Ross Bagdasarian was not only the creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks, he was the voice of all three of "the boys," whether speaking or singing, and he was also the voice of his alter ego David Seville. Listen to the clarity and purity of the intonation and the close harmony (which back then meant the singer had to record all three parts separately). Bagdasarian was musical genius.
Yes, yes. Demonic voices and all that. But can we talk about how amazing this man's voice is? It's rather a shame that this is normally sped up to chipmunk talk, because this guy's got some serious vocal skills!
The record player I had as a kid had a 16rpm speed on it and l, when I found out I could play it like this, my whole family was in my room listening to it on Christmas! hahaha
elteescat lol they must have been cracking up laughing ... How long ago was this? Only record players I've had only had fast speeds and I used to love playing my dads records at chipmunk speed
Stephen R It was back in the mid to late 70's. IDK how old the record player was. My uncle gave it to me. I doubt it was very old. It didn't seem like it.
For it's time, absolutely brilliant and pioneering! The music track and the Dave Seville character voice was recorded. Then the tape playback speed was reduced by half and Ross recorded each of the 3 chipmunk character voices in separate passes, his normal voice carefully harmonizing and enunciating. Then return the tape to normal speed and you have a work of sheer genius by 1958 studio standards.
You're the only uploader I've found so far who got this right. It needs to be exactly a full octave lower and that's exactly what you did. A lot of people come close but don't slow it down quite enough, leaving Ross sounding like Santa's elves.
I think that is understood. There are the parts at the beginning where the commons are speaking. Also where Alvin says, "Na-tu-ral-ly," and all the parts at the end.
I just happened across this. I'm stunned at how good this guy really was! Considering he recorded at or near this speed, and moreover, did it in three-part harmony. That involved pronouncing everything, the phonics, as good as the strictest music teacher would permit, very slowly. Too bad we can't hear it voices only, devoid of the instrumental!
Thanks for this. I sang this song at a Christmas party gig using a pitch shifter effect :) But I didn't have the three-part harmonies, which are easier to pick out in this slowed-down version. It would be cool to do this with two other singers (also using pitch shifters) in harmony.
I heard this done on Dr. Demento where they played the David Seville parts at normal speed. I didn't know until then that the chipmunks are voiced by the same person as David Seville.
Ross Bagdasarian was not only the creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks, he was the voice of all three of "the boys," whether speaking or singing, and he was also the voice of his alter ego David Seville. Listen to the clarity and purity of the intonation and the close harmony (which back then meant the singer had to record all three parts separately). Bagdasarian was musical genius.
plot twist: this is actually how the chipmunks hear everything irl
Yes, yes. Demonic voices and all that.
But can we talk about how amazing this man's voice is? It's rather a shame that this is normally sped up to chipmunk talk, because this guy's got some serious vocal skills!
Yep, this is exactly perfect. Ross Bagdasarian singing all three parts perfectly, a full octave lower. He triple tracked himself...
The record player I had as a kid had a 16rpm speed on it and l, when I found out I could play it like this, my whole family was in my room listening to it on Christmas! hahaha
elteescat lol they must have been cracking up laughing ... How long ago was this? Only record players I've had only had fast speeds and I used to love playing my dads records at chipmunk speed
Stephen R It was back in the mid to late 70's. IDK how old the record player was. My uncle gave it to me. I doubt it was very old. It didn't seem like it.
I wasn't around when record players were around, but this sounds interesting. By the time I was born, record players were long outdated.
I can't triple track myself sitting this cleanly. This is scary good. Per---fect timing. They're never even a millisecond out.
For it's time, absolutely brilliant and pioneering! The music track and the Dave Seville character voice was recorded. Then the tape playback speed was reduced by half and Ross recorded each of the 3 chipmunk character voices in separate passes, his normal voice carefully harmonizing and enunciating. Then return the tape to normal speed and you have a work of sheer genius by 1958 studio standards.
You're the only uploader I've found so far who got this right. It needs to be exactly a full octave lower and that's exactly what you did. A lot of people come close but don't slow it down quite enough, leaving Ross sounding like Santa's elves.
You have to give Bagdasarian credit. He had to sing and speak all these parts...s-l-o-w-l-y and p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y. Takes great patience.
He didn't really talk like David in this recording (slow). It was slowed down and re-recorded, sheesh!
I think that is understood. There are the parts at the beginning where the commons are speaking. Also where Alvin says, "Na-tu-ral-ly," and all the parts at the end.
tie-eeeeemm for toyyyyys and tie-eeeeemm for cheeeeerrr
I just happened across this. I'm stunned at how good this guy really was! Considering he recorded at or near this speed, and moreover, did it in three-part harmony. That involved pronouncing everything, the phonics, as good as the strictest music teacher would permit, very slowly. Too bad we can't hear it voices only, devoid of the instrumental!
Merry Christmas to you too! :)
2:54, "Theodore's" giggle. Kind of creepy. =P
"AAAAALLLVIN!"
Sounds like he's had some reefer!
Slow the speed.
It gets better.
Thanks for this. I sang this song at a Christmas party gig using a pitch shifter effect :) But I didn't have the three-part harmonies, which are easier to pick out in this slowed-down version. It would be cool to do this with two other singers (also using pitch shifters) in harmony.
Heard this on the “it’s a duckblur” podcast and now im obsessed
2x speed it actually sounds good!
I heard this done on Dr. Demento where they played the David Seville parts at normal speed. I didn't know until then that the chipmunks are voiced by the same person as David Seville.
put on 2x speed to hear low pitch at pitched up speed
4:25 I find this part disturbing. It sounds like a brawl is about to break out.
I'm the "hoooooooola hooooooop"
actually this one is right on key from the other video.
David Seville originally did all the vocals
*plays in 2x speed*
I'm laughing my ass off.
I love this so much. Any way I could download this version of the song somewhere? Thanks!
Nostalgia Chick brought me here!
It's Satan Clause!
+MasterFhyl fuck you
Kim Twister lol?
put it in 2x speed
Sounds like if Theodore, Simon and Alvin (ALVIIINN!!) were a barbershop trio.
0:30, 0.25 speed: Dave inhales all the essence of Hell into himself and unleashes it in an arctic thunder blast.
Alvin replies rather sarcastically.
I would call it “The singing Daves” lol
Chipmunks after puberty.
It sounds like a 50s band.
+WAGaming Right you are. This song was made in 1958.
+JoTinKo and went to #1, at regular speed of course.
Jess4metoo Yeah. It was at the top for many weeks.
Who else thinks their voices sound cuter like this?
I don't like this song in the original form, but I like it slowed down. It's funny! Great job!
Now, play this @ 1.75 or 2 x the speed (in settings)...sounds like Oops Loompas from Willy Wonka!!!...hahaha
Dave Seville and the Dave Sevilles
Chirstmas with the Daves
DAVE!!! Oookay!
This one renewed my child hood the other one with Satan.. well Mark Pellegrino . you tried to ruin my childhood XD
Put it on 2x
"A-ALLL-VI-I-I-NN!"
Nostalgia Chick that is all :)
Huh... it's just David's voice triple-tracked.
trippin major baubles right now lol
*ALLLLVVVIIIIIIIIIINNNNM!!!!*
100th sub
The true story behind this song is that Satan is conducting a chorus of the damned to celebrate his bro's birthday, jesus!
Satan calls for these men's souls
The deep voice sounds like Darth Vader
I wanna play my harmonica
"Now, cut that out!!"🤣🤣
what’s the tempo of this song at half speed?
I wonder why they put so much emphasis on their vowels
2 speed is better
Patton Oswalt sent me here.
They sound almost like robots
LOL
alright you sick fucks