help - raucous / hoarse singers and their songs

[foq1978]

Synonyms:
absonant, acute, atonal, blaring, blatant, braying, brusque, cacophonous, discordant, dissonant, dry, ear-piercing, grating, grinding, gruff, harsh, hoarse, husky, inharmonious, jarring, loud, piercing, rasping, sharp, squawking, stertorous, strident, thick, unharmonious, unmusical

This is super weird for me to post, but the fact is that I have a very raucous / hoarse / etc voice, myself - and my range isn't much better than that. Nevertheless, I do want to record some of my songs and, even worse, I want to sing them. However, I need to find inspiration (and some solutions that other people have already have found in terms of singing with such voice).

So yes, my main inspirations are tom waits and beefheart. More like waits when he's using his really hoarse voice. But are there any other singers / recordings I should know? I thought about Rod Stewart and that guy from Ben's Brothers, but their singing are more, say, conventional, don't you think? Sometimes I think I should blatantly sound weird so I won't sound or feel weird.

So, help and suggestions please?

Thanks!

[foq1978]

BUMP!

Come on, no comments on my sad story?

[Vakmere]

Originally Posted by foq1978

[indent] I do want to record some of my songs and, even worse, I want to sing them. However, I need to find inspiration (and some solutions that other people have already have found in terms of singing with such voice).
Thanks!

1. Even worse?? Right there you bring a negitive. If you are concerned about your skill as a singer and possibly offending a listener you're in good company. Janis Joplin, to my ears, had an annoying raspy fingernail across a chalkboard tone but the energy and attitude she sang with made her marketable....as well as other off stage antics...

2. I need to find inspiration (and some solutions that other people have already have found in terms of singing with such voice).
If the timbre of your voice fits the music then fine. If you have to practice a particular vocal sound over and over until you get it right then put time into it.

Anything is possible

[foq1978]

Thanks for the tips and recommendations, Vakmere. You're right: maybe I should build the arrangements and instruments of the song around my voice, not the other way around!

I also share your opinion on Janis Joplin

Thanks again!

[Hoover]

Richard Butler, of Psychedelic Furs

While I don't think he fits all the synonyms on your list, I definitely think he qualifies as "hoarse" ...and I am inexplicably attracted to his voice, despite the fact that it hurts to even think about trying to sing that way myself.

[foq1978]

Thanks for the tip, Hoover! I'll check it out right away!

[foq1978]

Great band! Not hoarse enough for me, though

But thanks, I like the songs...

[elgecko]

Joe Cocker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWRB_AssJ7k
Delbert McClinton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxNnEEK6uG0
Greg Allman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiuI0bhB4XI
his guitarist, Warren Haynes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bjgyp36zZ0
The queen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDIaDS9HhMw

[foq1978]

Wow, lots of links! Thanks a lot, El Gecko. I will listen to those right now.

[knigel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyj-R97vj-U

Dicky Barrett? Maybe?

[foq1978]

Originally Posted by knigel

Dicky Barrett? Maybe?

Yes, he fits
And wow, I haven't heard from this band since the 90s.

[knigel]

You know, they still play! I saw them last year at their hometown throwdown (well, the last night in Providence). I stopped buying albums after "Don't Know How To Party," but they were absolutely my favorite band in high school. What I didn't realize--they had HUUUGE hits after that. "The Impression That I Get"--I bet that was the song of the year when it came out.

What made me laugh, they played something off More Noise, and Dicky said, "this song is for the old school! who hear is old school?" And everyone raised their hands. Ha! I bet 75% of the audience weren't even born the first time I saw them (in 1991). (It was an all-ages show)

Anyway, I feel you brother-of-the-gravelly-voice. I play guitar/sing in another band, so I'll post some clips when we get the album up. The band in my sig is the band, but that's not me singing. Same music though.

[Barkless Dog]

Brian Kehoe from The Kehoe Nation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM8dlQ2floE

The Singer From Dir En Grey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6RGf...CB3C0&index=24


Johnny Winter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8siL...rom=PL&index=1

Dr John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct4sVVqeoUE

Girugamesh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkf8e6Z7Z_4

Maximum The Hormone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOT0tpSUdFc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSH25...rom=PL&index=6

[foq1978]

Originally Posted by knigel

Anyway, I feel you brother-of-the-gravelly-voice. I play guitar/sing in another band, so I'll post some clips when we get the album up. The band in my sig is the band, but that's not me singing. Same music though.

I'm waiting for the clips, then! Thanks for your help and memories of TMMB!

I'll check out your band later, also.

[foq1978]

Originally Posted by Barkless Dog

Brian Kehoe from The Kehoe Nation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM8dlQ2floE

The Singer From Dir En Grey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6RGf...CB3C0&index=24


Johnny Winter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8siL...rom=PL&index=1

Dr John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct4sVVqeoUE

Girugamesh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkf8e6Z7Z_4

Maximum The Hormone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOT0tpSUdFc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSH25...rom=PL&index=6

Thanks for all the references. I'll check them out as soon as I can.
Plus, your nickname alone is inspiring enough, BarklessDog

[foq1978]

Found another (great) one:

http://www.myspace.com/doveman