Kurt Cobain Vocal Analysis - Heart Shaped Box - Isolated Vocals - Singing & Production Tips
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
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My Website: chrisliepe.com
Using the original isolated vocal recordings, you get to hear Kurt's performances and recording techniques in a whole new and useful way.
You'll pick up on little gems from the recording process and, hearing Kurt's vocals by themselves always opens up new possibilities of things to try with your own voice and vocal arrangements.
Nirvana's recordings can be described as 'planned spontaneity' in that lots of it sounds accidental or incidental, but was very carefully crafted so that it would sound exactly as it turned out! Dig in and have fun!
People who say Kurt Cobain had a bad singing voice really just don't get it.
👍 Agreed!!!
He was just unique.
never heard anyone saying that
@@GiuseppeM Seriously?
Whoever says that has an absolute delusional state of mind situation, that man was extremely gifted.
All the major grunge singers had so much humanity in their voices.
I disagree. Grunge sucked except for Nirvana and a little bit of Stone Temple Pilots. Pearl Jam sucked the most. I couldn't stand that guy's voice. Luckily there was so much other good music going on at that time, plus all of the amazing stuff from the 80s to still listen to or catch up on if you missed it. Billy Corgan summed it up right in the midst of it all: "Who wants honey? As long as there's some money." Just a bunch of flannel-clad no-talent losers riding the Seattle/grunge bandwagon. Dull singing, dull music, for bored white suburbanites.
It was the heroin
@@alukuhito @alukuhito mate some of the 90s most outspoken and talented vocalists came out of Seattle, Mark Lanegan, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, honestly I can't stand PJ after TEN but you can't discount an entire foundation-shakingly important music scene as "shitty and untalented" because you don't get it or aren't a fan, like I don't enjoy Jazz but I can tip my hat to Louis Armstrong because the guy is a legend, might not be my favourite but he was famous for a reason. Also are you really calling the Seattle bands sellouts? Do you know a single thing about them? (Besides pearl jam those guys wanted to be famous from the getgo) Soundgarden always stood by the fact that they were in it for the music, Mudhoney and the Melvins were vehemently against corporatization of their music, hell nirvana wasn't even really given a choice in the matter after their album blew the fuck up. Most grunge bands had been active, putting out music and touring since long before the big grunge explosion. Soundgarden (1984) Melvins (1980) Green River (1984) Alice in Chains (1987) Nirvana (1987) Screaming Trees (1985) Skin Yard (1985) Honestly if anyone was riding the profit-wagon it was STP and Smashing Pumpkins, who made BANK off the grunge boom. Not to discredit their music, STP slaps and I can get behind some of Smashing Pumpkins work, Billy Corgan is an Egotistical prick though.
@@mattthatch8662 I probably chose the wrong video to make anti-grunge comments on. Have a nice day.
@@alukuhito your definitely did, and I can probably agree with Matt on Billy, he was one of the factors that made the band fall apart, he’s a good musician, songwriter, and guitarist but as a person?.....eh not really
Kurt is magical, this goes beyond technique or anything else. It's spirit. Like Lennon. Or Buddy Holly. Jim Morrison. Magic. Soul.
You just named off a bunch of trash people
Wait like the Weezer song?
Yeah he does remind me of John Lennon now that you mention it. Very similar timbres and emotive expression. Thats the best comparison I’ve heard regarding Kurt and any other singer. I would have never thought of Lennon but you are spot on… 👍🏼
Sedated aggression is the perfect descriptor
not sedated... it´s Kurt´s life that is in his voice, u can´t copy that
@@newrockorder I would argue it is literally sedation due to heroin use.
@Bach Nobel How is there autotune? He's clearly off key on several notes throughout the recording.
3:45
That yodely, voice crack thing is what I think of when I think of Kurt’s voice. Absolutely incredible and beautiful, to me. He really leaned into it and sharpened it as a tool during the later years of Nirvana. Listen to Unplugged and its all over that performance
Yep. You cant fake that. That is a talent.
He actually practiced yodeling, and you can hear how after he figured it out he weaved it into his performances. To me, it gave off this vibe of teenage angst like he was 10 years younger and his voice was cracking.
hey im sorry for replying two years later but he has a whole song named "The yodel song"
God, In Utero is such a fantastic album man, it was a HUGE record and so incredibly RAW. Imagine something this raw and with this lyrical content at the top of the charts these days. Different era. Albini is also a genius.
Agreed man, definitely my favourite of their albums
Well, even then it wouldn’t have done so well if it came out before Nevermind
My favourite album, even all the aesthetic surrounding it, the concert scenarios, album cover, lyrics, it matches the sound perfectly
It was the first cassette I ever owned. Still my favorite Nirvana album.
@Chess Piece in comparison to “never mind” I meant
Kurt has such a unique and distinct tone and delivery. Its just feels real and raw. He manages to get anger, sadness, and old-soul vibe in his voice seemingly without trying. Absolutely one of a kind and never been replicated. Still miss him to this day.
It's been replicated there are many singers who could do it. Jeff Buckley, Freddie Mercury, Michael Stipe...
@@KinseliplierJARED LETO?? THE ACTOR?? Or is this a different man with different spelling
Kurt meant everything he did but made it seem like he didnt mean anything. My hero.
I love when people get isolated tracks and dissect songs like this and really show how stuff is produced and performed. I could watch it all day on almost any song. I would love to hear your take on Territorial Pissings where he loses his voice entirely at the end and he’s just screeching
do more nirvana/kurt cobain analysis! love your videos btw
Drain you, live version from Live & Loud :)
I see Kurt Cobain, I click immediately
GOOD :)
Nirvana inspired my lazy sound. Love it!
Simple
You're not alone.
You have snap?
Fun fact: Steve Albini (the producer of this album) said that Kurt would strum a acoustic guitar while he was tracking vocals as a comfort/confidence thing. That’s what your hearing
NICE. thanks for this!
I thought I was the only one that did that
@chrisc7265 yeah kurt did it was a rhythm feel when he was doing his vocals. My friend squeezes ones of those stress balls to the beat when tracking vocals haha. So whatever helps I guess
@@chrisliepe ruclips.net/video/MjI9IzPLvvw/видео.html
Man his voice is so emotional
♓ pisces..
@@isabels2973 Pisces here. Can confirm.
@@Iamverybald I’m also a Pisces. I think the talent bus missed me 🫠
2:32 Kurt played the guitar while tracking his vocal. This was his method. Guess it helped him to get into the song.
It's weird, I never really payed attention to the backing vocals until i recently played the In Utero again after years of not listening to it.
I think they're key in making this song sound so eerie, especially in the verses. Definitely one of Kurt's best compositions.
Great content as always.
True for many Nirvana songs but Heart Shaped Box in particular, I really noticed Kris's Bass playing really compliment Kurts vocals during the verses. Its that jagged haunting bass line that I like in a lot of grunge songs. It really works amazing here!
This is my favorite of Krist's bass lines. It's so gnarly. The next best is in the chorus of I Hate Myself I Wanna Die especially the demo version. He always had this groove that was incredibly necessary for the band to work.
I love these isolated vocal videos, it's almost encouraging to hear the raw vocal compared to the full mix.
I agree!
Actually Kurt hated doubling the voices when Nevermind was in the making but I think the producer said John Lennon did it when he was in the Beatles so Kurt did doubling voices in the songs.
Kurt seemed keenly aware of exactly the effect he was after in everything he did. He just was never going to give anyone the satisfaction of trying to control how he did it. Like if you were working with him he was going to just flop around and look/behave disinterested and you were going to get an iconic picture or a legendary album out of it somehow. Some just have the golden touch born with the god-given talent to create.
You make me look at music at ways that I couldn't imagine. Thank you Chris I can learn a lot from you!
Happy to hear that!
So much pain and character in his voice. He boiled nails in his throat. All that dissonance made it dark as fuck
Wow I never appreciated Kurt Cobain so much until now. Genius. Powerful and masculine voice-and yet beautiful with so many subtle nuances. Perfectly breath-y
It would be awesome to see more Nirvana's vocal analysis
Chris, your advice on vocal technique is priceless. I feel like I am in debt with it. And I'll forever be. Thank you ❤️❤️
he didn't do it flippingly... he did shit that sounded fucking dope.. and y'all just don't understand that he had gifts that didn't require premeditation
It’s always amazed me how great nirvana and those bands sound acoustic live. The music loses nothing, I prefer it. Unplugged in NY is a stellar example. I am glad I had the chance to see them live. Heart Shaped Box, great pic!
i've had many artists who make me want to take up singing but Kurt has definitely made me take that jump. super glad you made this video thank you!
I've always been fascinated with the dual vocal lines in the verses of this song. Very unique. I could never quite figure out that underlying harmony.
Nothing better than recording on tape. I love the music of the 90's simply because of it's genuine, warm sound.
I never noticed the counter melody harmony vocal. Oh my god. I feel like i just saw a ghost for the first time in a photo thay's been on my wall for years
ha cool!
Thank you Chris for another amazing isolated vocal video! The way you break down the vocals and bring out those gems that so inspire and bring out new discoveries in your own voice. Simply amazing!
You're so welcome!
This was absolutely terrific man. Many, many thanks and please keep going. Cobain, Stipe, Cornell, Staley...get us through lockdown mate with this stuff. Goed bezig!!
This video popped up as a recommendation so I checked it out. Less than 60 seconds in I had to subscribe! You have such a positive energy and I really love how you break everything down. I enjoyed this video but also learned a lot of new things. Have the best day!
Thank you for watching and subbing!!
i released my first album before i found your channel and im surprised how your videos changed my vocals and production better, also thanks making these videos of isolated vocals, i learn a lot here
Kurt found what he was born to do…
Never clicked that fast!! I promise Never!!!
Thanks Chrisss♥️
Listening to this vocal track and your comments makes me think deeply about the question "What is a good singer?" I guess there are many answers. To make this more personal I need to make some decisions about how I want to sing in a way that I think is good. Tricky and hard to define.
Kurt was a great vocal and guitar player at your own way. When you listen your voice even on the parts that sound more sad. The voice its clear and on good tune. On that time be a vocalist its was really need it be so tune. Now the people use many autotone and that break a litlle the beautyful of the inperfection.
Thank you for the very accurate analysis. Cobain was a genius.
Kurt has a perfect pitch for grunge.
I think it was Cobain's process to come in and lay vocals completely sober for the lead lines and inebriated for the back up vocals. A genius representation of a dichotomy. That way, the listeners learned to accept him for a broader spectrum, the good and the bad.
So dope Chris. Couldn't Agree more about isolated vocals and how helpful they are. I've been obsessed with drum isolated tracks too. Would love for you to do this with David Gilmour ... Hes such an underrated vocalist.
Also, Bjork and lennon!
Kurt's vocals vibrate into my soul!
That was really good. Thank you for making this video. This is my favourite album and it’s lovely to see this much detail
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@chrisliepe 🙂 It looks like you enjoyed it too 🙂
Saw him three times live.
One time he came out with Mudhoney in his pajamas.
They played The money will Roll right in. Right as he was starting to make bank. Saw them the week Nevermind came out. In LA. Saw them on their last shows in Seattle before he was done. Always epically amazing
I now appreciate this song a great deal more than when I first heard it oh so many years ago. Chris, I love this breakdown. I also think it gives a great insight into his psychology, these bio polar emotional features in this vocal track with these doubles and layers.
this is priceless❤️really man,thankyou sooo much for making this one for us
Wow never heard that someone was talking on this record crazy
Great vid Chris! Thanks for it.
I also like layering 2 vocals especially for chorus parts, and I realized that the final work sounds better if I don't tryhard to make my back vocals match up exactly with lead ones(like 3 notes higher all the time etc.). When I work on balancing and supporting the cons of lead vocals with back vocals it sounds perfect!
Yes, having counterpoint in the harmony can make a song really pop. Simon and Garfunkel were the masters at this.
NICE
You are right Kurt Cobain didn't like double tracking. It wasn't until Butch Vig told him while recording Nevermind, that John Lennon did double tracking, that is when he agreed of double track his vocals. However what you where reffering in the beginning of the video, was simply him harmonizing his own lead vocals ... I am sure you probably knew that already.
I love isolated vocal breakdowns! It's so interesting as everyone's voice is so vastly different.
The song that changed my way to see things and my entire life. Thank you very much Chris
Kurt’s vocal intensity adds to every recording! He pushed his voice for the best product. Does anyone else disagree with Chris Liepe on it being okay that Kurt’s voice was fried at the end of studio session vs being ready for live performance?
I think pushing your voice now and then maybe a little too far is fine in the studio.
I'm really glad Albini produced this.
Scott Litt remixed this song though..kurt said in an interview that steve wasn't great at mixing
The snort he did at the end of the recording, lol
mucus control is everything
speedbump lol
I find their sounds so unique! Why is this magical music nonsense so cativating? Is it the sense of effortless, melody, Kurt's voice, all of it?
hehe... I don't know but i completely agree!
It’s really structured chaos lol they mastered the art
"intentional laziness"
My existence summed up in 2 words.
Great lesson!!! About Cobain, of course, but exoecially for creating expressive vocal layers.
Thank you!!!!
On the live performance you can see that Kurt and Dave are singing this part (8:36) together, this is probably the reason why the back vocals are louder here.
The dichotomous layers are almost treated like a fragrance with the sour notes
Omg…dissonance! He used vocal dissonance and contrasting motion to go from major to minor chords to create the true feeling of angst that makes this song so full of character and development.
All you had to do to convince Kurt of something he didn't want to do was say "John Lennon did it." Multi-tracking in particular, or they would outright trick him.
Thanks for this video
We learnt alot about our own backing vocals through this video.
Will be trying some of these ideas
A great song, Kurt has an inspiring songwriting,
This is a nice tribute for Kurts 🎂
Love your analyses. I'd have never heard half the things you pointed out!
We love watching how you are so happy sharing your talent and knowledge with us... 🎶'You are gonna teach the world to sing in perfect harmony'..🎵
Thank you for EVERYTHING :)
great vocals! He was an amazing singer!
weird. im practicing my singing in the garage and i was just attempting this song when you uploaded it!
Isn't it Dave Grohl doing the second vocals in the chorus?
Probably.
The higher tenor voice is indeed Dave.
For Nevermind there was a documentary where Butch Vig explained for some (or all) songs how they recorded it, and for example how he made Kurt doing double tracks with the John Lennon reference and how Dave was doing backup vocals and some other things. So I also think that Dave ist doing the second vocals.
@@Nopper23 that was for nevermind, not In Utero.
Thats an intense voice right there
Gang vocals.
There are vocal harmonies going on in the chorus. They’re obviously aggressive, but they’re there.
Kurt's still making music he sings through my body. he's down here keeping me alive until we can be together. I died and he is my oversoul. In sitting in a homeless shelter with all of his second cousins
thank you for this video! I can relate to him so much. We both are lefties and he can sing and I want to. The grit in his voice is so innocent.
kurt let his voice crack in a lot of instances, definitely intentional
Chris I absolutely love this video it came off the back of the even flow vocal analysis.. I think it would be awsome if you split the vocal track into backing and lead vocals so you could isolate the backing because I think that would be super interesting to hear in itself (on both songs)
Much love man keep them coming 👌
I got a vocal tuner pipe from a studio when I was a kid. I used it a lot when I was younger. I just found it, and sang black Hole Sun for the first time since 1991.
Chris, thank you so much for these videos. I love learning about the stylistic techniques of other singers. If I may make a suggestion, I would love for you to analyze the voice of Matt Corby. He is an Australian singer, with a very powerful and dynamic voice. I have been trying to figure out exactly what he is doing at the belting portion of his hit song "resolution", for a long time. It's a gospel-like belt that goes high and a little gritty and then back into an almost shouting chest voice. The transitions are so fast and seamless. He has an insane amount of stamina, like he runs and riffs in and out of chest, head and mix. I think he is a baritone, but he definitely uses his full vocal potential. It'd be really cool to understand what he is technically doing.
War geil euch mal live zu sehen!
The doubles were recorded by Scott Litt a few months after the original takes recorded by Steve Albini. So the tonal differences and style and approach, and bleed, also relate to them being a kind of post production, too.
I hadn't noticed some of those niuances. Great video, it's like being with a friend when i watch you get excited about the same things as me :D
Yes!!
Also interesting to note how the harmony line doesn't have the same reverb as the lead vocal, because the harmony part was actually recorded with Scott Litt much later after the band's primary album sessions with Steve Albini.
The high clean voice that doubles in the back is Dave Ghrol. Dave usually did backing vocals
No this track vocal is all Cobain.
I know Dave did studio backing vocals for In Bloom but the high register on this sounds distinctly like Kurt. Maybe that's just how I want to hear it though.
@@GodOfWhine you're exactly correct
For this one it's all Kurt
Yeah, Dave usually did backing track vocals, but you can't affirm that it's him on this track. It's all Kurt
God dude YES it is all intentional. This brilliance doesn't happen by mistake.
I just found this channel and I would like to thank you for your contribution to making me a better singer
Man, what a great video. Thank you for that, keep up the great job. I've always tried to imagine how would it be to sing with a clean voice over rock songs but it's too hard when you have the band and distorted guitar playing along haha. That's what rock'n'roll is all about, right? Congrats!
Its intentionally sloppy for a reason... He wanted the entire album to be the opposite of Nevermind, unpolished... This is a grunge band... One lead vocal and one background vocal.. 2 layers...
Great analysis. Thanks!
The real 'trick' is in writing lyrics that are worth repeating..
Man this video is fucking great. Thanks for the tips!
Wow I never noticed the head voice in the layered chorus, I’ve never really heard Kurt use it that much
his backup vocals often sound very Blues-ey to me
I'd be curious to hear what he's saying, when he does that weird devil vocal, near the end of Big Cheese.
I wish I had your isolated tracks prior to making my cover version of that song during the 1st lockdown !
The natural scratch and forced silent scream he had caused so much trouble, why he had stomach problems. When he got done with shows he could up blood
Dynamics on top of Dynamics..WOWW
Great episode! Fascinating
Love hearing the isolated tracks
such a cool video thank you for doing this good sir
He's an absolute legend, ahead of his time with racism etc
Great video!! You should do one of these on 'You Know You're Right".
Great suggestion!