Is Bobby Debarge the greatest falsetto of all time?

[DonRe]

Didnt we just have a stylistics thread floating around.

Russell thompkins dont count?

 

[BK360NATL]

 

[Sbp]

Michael would sing in ranges typically reserved for contralto and mezzo sopranos. That's why he would be classified as a counter tenor like Tevin Campbell or Ralph Tresvant. His voice was just naturally high.

No he didn't. Neither the other guys you mentioned.

Via a Tumblr blog about vocalists:
Countertenor
Michael’s voice is unmistakably light and even androgynous. This is most likely why people would call Michael a countertenor. His tessitura is high, but not way up there with a countertenor’s voice. He is simply a non-lazy tenor, who explores his range. Most tenors who actually use their range are labelled countertenors (eg. Bruno Mars, Mitch Grassi), just like Michael.

 

[pawdalaw]

Minnie Ripperton washes all of these nikkas.

 

[Mindfield333]

Jesse Powell was underrated

 

[LeaveMyHairLineAlone]

Debarge

 

[Clayton Endicott]

In no particular order:

Bobby Debarge
Phillip Bailey
Eddie Kendricks
El Debarge
Wayne Cooper (Cameo)

I love Maxwell, Prince, D’Angelo etc but they are not true falsettos. Even MJ was a counter tenor that could effortlessly slip into a falsetto. They can all carry high notes very well

Forgot about Eddie. Good call

 

[Clayton Endicott]

Yea he's one of the few falsettos that has real power behind it

Those notes at the end of Fantasy

 

[jj23]

Phillip Bailey

Only correct answer. Also folks don't like him but Bruno Mars' falsetto is up there....

 

[Rhapscallion Démone]

No he didn't. Neither the other guys you mentioned.

Via a Tumblr blog about vocalists:
Countertenor
Michael’s voice is unmistakably light and even androgynous. This is most likely why people would call Michael a countertenor. His tessitura is high, but not way up there with a countertenor’s voice. He is simply a non-lazy tenor, who explores his range. Most tenors who actually use their range are labelled countertenors (eg. Bruno Mars, Mitch Grassi), just like Michael.

A Lyric Tenor was/is a tenor used to sing pieces that are very wordy and need a vocalist with agility and brightness to their tone so the Lyrics can be delivered to the listeners with clarity. A good Countertenor can sing Lyric Tenor parts and a good Lyric Tenor can enter into Countertenor territory but there is a difference.
Freddie Mercury is a Lyric Tenor


Paul McCartney is also a Lyric Tenor


Michael is a countertenor because his voice naturally rests in his upper chest lol. Michael sang and talked from his clavicles with so much ease that his voice sounded androgynous like the tumblr post said. That is a full blown countertenor not a Lyric Tenor.

Now listen to Paul and Michael on Say Say Say. You can hear the difference between a pop Lyric Tenor and a pop Countertenor

 

[King]

No, IMO that goes to Kevon Edmonds. Cleanest most powerful falsetto I’ve ever heard and we never even got to hear him sing in his 20s/teens.

Most of his tracks he recorded were like at the age of 35+ and he was in PRIME vocally




He had to be in his late 40s in this video:



Hell he still has better pipes than his peers as a falsetto at damn near 70 years old