Karaoke Forums

I just saw someone sing at a local Karaoke who just blew me away and thought I'd share it with you. He's a heavy set gentleman, who usually comes and wait until the crowd thins out and sing Roger Miller's "King of the Road" then leaves a bit after. A very pleasent voice and does a very decent imitation of Roger Miller. He does this a few times.

Then one night when there are a few people left, he comes up and I was sure he would do the King of the Road again. Nope, he chose Nessun dorma, which surprised me. Then he began to sing with thhe most beautiful tenor operatic voice the entire song, just like Pavarotti. He just blew me away.

I never had formal training so I never knew that people can sing with two completely difference voices depending on the genre of songs. I knew people sing with some variations from rock to pop to country but a complete change like that surprised me.  I have seen Pavarotti sing in person and when he sings pop songs, he still sings in his operatic style. I have never seen someone who can do this before. Anyone else do this or seen this before?

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Seize the day and SING!!!

People can actually talk in one voice and sing in a completely different voice.  Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.), a comedic actor, is a case in point.  His regular speaking voice is very high with a pronounced Southern accent.  When he sings he sings in a beautiful, I believe baritone, could be tenor, voice.   It is day and night and it is not an act.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

We have singers subbing here who can do that. Try listening to JazzyBaggz or Jkolman1179

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I have heard that singers who have been classically trained (which I suppose means mostly opera, but I don't know) find it extremely difficult NOT to sing that same way when they sing popular music, and they get frustrated by it.   I'm sure there are many exceptions, though.  Pat Benetar trained as an opera singer, I believe, and she turned out all right.

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Reward: nine yen in drawer.

Jean Stapleton (Mrs Archie Bunker) is a professionally trained vocalist and sings opera.  The voice she uses in the theme song is her "Edith" voice not her professional one.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Gomer Pyle is a wonderful Tenor.

I sing in a variety of voices and talk in another.  When I open my mouth to sing 'What A Wonderful World' I usally get some VERY strange looks at first.

Btw, if you want to see a wide difference between the 'trained' voice and the popular music voice check out Screamin' Jay Hawkins.  He tried very hard to break into opera and when he was denied entrance into any of the operas he got upset and said if the're going to treat me like an animal I'll act like one and he put together his 'voodoo' act.  Unfortunately, his jab back at the industry took off and he made it his career since it was so popular.  His booming baritone is incredible...

He does have a southern accent however he overenunciated it for the Andy Griffith show.  I watched a behind the scenes on TV Land & he talked almost normal.

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Ok, I guess Pat Benetar is one of the exceptions. However, I agree with Lonman about Jim Nabors. He's an actor and he has ability change voice at will. His acting voice on Gomer Pyle is not his normal voice. I know there are many people who can imitate other's voices at will, like Rich Little, but I heard that it's one thing to speak in differenct voices and difficult to sing in different voice. I know some artists can alter their voices a bit to sing pop versus rock etc. However, I think it's rare to be able to change completely from a operatic voice to pop voice at will.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

I was thinking that maybe the guy was just holding back...or is more nervous when there is alot of people so prefers sticking to more mainstream,foot-tapping stuff...cos if its a song like King of the road,people are more interested in singing along than the actual singer.

So...as you said there was only a few of you left at the end of the night...so maybe the guy got a little braver and thought ahh well...and just let rip with his wonderful voice! Good on him!!