Vocal Performance - White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes

Nicholas Hine                                                                Production Analysis

Vocal Performance

        For a virtuoso vocal performance I chose White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes.  Every vocal performance on this track is just absolute bliss.  The track opens with one vocalist repeating one line and then more vocals come in with more instruments coming in building up on top of the vocals.  And of course this wouldn’t be a Fleet Foxes tune unless all the vocals were drowned in reverb.  The way the vocals build on top of each other and the perfectly executed harmonies give the song that warm cozy feeling as if being huddled up to a fireplace in the middle of a snowstorm with a cup of coco in hand.  That is the exact feeling I get from this song, especially because of the subject matter of the song as well.  Even though there is a considerable amount of reverb not only on the vocals but every instrument it gives the song that sense of space, ambiance and warmth that make you feel like you’re by a fireplace in the cold harsh winter.  The song or vocal performance isn’t that complicated, intense or grand.  The same line is repeated the whole song and then a series of “o’s”, but this song doesn’t need to be complicated or grand to be special.  There’s no crazy belting or insane lines, just beautiful melodies and crisp, warm vocals.  This song feels like a lullaby more than anything, and it succeeds wonderfully in achieving that feeling.  It’s almost like having your parents sing to you as you fall asleep.  

        Even though someone may not be considered a “good” or “virtuoso” singer doesn’t mean they can’t convey the same or different emotions any seasoned vocalist could.  For a conviction vocal performance I chose Spitting Blood by WU LYF.  The only seemingly obvious similarity between these two tracks are that they’re both drowned in reverb to achieve that same spacy ambience.  Even though this track and vocal performance convey different emotions and have an all around different vibe.  First off, you can hardly tell one word this guy is saying other than the words in the title name.  But none of that matters, even though the words are more or less unintelligible, the emotion that’s trying to be conveyed still comes through.  It’s not about what you’re singing it’s how you sing it.  He’s more or less just yelling into the mic, his voice isn’t refined, its gravelly and coarse like stone, he’s not what you would typically call a “good singer”.  But he’s still yelling and putting everything he has into this performance, and that’s what counts.  The way all the vocals are layered on top of each other in the beginning and in the choruses give the song that feeling of comradery and togetherness like driving around with friends and belting your favorite song together.  The vocal is also doubled to give it that extra power and make it feel bigger.  You could be the most well trained, virtuoso, perfect singer alive but no matter how good you are you can’t imitate anything like this.  

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