Day 2 - 175 -- Pushing the Limits

Listening to music this past weekend, I realized how often falsetto has been used in popular music. It seems males used it more often, and some contend that it wasn't fully recognized that males and females could produce this vocal effect until later in the 20th century. This might be due to the quality of the vocalization -- the timbre -- in males being different than that produced by females. Regardless of who and the amazing physiology behind how this is produced, it can be quite stunning when used in part or in full in a song.

The physical process necessary to produce the higher range -- by about an octave above 'regular' singing range -- takes some practice. This process allows a person to sing beyond their range -- to push past the constraints of the vocal chords in a way. Similarly, we can all push beyond the constraints of daily life -- it might need a bit of practice, but with the will power, it can be done.

Frankie Valli used this technique to produce a unique sound that fully set his music apart from the rest at that time.  Yet, many others used falsetto intermittently to add something different to a single performance or song. I chose two selections that contain falsetto components. Both songs from the '60s would be very different without this form of vocalization. The first is almost a 'classic' with a wonderful country-style singer who had a masterful vibrato, as well. The second selection from a group was one of the early rock songs that used a language other than English and has near operatic portions from that big voice. Enjoy!

Crying -- Roy Orbison

Cara Mia -- Jay and the Americans