Can you think of any instrumentalists who sing like their instruments?
To explain-- My vocal coach (yes, I took singing lessons for a bit, but it didn't work out, so don't ask me to sing for you!) once told me that if a musician is trained on an instrument before they learn to sing properly, they sing like that instrument. For example, he said I was singing like a piano (my primary instrument) in that I wasn't sliding the notes together, but singing them more individually as if they were piano keys.
I think about this every time I hear Steve Vai (primarily a guitarist) sing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7L_4FgYUGk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uMxCREIRUI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ybQNXA17Tk
Do you think he sings like a guitar?
Can you think of any other examples?
2009-07-26T13:21:14Z
Fair Judgment-- I'm not quite sure what "juvenile response" you are speaking of, but whatever it is, you are excused!
"yet I haven't spent much time on my gorgeous Ibanez"....hmm, that sounds a lot like me.
Frushy. Great example.
Teaim2009-07-26T12:07:46Z
Favorite Answer
My answer is about singers who sing like the musicians they like hearing.
Billie Holiday used to say that she sings like her favorite horn players, Lester Young (sax), and Roy Eldridge (trumpet). I agree with her, especially about Lester Young.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tNSp7MaADM
Lester is the mellow sax. Eldridge is the guy having an exorsism towards the end of the song.
Sheila Jodran is another singer. She sings a lot like Charlie Parker used to play sax.
Lots of sax players in the 1960's squealed and screeched thier horns. It was the sixities! Max Roach asked Abbey Lincoln to scream and make noises. I'm sure he was inspired by lots of the sax players of that era. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IOz3FeOwGQ
Lisa Gerrard says she doesn't like using words when she sings because it limits her. She was in the band Dead Can Dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJqUbb-WuPQ
I love your examples, I have heard much of Steve Vai but I only am vaguely familiar with his work. Another very intriguing question of yours...and excuse my juvenile response to your last question, would you please?
I am almost certain I know a very good answer to your question but I can only think of one particular musician on the spot; John Frusciante:
An instrumental of his: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yb4VKo6vlg Boy do I love this one - I have tried replicating the sound myself, but was only capable of messing up a perfectly fine song. Though I am currently trying to perfect the solo @ 2.54. Most guitarists would find this fairly simple, yet I haven't spent much time on my gorgeous Ibanez, at least not as much as I would want to - but that is only due to pressured timing/circumstances.
And here is where he graces our ears with his voice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjDp3gIzTrY&feature=related
Tori Amos learned the piano as a child, and one could say that with her range , she sings like a piano!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2WRn3xfEkA Tori Amos - here in my head
Brian Wilson, in his role of producer would often sing the parts to the session musicians to get the exact sound he had in his head, this could not be explained by mere notes..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC_UILNwWrc The Beach Boys - God Only Knows (A rare version with Brian singing lead)
another musician who came to mind was Eric Clapton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5USg8_1gA Eric Clapton - Layla
and how can we forget the remarkable Jimi Hendrex? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPQ0aPcqWgM Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing