We measured pop music’s falsetto obsession

TL;DR

The high male vocal range has been a pop music staple for decades.

Transcript

This is a chart that has never been seen before. This one hasn’t either nor has this one. None of these have. That because I made them, along with Matt here. My name is Matt Daniels and I'm a journalist at the Pudding, which is a publication for visually led storytelling. Well, mainly Matt made them, I just sent him a bunch of emails. These charts ... Read More

Key Insights

• The trend of male pop stars singing in falsetto has been prevalent for decades, with artists like Justin Bieber and The Weeknd leading the charge in recent years.
• The Pudding's data analysis highlights that high male vocal registers have been common in pop music since the 1980s, with a significant rise during the disco era of the 1970s.
• The Bee Gees' shift to a higher falsetto in 1975 marked a turning point in their music style, aligning with the disco trend of that time.
• Pandora's detailed metadata allowed for an in-depth analysis of falsetto usage across decades, revealing that songs with falsetto tend to chart higher and longer.
• The distinction between falsetto and head voice can be subtle, but both contribute to the perception of high male voices in pop music.
• The rise of hip hop in the 1990s and 2000s altered the landscape, with fewer opportunities for falsetto due to less singing in the genre.
• Despite the changes in music trends, high male voices remain iconic, with artists across different eras achieving commercial success with this vocal style.
• The analysis showed that 2015 was a significant year for falsetto, with 66% of top 10 songs featuring high male voices, demonstrating its enduring appeal.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main trend discussed in the video?

The main trend discussed in the video is the prevalence of high male vocal ranges, particularly falsetto, in pop music. This trend has been observed across several decades, with artists like Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and Bruno Mars exemplifying the modern continuation of this vocal style.

Q: How did The Pudding and Pandora contribute to the analysis?

The Pudding, in collaboration with Pandora, used detailed metadata to analyze the prevalence of falsetto in pop music. Pandora's extensive song library, which includes specific vocal data, allowed for a comprehensive examination of how often male artists sing in falsetto and how this affects chart success.

Q: What historical shift did the Bee Gees undergo in their music style?

The Bee Gees underwent a significant shift in their music style in 1975, increasing their use of falsetto to align with the disco trend. This change was marked by a rise in their average falsetto score from 0.8 to 5.5, reflecting the competitive music environment of the time.

Q: How does the video differentiate between falsetto and head voice?

The video explains that falsetto is a technique where male singers switch from their chest voice to a higher head voice, often characterized by a breathy sound. In contrast, the head voice is described as producing crisper, reinforced high notes, though for many listeners, both simply sound very high.

Q: What impact did hip hop have on the use of falsetto in pop music?

The rise of hip hop in the 1990s and 2000s led to fewer opportunities for falsetto in pop music due to the genre's emphasis on rapping over singing. This shift resulted in a decrease in falsetto usage compared to earlier decades when singing was more prevalent in popular music.

Q: Why was 2015 a significant year for falsetto in pop music?

2015 was a significant year for falsetto in pop music because 66% of songs that peaked in the top 10 featured high male voices. This indicates that despite changes in music trends, falsetto remained a powerful tool for achieving commercial success in the pop music industry.

Q: What does the video suggest about the commercial viability of high male voices?

The video suggests that high male voices have consistently been commercially viable, with songs featuring falsetto tending to chart higher and longer. This trend is evident across different eras, from the disco era of the 1970s to the contemporary pop landscape, highlighting the enduring appeal of this vocal style.

Q: How does the video use data to support its claims about falsetto trends?

The video uses data from The Pudding and Pandora to create charts showing the prevalence of falsetto in pop music over the decades. By analyzing song metadata, the video demonstrates how falsetto usage has evolved, highlighting key years like 1975 and 2015 when high male voices were particularly prominent in the charts.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video explores the long-standing trend of male pop stars singing in high registers, particularly using falsetto. Artists like Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and Bruno Mars are highlighted as contemporary examples of this trend.

• Data from The Pudding and Pandora reveals that high male voices have been a staple in pop music since the 1970s, with the disco era marking a significant rise in falsetto usage.

• Despite shifts in musical genres, such as the rise of hip hop, high male voices continue to be commercially successful, with 2015 being a notable year for falsetto in pop music.