Best songs sung in falsetto?

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Call it a guilty pleasure but damn do I love 'em.

― wuperetta, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"Total Eclipse of the Sun" by Klaus Nomi.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Smokey Robinson to thread?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

and Prince?

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:48 (twenty-two years ago)

How Deep Is The Ocean Ray Charles Invites You to Listen LP. Scary.

― rumple, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:49 (twenty-two years ago)

That one Lenny Kravitz song about its not being over until its over is really good and not just in a "good for lenny kravitz" kind of way!

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Brian Wilson and Curtis Mayfield to thread. Smokey Robinson -- oh yes yes, I second that emotion.

"Fool to Cry" by The Rolling Stones, but not "Miss You"

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I just heard "Kiss" on the radio today and damn if that doesn't make the top 5 of all time.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

all the songs by Sigur Ros!

oooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Wait I forgot, all those songs suck.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm gonna give it up for Beck's "Debra." What the hey.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:59 (twenty-two years ago)

And Justin Timberlake, and Thom Yorke, and I suppose Jeff Buckley can come too...

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 02:59 (twenty-two years ago)

though "Debra," like all Beck, got less interesting the more I started listening to music by actual black people more frequently.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"Donna" by 10CC. I think I like it, anyway.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Roughly 75% of the Fine Young Cannibals catalog.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I really hope someone somwhere once said "Living Colour got less interesting the more I started listening to music by actual white people." Then I won't feel so bad.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Bruce Springsteen's "Lift Me Up" kills.
So does Lambchop's "You Masculine You"
Also Harry Belfonte's "Danny Boy"

I like falsetto to sound just on the edge of falling apart. Prince's is of course amazing but he makes it sound so easy. The tension where it might go off key is where its at.

― Mark (MarkR), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

obviously, "Stayin' Alive" - guaranteed to be played on the radio sometime today, guaranteed to annoy a lot of people, guaranteed to make me happy! "Agh, this sounds so girly!" Well that's what makes it rule, duh.

― Poppy (poppy), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Sparks

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Tongue - REM, of course.

― may pang (maypang), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"Cause I seen something in the rain/with the tears runnin' down, runnin' down your face."

The Beasties' 'Netty's Girl' can come too but 'I Wanna Be Your Lover' just owns and owns and owns.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Sherri, obviously...

Shhhhaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaa-AAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAARI Bay-yay-beeeeeeeeeee

(Sherrie baaaaabyyy...)

― ModJ (ModJ), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Mr Floppy's cover of "Wuthering Heights".

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, sparks seconded, especially "something for the girl with everything". scintillating.

Also, _NEU!_ "lieber honig". sublime.

― Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The Four Seasons. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. So much falsetto.

Lou Christie-Lightning Strikes. The chorus.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Take on Me by A-ha. well, just the chorus, but still. YOU trying singing that at the next karaoke night!

― pizza dog, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:26 (twenty-two years ago)

EARTH, WIND AND FIRE! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!!!

"Reasons" is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm loving the distinct lack of mention of the BeeGees on this thread =)

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Trayce, you might want to double check Poppy's entry...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

DOH. I did a ctrl-F for "bee" and got nothing, hence my comment, mumble mutter that'll learn me to not pay attention...

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.dropd.com/issue/53/Rush/lee7.jpg

― spittle (spittle), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 06:49 (twenty-two years ago)

All of Bronski Beat
Delfonics - Hey There Lonely Girl
Al B. Sure - Nite and Day (parts)
Heatwave - Always and Forever (towards the end)
Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonite
James - Laid ("Ah you think your so prettiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeee....")
U2 - Bono on Numb, The Fly, Lemon, etc...
Duke - So in Love with you

― kickitcricket, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

For so long...

― Speedy Gonzalas (Speedy Gonzalas), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 08:11 (twenty-two years ago)

what's that earth wind & fire song, i think it's called "keep your head to the sky"...it ends with this acapella part where they repeat the phrase, going up an octave each time, and by the end they can't really get the notes out and it's like you can hear their vocal chords just shredding...and you start to look around to see if any glassware in your home has been shattered

― Dallas Yertle (Dallas Yertle), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 08:17 (twenty-two years ago)

He may not be fashionable but Darren Hayes deserves to be recognised for his exceptional falsetto so I'm nominating 'Strange Relationship'.

― Amarga (Amarga), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 08:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"Donna" by 10CC. I think I like it, anyway.

I like "Donna" by 10cc too!!! It sounds like the Muppets on drugs!!!!! Especially the "Missy Piggy" voice on the telephoney bit!!!!!

Mind you, I'm the sort of person who thinks that bloke out of Gomez sounds like Fozzy Bear!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 09:24 (twenty-two years ago)

'Nature's Whore' by Geneva.

By God, I loved Geneva.

― Kate Jane Connolly (fixitgirl), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 09:25 (twenty-two years ago)

GusGus- 'Believe'

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 09:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait, was I thinking of the wrong song by them?? I'm not sure. Anyway, something by GusGus.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

YOU FOOLS FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM WHATS IN YOUR BLOOD THE ORIGINAL COMIN STRAIGHT FROM THE STREETS

http://www.cmgww.com/music/tim/images/timt002.jpg

― Dan I., Wednesday, 10 December 2003 09:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The Real Thing, "Children of the Ghetto".

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 09:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Tiny Tim seconded, also he is what Justin Darkness will look like in 20 years time.

There's a gorgeous Stylistics song I want to mention but I've forgotten the name of it. (I appreciate "gorgeous Stylistics song" doesn't narrow it down too much either.)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 10:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Eels - Selective Memory

― Simon H., Wednesday, 10 December 2003 11:35 (twenty-two years ago)

wot no Curtis Mayfield?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Baby Please Come Home by Donnie Elbert

― PaulT, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Earth Wind and Fire
Smokey Robinson - Bad Girl

― Chris B. Sure (Chris V), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:39 (twenty-two years ago)

all this way before someone mentions
'a man needs to be told' by the charlatans (uk) ?

to say nothing of curtis mayfield...

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 12:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Sparks: This Town Ain't Big Enough...
Associates: Part Fears Two, especially that last note!
Louis Philippe: You Mary You

― Jez (Jez), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, TAKE 6!!!!!!!!!!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

the Chipmunks 0WN this thread

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Geddy Lee's voice is just like that --- it's not falsetto.

KLAUS NOMI, people, KLAUS NOMI!

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/1306/homme2.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Stones - 'Emotional Rescue' !

― Berkeley Sackett (calstars), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

dammit, I was just about to say that!

"Fly at Night" by Chilliwack.

― sucka (sucka), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Mercury Rev

or is that how his voice sounds normally and there's a falsetto above it that can only be heard by dogs?

― neil simpson (neil simpson), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"Tongue" is the only REM song I like anymore.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

The Capris - There's A Moon Out Tonight
The Boo Radleys - ...And Tomorrow The World
The Beach Boys - Surf's Up

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/competitions/2002/09/images/leo_sayer_270x165.jpg

― Jeremy (Jeremy), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

The freaky bridge in Harry Chapin's "Taxi".

― Arthur (Arthur), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

can we establish whether and when Axl sings in falsetto? Or does he just have a huge range? Sweet Child 'o Mine?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

can a girl sing in falsetto ?

― kevin brady (groeuvre), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I can tell you've never been down the Kate Bush disco with me if you need to ask that, Kevin.

― Sarah (starry), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Disco...mmmmmmm.....beeeeer

― kevin brady (groeuvre), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Shudder to Think - "So into You" = falsetto? If so, then v. much classic.

Also: Mick Jones' backing vox on "Police and Thieves"

― Ben Dot (1977), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I Believe In A Thing Called Love just made my list...

― ModJ (ModJ), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

On one of those Wergo label samplers, Cathy Berbarian makes a great aria out of the Beatles' "Ticket To Ride".

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

To paraphrase: If something's too silly to be sung, it can always be sung in falsetto.

― Guymauve, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

can a girl sing in falsetto ?

Yes. See old Mariah Carey and Rachelle Farrell.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 22:21 (twenty-two years ago)

can a girl sing in falsetto ?

Yes, she can. And Minnie Riperton's performance of "Loving You" certainly deserves a mention in this thread.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Huge parts of the Beach Boys' recorded output also own this thread.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think it's fair to call Smokey Robinson a falsetto. He's just a high tenor. Same with Marice White, but for sure on Philip Bailey. There has to be something out-of-natural-range ("false," hence the word) about the singing to be truly falsetto. The great Barry Gibb's natural voice, for instance, is a rather robust tenor.

― dylan (dylan), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

When I say "for sure on Philip Bailey," I mean for sure he sings falsetto.

― dylan (dylan), Thursday, 11 December 2003 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

desmond dekker.

― arjun (arjun), Thursday, 11 December 2003 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.pinkyandperky.net/assets/watchlist/pandp.jpg

do pinky and perky count?

― bakhtin, Thursday, 11 December 2003 06:41 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Beat It- Michael Jackson
Hash Pipe- Weezer
I Believe In A Thing Called Love- Darkness
Under the Bridge- Red Hot Chili Peppers
California Girls- Beach Boys
Stayin\' Alive- Beegees

― Steve McMillen, Friday, 2 April 2004 01:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Ted Leo OWNZ this thread. Thank you and good night.

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Friday, 2 April 2004 05:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Under the Bridge??

― oops (Oops), Friday, 2 April 2004 06:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Male: "Sherry" - Four Seasons
Female: "Ring My Bell" - Anita Ward

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 2 April 2004 07:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"We Had It All" by Green on Red.

― Baravelli. (Jake Proudlock), Friday, 2 April 2004 10:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Kurt Wagner has thrown down more than one decent track using falsetto (e.g. "Give Me Your Love").

Randy Jackson (Zebra) wore his falsetto like brass knuckles.

...and while i'm not sure what would best describe the vocal stylings of Eugene Chadbourne, his pitchy sqeaks deserve at least an honorable mention.

― christoff (christoff), Friday, 2 April 2004 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I know Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough is obvious and uncool but damn I love it to bits.

― syntaxfree, Friday, 2 April 2004 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

twenty years pass...

Leo Sayer - "You Make Me Feel LIke Dancing"

― CEO Greedwagon (Neanderthal), Thursday, 18 April 2024 03:11 (two years ago)

every time I get to this part my skeleton leaves my body and I disassociate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEn-mmFiYDs-

― werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 18 April 2024 06:22 (eight hours ago) link

― Evan, Thursday, 18 April 2024 14:57 (two years ago)

was hoping to see that when i saw this thread bumped, gj evan

― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Thursday, 18 April 2024 15:00 (two years ago)

one year passes...

I'm not saying this is one of the best songs sung in falsetto but this is the most recently updated thread that fits. Anyway this got to #4 in the (UK) charts in 1970 and then he had another top 10 hit at the end of the year - and then a #13 hit the next year - and I've never heard of him or heard any of these hit songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C8W6MsDHbU

― Posts That Witness Madness (Tom D.), Monday, 28 July 2025 14:32 (ten months ago)

... from South Shields!

― Posts That Witness Madness (Tom D.), Monday, 28 July 2025 14:34 (ten months ago)

Hip Priest

― Blood On The Knobs, Monday, 28 July 2025 14:39 (ten months ago)

Eddie Harris's tour de force "Why Must We Part" definitely belongs here. eddie is doing the falsetto lead AND all the background vocals. take that, d'angelo!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msoqcn5crgQ

― budo jeru, Monday, 28 July 2025 15:27 (ten months ago)

wow, great song

― five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map), Monday, 28 July 2025 15:41 (ten months ago)

If someone has a better falsetto than Al Green, I haven't heard it.

― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 29 July 2025 13:58 (ten months ago)

Canned Heat - "Going Up The Country"

― imperial frfr (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 29 July 2025 15:18 (ten months ago)

shocked to see no mention of either the congos or junior murvin here

― ava (aiva), Tuesday, 29 July 2025 15:54 (ten months ago)

shocked i say

― ava (aiva), Tuesday, 29 July 2025 15:54 (ten months ago)

also 'going up' by coil. what a tune

― ava (aiva), Tuesday, 29 July 2025 16:06 (ten months ago)

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