- Feb222012
Way Back Wednesday: The Art Of The Vocal Run
Written by Trent | Filed under Aretha Franklin,Beyonce,Brandy,Christina Aguilera,Mariah Carey,Way Back Wednesday,Whitney Houston
One of the most challenging tricks that many vocalists struggle to master is the use of vocal runs. What truly makes this coveted skill such a difficult ability to master is not simply hitting a wide range of notes. Rather, it is emphasises timing, pitch control and an acute sense of melody.
For years we have observed singers, particularly Christina Aguilera, overloading their songs with dozens of pointless vocal runs that have absolutely no connection to the structure of the music. This Way Back Wednesday feature, however, will showcase a group of artists who understand that runs are not cries for attention.
Watch some of the best users of vocal runs below:
Aretha Franklin – ‘Nessun Dorma’
Beyonce – ‘Dangerously in Love’
Brandy – ‘At Last’
Ella Fitzgerald – ‘Summertime’
Kim Burrell – ‘I Believe in You & Me’
Luther Vandross – ‘A House is Not a Home’
Mariah Carey – ‘Vanishing’
Maxwell – ‘Ascension’
Whitney Houston – ‘This Day’
Each of these singers displayed their own unique styles of using vocal runs and impeccably matched the music without sounding hoggishly overbearing. Whether they swooped through the octaves like Mariah Carey, executed flawless vibrato like Whitney Houston or displayed subtlety like Maxwell, they all performed brilliantly.
However, it needs to be clearly stated that Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin basically wrote the book on how to use vocal runs for younger singers. Fitzgerald had absolutely perfect pitch control and rarely ever went off-key – probably once in her entire lifetime – and Franklin has a mind-boggling ability to summon notes from her imagination that other people would never have expect to use in a particular song. Really, the latter unleashes sudden belts and growls that just blow my mind!
Now, since you’ve seen how talented vocalists use vocal runs, watch Christina Aguilera butcher ‘Oh Holy Night’ below:
Christina Aguilera – ‘Oh Holy Night’
Thoughts?
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I LOVE this Way Back Wednesday! It makes me happy whnever you post stuff about vocalists
ALL Singers should be able to do runs + have control of their voice. What’s the use of being a “singer” if u can’t do justice? And LOL at the ShouTina shade 
loooves it
OH.MY.GOD, LUTHER VANDROSS. WHAT A VOCAL BEAST! R.I.P
STILL IN AWE OF LUTHER! THE MALE SINGERS TODAY COULD NEVER, NOT ONE.
This post is such an experience. These videos cleansed my spirit and soothed my soul.
Everyone was great but Luther’s runs were everything! That performance took me higher.
I miss Luther Vandross, no one and I mean no one can do it like Mr.Vandross. R&B is truly missing his voice.
Yes!! These are the vocalist I love!
The younger girls try to sleep on Ella but they fail to remember she was a vocal beast!! One of my favorite but more simple tracks by Ella is “Get Ready” and I have to say Mariah slays in ‘Vanishing’, its one of my favorite songs.
Love these choices, Trent. Luther’s voice and Maxwell’s voice–sexy!
Eventhough Brandy has had a tough time over the last decade (false marriages, “car accidents,” Human, Kim K Superstar, For Love of Ray-J, and so on and such I really hope she can pull it together because its not fair that the 90′s had so many Pop/R&B Divas with amazing voices but we only have one, Beyonce, who is amazing but it’s sad that she is the only one holding the front down, we need more. Come on Brandy!
And its kinda sad that she is singing in a bathroom and everybody else are singing on stages.
Lord! I was stuck on Whitney and Kim. God be a chariot that took me away.
trent you couldnt find a video of brandy on stage? LOL
You put up the video of Brandy singing in the bathroom. LOL
That was Beys best vocal ability performance! She really went the heck awwwwfff!!!!!!
Aretha reallllllyyyy shocked me!! I know shes a queen but shes just shown me!
Brandy changed keys like 5 times but i still love her
Ella……..really………… need i say more on those vibratos!!!
KIM!!!!!! THATS MY GRANDMOTHER!!!! QUEEEEEENNNNN!! Whitney collected her life and salvation at that stage!! Whits performance was beaut aswell
Mariah knows her position!!! Marvellous!!! DID SHE REALLY CALL SOMEONE OOUT ON THE WRONG NOTE!?!??!?! JJFBASFBASDBA IM OUTTTTTT
this bij tried it with posting everybody on stage and Brandy in her bathroom. lmao i hate you trent! lmao I love Brandy, her runs and adlibs are the best in the game. they make sense and always at the right time. the rest are amateurs compared to her.
AND you forgot Wanya Morris of Boyz to Men
ARETHA HAD ME IN AWE FROM THE 4:03 MARK ON.
BRANDY…..HER VIBRATO IS FLAWLESS.
WHITNEY…..WELL WE ALREADY KNOW SHE IS THE QUEEN, SO.
BUT WHAT ABOUT JESSIE J????? SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED TALENTS OUT TODAY. SHE CAN, AND I SAY THIS SOBER & COMPLETELY CONFIDENT, SING CIRCLES AROUND ADELE. AND THE WORLD FOR THE MOST PART, HAS NO CLUE.
I swear you make me smile with your Way Back Wednesday posts! You have opened my eyes to some true amazing talents!
Beyonce went the fuck off!!
Brandy did her thing, but she had to much every where but it sounded good!!
Luther is the King!!
Luther is the best male singer to ever walk this earth. I really liked this post. Can’t lie though, I thought you were going to throw X-tina at the bottom to show what NOT to do.
@deidah Your comment needs a seat of its own _/. Brandy runs are similar to that of Kim Burrell, and Jazmine Sullivan. Beyonce and Mariah are Queens, they tend to use them at the perfect time when it’s needed not in every word or verse in a song.
Mariah/Whitney are the best and Luther the best male.
Celine Dion version of “holy Night” is wayyyyyyyyy better!!