Ah, the low male voice. Prized in choral music but an underused asset in the modern musical world. I'm an unabashed lover of a good velvety voice, but since the advent of pop music nearly all popular songs have been written in higher keys- and not to diss popular music, but I feel like it's something they're missing out on. But fear not, ye males who irritably hum along an octave down to those tunes on the radio. Here's ten of my favourite men adept at singing way down there.
Johnny Cash
Of course, our favourite country singer is the first to spring to mind. One of my mum and dad's favourites, too, so Cash rightfully earns his place as first on this list.
Leonard Cohen
And another one of Cohen's signature bassy mumble set the perfect tone for his mournful, contemplative music. A naturally booming voice that only got deeper and darker with age.
Nick Drake
Nick Drake's music was never afforded much recognition in his own time, but he's become a cult hero since his untimely death that cut his fledgling career so short. You might have noticed a trend so far that most of these singers aren't seen as that technically accomplished- Drake was no great singer, but there was something haunting again about his melancholy vocals.
Barry White
Ah, the king of them all. The sexiest voice ever to grace the music industry. Barry White's sultry bass is the stuff of legend by now, and though he likewise is no longer with us, I think even today most people have a fond appreciation of his classic stuff. I imagine many a child of the 1980s was conceived with one of White's monologues like these on the sound system in the background:
Peter Steele
Jeez, everyone on the first half of this list is dead, that doesn't bode well. Still, there's no forgetting Peter Steele and his earth-shaking lows- also a sex symbol, though of a more cult, and I suppose occult, variety. Enjoy just a small excerpt of what he could do here:
Till Lindemann
Unleashing more of the last vestiges of the alt teenage girl that still remains behind with me, here's another booming heavy metal singer- a reviewer once aptly called Till's voice 'the most masculine sound on earth.' I defy anyone to disagree.
Brad Roberts
Behold, the Peter Steele of folk rock. Brad Robert's speak-singing delivery fits in just perfectly on this list, and I've got to admit, that humming riff does get catchy the more you listen to it.
Ville Valo
Aaaaaaand back to my teenage years, and the moment I realised I didn't want to play with dollies any longer- when this sex-oozing love god first appeared on my radar. Ville Valo doesn't look like he'd be packing a voice quite like that, but god. I'm still devastated I will never see HIM live, but I have my old favourites still on CD when I'm feeling nostalgic.
Avi Kaplan
The acapella thing on YouTube has caught on in the past few years, and every over-the-top acapella group is only as good as their bass is bass-y. Avi Kaplan takes the cake there with his velveteen vocals, though sadly he's no longer with Pentatonix.
George Ezra
And, for balance, to show that the low voice is not totally lost in 2019, George Ezra can mix it up with his mellow tone- he concludes our list of fond lower voices.
So, that's my list. Hopefully not too much for a first myTake. :) Any you're disappointed weren't included? Let me know in your replies.
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