How to Sing Like David Bowie (Character Singing - Musical Acting) Every Vocalist Should Try This!
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Take a minute to think about who, from a vocal, musical standpoint, has had a tremendous impact on you. Think of several names. I'll bet some of the people that came to mind are great singers, but I'll also bet that some of them are first and foremost, great artists!!
David Bowie is one of many vocalists who (rightly so) puts art, expression, character and creativity WAY before vocal prowess, precision and technique.
He sets the bar as one of the best entertainers of our time and when you google him, he tops the charts on the lists of amazing vocalists!
But he's not a technically great singer. He doesn't have a huge range. He's not terribly pitch accurate and there's all sorts of reasons why typical singing judges would tear him apart.
Yet... He has gone down in history as one of the greatest vocalists of all time!! Join me for this "How To Sing Like" video on David Bowie's style and lets study and internalize what truly makes an amazing vocalist! YOU CAN DO IT TOO!! You'll feel empowered and encouraged!
LOVE David Bowie. My favourite singers are imperfect technically. I love the broken, vulnerable, human-ness of his vocal character. These are qualities I want to cultivate so I guess I'll have to be willing to be stoopid and insult myself he he. Once again you've delivered a thought provoking, insightful analysis Chris. Thankyou so much.
When rock was still raw and unpolished....
I really like classic rock and love David Bowie. His style of singing was special. And he interpreted his songs new every time he performed live.
He was so unique and I still miss him.
@schlumbl84 These quotes by Bowie himself probably better explain this persona stuff and character stuff better than I can. I'll leave it up to others to decide the meaning of them:
“I have a brother in Cane Hill.”(David Bowie)
“The subject matter was very significant for me. It was all family problems and analogies put into science fiction form.”(David Bowie)
Bowie himself said of the song: "It was about the disassociated, the ones who feel as though they're left outside, which was how I felt about me. I always felt I was on the edge of events, the fringe of things, and left out. A lot of my characters in those early years seem to revolve around that feeling. It must have come from my own interior puzzlement at where I was".
@@johnpolitis7929 I know. He was a very special human being. And he really showed that feeling left out doesnt mean that youre worthless. His art helped me through hellish times in my life and today I appreciate his world view and thoughts even more.
It inspired me to find myself and my own way into art. I cant thank him enough for saving and inspiring me again and again.
Honestly Bowie is pretty underrated in terms of vocal abilities.
Especially if you listen to "Sweet Thing" oder "Lady Grinning Soul".
A big influence on Bowie as a singer, was Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd. Syd was one of the first British rockers to not bother to Americanize his voice, but rather defiantly sung with a heavy British accent. Prior to that, most British rockers, such as Lennon and McCartney, tried to sing like Elvis or Little Richard or Fats Domino. We must remember that as teens and young men, those British rockers adored American culture and wanted to emulate American pop culture. Why Syd chose to sing in such a British manner is anyone's guess, but it may not have even been a conscious decision on his part, as Syd suffered from mental illness and excessive drug-use such as LSD.
It's these isolated vocals that really helped humanize vocalist. That I personally never realized the production in many of my favorite songs. Such as doubling and blending tracks to get sounds. I've also jumped down the rabbit hole of live videos. I'd love to hear a isolated vocal with the band "LIVE". Ed Kowalczyk range always impressed and fascinated me.
Yes. Good idea 👍🏼👍🏼
As someone who's a huge Bowie fan, I've been asking for this since I found out about Chris' channel and it's great to see how much he listens to recommendations. As others have mentioned as well, the isolated vocal tracks help really humble the singers and is super inspiration to see how simple singing can be.
The part about the vocaal break/crack was really interesting and i agree with what you said. My favorite singers/vocalists are the ones with the rawest performances because it makes the music more "real" to me. Most of todays music is way to overproduced and clean for my taste.
Yeah, I agree with that last statement. My preferences lay somewhere in the middle.
Bowie was a masterful, almost unrivalled singer, Chris. He sang what he sang because that's what he wanted to sing, it wasn't accident or ineptitude, it was done deliberately. You may not know it, but David viewed his greatest vocal performance as Wild is the Wind. Listen to it. The version you hear was the first of seven takes that David did and it was done with Frank Sinatra hanging out in the booth, listening on. Frank later said, in an interview that the only singer he would cast as himself in a biopic is David, so what does that say as to David's ability? Additionally, he had a phenomenal ear for pitch (watch some of his rehearsal footage) as well as incredible range and effortless power. Also as an ardent, hardcore Bowiephile for over 40 years, when singing David's stuff, please take the time to get the lyrics right. To not do so is is disrespectful. Thanks, Chris. Great channel.
Hey Chris,
French Singer-songwriter here. Amazing content man ! Really ! I took several years of singing lessons in both contemporary and classical style, and your videos really blow my mind everytime.
I pratice as I listen to the video. Does wonders to my singing and it helps me find the right "character" for my songs to.
Could you do one on "Life On Mars", his voice sounds incredible on this one, and his tone is gripping througout the whole range.
Cheers from Brussels !
Man you saved my life. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your channel. I'm 30. I've been singing for a long time. I "knew" a lot of this stuff on some level and have been told I have a great voice by people who've honestly heard it but until this year I've never recorded it. Can't tell you how nerve wracking it is for me, finally - after almost 20 years of singing in the car or shower or casually among friends - to be standing behind a condenser mic in a booth, that I built, and hitting record. My throat tightens, my body tenses up, I get hyper aware of everything I'm doing and even feel a bit light headed. A kind of muted terror. You've given me hope and reminded me that it doesn't have to be perfect, just honest. Even Bowie had his flaws. Peace, man. Thanks again.
How has everything been going so far? I've been wanting to make more music like this and I'd like to see how far you've gotten.
I hadn’t realised that Bowie is British until I watched this and now it’s so obvious and I can’t unhear it haha.
“I have a brother in Cane Hill.”(David Bowie)
“The subject matter was very significant for me. It was all family problems and analogies put into science fiction form.”(David Bowie)
Bowie himself said of the song: "It was about the disassociated, the ones who feel as though they're left outside, which was how I felt about me. I always felt I was on the edge of events, the fringe of things, and left out. A lot of my characters in those early years seem to revolve around that feeling. It must have come from my own interior puzzlement at where I was".
This video just shows how good Chris is
Would love to see something on Silverchair. Daniel John’s is a highly underrated singer in my opinion. Especially Diorama era.
Very good analysis👍✨ I discovered Bowie when I was a teenager in the 70s, my english was pretty weak at that time, but Bowie’s voice and attitude was so theatrical that I could feel and understand what he was singing about, really amazing… ❤️✨
Anthony Newley was a huge influence.
Great Analysis of The Star Man... Waiting In The Sky... and he definately has the Sarf Landon accent but I suggest you try to do the same with his Avante Garde iconic track Sweet Thing from the DD LP..
i searched the channel for elton john. This video top of list. awesome in of itself, but! blown away nothing been done on sir elton!
Yeah, me too. These 60s and 70s British artists, The Beatles, Elton, David Bowie, Robert Plant, Ian Anderson, Mick Jagger,etc are all my favorites. Also David Gilmour and Roger Waters. And many others. they are brilliant.
YOU DID IT! THANK YOU!
One thing I really appreciated from hearing these isolated vocal tracks, was just how great he was of delivering a story in a lyric. He seemed to have a great sense of vocal dynamics, knowing when, and maybe more importantly, when NOT to turn the "SINGING" on.
Also, I never realized just how integral his accent was to the Ziggy character, in particular. He always sounded "English" to me, but it just sounds like on this album, He really exaggerated it. I see why, you can hear how the accent lends itself to twang and nasal resonance which he is employing a lot of here.
Music hasn't been the same since he left. That level of artistry is rarely seen or heard today. Bowie really set the bar for true rock and roll entertainment. Today, we have a lot of "Players", and a LOT of "Singers". Very few real Artists & Stylists. Bowie was both of these. A fiercely independent Artist who offered much more than just a record and a tour. On top of all that, he reinvented himself and his career multiple times over. That doesn't happen anymore. It barely happened back then. Him, Iggy, and Lou are the only ones I can think of who pulled it off. The latter two just because of Bowie facilitating it for them.
Anyway, A True Icon who changed music & influenced everything in his wake.
Thanx Chris
Bowie had a multitude of voices that he drew upon throughout his career. Compare Starman to his crooning on Wild is the Wind or Win. But it was also very important to him early on that he sing with an English accent and not a fake American one like some of his contemporaries (cough) Jagger.
and also the fact that his smoking affected his range. I think it was in a interview with visconti where he said, he regained some range on life on mars after quitting smoking.
Chris, your philosophy and understanding of singing as used in art is impeccable. You are doing great work with this channel, and it helps to teach as well as INSPIRE! Thank you!
By the way, what vocal mic are you using there? Is that your go-to? I'm currently thinking of getting some sort of large diaphragm condenser for rock vocals (and general use). Any advice there from you (or anyone for that matter) is welcomed.
I have to confer I am british and don't know why people keep going on about how to mix voice, for me it is natural not something i do natural.
This one is great! Gotta love Bowie. On the other hand I know I might be the only one, but I would love if you made an episode on Swans' singer Michael Gira, another truly unique artist!
Chris, you have great control and diction in your vocals, I luv learning from you, fantastic, brother!
Great Video, I do Elvis, Roy Orbison & Neil Diamond, but with a New way as you say, will help to get the Bowie Voice
man you're such a good vocalist, and vocal coach, Chris!!
thanks for sharing these contents!! your videos are being so helpful for me, and I'm sure that a lot of people relate to me.
thank you!!
and also, a suggestion. Elton John, as you mentioned in the video.
David Bowie took singing lessons from Hungarian voice coach Florence Wiese-Norberg in 1974. His singing style changed dramatically at that time, as his focus became much more on Black American Soul Music, as opposed to Folk and Rock (as he had been doing). It also was further enhanced by heavy cocaine-use which gave Bowie confidence and the hubris to really push his vocals to the next level. Compare Bowie's dramatic singing on "Sweet Thing" [1974] to his earlier singing style. Bowie learned to really belt out the big notes and use vibrato in his voice as he transitioned from Rock Star to Soul Man. He even paid for singing lessons for his then-lover Amanda Lear, who became a Disco queen later in the 1970s.
Thank you, great analysis!! Saw Bowie a number of times in Detroit, then San Francisco. Always admired what he was doing.
Very informative, much of what I've been thinking about myself. Putting abundant theoretical technique into singing is not alway a good idea, and nor is the desperate quest for high pitched notes so many seems to struggle with. High pitched notes may be a wonderful thing, but it's not for everyone, and not a must when it comes to good singing. More important are not straining, but finding a way of singing that comes naturally and suits your voice. Attitude is also an important feature, and Bowie had plenty of that. You should feel good about yourself. Be your own fan, and try to express the essence of the lyrics with soulful emotion. You're only as pretty as you feel, and you will only sing good when you feel good.
Very well stated. Thanks for this comment!!
got to love you man!!!!
also, please do house of the rising sun by the animals, and "meet me in the morning" by bob dylan( the studio version)
thanks for the content!!!!!
Yes to meet me in the morning! Great vocal. I would also suggest stuck inside of mobile with the Memphis blues again, just like a woman, visions of Johanna, it takes a lot to laugh…, tangled up in blue, etc. but at least the first two. Thanks Chris Liepe for everything!
More Bowie. Now.
very interesting that acting/singing aspect of the performance didn't see it that way and I think that's obvious here with Bowie but a lot of artists and songs that we love have that the singer is telling the story and we are the listener and spectator this is not always about performance, great video!
Thank you much for covering Bowie Chris! I wasn't familiar with this track until you covered it. I was hoping you would cover later years where he is more known for deep Baritone as well as hitting higher range and vocal control. My opinion, those tracks are China Girl, Modern Love, Let's dance and especially "This is not America." Cheers!
Awesome, I've been learning a lot with your videos, you are a great teacher, please, can you make someday a video talking about David Draiman from Disturbed? He's an incredible singer, thanks!!!
You are a legend, Chris. I was literally just wondering if you'd do David Bowie analysis
Mick Ronson also sang on that. He could sound like him. Listen to Space Oddity from the Midnight Special. Can you tell this?
You did it again!! Awesome!! and I haven't even watched the video
Greetings Chris! Keep the good work, I know I'll love this
I often think things are awesome before checking it out first myself! I think we have a positive attitude towards TH-cam creatures!
Hey Chris! An analysis of Stevie Nicks' voice would be awesome!
Thanks Chris! These isolated vocals are game changing for me. It's really so easy to misinterpret what a singer is doing in the context of the full mix. Knowing what the end product sounds like and then hearing the vocal in isolation - what they are doing to get that result - always makes me realize that there is a lot less full voice in the world than I ever thought. Makes range and brightness a lot easier to achieve.
PLEASE DO A VIDEO ON Alanis Morrisette. :) You Learn or you Oughta Know or Uninvited would be DOPE!!!
YEEEESSSSS!!!! I've been waiting for thisss
Love these vocal tutorial/ analysis videos Chris! Very helpful in learning new ways to sing. One vocalist I highly recommend you do a video on is Danny Worsnop. He's gone through a ton of vocal changes and different genres and has a very interesting voice, one of my favorites anyway. I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy that 🙂
Maybe do a video on Elton John's early voice sometime. He did a song called "Talking Old Soldiers" where he was talking in the beginning that was pretty interesting. David Bowie was brilliant. These 70s artists are the GOAT.
Yeah! Thank you Chris! Amazing video. Waiting so much for AC/DC vocals!
Great video Chris. I just found a singer who blew my mind. A broadway singer named Ben Platt. The man is asolutely stunning. You should definitely check him out.
At some point, would you be into doing something where he flexes his deeper/chestier register as well? Sons Of The Silent Age for example has a great mix of vocal articulation and range. As far as technically fantastic tracks, check out his cover of Wild Is The Wind. A lot of his really early stuff wasn't as developed vocally....not that it wasn't cool though...
That would make a good video... I have to stagger my Bowie content until I get a few more Bowie fans engaging in my content... Seems there are not many here. I realize it's a balance and a "If you build it they will come" situation too :)
I absolutely love this series, i dont know if you take recommendations for these videos but it would be cool to see you analyze Ela partiu by Tim Maia. I’ve always been impressed by how you can hear the desperation in his voice on that song and i’d enjoy seeing your takes on it.
Great video Chris, thanks for sharing. You sound a little like Justin Hawkins when you belt out that accent :)
I’m very much on same page with your British accent observation and head voice. Think John, Paul, and George (not so much Ringo). Plant too!
This was really funny too :)
Hey Chris, ever consider doing a Sing like Jacoby Shaddix? the guy is a beast, will love to see something from him.
Have you ever done a coaching video with David Bowie and Iggy Pop singing together? They traded off styles and techniques...🤔👽
5:01 watched this over and over again.
love the British identity spotting :-)
Bowie comes from theater I think this explains is particular style to sing
Glorious, been waiting and the time is now
Very good, great subject! Lots of emphasis/ dwelling on the vowels in British English (and some American dialects). Conversely, the vowels are short and rather like exclamation points.
Also Bowie very influenced by Anthony Newley and British Music hall.
Hey Chris appreciate all of your content, you are helping a lot in many ways. Would love to get an Episode on The Weeknds singing Style and technique
th-cam.com/video/NUXJYbWS7Dk/w-d-xo.html
Still waiting for Julian Casablancas as of 5 videos ago!!!
Thinking on the same wavelength of character, I think a video on Nick Drake would be amazing.
Love Bowie's voice. Some of my favourite artists are story tellers, as opposed to technically perfect singers...David Byrne, Morrissey, John Grant
How to sing like David Bowie:
1. Listen to an Anthony Newley album
2. Repeat with your own style.
He was David's idol - kind of like an Elvis fan doing an impression.
I honestly felt that burn from space my friend. 👨🎤❤️
@@JimRobinson-colors yep definitely one of those kinda things. David is definitely rolling in his space casket with Anthony Newley forever piped in.
I sure do hope that was a burn and insult to this dude making the video and not on David Bowie. Call this dude could have a vocal teaching class and not know every fucking word to this album is absolutely astonishing. It's fucking gospel, literally.
Simply amazing beyond words!
Lmfao I had so much fun watching this😂. I couldn't stop laughing most of the way through😂. Thanks so much 😂 got yourself another sub 👍
0:50 your describing all of bowie qualities lmfao
Awesome channel! Could you do Scott Weiland, Perry Farrell and Cedric Bixler-Zavala from The Mars Volta.
Great analysis of an iconic vocalist
Thank you again man makes sense this is very inspiring to me alot of people tell me I'm holding back when I sing and I've noticed if I just let it flow and not try to over think everything just be me it comes out alot better I couldn't imagine taking your course this free stuff has helped me tremendously I recorded on TH-cam from basically when I started listening to you till now and I can tell huge difference even other people comment now thank you Chris p.s Ken tamplin ain't shit ;-) lol
Watch dust in a baggie that dude blew my mind wasn't expecting it
He is doing Anthony Newley in this one - Apparently Anthony was David's idol.
Great analysis as always!
Chris, you are awesome. That is all.
very interesting video! I read interesting articles about the recording of ziggy stardust recently, and apparently most of the vocals were his first take. (either a u-67 or akg c12 for those into microphones)
One of the best lessons ever!
Thank you . What you do is awesome
Hi Chris, would you feel like doing a Video on singing heroes? That starts with a nearly spoken low voice, to full gear at the end... not easy...
Great suggestion! Your right! The character and pitch range is not easy, but quite compelling!
Thank you for the lesson Chris. Have you done a Scott Weiland vocal analysis yet?
Thanks for this video...
Very interesting, maybe another David Bowie lesson? I think there’s more to learn here and how about Billy Idol too?
I've got a challenge for you, dude (if you're interested) what if you could do a duet of David Bowie and Steven Tyler singing High by james blunt?
Wow, so interesting. I really would like to hear your analysis of Eric Martin's singing (Mr.Big). 👍
Hi Chris, great job as always, could you please tell me what software you use to isolate the tracks? Thanks.
no
I just find them on TH-cam :)
Yesssss.....David Bowie 😃😃
This is an utterly helpful lesson. And I like your way of explaining while singing. You don't have this superthanks thingy though I'd like to pay for these lessons...
Love the video I really wish you could do one on frank ocean. It would be really interesting to see
12:20 I need a cane....... LMFAO
Great video. I’m really interested to know how you got hold of that isolated vocal
TH-cam :)
You should check out Peter Murphy.
You make a good point that many people miss. Most of my favourite male singers have flawed voices in some way: Bob Dylan, David Byrne (from Talking Heads) and Neil Young come to mind. In some ways perfection is boring. You need to bring some personality to it.
YES YES YES... I want to double heart this comment!
I'd go as far to say that having a generic voice, even if they sing well, can make an album with great and interesting instrumentation worse.
Take Bowie for example, imagine some generic singer with more skill, but less character singing his songs. The songs would be ruined a bit.
Teach me
Have you joined my free course yet?
Nice share. Cheers, Chris :)
Whoa, why so few views for this? Cannot understand. Phenomenal content.
It seems that most of the “classic” vocalists don’t draw much of an audience on this channel. Dunno y yet :(
Cool
Sing like robert Smith please!!
Intresting.
OMG this dying cat made me fall in love with you 😻
fuck yea!!!!
fine i'll listen to starman for 4 hours
I was about to say Gerard Way must be influenced by Bowie and then you said it yourself.
I love your English accent :D
DO THE SONG HEROS BY DAVID BOWIE