What I love about Thom is that when he sings he just goes off into his own world of the music. Disconnected from what is about him to just perform. Seen radio head live once around King of Limbs era. Just epic show.
Hahahahaha, had not noticed AT ALL! I could venture a couple of reasons, none of them would surprise you. But how fascinating, that! Combined with 10 minutes on falsetto, what is going on here? He may be transitioning... toward another gender identity. Who knows. I don't think the subject's treatment warrants 10 minutes, however.
For me, It's not just about the voice but more about the man behind the voice. Anyone can sing but not anyone can build something so ''mythical'' over the course of history with his voice and lyrics like Thom Yorke did.
Carl Wehden love this video. It's cool hearing singers voices get analyzed. You realize there's more that goes into it than just opening your mouth making sound
Carl Wehden you know I noticed you mentioned that Thom isn't famous for singing powerfully but what about the long high note during the bridge in Creep? Or in the song "You" there's a powerful note in the second verse. I feel like there's more I'm not thinking of too.
Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy from Muse are really known for their falsetto-like voice technique usage. The thing that drew me into them is how connected and true they seem to their own songs and performance. They dont really sing very high chest voice usually, but it doesnt matter. Its their style, and it doesnt require a lot of muscle strength in the voice, but it does require lots of practice to perform like this. As far as the natural singer side of this that you talk about, I really think that most of these singers just focused on how they could give most emotions and justice to their song with what they had. The way you perceive developing a product with songs and your voice, rather than how to hit this and that note in full voice will make you a better singer. And then they just develop over time and get stronger and more consistent. You can hear that they dont worry about fucking up, because they just do it without worrying, unlike most people on UA-cam searching all these videos for tips and tricks.
Although they sing with similar technique, it's weird because matt Bellamy sounds soo powerful when he goes high, he doesn't have to be soft to be precise or stable.......
...and you will know us by the Trail of Dead Holy shit that was the most oversimplified oversimplification in the history of broad sweeping generalizations in the entire history of the fucking universe.
Mike Carpenter totally agree. Thom def has a "softer" or "lighter" voice- especially with all the falsetto he uses. But there are plenty of songs they do where is doesnt use falsetto and really belts out those notes. He has a very strong voice, but just like the rest of radiohead, they employ so many different styles, techniques, etc in their music, ur not just getting that strong, powerful vocal track every single song.
brilliant analysis .... i fell in love with radiohead in high school , it took a special moment on acid to take off ...cause i used to hate his voice and thought their music was creepy but once you fall in love with radiohead there is simply no going back.... now as a 31 adult who is also a musician i understand that thom has basically inherited the worst possible genetics singing wise and has managed through passion and sheer will to overcome his weaknesses , this leads to some of the best performances.... you can literally watch him on stage while he goes up and down connecting with the universe and overcoming his inherited weak vocals --- it translates into a special beauty unique and angelic
Thom's earlier falsetto vocal parts really showed the influence of Bono from U2 back in the day. But he's made it his own over the years and gone to a new, other level.
I love this. I’m a singer, and Thom probably has the biggest influence on my singing, because we’re fairly similar in tone and range (really not tooting my own horn here, he’s obviously light years beyond me in every aspect)
As a performer myself, this is an incredible video about the precision it takes to be able to perform at this level. About someone who's technique is impeccable, but is not thought of necessarily as a stereotypically brilliant performer. Bravo.
Man, just a gorgeous analysis of one of my all time favorite singers. The nuance of emotion that Thom Yorke communicates is something I want in my vocals, and based on your explanations I can really start to understand the mechanics behind how he and other top level singers can achieve this magic of having the audience feel what they feel. I love your intuitive approach to vocal coaching. You get why guys like Thom York and Kurt Cobain are so great (your video on Kurt is epic).. anyway I'm really looking forward to my first lesson with you. Thanks again for putting yourself "out there" with this stuff. For me and what I want to achieve with my singing it's pure gold that I would't be getting if not for you. Much gratitude brother. ✨🙏🏼
The irony of the (very necessary and useful!) analytical aspect of observing Thom Yorke's singing technique is that, I'm sure he has never done so himself. His control and delivery reflects his personality, anatomy, and genuine way of expression. That's probably the most important thing to learn from him, along with good control and technique.
let´s not forget that Thom is almost 53 years old. I think he´s the only singer who can sing this well at his age... leaving aside the fact that his voice is beyonde beautiful
There is absolutely nowhere to hide when trying to sing delicate falsetto in a live setting. You can do it flawlessly in the comfort of your own home, but to be able to sing that stuff under pressure takes a whole other level of confidence. Thom is definitely an inspiration.
Great video, love the insight into how his singing style, the dexterity he has is mind blowing, especially live and underpressure as you mentioned. Another great example is 'last flowers' from the in rainbows album disc 2. Theres a live version from the basement on youtube aswell
Just wanted to say that this video is awesome and spot on. You're getting into the nitty gritty of how the voice works and the special things that make people like Thom stand out. Also I just started reading your book and cannot recommend it enough. People go out and get it ASAP!
Went to a Thom Yorke concert on the 15th in San Francisco. God, he ended it in Unmade and man, there were some tears. He’s a crazy man. He dances crazy too, even in concert, it’s hilarious. Love you Thom
Thank you for this. I am a person who tends to get too bogged down in details and precision and less so on feeling things naturally. I am a natural singer, I guess you could say, in that I can sing fairly well and haven’t had training, and have improved just by observing and feeling. But I’ve gotten stuck in progression because I don’t really understand the mechanics of what I’m doing with my voice and how to improve certain things (like creating a vibrato in my voice and doing trills like he does here). Thom Yorke is my idol as a singer, so I’m really happy for this explanation. I aspire to be like him as a singer; not sound the same, but to be my own with this exact type of skill. That is my goal.
I just found your video after 4 years😭. First off I got goosebumps just hearing your voice alone. You are a great singer. Secondly, I never really knew what made me feel this certain way about this song. It is so emotional especially this performance and you were able to break down what I was feeling without me being able to express that. Great job! Greetings from Germany❤️
I think what lays behind the details of the voice is the pain of the singer. technically speaking it's small details, but then in the big picture you can hear it because you simply _feel_ it. no one can imitate that. I also don't think every singer has this. I appreciate the uniqueness of Thom Yorke's voice and all that lays behind it. this sort of music is the music you feel.
Not comparing myself at all just relating a similar personal experience, I can relate to this learned experience or "knowing what's important to know and what isn't needed" through playing an instrument and singing. I am a learned singer. I was taught it before anything else. As I picked up instruments I quickly learned you need to focus on either the singing or the playing. Also you tend to lean in the more learned properties. And that so greatly effects the way you sound. So for me, I naturally leaned on my singing and it put me in a place where I naturally learned what I had to work to sing and what I could leave to muscle memory. That's what I hear in this. Someone confidently performing with their voice in a way that makes clear they are beyond comfortable with it. The mind is elsewhere.
Would love to hear you take on Morrissey. His voice is fascinating and to my ear the absolute impeccable balance of tuneful craft with some eccentricities to make it interesting and powerful. Aside from the obvious tunes, something like “lucky lisp” really shows his power.
Thanks to Carl and also Jeff Rolka I am discovering now my head voice potential and I just discovered that seamlessly connecting chest-head goes not only easier when singing soft but also when adding a lot of air. I check my progress with singing "The girl with april in her eyes" (and when a traveler called, seeking help at the door, only food and a bed for a night) It's hard there not to flip.
yeah closure trips many people up often to get a clutter free sound it's simple just to get rid of the compression and start with something simple and light you can build a clutter free compressed sound from that point.
I’m not a singer but I’m a huge fan of Thom Yorke and Radiohead. Thom’s voice has always been really mysterious to me so this was very interesting to watch.
I've seen Radiohead live. Thom Yorke is the total package. He can compose, play, and sing. He is under appreciated by my friends but this video can show how much better he is than they think. Great vid man!
I can't understand people who write negative comments here. They have nothing objective to say, just anger, waste of words.Why do that? The man trying his best to help yall for free. Why don't just appreciate that?If it's not helpfull for you, it doesn't mean it's junk. For some people this stuff is precious gold. Thank you carl, this video helped me a lot.
TY for being honest. Being in front of 1000's of people, year after year, from 1991 on...there's a huge difference. Professionals get made by the crucible of the pressure. But, make no mistake, it IS pressure.
If I am missing something here then i apologise but really can’t cope with analysis of the most beautiful precious voice ever he captures all of my being i love him ❤️
Definitely misleading title. Though after that, amazing deconstruction of Thom. So nice to hear someone understand that it's not just "falsetto" but working within the available frequency range to create an ideal saturation of audible range.
He’s a great singer because he means what he says. Tom Petty and Bob Dylan are arguably two of the worst vocalist in professional music history but were wildly successful. Same could be said for Billy Corgan. It’s because they were honest, relevant with their lyrics, & passionate. Classical vocal technique doesn’t teach that, in personal experience. Most teachers focus on dotting i’s and crossing t’s and miss how much impact really feeling the words has on delivery. Brandon Boyd of Incubus is a great example. He was a platinum selling vocalist for 20 years before he took the first vocal lesson. It’s a matter of getting a microphone, digging into the rhythm, and saying what’s on your heart. I mean, if you’re going to sing opera or a classical piece of music, that’s a different story but w/ modern music, a lot of the rules go out the window. Cool video!!
Thom’s tone is thin, plaintive, vulnerable, etc., but his intonation is on point. CJF has quite a few intonation issues in this video. I point this out to draw attention to the difficulty of singing this light, airy style while staying in tune. Thom is really great at this. He’s conveying a ton of emotion, sometimes using tone that is not classically thought of as “correct” or beautiful, but the notes are accurate. This is vital to pulling it off.
The demo's here are more than good enough to get the point across, it's not a performance the point is to get broad concepts across not to sound exactly right at all times xx
I found the calligraphy analogy to be very insightful. I found your video after a session of singing high (new singer) where I took the opposite approach and didn't like how it felt or the results, so this shifted my entire perspective on how to approach these notes going forward. thanks man!
Impressive analysis. You really nailed the nuance. Gotta say tho, on the bends and OKC tour, he did have serious power, unusual power, but effective all the same. He used to be known for blasting out a sustained, projected high note. That was some time back tho🙂 cheer m8. You should do Elliott Smith.
I think that was the very first video of yours that i watched and i knew it man. U knew and know exactly what u are doing and whats happening with the voice. So many details on both Yorke videos that u have covered, my hat's off.
Nothing makes me run faster from a vocal coach's channel than the incessant need to put vibrato on every, single, syllable. You incessantly analyze the nuances of Thom's voice, but can't be bothered to control one of the most notable aspects as you're trying to replicate it? Singers like Thom (and SO many other popular performers) don't shove vibrato on every phrase, but vocal coaches can't help themselves for some reason.
When you sing on a 20 gigs tour, bad sleeping, jet lag and so on, and after that you have an invitation to sing on tv... I want to see you sing after all this...
I love your voice as well! I too sing/produce music. Whether its any good is probably up to the audience. lol Inbox me on facebook! Would love to pick your brain.
It's kind of strange, but I have an easier time singing in front of a lot of people than a few. Working as a cashier for over 20 years probably helps- I just don't care what people think and that makes it easier to be vulnerable in the way you are when you sing with emotion in front of a room of people you don't know.
Oddly enough, the bigger the crowd , the more comfortable I am. There's more energy there that you can either make a choice to feed off of, or mess with. To that end, the song selections run the gamut between soothing and shocking. :D It's fun to throw a few curveballs even when the energy is good. Singing light opera in a bar is kind of like telling jokes in an emergency room: no one expects it and it's a little risky. People don't always clap, but in 3 years only one person has booed. :D
I think that may be because, with bigger crowds, it’s easier to “dehumanize” them, so to speak. When in front of a smaller group of people, the interaction between you and the audience is much more intimate, which may probably leave you more nervous.
It doesn't, though. Always just more fun when there's more people :D As a cashier, I don't get nervous and am around complete strangers for almost 10 hours a day.
This is so interesting. I always thought I couldn't sing which was more of a confidence thing.. but once I learned of the huge world of vocal technique, man... nice vid!
Hi Carl, I find your analysis in this video amazing, I learned a lot by watching it several times. Your analysis is very detailed and perfectionist, I think you hit the mark when talking about Thom's calmness and carefreeness. Congratulations. PS: Did you ever listen to James Blake, I really think he deserves one of your analyses.
thom yorke is a great singer when he’s doing solo performances or the more laid back radiohead songs, however when he performs the louder radiohead tracks i feel like his voice is strained slightly
Really Brilliant video mate, I am already a big Thom Yorke fan, and you have just taken my appreciation to the next level. Thanks for breaking it down so smoothly.
I am obsessed with Thom Yorke and Radiohead. I clicked your vid thinking "Who is this clown that thinks he's gonna educate Thom on how to sing. I didnt mind the misleading title because it brought me here and your voice is incredible! Can't wait to explore your other vids!
What people aren't commention on is: Not only is Thom performing at a 10/10 level...this is a level 10/10 composition...that's ALL HIS. AND HES BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS.
You're comparing yourself with Yorke. You know how many times he sang on live television? how many times he sang in front of thousands of people? Hundreds of times. Of course he's gonna be calm. It's normal for him to be watched by thousands of people. It's not normal for you, and that's why you wouldn't be calm.
This is amazing, I’ve been listening to this version everyday many weeks ago. It’s been a pleasure for me to hear these “new” subtle things you point out. Thank you so much. I’m curious about what you think about , “Where I end and you begin” and “How to disappear completely”; those are examples of him using his voice in a more aggressive way, but somehow fragile as well. What are your thoughts about this natural way of singing?
5:44 When you repeat that line, you're actually adding a bit of tension with the vibrato. He completely releases the tension in his voice from that part. No vibrato. I find that particularly hard to mimic, because when I was first learning how to song I considered vibrato as a way to make vocals more impressive, and I began using it habitually. So now when I'm covering or writing a song, going through a part where a vibrato doesn't belong, I have to consciously stop myself from doing it, because it's essentially become a bad habit.
I just found this amazing channel and would love to have you rip my singing apart. I feel like more than anything, I would learn more about myself. Holy shit man, this is as real as it gets. "You just have to do it" for reals.
I have a new vocal technique channel uploads every week. ua-cam.com/channels/ptWfm6ZZ5rRfvycLEYqqfw.html
This partly explains why it sounds like shit when I sing Radiohead songs.
lol this made me laugh ;D
I wish this was the *only* reason why I sound like shit when I sing Radiohead haha.
God dammit so true
I actually get these bits of people think I can sing.
🤣🤣🤣
*Thom Yorke's evil twin brother examines Thom's singing.*
If Thom Yorke and Simon Pegg had a child.
totally , haha strange
LOL!
nice i can't take this image out anymore
Haha!
What I love about Thom is that when he sings he just goes off into his own world of the music. Disconnected from what is about him to just perform. Seen radio head live once around King of Limbs era. Just epic show.
yeah he is in his own world fo' sur'
Misleading title
looking for love, hope you enjoyed the video!
Why is he wearing a bra, it drives me nuts, good content though
cannot be unseen
Hahahahaha, had not noticed AT ALL! I could venture a couple of reasons, none of them would surprise you. But how fascinating, that! Combined with 10 minutes on falsetto, what is going on here? He may be transitioning... toward another gender identity. Who knows. I don't think the subject's treatment warrants 10 minutes, however.
whollyman wtf are you talking about.
For me, It's not just about the voice but more about the man behind the voice. Anyone can sing but not anyone can build something so ''mythical'' over the course of history with his voice and lyrics like Thom Yorke did.
xeraph02 yeah I know what you mean there is something self reinforcing about confidence and fame that create a bit of an 'aura'
Anyone can play guitar
@@cwehden or maybe self realization helped him remember his aura. And it resulted in fame
That’s the most pompous thing I’ve ever heard.
I fucking love Thom Yorke. Makes some utterly awesome music.
Phantom Prism yeah very 'real' music
Carl Wehden love this video. It's cool hearing singers voices get analyzed. You realize there's more that goes into it than just opening your mouth making sound
Carl Wehden you know I noticed you mentioned that Thom isn't famous for singing powerfully but what about the long high note during the bridge in Creep? Or in the song "You" there's a powerful note in the second verse. I feel like there's more I'm not thinking of too.
he's part divine
*Plot twist: This is Thom Yorke*
In an alternative universe where he wasn't in Radiohead and a millionaire :D
Carl John Franz Too funny! lol
It's because he is emotive. You can hear the emotional content in his voice and performance. It moves people. It certainly moves me.
yes this is a large part of it, open emotional communication like a child, this is what people crave..
This is the first video of yours I have stumbled across and I enjoyed it. I would be curious to hear you discuss Mike Patton.
Is this disguised Thom yorke analyzing his own voice and music?
sadly no I'm just a dude in his bedroom making videos :)
He wants us to know his secrets but won’t embrace the messianic vibe, thus the youtube persona
Thom Yorke and Matt Bellamy from Muse are really known for their falsetto-like voice technique usage. The thing that drew me into them is how connected and true they seem to their own songs and performance. They dont really sing very high chest voice usually, but it doesnt matter. Its their style, and it doesnt require a lot of muscle strength in the voice, but it does require lots of practice to perform like this.
As far as the natural singer side of this that you talk about, I really think that most of these singers just focused on how they could give most emotions and justice to their song with what they had. The way you perceive developing a product with songs and your voice, rather than how to hit this and that note in full voice will make you a better singer. And then they just develop over time and get stronger and more consistent. You can hear that they dont worry about fucking up, because they just do it without worrying, unlike most people on UA-cam searching all these videos for tips and tricks.
yep exactly you can hear that they are calm and not overly concerned which is half the battle, struggling singers panic very easily.
Although they sing with similar technique, it's weird because matt Bellamy sounds soo powerful when he goes high, he doesn't have to be soft to be precise or stable.......
Hahahah wow some of these comments are a laugh
Nikolai Though Matt and Thom use a different kind of head voice.
...and you will know us by the Trail of Dead Holy shit that was the most oversimplified oversimplification in the history of broad sweeping generalizations in the entire history of the fucking universe.
I think thom DEFINITELY can sing powerfully, Exit Music (for a film) is a great example of that. Good video though man!
Mike Carpenter totally agree. Thom def has a "softer" or "lighter" voice- especially with all the falsetto he uses. But there are plenty of songs they do where is doesnt use falsetto and really belts out those notes. He has a very strong voice, but just like the rest of radiohead, they employ so many different styles, techniques, etc in their music, ur not just getting that strong, powerful vocal track every single song.
also, his voice has a lot of emotion. other singers are very good technically but they sound like they are just bored.
he uses a lot of power in Pablo Honey just listen to the two opening trackd of it
@@perkyydevilus4934 Also in Blow Out on the Pablo Honey album. His voice is powerful throughout the chorus in the second verse
Also Nude!!! Oh my gosh that buildup is amazing. Exit Music, Lotus Flower, and Nude are my three favorite Radiohead songs
brilliant analysis .... i fell in love with radiohead in high school , it took a special moment on acid to take off ...cause i used to hate his voice and thought their music was creepy but once you fall in love with radiohead there is simply no going back.... now as a 31 adult who is also a musician i understand that thom has basically inherited the worst possible genetics singing wise and has managed through passion and sheer will to overcome his weaknesses , this leads to some of the best performances.... you can literally watch him on stage while he goes up and down connecting with the universe and overcoming his inherited weak vocals --- it translates into a special beauty unique and angelic
yeah they are dark and real no doubt, sadly not enough successful bands of this type around if you ask me.
my singing teacher hates me when i sing like that.
She said, "it's not a strong voice."
many voice teachers think in this way and it is part of the reason they are so disconnected from modern singing
you or your teachers ever heard elliott smith singing? that man's voice is very "weak" but for his music and his own physicalty, it's perfect
yes people seem to worship him!
Carl Wehden please make a video on what you just said
Emotionally, it's titanic.
You kinda look like Thom Yorke lol. Great vid!
Esteban Rodriguez hah! You think?
I thought so as well.
he looks kinda like a mix of John simm and yorke lmao
just needs the wonky eye
Thom used a time machine to become a millennial and make UA-cam videos about his own work.
Love your analysis. I could never pin point what makes Thom's singing so unique. You nailed it!
Best male voice in modern music.
yeah defo top 10
Along with julian cascablancas
Thom's earlier falsetto vocal parts really showed the influence of Bono from U2 back in the day. But he's made it his own over the years and gone to a new, other level.
yeah also Buckley was a big influence he obviously took singing very seriously at a certain point in his life
do Jonsi
Seconded
Yes! Please
I need this to happen
@@CRindler15 wo is jonsi? Sigourney Weaver's cat in Aliens?
John Connor HAHAHA
Nice clickbait title. But pretty damn interesting video that gives me larger respect for Thom's talents
I love this. I’m a singer, and Thom probably has the biggest influence on my singing, because we’re fairly similar in tone and range (really not tooting my own horn here, he’s obviously light years beyond me in every aspect)
Kobbe yeah he's awesome, an underrated singer I feel like in many ways one of the best we've seen from the 90's school
Nothing wrong with comparing yourself to him mate. He's influenced many others too. Good luck with your music.
@@cwehden Thom Yorke as an underrated singer is one of the biggest bullshits ive ever read in my life
radiohead is as same as nirvana in terms of popularity but they influenced me both pink floyd influenced me on laying guitar
As a performer myself, this is an incredible video about the precision it takes to be able to perform at this level. About someone who's technique is impeccable, but is not thought of necessarily as a stereotypically brilliant performer. Bravo.
Man, just a gorgeous analysis of one of my all time favorite singers. The nuance of emotion that Thom Yorke communicates is something I want in my vocals, and based on your explanations I can really start to understand the mechanics behind how he and other top level singers can achieve this magic of having the audience feel what they feel. I love your intuitive approach to vocal coaching. You get why guys like Thom York and Kurt Cobain are so great (your video on Kurt is epic).. anyway I'm really looking forward to my first lesson with you. Thanks again for putting yourself "out there" with this stuff. For me and what I want to achieve with my singing it's pure gold that I would't be getting if not for you. Much gratitude brother. ✨🙏🏼
The irony of the (very necessary and useful!) analytical aspect of observing Thom Yorke's singing technique is that, I'm sure he has never done so himself. His control and delivery reflects his personality, anatomy, and genuine way of expression. That's probably the most important thing to learn from him, along with good control and technique.
Time-Traveling Thom praises his own vocal technique lavishly... _and we let him get away with it._
This is one of the coolest series: Thom Yorke is the reason I started singing :) Are you gonna analyse also Matt Corby ?
Sounds like a plan!
what a great plan
omg.. matt corby please
jordan rakei and lana del rey too
But there's no time,
there's no time,
to Analyse.
let´s not forget that Thom is almost 53 years old. I think he´s the only singer who can sing this well at his age... leaving aside the fact that his voice is beyonde beautiful
Mike patton, Björk….
Peter Gabriel's singing at 50 was still amazing
There is absolutely nowhere to hide when trying to sing delicate falsetto in a live setting. You can do it flawlessly in the comfort of your own home, but to be able to sing that stuff under pressure takes a whole other level of confidence. Thom is definitely an inspiration.
Great video, love the insight into how his singing style, the dexterity he has is mind blowing, especially live and underpressure as you mentioned. Another great example is 'last flowers' from the in rainbows album disc 2. Theres a live version from the basement on youtube aswell
Gary O MAhony welcome yeah he's a great example of a professional singer will check out the song you've mentioned thanks
Just wanted to say that this video is awesome and spot on. You're getting into the nitty gritty of how the voice works and the special things that make people like Thom stand out. Also I just started reading your book and cannot recommend it enough. People go out and get it ASAP!
Went to a Thom Yorke concert on the 15th in San Francisco. God, he ended it in Unmade and man, there were some tears. He’s a crazy man. He dances crazy too, even in concert, it’s hilarious. Love you Thom
Thank you for this. I am a person who tends to get too bogged down in details and precision and less so on feeling things naturally. I am a natural singer, I guess you could say, in that I can sing fairly well and haven’t had training, and have improved just by observing and feeling. But I’ve gotten stuck in progression because I don’t really understand the mechanics of what I’m doing with my voice and how to improve certain things (like creating a vibrato in my voice and doing trills like he does here). Thom Yorke is my idol as a singer, so I’m really happy for this explanation. I aspire to be like him as a singer; not sound the same, but to be my own with this exact type of skill. That is my goal.
I just found your video after 4 years😭. First off I got goosebumps just hearing your voice alone. You are a great singer. Secondly, I never really knew what made me feel this certain way about this song. It is so emotional especially this performance and you were able to break down what I was feeling without me being able to express that. Great job!
Greetings from Germany❤️
Thanks! Happy to help
I think what lays behind the details of the voice is the pain of the singer. technically speaking it's small details, but then in the big picture you can hear it because you simply _feel_ it.
no one can imitate that. I also don't think every singer has this. I appreciate the uniqueness of Thom Yorke's voice and all that lays behind it. this sort of music is the music you feel.
Not comparing myself at all just relating a similar personal experience, I can relate to this learned experience or "knowing what's important to know and what isn't needed" through playing an instrument and singing.
I am a learned singer. I was taught it before anything else. As I picked up instruments I quickly learned you need to focus on either the singing or the playing. Also you tend to lean in the more learned properties. And that so greatly effects the way you sound.
So for me, I naturally leaned on my singing and it put me in a place where I naturally learned what I had to work to sing and what I could leave to muscle memory.
That's what I hear in this. Someone confidently performing with their voice in a way that makes clear they are beyond comfortable with it. The mind is elsewhere.
Not a singer, but think I have potential. 'Bedroom' musician. This was super enlightening. Thank you.
deee fqdd awesome you're the people I want to help out!
"yeah"
Jokes apart, very informative video!
I'm going to work that out slowly ;)
I'd love to see a video on Jonsi of Sigur Ros!
awesome!
Me too!
There’s definitely many famous coaches out there that will never get this level of subtlety
Would love to hear you take on Morrissey. His voice is fascinating and to my ear the absolute impeccable balance of tuneful craft with some eccentricities to make it interesting and powerful.
Aside from the obvious tunes, something like “lucky lisp” really shows his power.
Carl John Franz Fair enough. :) would still enjoy hearing your take.
I'd love to hear that too. Morrissey's voice is so unconventional but there's something so good about it too.
Carl John Franz what's your opinion on Robert Smith
Thanks to Carl and also Jeff Rolka I am discovering now my head voice potential and I just discovered that seamlessly connecting chest-head goes not only easier when singing soft but also when adding a lot of air. I check my progress with singing "The girl with april in her eyes" (and when a traveler called, seeking help at the door, only food and a bed for a night) It's hard there not to flip.
yeah closure trips many people up often to get a clutter free sound it's simple just to get rid of the compression and start with something simple and light you can build a clutter free compressed sound from that point.
I’m not a singer but I’m a huge fan of Thom Yorke and Radiohead. Thom’s voice has always been really mysterious to me so this was very interesting to watch.
I've seen Radiohead live. Thom Yorke is the total package. He can compose, play, and sing. He is under appreciated by my friends but this video can show how much better he is than they think. Great vid man!
I can't understand people who write negative comments here. They have nothing objective to say, just anger, waste of words.Why do that? The man trying his best to help yall for free. Why don't just appreciate that?If it's not helpfull for you, it doesn't mean it's junk. For some people this stuff is precious gold.
Thank you carl, this video helped me a lot.
nice one Pepper Tea, don't worry the internet is a brutal place that's part of the reason I love it, both the bad and the good :)
TY for being honest. Being in front of 1000's of people, year after year, from 1991 on...there's a huge difference. Professionals get made by the crucible of the pressure. But, make no mistake, it IS pressure.
I love how you examine the nuance of Thom's beautiful vocals.
Micah Buzan why are you in every radiohead related video? :v
You could say I'm a bit of a fan lol
Micah Buzan lol
this gave me ASMR lol ty
Bandstand I love you daddy
LOL
Your profile image gave me meme aids.
It gave me AMSP
NEUTRAL DEATH HOTEL IN THE AEROPLANE AT THE BOTTOM OF A BOTTOMLESS PIT
that is soul voice, singing with full of passion, natural, and let it flow
If I am missing something here then i apologise but really can’t cope with analysis of the most beautiful precious voice ever he captures all of my being i love him ❤️
You look like Thom Yorke if he hadn't had a paralysed eye
I little bit, we are both white I guess ;)
Why the fuck are people saying you look like Thom Yorke? The only common features y'all share are that you're both white and British lol
This was incredibly informative.. like I had a pretty big breakthrough.. your intuitive "vague" approach to singing is lovely dude
You explain things SO well. Thank you for making these videos! This helped me strengthen my falsetto in literally one try.
nice one, yeah most people can sing higher, much higher if they understand some of the basics
Definitely misleading title. Though after that, amazing deconstruction of Thom. So nice to hear someone understand that it's not just "falsetto" but working within the available frequency range to create an ideal saturation of audible range.
Your interpretations are incredibly spot on! I couldn't stop thinking, though, about how different your vibrato is from his.
You're have a gift for communicating these ideas.
TooleyPeter thank you!
Where did he go? John? Is the best vocal teacher on you tube.
Ya a lot of folks unfortunately don’t think thom is a good singer. Thom knows how good he really is and all of us can appreciate that.
yeah he's a fucking great singer, very underrated in a sense.
You wearing a bra? Wasn't looking... just. noticed...
no but if I keep eating doughnuts I'll need to start wearing one soon!
A bra? Really?
Looks like it, dunnit?
It really doesn't. And even if it was, why do you think it's your business?
Oh shut up, 63 other people including the man himself weren't offended so why are you?
real question is why do I sound like the old guy from family guy when I do falsettos lmao
it takes time to make it sound pretty, first make it feel right then worry about how it sounds
He’s a great singer because he means what he says. Tom Petty and Bob Dylan are arguably two of the worst vocalist in professional music history but were wildly successful. Same could be said for Billy Corgan. It’s because they were honest, relevant with their lyrics, & passionate. Classical vocal technique doesn’t teach that, in personal experience. Most teachers focus on dotting i’s and crossing t’s and miss how much impact really feeling the words has on delivery. Brandon Boyd of Incubus is a great example. He was a platinum selling vocalist for 20 years before he took the first vocal lesson. It’s a matter of getting a microphone, digging into the rhythm, and saying what’s on your heart. I mean, if you’re going to sing opera or a classical piece of music, that’s a different story but w/ modern music, a lot of the rules go out the window. Cool video!!
He really gushes over Yorke lol
Thom’s tone is thin, plaintive, vulnerable, etc., but his intonation is on point. CJF has quite a few intonation issues in this video.
I point this out to draw attention to the difficulty of singing this light, airy style while staying in tune. Thom is really great at this. He’s conveying a ton of emotion, sometimes using tone that is not classically thought of as “correct” or beautiful, but the notes are accurate. This is vital to pulling it off.
The demo's here are more than good enough to get the point across, it's not a performance the point is to get broad concepts across not to sound exactly right at all times xx
I found the calligraphy analogy to be very insightful. I found your video after a session of singing high (new singer) where I took the opposite approach and didn't like how it felt or the results, so this shifted my entire perspective on how to approach these notes going forward. thanks man!
Impressive analysis. You really nailed the nuance. Gotta say tho, on the bends and OKC tour, he did have serious power, unusual power, but effective all the same. He used to be known for blasting out a sustained, projected high note. That was some time back tho🙂 cheer m8. You should do Elliott Smith.
I think that was the very first video of yours that i watched and i knew it man. U knew and know exactly what u are doing and whats happening with the voice. So many details on both Yorke videos that u have covered, my hat's off.
Nothing makes me run faster from a vocal coach's channel than the incessant need to put vibrato on every, single, syllable. You incessantly analyze the nuances of Thom's voice, but can't be bothered to control one of the most notable aspects as you're trying to replicate it? Singers like Thom (and SO many other popular performers) don't shove vibrato on every phrase, but vocal coaches can't help themselves for some reason.
When you sing on a 20 gigs tour, bad sleeping, jet lag and so on, and after that you have an invitation to sing on tv... I want to see you sing after all this...
you’re an amazing singer too
Are you just hearting all the comments?
yeah why not? If people take the time to comment I take the time to respond my channel is small enough that I can
When i saw someone comment keanu reeves.. i thought you may be on to something 😂😂
Lol
Hello, from the United States. Thom Yorke is my hero.
Crystal Manning I'm a huge fan to!
I love your voice as well! I too sing/produce music. Whether its any good is probably up to the audience. lol Inbox me on facebook! Would love to pick your brain.
Crystal Manning I'm not Facebook sadly crystal, feel free to email me if you have any voice questions ☺️
Please do more Thom Yorke!
Especially when he sings Bloom live from Electric Lady Studio !
Thom yeah he would be proud! You obviously respect this subject and are very talented and dedicated into it. Much love from the east❤🙏!
cheers dude, great to have nice feedback!
It's kind of strange, but I have an easier time singing in front of a lot of people than a few. Working as a cashier for over 20 years probably helps- I just don't care what people think and that makes it easier to be vulnerable in the way you are when you sing with emotion in front of a room of people you don't know.
Don C. That's awesome! I do think it works in reverse for some people
Oddly enough, the bigger the crowd , the more comfortable I am. There's more energy there that you can either make a choice to feed off of, or mess with. To that end, the song selections run the gamut between soothing and shocking. :D It's fun to throw a few curveballs even when the energy is good. Singing light opera in a bar is kind of like telling jokes in an emergency room: no one expects it and it's a little risky.
People don't always clap, but in 3 years only one person has booed. :D
I think that may be because, with bigger crowds, it’s easier to “dehumanize” them, so to speak. When in front of a smaller group of people, the interaction between you and the audience is much more intimate, which may probably leave you more nervous.
defiantly some truth here
It doesn't, though. Always just more fun when there's more people :D As a cashier, I don't get nervous and am around complete strangers for almost 10 hours a day.
So good. Coming back to this again and again. Thank you. It's working for me.
I keep coming back to this
Thom Yorke + Snoop Dogg = Carl
This is so interesting. I always thought I couldn't sing which was more of a confidence thing.. but once I learned of the huge world of vocal technique, man... nice vid!
you can sing anyone can with the right ideas and practice.
That's what i'm starting to learn! Thanks for the vids, cheers!
Great video. Thom is a massive inspiration for me, because i'm a weak singer but watching him with all that raw emotion and nuance gives me hope.
yeah he's actually quite a brave singer
This just popped into my feed out of nowhere and I feel like I just learned so much. Thank you.
Nice one Ram! Welcome to the channel
all that and he's playing the piano
this a thousand times!
Hi Carl, I find your analysis in this video amazing, I learned a lot by watching it several times. Your analysis is very detailed and perfectionist, I think you hit the mark when talking about Thom's calmness and carefreeness. Congratulations.
PS: Did you ever listen to James Blake, I really think he deserves one of your analyses.
thom yorke is a great singer when he’s doing solo performances or the more laid back radiohead songs, however when he performs the louder radiohead tracks i feel like his voice is strained slightly
have not seen mostly just watch the acoustic stuff not so bothered about the band
Carl John Franz ... Not so bothered about the band. Woah!
I love radiohead don't get me twisted ;) Just mean I don't watch Radiohead live on youtube watch mainly live acoustic music for vocals.
Really Brilliant video mate, I am already a big Thom Yorke fan, and you have just taken my appreciation to the next level. Thanks for breaking it down so smoothly.
nice one no problem at all x
Man..Thon yorke is GREAT compositor! Sing is segundo place in her talent
As someone who knows nothing about singing, this was most informative. Subbed.
oh thank you!
Just found this channel and I already have a crush on this guy
11:48 hit me with the chills right on the 'Mo-' of 'moment'.
Yeah he's so vulnerable is impressive
Man... what impress me the most is how you make UA-cam to work this SMOOTH.
I prefer singing in falsetto because I don't like being strained. I don't want singing to feel like going to the gym.
I am obsessed with Thom Yorke and Radiohead. I clicked your vid thinking "Who is this clown that thinks he's gonna educate Thom on how to sing. I didnt mind the misleading title because it brought me here and your voice is incredible! Can't wait to explore your other vids!
What people aren't commention on is: Not only is Thom performing at a 10/10 level...this is a level 10/10 composition...that's ALL HIS. AND HES BEEN DOING THIS FOR 20 YEARS.
You're comparing yourself with Yorke. You know how many times he sang on live television? how many times he sang in front of thousands of people? Hundreds of times. Of course he's gonna be calm. It's normal for him to be watched by thousands of people. It's not normal for you, and that's why you wouldn't be calm.
Fantastic detail and thoughtfulness in your analysis.
This is amazing, I’ve been listening to this version everyday many weeks ago. It’s been a pleasure for me to hear these “new” subtle things you point out. Thank you so much.
I’m curious about what you think about , “Where I end and you begin” and “How to disappear completely”; those are examples of him using his voice in a more aggressive way, but somehow fragile as well. What are your thoughts about this natural way of singing?
yeah he does many different things this song is just one thing he does, I might cover some other types of sounds he uses at some point.
Do a video on Maynard James Keenan, one of the greatest singers ever in my opinion.
My favorite live performance of Thom Yorke, by far.
I enjoyed this a lot. Superb!
Hey thanks 👍🏻
5:44 When you repeat that line, you're actually adding a bit of tension with the vibrato. He completely releases the tension in his voice from that part. No vibrato.
I find that particularly hard to mimic, because when I was first learning how to song I considered vibrato as a way to make vocals more impressive, and I began using it habitually. So now when I'm covering or writing a song, going through a part where a vibrato doesn't belong, I have to consciously stop myself from doing it, because it's essentially become a bad habit.
I just found this amazing channel and would love to have you rip my singing apart. I feel like more than anything, I would learn more about myself. Holy shit man, this is as real as it gets. "You just have to do it" for reals.