Voice Teacher Reacts to Jacob Collier - Fix You (Coldplay Cover)
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
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I hope this observation on how he sings helps you figure out how the voice works better, so you can learn how to make smart choices in your own voice.
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Imo he seems to sing in this way to get a really warm dark timbre. He always seems to "play" his voice rather than "use" his voice.
Sheesh you described it perfectly
@@JA-xx7vw bro, did you read the comment? He is referring to how all of the sounds Jacob uses, whether they come from his voice or the instruments he plays have the same timbre. Criticizing art is fine, and explaining why you support art is fine, but ignoring half of a comment just to build a straw man is pretty sad.
@@JA-xx7vw So you know that you act like a sheep, but still use it to insult people that like an artist. That makes no sense at all. Plus Jacob knows more than you. A lot more.
@@JA-xx7vw yeah you have no problem being one yet use it as an insult... And you call me weird... Plus if you don’t care about his intelligence then why are you commenting about him at all. Like you clearly care if you are criticizing him. Maybe you’re just trolling because none of things you say make any sense. 🤨
@@JA-xx7vw you cant be a sheep coz you are jesus. You are the Lamb of God
You must be a bomb teacher. Identifying the point is impressive enough, but being able to express it thoroughly and clearly while remaining concise isn’t easy but it’s such an amazing and useful skill.
Yes
"the way he hears harmony"
I tried to comprehend it for like .4 seconds and felt my brain start to melt.
Only Jacob can make an incredibly experienced vocal technician say “What is the value of vocal technique?” 😂😂 love it
"Gosh, he's so weird."
Yeah, yeah that's our boy Jacob...
As a short angry wise man once said, he's "built differently."
I thought it was a frog..
I love your honesty. It's great to participate in your genuine confusion on how to evaluate this unique singer.
I mean, Collier does jazz, R+B, folk even. He isn’t necessarily a vocalist, he’s a composer/arranger and treats the voice as one melodic/harmonic line within the composition/arrangement. The clarity of the voice itself is probably just not as important as its musical relation to everything else that’s going on. Guy is a harmonic genius though, like a post-jazz Bach.
Just say he a musician
Dood is main instrument is the Voice wtf ahahaha was what he studied
You might want to RUclips search and spend some real time listening to his a Capella multi-track stuff. He is first and foremost a vocalist, and he also plays a crap load of instruments.
There are videos there that literally have hundreds of 'one melodic/harmony lines' going at the same time, so not only is he a genius at arranging harmonies ... he can actually perform them.
Now if you define 'not necessarily a vocalist' only on the scale of operatic or serious vocal heavyweights like Elle Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Bowie, Pastry Cline or Freddy Mercury ... then fine, but one wonders if they would be able to actually perform his arrangements if dropped into todays multitrack tech.
Yes, he's a Bach ... but he can also perform it. Thats no lightweight skill.
"Post Jazz Bach"? TF?
@@klop123rt nah-he was right. Dude is genius level. Musician doesn’t really capture that.
I really love the way you mix discussion of techniques while really examining personal style, an singer’s instrument and their intent. Thank you for such a great video.
I agree with the human below who says he “plays”his voice rather than “sings”. I feel like his aesthetic is one of every element is an accompaniment to everything else as the piece evolves and just hits record lol
I love how everyone here is defending Collier as if not every single thing on the Internet piles nothing but praise for Collier.
Like, literally, go anywhere where someone says something about Jacob Collier and 100% of it is praise.
Sam is clearly analyzing his sound through the lens of vocal coach. Collier clearly has landed on this sound on purpose. But it has some challenges to it, and Sam is just drawing our eyes to it. It’s kinda like Bon Iver. You can be a brilliant person but still have some stylistic choices that have challenges associated with them.
I think this is important to point out. There are valid critiques (by which I mean thought out, informed critiques) of his style, and I think Jacob's fans (myself included) tend to get defensive because of how his music hits our brains. Generally speaking, most of the internet/music world has nothing but admiration for him, and I think that's 100% justified.
Sam's critique is 100% valid, and I felt like I came away from this video understanding more about what it means to improve as a vocalist, which I believe is the reason for videos like these.
I can think of no artwork that someone cannot meaningfully critique and find an area with which they disagree, and that's alright.
Thank you for that comment because I feel like Jacob himself is actually aware of his limitations as a musician. He has crazy ears and is a theory wizard, but traditional piano "chops" or great singing voice aren't what makes him a great musician.
Yeah, he definitely appeals to the sort of people that get extremely obsessed and culty about things. Personally, I really thing is voice sounds a bit daft. Tremendous from a technical perspective, but it sounds a bit like a frog singing to me.
Agreed except for you dragging Justin Vernon into this. Thats silly. They're not comparable.
@@Stryder157 oh. Oh I love me some Bon Iver. One of my favorite bands. Justin and crew are some of the most brilliant people to ever make music. Just has some challenges from time to time.
I love this, 15 minutes of confused Sam
I have nothing but respect for Jacob. He is amazing at his craft. Cannot stand the back of the throat singing, it's just a personal preference, nothing to do with his talent.
agree
I would say that's the right frame of mind. Jacob himself has stated multiple times that the way he uses his voice is about personal emotional choices that are informed by his musical education and exploration. But that does not mean that everyone will agree with that choice, it's simply what sounds right to him.
Edit: I should mention, by the way, that I am a huge fan of Jacob and adore his singing.
However, as I am not the supreme authority on aesthetics in music, I guess I should concede that, on occasion, people have differing opinions.
Same here
@@SonusCosmos Possibly, but I'd rather not jump to that assumption anytime I hear Jacob being criticized. With recognition and success come hate and jealousy, for sure, but that doesn't mean that any opposition has to be mean-spirited.
@@SonusCosmos Yeah, and I enjoy many aspects of the music he makes. I still don't like how his voice sounds, though. I'm sure there are plenty of extremely talented musicians/artists etc that you don't like because what they do just doesn't appeal to you. What if someone told you "you should just relax and enjoy it instead of getting hung up on your personal taste"? That's just silly.
Love how you respect the artist but give your own expertise that people are able to work with!
To see his out of this world musical brilliance...watch the video "Jacob Collier plays the same song is 18 increasingly complex emotions". You will definitely see he isn't normal.
I just finished watching that video before coming to this one! Man Jacob's relationship with music is just insane! I wish I could articulate myself the way he does through music, it's just mind-blowing to me lol.
Yes, he is an undisputable genius. The guy's ability is insane, it almost seems impossible, it almost seems superhuman. There must be something different in his genes for sure, it is not normal to be so talented, not even if you work at it 14h a day for 30 years. One may not like his music, but its brilliance can't be disputed. It's funny, because his critics always say his music doesn't communicate on an emotional level, he can't write a simple, beautiful song, etc. That's complete bullshit. Jacob already has some very simple, gorgeous songs in his repertoire, and at 26 I'm pretty sure he can do whatever the hell he wants throughout the rest of his life.
For an example of someone who typically is considered to have limited vocal technique yet is able to deliver stunningly brilliant musical performances, Billie Holiday comes to mind. There is a live video recording of her singing "Strange Fruit" on RUclips, titled "Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Live 1959 [Reelin' In The Years Archives]". For those who are not familiar with it, it's pretty heavy stuff: both the power of the performance, and the lyrics.
To rebut myself: the only thing about Billie Holiday that is technically limited is her vocal range, which is a bit narrow. She is one of the best ever with achieving vocal coloring and exuding the emotions of lyrics.
Ahh haha thanks for that self-rebuttal. I don't think range has necessarily all that much to do with technical skill level. I would say Collier, despite his pitch range, has nothing near the overall technical range Holliday has. Really interesting contrast. Will be checking out that video for sure
Difficult comparison here...I do see how you’re putting them in the same page but I mean how to even put in the same sentence a guy is musically educated ever since he was in a womb and Billie Holiday who just kind of figured out a way to sing by herself
@@Bigandrewm Billy holiday also lived a rough life, that emotion comes through in her sound. I dont get any of that from Jacob's music
This is what I sound like if I’m singing and yawn in the middle of it, but like, he makes it sound way cooler
“What he has... I don’t think that’s teachable” that made me actually laugh out loud. It’s just how much of a non-human Jacob actually is 😂.
I cannot stand Jacob Collier, but if I look to my right I have a little pile of pens and some paperwork and he has a shelf with a row of Grammies on, so I don't suppose he's losing any sleep over what I think.
🤭
He’ll be the first to tell you, I’m sure, that tastes vary from person to person. There’s no right way to like music or no right music to like. His style has become more to my taste recently because I think he’s a lot more conservative and tasteful with his chord choices now. But I can see how his style of music still can be a bit much for some others. And that’s completely ok! There’s no bad music or bad tastes.
@ok zoomer He seems like a nice enough guy. A bit loopy, but I guess that comes with the territory of musical genius. His music does my head in though.
@ok zoomer ah, yes the classic "you have to like everyone" take. THAT'S yikes
But seriously, LOL @ a "Flintstones" Grammy... still counts tho!
Okay, I must admit that the level of vocal pedagogy here is phenomenal. It's one thing to analyze and explain why someone's voice is doing what it does - but to be able to duplicate their vocal posture and sound based solely off of a video is masterful!
When I first heard his singing, I thought kind of similar things. I was a bit distracted by his jaw. The more information I got about him, the more I was sure that it was a stylistic choice. He was one of the best classical boy sopranos in Brittain, singing for example in Mozarts Magic Flute, as one of the three boys. He was honoured with one of the highest singing and musical hearing certificate as a child. Therefore I can't imagine, that he doesn't know exactly what he is doing.
Interesting info!
So you like him because of what you heard or because what you read?
So your argument for why music is good is basically “this sounds bad to my ears, but this guy is a highly credited musician, so I must be just uncultured if its not having an artistic effect on me”?
@@Alfredo78666 Sounds like its both.
To me, Jacob is the epitome of a choir nerd. Amazing musicality, indefinite harmonies, the ability to change his pitch and tone at will.... and maybe not the most optimal vocal techniques.
And yet the person with the highest grade in opera singing from the Royal College of Music in London
I would say his vocal technique is pretty okay... hahaha
You can know everything about singing and not have a nice voice. Example is Jacob. His style is limited and not sustainable. It’s not what they are taught and says a lot.
@@jreal3072 "and not have a nice voice."
And yet, somehow, the highest score in opera singing ever granted by the Royal Academy, and staring in an opera at a young age.
" It’s not what they are taught"
So much for your "learned opinion". do tell: how long have you TAUGHT AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY????
@@brianmi40, what does that have to do with the fact that his voice is a little unpleasant?
I just love how Sam listens for like 3 seconds and then perfectly mimics the sound 😂😂 pure comedy 😄🙌
I am completely amazed by that and when I can see how Sam can copy perfectly all the sounds of all different kinds of artists I feel like I want to marry him on spot to simply check what else he can do
Lol😜🙊
@@irminasawinska34 I dont think he's into women actually ...
@@NagoyaHouseHead He has a girlfriend. Go watch his Leontyne Price video. Nice assumption based off of nothing, btw.
@@bharp4390 What's wrong with having assumptions? It's not like being gay is a bad thing?
Would you be amazed if someone thinks you are rich because you have an Iphone in your hand? Assumptions are ok imo. Sam has feminine traits (i have too) which might make someone feel like he is gay (as i have been told too).
@@LetsRaZe being told your gay just because youre not an alpha male is annoying tho
It sounds like Jacob wants to sound like a bassoon at low notes, a clarinet at mid notes, and a saxophone at high notes. When I was little, I used to practice getting my voice to sound like various woodwind/brass instruments for fun, between singing lessons 🤪. For me personally, I ultimately found it inconvenient to have to switch between “instruments” during a song, so I learned (and am STILL learning) to blend my “instruments” back into my voice for an easier and less jarring experience for myself and my audience. Here, the words seem almost irrelevant - it feels like an auditory tour of color, you know? Fascinating stuff. Thank you for your analysis! So so interesting!
Little does he know that Jacob can crush all styles.
its a common critique of the tamber of his voice, which comes from the rased pallet in his accent from where in england he comes from. probably too hard for even him to unlearn to rase his pallet and sing with a natural sound.
Lolol “little does he know”.... he knows.
Yes, little do we all know all things.
And all instruments
@@GrungeyMr There are plenty of singers that have the same accent that don't sing like that. It's definitely a choice he's making.
Just watched Jacob's video separate from your reaction. He talks the same way as he sings in his intro to this performance. Also, I enjoyed his performance much more when I closed my eyes. I think his chord progressions were brilliant, especially in light of this performance being specifically for a group supporting people dealing with cancer. The progression seemed to take me through the shock, heartbreak, acceptance, endurance, and finally overcoming and moving into a new reality that I could imagine happens during one's experience with the disease. This may not be my daily preference for listening, but certainly created some moments of goosebumps. Also, loved your review
I think this is exactly what it is. Jacob also spoke about he finds it wonderful that some people speak the same way they sing (like Stevie Wonder) so I'm sure that's what he is going. Also, I completely agree with the sentiments the whole arrangement you are describing. I believe Jacob would love this interpretation of his work!
Really well phrased. That's exactly how I felt. Jacob is so connected to the music that the sound doesn't matter, it's about the contrasts he makes which is very interesting and colourful. It has so many feelings in it because of his excellent way of expressing himself.
I find his music really interesting, I think part of the problem is that there may not be an instrument that has been invented yet for the sound and blend of harmonies he is trying to mimic from what is in his head. His voice is the closest thing he has to what he truly wants perhaps. I bet if we all had a brain link to him we would do nothing but weep, elate, float, etc. He seems really far ahead of his time.
I feel blessed to be alive at the same time and for the Internet so I can hear his music 🎶
I believe you've nailed it, perfectly.
Holy hell I think you're right. I think it's really interesting that he hasn't gone down a microtonal rabbit hole even though he absolutely has the capacity for it
There is such an instrument in my opinion. Just search for "Jacob Collier harmonizer". It's like he has 10 Colliers at his fingertips. The instrument was custom made for him.
@@Plafintarr 100%. He’s a whole new thing on the harmonizer. I’ve watched his MIT performance soo many times - it’s the best thing to ever come through my ears. I keep coming back to it.
Oh my god, Everytime you change the way you're talking to mimic the sound he makes when he sings it just blows my mind. Like there's another person talking
I'm in my fourth year of studying music in university, and I commonly refer to Jacob Collier as a more jazzy Bach. His techniques and ability to utilize micro-tonality is nothing short of brilliant. The choices he makes are conscious. He is sure of what he is doing and making the choices to make the music he wants to make. He is a once in a lifetime musician that will go down (among musicologists) in the study of 21st-century music.
I think being conscious and precise about everything he’s doing is actually one of his downfalls too. Before the cult of Jacob descends on me, I like some of his stuff but too much of it is overly fussy and lacks emotional resonance for me.
@@Superdelphinus A cultist of Jacob Collier here,
I have something for your, "lacks of emotional resonance" retort for you.
ruclips.net/video/EWHpdmDHrn8/видео.html
Or if you prefer a song instead, have a search at, "In The Real Early Morning - Jacob Collier."
I prefer this version, ruclips.net/video/NSbxiFjA1ZQ/видео.html as it's more intimate with just a voice and a piano, over the Orchestral version of this musical piece.
Everything he does is actually in service of provoking those unknowable strings of emotion. How else could anyone write truly human music?
Even in his more bombastic and grandiose songs.
In the end, it's alright if you don't like his music.
They could teach an entire course on Moon River: 8 key centers, microtonal harmony, and purposeful change of reference pitch to maximize the punch of key changes....
I think he’s a virtuoso for other virtuoso musicians. None of my friends know who he is. All my friends know who Bach is. I think he’s amazing, but I don’t see him being studied 100 years from now. Not to mention, our species isn’t even going to be here. Lol
@@scottmasson3039 I'm not a huge fan of Bach or Jacob, but it's interesting to note that Bach wasn't very well known as a composer in his time either outside of a small group of fanboys. it wasn't until the late 19th/early 20th cent that his works were rediscovered by nerds and is now widely popular.
"He also might just be really skinny" 6:46
I think that its important to remember that Jacob thinks of his voice the way that various jazz instrumentalists do. I think the way he plays with phrasing and breath coordination is meant to achieve changes in color the way that arrangers would use ones and trumpets to play melodies at different points of a piece to create changes in texture.
Okay, but I think part of Sam's point is that he only uses certain colors.
@@WilliamArnold you should check out some of Jacobs albums and other performances. He uses a lot of layering to create different textures. His version of Flintstones is otherworldly lol
I get where sam comes from but I think it's like comparing a fuel efficient car with a big rig. While Sam sings, he's not a singer the same way someone like Beyonce or Pavarotti are singers. They all do different things so to speak
But I admit, it would be awesome to see Jacob work with a coach and see if he is capable of making different sounds.
@@BravelyUntested I've heard a bunch of his work. My favorite videos were the ones he was making, at one point, where people would send him a melody and he would create something with it.
I really appreciate his artistry and personality, I've just never been a big fan of his voice. I think Sam did a good job of pinpointing the problem, if you can call it that.
Too bad his voice is like a out of tune contrabass.
Jacob is such an audiophile that he's recorded from his bathroom simply because he liked the way it sounded more than elsewhere, so I'm gonna say that every single note he singes--and the manner in which he sings those notes--is 100% intentional. He's probably the most cerebral musician I can think of right now, and I think Jacob knows exactly the sound he wants to have. I'm quite certain he's aware of his limitations and his style grew from a knowledge of them rather than his style fitting a mold.
His music isn't for everyone, and not all of his songs are even for all of those who like his music; however, even the songs I don't like as much, I see nothing but complete mastery and pure genius. Cool to see people who aren't as familiar with him engage with his music.
I'm not a singer, but I have to say that this was such a fantastic reaction video. I LOVE how you are able to clearly draw attention to vocal concepts that are all completely new to me. Great video!
It's amazing how his manages his air. That falsettos are so nice. He is so unique...
I agree with one of your other commenter's remark that he appears to "play" his voice like an instrument rather than utilize it for typical singing tones. I find it quite interesting, and would be fascinated to hear him do a song where he uses his voice to add to the instrumental harmonic than to actually attempt to sing words. The words get lost and in a way lose their meaning as they don't resonate mentally as words. If I listen to him sing, expecting to enjoy a lyrical piece, I would throw my phone out the window. So I choose to enjoy his technique as an instrument that he is manipulating to create a unique sound not commonly heard.
Great reaction to his unique singing voice. He actually comes from a classical singing background. He took lessons and performed as a boy soprano including performing in several professional productions of the opera Turn of the Screw. When his voice broke, he started to experiment with his voice as more of an instrument and it evolved into how he sings today.
Broke? What does that mean?
@@lorenzomercuriali2891 I think it refers to puberty and the way the voice box changes, especially in men. You know the awkward, squeaky voice cracking stage when it's in between? I think that's the break.
He seems to draw a lot from the classical countertenor sound. You often find that sort of vocal nimbleness in someone who was a boy soprano and kept singing as their voice changed - being in good vocal shape helps them keep their high notes
@@lorenzomercuriali2891 Sorry, voice "broke" is slang for when an adolescent voice (usually in reference to males) changes as their larynx finish growing. That's when men get their deeper voices. For boy sopranos, their voice and singing undergo a major change. Boy sopranos very very rarely sound similar to when they become adults.
I’m sure there’s an element of this, but it is also not a million miles away from just being a standard classical way of singing though. I think he got to grade 8 singing didn’t he?
I've been looking forward to Sam doing Jacob Collier for a while and was not disappointed. Excellent entertaining educating breakdown, really made my day watching this.
The first time I heard Jacob sing I thought exactly the same thing, but then I heard him talk, and it's almost exactly the same texture as how he sings. There's something about the way he's made that makes that texture and colour so comfortable for him. He seems to be able to do other things vocally, but this is his 'go to'.
He also seems to prioritise colour and texture over clarity and sibilance. I think that's why so many vocalist struggle with his voice (myself included).
The way he sings here is definitely a matter of choice and not ability. He explores many different styles of singing in his albums. He also did a masterclass in Paris where at the 18 minute mark in the 26 minute clip, he demonstrates many different formants essentially like he is EQing himself live. But as someone who absolutely loves Jacob, I think one thing that everyone including Jacob can happily agree on is that he's WEIRD. I just happen to love his weird and many people understandably don't.
I would love to see that video 🤩
Maybe it's this one ruclips.net/video/mLJVvjqMjbo/видео.html
@@helenstrand2409 thank you so much!!
I really really like this comment because it explains "weird" as a compliment in that he doesn't have to even implicitly justify or explain his choices. And yes, for a lot of people commenting here (not necessarily in this thread), these are choices - not a question of his ability. He does not have to explain choices in an attempt for them to be palatable. As he says often, a lot of his music is experimentation - he is playing. The nebulous nature of his music is at the heart of it - and not because he's being edgy or because he's immature, but because he is very happy to be himself unapologetically.
That's my problem. I recognize his immense talent and originality. But to me, his compositions sound like those charity covers where 30 singers are asked to sing a line each. Too much variation in each voice. His music has the same schizophrenic feeling for me.
I had not fully realized just how singular Jacob Collier is as a musician, not only in his use of crazy chords but also in his use of voice. Just as it baffles this voice teacher, his convention-defying music continues to blow my mind.
I'm a visual artist and I'm of the opinion that talent doesn't exist. At least not in the "you were born this way", it just happens to you kind of way. I see talent as a product of loving what you do so much is doesn't matter if you're good or bad. You keep doing it over and over and over until you develop skills that other people see as some god given gift. Jacob adores music, you can see it when he plays and talks about it. He lives for music and has for his whole life it seems and was given the opportunities and space to develop that love. He's very much a product of self-exploration and study. He sings like himself and that's why it can't be taught.
You nailed it.
I get protective when people try to narrow this space. Especially of young people. And Jacob Collier, he loves so much what he is doing, it makes me happy!
Then you are completely delusional about the realities of talent
Absolutely, I'm someone who, while Music is one of the things I love doing most, I have way too many interests and I was never able to develop all of them to a high level, like Jacob did with his music. Although much like him, I'm also not able to focus on a single instrument, which makes me think, how good Jacob he could be at a single instrument if he had only practiced that his whole life.
@mobilesoundexperiments3719 Yeah, I wish I had the patience to sit down and really work at learning an instrument, but I just don't have the drive. If you read up on Jacob's life, he was home schooled and given free reign on what he wanted to focus on. He also grew up with musicians. Given that background and the years of study he put in at a young age, it's no wonder he can do what he does. A lot of talent is fostered because of extreme privilege and accessibility.
"There are no 'rules' in music just guidelines" taken to the max.
I don't enjoy Collier but I do find him interesting. There are choices being made that he commits to way more than most ppl ever would intentionally, and because he leans into it and chooses it and isn't just accidentally dropping his larynx randomly, I can respect it as an artistic choice even though I don't necessarily find it to be a good choice. So it's like, okay, I get it, he's sound painting, not singing. Fair enough.
the way Jacob keeps every moment fresh with non-repetitive tones and sounds and colors is one of my favorite things about him
I love this analysis of his vocal technique of shaping the colour and style of his voice in one of my favorite songs of him. I appreciate it a lot. But sometimes I think for a more holistic analysis or appreciation of what Jacob is doing we should notice and mention his improvisational ability (which is only possible due to his extensive technical training) including the tonal and harmonic qualities he is engaging in, such as how hard it is to navigate changing keys, sing chord extensions right on the spot (which is obviously an area of expertise for him) while also controling the shapes of those sounds - which is analysed in detail here.
Omg ok, we heard your outro... dude, you have the knowledge and all, but understand the difference between a genius and a teacher. Much respect for real, but Jacob is at another level.
"He is so weird..."
Yeah he pretty much is
I really enjoy his harmonic choices and arrangements but not his voice. I think that this analysis was totally on point
You've hit the jackpot. Great objective analysis. Please... more Jacob Collier! You'll have a blast!
I don't know if you have a video about how you became a voice teacher. But I would like to know that.
He explained it at one point, but I can't remember if it was part of another video or one unto itself. Maybe he can point you to it, though.
It might have been in a Q&A video but I’ll double-check! ;)
I mean, Sigur Rós sing like that as well, Björk also, it sounds very Icelandic to me 🤷
Immediately thought of Sigur Ros, very interesting sound.
But Sigur produces a richer sound, even on falsettos.
I'm so pleased to hear someone point out all the things that I find offputting about Jacob's singing. I enjoy listening to his music, but find his vocal tone is a major distraction.
He rearrenges songs in a way that's real pretty.
Sam: "His technique doesn't seem as versatile to me, but he's so good at this specialty that the question is does it matter? For this channel, the purpose is to learn how to make the sounds we want by analyzing other singers. It's an interesting question because he's just SO SURE OF HIMSELF and his instrument, and NOT TRYING TO BE ANYONE ELSE... 🙁🤔(*Existential pause)... He's a really interesting singer."
I'm sure Jacob would concur.
I found his voice odd at first but his tone really grew on me over time and I find it really comforting now, especially with his his quieter songs like Time To Rest Your Weary Head
No one will ever claim that Jacob Collier is the world's greatest singer. Sam is completely right when he says it is an unconventional voice but works in the limited application of Jacob's own composition. Sam, when you have the existential crisis about determining if it's ok for Jacob's voice to be so limited and decide that, for you, the vocal instrument should be more flexible and (my words) less particular you are right. You are also right when you say Jacob's voice is so weird! The thing is that, as you point out, he's using the voice as another harmonic instrument. So rather than singing a "Vocal line" he's singing another instrument line: he's singing harmonically rather than melodically and is manipulating the sound physically (the tongue placement and jaw/neck tension etc that you rightly point out throughout the video) for that purpose. I find it and Jacob's music fascinating. Thank you for this vid.
actually he had one of the highest singing exam scores of all time apparently... but yeah his voice is bizarre!
I love his music. But I had to learn what he was doing with his vocal harmonies for me to appreciate his vocal style. Took a while, but now his voice can bring me to tears. Dude is a trip's trip.
This isn’t a reaction…. This is an in depth analytical breakdown….
I've always felt that Jacob Collier is a master of harmony and composition, but gets lost in the harmony to where his music loses its soul and rhythm, so while I appreciate how talented he is musically, I don't particularly enjoy listening to him.
I think your referring more to your musical preference. From a rhythmic perspective, his timing is great. He just tends to prefer more jazz-based rhythms which are not most peoples taste.
This reaction video caused me to think more than virtually any other. And I appreciate that. Jacob Collier is a polarizing singer with a unique style and sound.
Watching the video and scanning some of the comments, several questions arise:
1) Within the context of this song, how was the vocal performance? Despite several negative elements (hootie, marbles in his mouth, extra jaw movement, etc.), Sam concluded that his singing technique worked "exceptionally well" and was "brilliant" and was able to express exactly what he wanted to convey. Sam recognized that some of the unconventional techniques produced harmonics and sound colors that really enhanced the music. I was impressed that he went from a B over High C to a low G in one phrase easily, hit every note spot on, made incredible stylistic choices to complement his other-worldly arrangement, and sang this arrangement better than Pavarotti (for all his talent and technique) would have.
2) Should Collier's vocal on this song become the model for singing students? No. But students could do a lot worse. My guess is that Collier had little concern whether this vocal performance would be considered versatile or be adapted to songs outside of his niche. I would never teach a student Jim Furyk's golf swing, but he has won 71M on the PGA tour.
3) Do you like the song? Sam indicated that this was not his style of music. To his credit, he gave a very fair assessment of the song and Jacob Collier's signing technique. To me music is an art. If it conveys beauty, the technique used to create it is of little concern. I can understand a voice teacher coming to a different conclusion on that question.
I mean Jacob Collier have the highest grade in opera singing from the royal college of music in London... of all time.
Of. All. Time.
He got a fucking medal for it, in 2008. His voice is so pitch perfect that it often sounds unnatural actually, which is why most people don't get his vocal talent. Listen to some of his early tracks to understand what I mean :
@
"So pitch perfect that it sounds unnatural" stop the crack, please.
Such a fanboy omfg
To me it sounds as if he gets pitchy at times in falsetto break areas, which he could be using for effect too. Which is to say pitchy is in fact here.
Sauce: pomodoro.
@@shangee2275 there is level of perfect pitch
some can identify notes and some can identify micronotes which is better
I really don't like Jacob's voice, although I recognize his genius and I guess now I know the reasons for it a little better! thank you Sam ❤ he's so young, I think he could benefit from constructive criticism like this and not just automatic praisings.
I totally get it, but Jacob got the highest grade from the Royal London college of music ever, in 2008, and received a medal for this achievement.
I can tell you he can sing absolutely anything in any which way he wants. He can sing harmonics and probably have around 6 octaves range.
I understand why you're not liking his voice, but I can assure you that he can sing in any styles he wants to. I mean listen to this for instance : ruclips.net/video/cttFanV0o7c/видео.html HIs lead is almost a perfect copy of Stevie's Wonder voice with exceptional clarity.
It's not that, you know, he couldn't benefit from criticism...
It's just that I don't know anyone who could teach him anything, our favorite teacher here, included. He is one in 100 million.
As the person with the highest grade in opera singing from the Royal College of Music in London, and the first Brit to have a Grammy awarded for EACH of his first 4 albums, I think he'll "get by".
@@jas_bataille that's why music is subjective
Jacob has always been a pretty....odd dude, but this particular rendition was very intriguing! I can truly say, Collier sounds like how he dresses(reference ANY JC video).
He does a lot voice stacking in his music, so I think he does the low like he does so that it doesn’t interfere with other frequencies in his songs as much, he definitely knows what he wants to accomplish in his voice
woah i didn't think about this, i know i can't confirm it but it makes sense
First time I heard Jacob I was like “huh, that’s weird”. Six months later I can’t stop listening to him.
i think it may have came off as like attacking jacob but it just shows how his voice is unique compared to other artist
I like Rainbow Connection so I have no issues with his voice
Oh, I like that the hair got longer. It suits your nice, sensitive, soft-spoken personality.
I've always regarded Collier as a singular musical talent, with an... ok voice: more or less the opposite of my reaction to Dimash, who seems to marry a spectacular voice to mostly uninteresting music. Your reaction, Sam, was really interesting and honest, I thought.
I never realised how much the two contrasted. That’s fascinating
How does dimash sing uninteresting music? You cant say that if you dont know russian or kazazh lanaguage well
@@samstudy21 Of course I meant harmonically and rhythmically uninteresting TO ME (ymmv); If it turns out that Dimash is a lyrical genius on the order of Cole Porter, well, good on him, thought it certainly doesn't come through in translation (and I must say, I don't think Collier is any different in that regard).
Agreed. He‘s mainly musician and creator, not a singer. And he’s using his voice as an instrument to create sound and atmosphere in an unconventional way.
Sam you're so knowledgeable! The respect for Collier is clear but your understanding of what he does and why is refreshing!
What really brings out this arrangement is how he did the piano arrangement. Like ugh, wow. His vocal technique/tone threw me off at first, but this piano medley is soo moving. It makes me cry. There’s so much emotion in this actual music. And if you’re a Coldplay fan, you’ll recognize a similar melody to this as in “Daddy” off of there second to last album.
The way you're going through an inner debate, vocalized by you, is amazing. It's basically the biggest juxtaposition in music in general. Does the simplicity mean it's bad, does it have to be advanced to be good? Or vice versa or whatever. It's fun and interesting listening to you comment on what one can learn and what one can't learn. And I guess that's also one of the comments you had: You can learn to imitate, but you can't learn to do what he does, because what he does is basically him being him.
Great episode. Great dialogue. Lovely food for thought! :clapclapclap:
I couldn't agree more with your assessment Sam. The first time I heard him, I was bowled over by his composition in "Hideaway". But he plays for a minute before his vocals come in, and then when he started singing, I was not... blown away by his voice the way I am by his everything else. I guess it's good he's only got a "really good" vocal instrument instead of a legendary one like he does with his understanding of harmony. Otherwise I'd think he wasn't mortal.
Regardless, he's stunning. I still think he isn't mortal :)
The four Grammies sitting in the background! He is doing something right.
I'd love your thoughts on Kimbra, she has some quirks herself with her voice. There's plenty of live studio performances to choose from... Too many
Listen to her “Come into my Head”. And of course her cooperation with Jacob “In My Bones”.
Near the end of the video you ask "Who's writing like this?" And yes, what Jacob does there is very special and unique... but I think he has not written it at all. I think it's improvisation. He has it in his mind in the moment and he just lets it flow out...
I hope Jacob can try out new vocal techniques. His singing has always been a tad awkward to me, but his talent and potential is INCREDIBLE.
I had the same opinion, but in his recent stuff he seems to have matured his voice. His voice as an instrument though is just amazing.
The way he expresses his singing is exactly the same way he expresses his music. It s like a painter painting an abstract art.
He "can t try out new vocal techniques" because you can t tell Picasso to stop abstract art because "you think" it s not as good and polished like a realistic portrait painting.
It s not like he is signing without purpose or out of tune. His tune is almost 100% right despite high and low pitch or go up go down notes. In one word he is a genius.
Yeah okay random internet person
As time passes the technicalities and analysis melt away. The approval from us is nice but not always necessary. He’s great as we know. He has the headspace that great artistry allows for.
Jacob can sing it straight but he only does it when it serves the song. He’s just so out there in how he hears and creates music, or covers songs, that he’s not content to take the easy path. Watch some of his Logic session breakdowns. He starts where most musicians max out and just breathes the next level stuff. He is always searching for the different path and that’s why he’s so intriguing. When the world returns to normal try and catch a live show. It’s almost a religious experience and I’ve seen everyone from Frank Zappa to Alison Krause to Rush to Pat Metheny. This kid does it his way and those four Grammies say he’s doing it right.
The grammies are a cult of snake oil salesmen on an aristocratic level, dude. They don’t mean shit. You shouldn’t need to justify your opinion on art by checking the artist’s certifications. If you had to do that, it means the artistic choice didnt have an emotional impact on you enough on its own
Jacob is a classic example of someone who is creating what sounds right to him and if people enjoy it then to him its a bonus
Diana Ankudinova is a young performer who shocks us with her pleasant voice and takes us into the abyss of events!!! Diana Ankudinova is unique and inimitable, goosebumps from her voice!=)))) Diana sings as if she lives in the song! The soul freezes or opens with Diana's voice.=))))))) I am a musician who has been with music for years, and believe me, I have not heard such a tone in all these past years.
1000000%!!!🔥🔥🔥🎤🎤🎤🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶......Amazing Amazing Amazing---Beauty in every minute!!!
I join in the request to pay attention to *Diana* *Ankudinova* ! Maybe you are not interested in it at all? Then I will not disturb you with my requests!
Diana Ankudinova 😊👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥💫💫💫🎉🎉🎉💯💯💯
Jacob Collier is the greatest living musician, no doubt. His will to explore and evolve is just unreal
Lol no
Jacob is a musical genius, and a great teacher, but I've always wondered about the tonal quality of his voice. I honestly think he creates those sounds as a way to give them a particular purity, which he uses for great effect in projects like his Stevie Wonder covers. Does he always need to use that voice? Probably not, but it's given him a unique sound.
I've been waiting for this! Looking forward to watching ...
Thanks so much for reacting to him, like many, I've been so fascinated by his musicianship, but nobody ever talks about his voice. It isn't for everybody but it still ends up being absolutely fascinating.
Also, can I recommend you react to his song Make Me Cry (Mahogany Session)? Thanks :)
Jacob is a genius. I want to work with him one day. Absolutely ridiculous musical knowledge. Definitely one of my favorites.
Can I just say, for all you defending Jacob Collier here, I don't think there's anything to defend against. This is the first video I've ever seen of Sam Johnson and I think this was fabulous, I was hooked the whole time. I literally learnt a bunch of stuff about vocal colouration listening to this analysis. Aside from this, I found this to be a very respectful and quite complementary review. Do you really think that Jacob himself would not agree that there's perhaps things he could do to improve his vocal performance? From all the videos I've seen, his ego isn't that big in my opinion. I think he'd happily admit that. Great job Sam, I thoroughly enjoyed this and I love Jacob as well. :)
with Jacob, the voice truly is just another instrument
Jacob Collier's probably the most talented young musician to come along in decades IMO. A true multi instrumentalist and singer. A true prodigy. His ear for harmony is unsurpassed.
Perhaps he should do something different with his prodigious harmony and instrumental skills, because his singing is never going to do Anything other than annoy the crap out of just as many people as it pleases. Just read the other comments To see that many people cannot stand listening to his voice for long.
@@chuckm1961 No instrument can achieve the things that his voice can. Jacob has said before that the human voice is one of the most, if not the most, versatile instruments. He’s not the best singer in the world for sure, but the type of expression he has is probably close to impossible to achieve, for him, on another instrument.
@@btat16 So I said he’s an annoying singer, and he responded that he can express himself more with singing then he can with an instrument. OK.
@@chuckm1961 Vowels, Consonants, Formants, Wide dynamic range, Extreme flexibility, Etc. There is literally no instrument that can do as much as a human voice, which is why Collier opts to use it over other instruments despite his own sound not being that good. Is that more understandable?
@@btat16 He tries too hard with his music. Even dimash who is known to be the best vocalist in the world doesnt do so many over the top weird arrangements. John mayer said it best himself, he went to berklee wanting to be the best guitar player but realised that what he wanted the most is to have a lot of fans and sell out venues. Thats when he started making less complex songs.
I like your honest musings about his style. He is creating musical art. As a vocal coach you see some of it as weird or not the technique you would recommend, but at the same time you appreciate his incredible artistry. You see that it is not a simple display of bad form, but musical creativity of a very high level that perhaps intentionally departs from convention for better or worse along the way.
I wonder how he’d react to Collier’s “Moon River” arrangement. Comparing how he reacted in this video with how he may react in that video would be fascinating, I think.
Tremendously insightful analysis! I'm not a singer, and have never stopped to think about what makes Jacob's singing effective or ineffective, but to see such a well-articulated breakdown and critique of his technique from a vocal coach's perspective is a pleasure.
Some of his singing technique reminds me of Patrick Watson. You may have heard the song "To build a home" by The Cinematic Orchestra. He is the one singing on there. I also recommend checking out and reacting to the live version of "Broken" filmed for CBC.
Thank you, Sam, for responding to my request for this reaction. I am sure others may have also asked but I very much appreciate your reaction. I agree with you about Jacob. Opinions vary, some of the comments below bear that out, but Jacob is widely appreciated for his musicianship. His vocal talents, not so much. Since I have thoroughly enjoyed your tutelage in the vocal arts, I thought you would have an appreciative reaction, in the broadest sense of that term. I was rewarded beyond my hopes. You provided insight into what I hear in Jacob's vocals. I think he is a brilliant composer and arranger but I also think that he is so young and, as I think I have heard you say, it takes time for a singer to grow into their voice, regardless of how talented they are. That may be especially true of the voice. I heard Jacob himself say that when he attended the Royal Academy, his instrumental "chops" were nowhere near as good as his contemporaries. I think they've improved since then. Maybe his vocal "chops" will as well.
This is kind of how I reacted when I first heard Björk sing. I wasn't sure if I liked it, in fact I was sure that I didn't. But that's because I was trained for years to listen to conformity and a range of recognisable patterns. When I heard her inverting sounds, all the trills and glottal sounds she makes and then the swooping, soaring - almost logarithmic acceleration she can achieve, it was all a bit much. It took me a few years to get into her music and I'm firmly a fan now.
I'm kind of getting a deja-vu feeling with Jacob here; not that they are the same, and I'm also not saying that I'll definitely get into his work, but it's nice to be *challenged* sometimes when you listen to something, to hear something that isn't necessarily something that you like straight away but also cannot be dismissed easily as just "bad".
I think Jacob just likes making sounds work together differently. He just adds the lyrics for us.
I think I remember reading that he got he highest score on his grade 8 singing that's ever been given..?
he knows EXACTLY what he's doing.. thats said I've always felt that he hasn't quite let his voice down yet..
which sounds bizarre thing to say about such a mind-blowing genius but..
With Jacob, it's always a conscious choice. He's one of the most intentional jazz artists I've ever known.
Everything Jacob does is intentional, and it’s evident in his music. Such a great musician and a great guy.
This is very very on point. I think it's important to to understand that Collier isn't a vocalist: he's a musician and a composer who -uses his voice-. The amount of hours he's put into different instruments really comes to show here. He's not striving or putting time into perfecting his voice or his vocal technique, but rather is using his voice as a tool in his practice of music. Which, don't get me wrong, is the exact right thing to do if you're Jacob Collier. It's working perfectly for what he needs it for, which is utilization. And Sam is perfectly right; his technique wouldn't work in all genres, and it wouldn't be much of fireworks anywhere. But that doesn't hurt Collier, because that's not what he uses his voice for. Collier's voice gotta be understood for what it is: a way to express his melody writing and composing, his deeper musicianship. On point, and complimentary! You gotta know what you want to do and therefore where to put your hours in :)