the back of my mind making me think that's wrong) when he adopts this kind of strangulated sound. You can hear what I'm talking about on "Rank" in "Rusholme Ruffians" when he sings "if I jumped from the top of the parachutes". I just think its so evocative when he does it, but I haven't heard him use it live in years.
I dunno, there's just something playfully ironic, almost self-mocking about it.

[King Leer]

I know what style you're talking about. I remember an interview with Alain Whyte (possibly on morrisseytour.com?) in which he was asked which Smiths song he liked best, and he chose "What Difference", although he said Morrissey hates his vocal on that track. He said "sorry Moz" and stuck to his guns about it being the best Smiths track.

I've always liked the whispered vocal of "Lifeguard Sleeping" on Vauxhall, but I guess it would only work once. The spoken word of "Sorrow Will Come" on Maladjusted really caught me off guard the first time, as I bought that record before I read any reviews.

Some underappreciated Moz vocal tracks: "I've Changed My Plea to Guilty", "Trouble Loves Me", "Yes, I am Blind".

[Rowdy Yeats]

Yeah, if you're talking about Moz's falsetto thing that he uses on the first album with songs like 'Miserable Lie'. I guess moz probably just thought he didn't need it anymore. On the other hand, I have noticed that Bono has used a falsetto as his career has went on. Always thought that was a bit odd. Just an observation.

P.S. 1) I just bring this up because they are two of my most favorite singers and 2) I know me and Mindy are the only people here who like U2 anyway.

[phrenzy]

> Yeah, if you're talking about Moz's falsetto thing that he uses on the
> first album with songs like 'Miserable Lie'. I guess moz probably just
> thought he didn't need it anymore. On the other hand, I have noticed that
> Bono has used a falsetto as his career has went on. Always thought that
> was a bit odd. Just an observation.

> P.S. 1) I just bring this up because they are two of my most favorite
> singers and 2) I know me and Mindy are the only people here who like U2
> anyway.

Yeah, that's right.

Oddly, he has brought back hints of this on two of his new songs.

On Irish Blood... he uses his lower (what difference) style voice slightly... He also does his Smiths-era wailing when he yells "Oliver Cromwell" -

And he brings back his falsetto in I like you "They look at you and I, and ENVY MAKES THEM CRY, ENVY MAKES THEM CRY..." I was jolted when I heard this because I had simply thought he couldn't do it anymore - but he must have just consciously stopped...

[Rowdy Yeats]

Yeah, now that you mention it, 'I like you' has a bit of that falsetto. That song is almost great- it just seems a bit awkward lyrically.

I love that falsetto though. Let's just get Moz to use it sparingly, though.

[Erik]

> Yeah, now that you mention it, 'I like you' has a bit of that falsetto.
> That song is almost great- it just seems a bit awkward lyrically.

> I love that falsetto though. Let's just get Moz to use it sparingly,
> though.

I think his best falsetto was on "Well I Wonder" or the end of "You've Got Everything Now"

[david]

> I think his best falsetto was on "Well I Wonder" or the end of
> "You've Got Everything Now"

and his WORST was at the end of "Miserable Lie"

[GenderNectar]

> and his WORST was at the end of "Miserable Lie"

Absolutely! I find myself occassionally skipping to the next track as soon as he starts "I need advice...". A girl can only take so much.

[Spring-Heeled Fish]

I love Morrissey's falsetto voice. It would be great if he could still get the falsetto as high as on Miserable Lie, but I don't think anyone above 35 could. I used to be able to do it when I was 10, but I lost it before I even left my teens - such a shame...