Female VS. Male Singers

Loser · 07-02-2008, 01:11 PM

I hate the female vs. male discussion.
Because both voice wise, range wise and everything else is based on how they use it. Yes the male voice can do more going very deep to falsettos, but I don't think that really matters much. I think no matter how your voice sounds or how wide your range is, all that matters is how you use what you have. I mean a female vocalist can have the greatest voice, and yet have ****ty lyrics she will be ridiculed for it. Same goes for men.
But if someone with a great voice who can write some good songs and can play an instrament comes around they will be the ones radio stations or whatever play. If a female can play and write/sing than they will be great....And from experience the ones who can do that stuff are better than males in certain ways....

right-track · 07-02-2008, 02:06 PM

A female singers voice can go places a man's voice can't.
I'm not talking about hitting the high notes, I'm talking about the nuances of inflection, that for some reason a woman's singing voice is more capable of achieving. This is especially the case with Soul.

WaspStar · 07-02-2008, 06:27 PM

Alert: Stereotypes ahead!

I think the prominence of male singers over female singers has less to do with vocals than material selection. So many female singers, unfortunately, buy into the whole "sex sells" idea and spend more time on image than substance. Others (Chrissie Hynde comes to mind) spend their time railing against such myths, making the scope of their music somewhat limited.

There's also the possibility that fewer women actually join bands (does anyone have any statistics on this?), and so the pool of candidates is actually, proportionally, higher than it is for males.

I'll also postulate that most music buffs tend to be male (just an observation gleamed from record shop travels and concert reminiscences), and a predominately male audience is more likely to relate to a male singer.

Personally? I prefer idiosyncratic, rough vocals (my favorite singers: Bob Dylan, Johnny Rotten, Howard Devoto, Elvis Costello). "Pleasing" vocals, as a rule don't do much for me. That's why I love the Shangri-Las but don't care for, say, the Supremes or the Crystals, or even Debbie Harry. It seems that more female singers go for the "gentle" sound than male singers, who tend to be more aggressive and less willing to sound "nice." Still, all that said, Poly Styrene led one of the greatest punk bands and recorded one of the most powerful singles ever (Oh Bondage, Up Yours!).

Molecules · 07-02-2008, 07:18 PM

^^ good observations... music (especially non-top 40) is still largely male dominated it seems and i can't see that changing until there are more interesting female musicians to lead by example.
I mean I've not seen any statistics to prove the gender bias but you're certainly right about music buffs and the sort of people that would want to start bands in the first place.

Call me crazy (just not a chauvinist please) but I sometimes think it's just something innate, like women have better things to be doing with their time than mucking about listening to sweaty man-folk avoid getting real jobs. or something.

Two words at the end of the day should guide us all to co-ed enlightenment in these dark times: Kate Bush.

Son of JayJamJah · 07-02-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

A female singers voice can go places a man's voice can't.
I'm not talking about hitting the high notes, I'm talking about the nuances of inflection, that for some reason a woman's singing voice is more capable of achieving. This is especially the case with Soul.

Totally disagree based on my current Muse, Van Morrison. Listen to the range both vocally and emotionally on albums like St. Dominic's Preview, Veedon Fleece and Astral Weeks and tell me a why only a woman can convey such range and inflection.

I can see personal preference, but i don't think either sex is limited by nature.

Also you are an awesome guy Right track I love your contributions to the sight.

Son of JayJamJah · 07-02-2008, 09:06 PM

My favorite two voices ever are Van Morrison and Joplin. I like way more male singers then female, but every female singer I like a really like. My completely uneducated guess is that Male singers are the safer choice but female singers can be more defining or at the least make you stand out more when they fit.

ProggyMan · 07-02-2008, 09:08 PM

Only the really, really good ones make it I would say.

Son of JayJamJah · 07-02-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProggyMan

Only the really, really good ones make it I would say.

Females, or both?

ProggyMan · 07-02-2008, 09:18 PM

Females more so, I guess it applies to everyone though. By make I mean get critical acclaim etc, not sales.

07-02-2008, 07:18 PM	#14 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	^^ good observations... music (especially non-top 40) is still largely male dominated it seems and i can't see that changing until there are more interesting female musicians to lead by example. I mean I've not seen any statistics to prove the gender bias but you're certainly right about music buffs and the sort of people that would want to start bands in the first place. Call me crazy (just not a chauvinist please) but I sometimes think it's just something innate, like women have better things to be doing with their time than mucking about listening to sweaty man-folk avoid getting real jobs. or something. Two words at the end of the day should guide us all to co-ed enlightenment in these dark times: Kate Bush. __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

07-02-2008, 01:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
Loser The Professor Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 1,113	I hate the female vs. male discussion. Because both voice wise, range wise and everything else is based on how they use it. Yes the male voice can do more going very deep to falsettos, but I don't think that really matters much. I think no matter how your voice sounds or how wide your range is, all that matters is how you use what you have. I mean a female vocalist can have the greatest voice, and yet have ****ty lyrics she will be ridiculed for it. Same goes for men. But if someone with a great voice who can write some good songs and can play an instrament comes around they will be the ones radio stations or whatever play. If a female can play and write/sing than they will be great....And from experience the ones who can do that stuff are better than males in certain ways....

07-02-2008, 02:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,723	A female singers voice can go places a man's voice can't. I'm not talking about hitting the high notes, I'm talking about the nuances of inflection, that for some reason a woman's singing voice is more capable of achieving. This is especially the case with Soul.

07-02-2008, 06:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
WaspStar Back to mono Join Date: May 2008 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 509	Alert: Stereotypes ahead! I think the prominence of male singers over female singers has less to do with vocals than material selection. So many female singers, unfortunately, buy into the whole "sex sells" idea and spend more time on image than substance. Others (Chrissie Hynde comes to mind) spend their time railing against such myths, making the scope of their music somewhat limited. There's also the possibility that fewer women actually join bands (does anyone have any statistics on this?), and so the pool of candidates is actually, proportionally, higher than it is for males. I'll also postulate that most music buffs tend to be male (just an observation gleamed from record shop travels and concert reminiscences), and a predominately male audience is more likely to relate to a male singer. Personally? I prefer idiosyncratic, rough vocals (my favorite singers: Bob Dylan, Johnny Rotten, Howard Devoto, Elvis Costello). "Pleasing" vocals, as a rule don't do much for me. That's why I love the Shangri-Las but don't care for, say, the Supremes or the Crystals, or even Debbie Harry. It seems that more female singers go for the "gentle" sound than male singers, who tend to be more aggressive and less willing to sound "nice." Still, all that said, Poly Styrene led one of the greatest punk bands and recorded one of the most powerful singles ever (Oh Bondage, Up Yours!).

07-02-2008, 09:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
Son of JayJamJah Occams Razor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: End of the Earth Posts: 2,472	My favorite two voices ever are Van Morrison and Joplin. I like way more male singers then female, but every female singer I like a really like. My completely uneducated guess is that Male singers are the safer choice but female singers can be more defining or at the least make you stand out more when they fit.

07-02-2008, 09:08 PM	#17 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	Only the really, really good ones make it I would say.

07-02-2008, 09:18 PM	#19 (permalink)
ProggyMan Reformed Jackass Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,964	Females more so, I guess it applies to everyone though. By make I mean get critical acclaim etc, not sales.