Is Excessive Vibrato Patriotic?

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 21 Jan 2005 3:04 am

I was watching bits and pieces of the Inaugural yesterday, and I noticed that every time people started singing, they used this really wide, dopplering vibrato technique. Even the Marine Choir (or whoever those people in the captain's hats were) were doing this, all in unison. This doesn't seem to be a gospel thing, as those folks usually sing pretty much spot-on the note. I've noticed this too when people are singing the National Anthem at football games: "Oh-wo say can you see-ee-ee-ee, by the dawn's early li-ay-ay-ay-ayt", all this woo-wooing stuff. If a steel player tried playing like that, the band would break his fingers or cut off his bar tab or hand him a b@njo and make him go stand in the corner. Is there some rule that says vibrato denotes passionate love of country or something? I had to turn the sound down there, for a while.[This message was edited by David Mason on 22 January 2005 at 01:49 AM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Jan 2005 4:01 am

maybe it was your TV set ?

t

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 21 Jan 2005 5:41 am

It was cold there. They were just shivering.

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Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 21 Jan 2005 6:37 am

This from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta GA:

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>The medical term for this debilitating condition is "BGS," an acronym for "Brothers Gibb Syndrome." It is also commonly referred to as "Bee Gee's Disease."

The malady manifests itself behaviorally, and was first discovered in the late 1960's in Great Britain. The epidemic peaked in the mid-1970's, coincidentally with the rise in disco-based music.

The cause is unknown, and since the condition generally is not considered terminal, very little research is dedicated to eradicating this disease.

However, the devastation seems to be greatest on those people geographically closest to the vector, as the disease affects the host to a far lesser extent than it does to the listeners of same.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

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[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 21 January 2005 at 06:41 AM.]

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 21 Jan 2005 7:13 am

I thought it was called the "Stevie Nicks" syndrome.....

Bob Markison · Post by **Bob Markison** » 21 Jan 2005 7:36 am

Indeed. Miles Davis and Charlie Parker (among other seasoned pioneers) considered vibrato to be an impediment to creative music making at any tempo. Dinah Shore's vibrato could shift the tectonic plates. I have to stick with Miles and Bird on this one. Just a rare trace of vibrato should do the job. David's point is well taken, and I am deighted to see Herb's medical reference. I suppose Freud would see vibrato as a regressive, irrepressible impossible-to-sublimate, somewhat pitiful cry.

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 21 Jan 2005 7:58 am

I thought it was something the boy bands started. Whitney Houstin didn't use to do it but now she does. Most of the singers on the "American Idol" tv show do this also.

Terry Edwards · Post by **Terry Edwards** » 21 Jan 2005 8:05 am

Alison krauss - no vibrato.

Doesn't get any better!

Terry

John Lacey · Post by **John Lacey** » 21 Jan 2005 8:40 am

Canadian reference: Get Sylvia Tyson, Lucille Starr and Buffy St. Marie all on the same stage and the sheep will be returning for miles.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 21 Jan 2005 9:38 am

Don't forget Dolly, 'specially in the early days!

Thomas Bancroft · Post by **Thomas Bancroft** » 21 Jan 2005 10:14 am

Is that Dolly the Sheep or Dolly the Parton?

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 21 Jan 2005 10:52 am

Even an old farm boy like me knows the difference between Dolly Parton and a sheep.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 21 Jan 2005 11:46 am

I don't think anyone has ever topped Guy Lombardo's sax section for irritating vibrato. They always sounded like each one was riding a jack hammer while playing.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 21 Jan 2005 11:48 am

...

Guess y'all aren't big fans of early Hawaiian steel guitar ...

Maybe alittle ... Dick McIntire backing Ray Kinney ... will remedy that

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[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 21 January 2005 at 11:52 AM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 21 Jan 2005 12:33 pm

Tarzan, now there's a guy that knew vibrato!

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 21 Jan 2005 12:58 pm

"le-eh-eh-eh-et the-ee Ea-ee-ee-ee-gle so-oh-oh-oar..."

yikes!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Jan 2005 1:02 pm

David..you're very aware.....Sheep pretty much don't play the Banjo...

uh oh....I said Banjo... .

t

John Steele · Post by **John Steele** » 21 Jan 2005 1:22 pm

Hey, some of us like Johnny Bush !

-John
p.s. He's my favourite Bush.

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 21 Jan 2005 2:21 pm

I heard a DJ here refer to Toby Keiths vibrato as the kind you can throw a football through.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 21 Jan 2005 2:50 pm

Blame it on the Italians:

"Bel canto (Italian, beautiful singing voice) a lyrical, smooth vocal style associated with eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Italian professional singers and designed to show off the singer's voice, the term first appears in Vaccai's ariette da camera (before 1840); the vocal style associated with the works of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti"

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 21 Jan 2005 8:05 pm

Like Frank, I guess, I thought this was going to be another Toby Keith bashing thread. Oops, did I just open up a new can of worms?

Alison krauss - no vibrato.

That's actually an incorrect statement. Alison uses vibrato, for certain. She uses it in places that I've not heard any other singer use it, though, and as such, has a very subtle effect. It's most always on passing notes, and often on very brief ones. It's there, though; just gotta listen for it. Check out "Living Prayer" or "Restless" off AKUS's new album, Lonely Runs Both Ways.

Anyway, it's more like a warble of a beautiful songbird than ridiculous operatic vibrato, though. Melts me every time... *sigh*

[This message was edited by Chris Lasher on 21 January 2005 at 08:10 PM.]

Derek Duplessie · Post by **Derek Duplessie** » 22 Jan 2005 10:10 am

The republicans have a tendency of getting either washed up celebs. (Michael Bolten, Bo derek, etc.) or performers that have no talent. Thus the reason the singers have annoyingly excessive vibrato.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 22 Jan 2005 11:00 am

Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme, Bing (young) ...

All known for exquisite vibrato ...

I find them captivating ...