Hugo Valenti

[Aaron]

Is Hugo Valenti the best vocalist on the planet today? The dude has been singing in the stratosphere for over 30 years now and hasn't lost anything. He has the same range as he had back in the 90's proving if you keep working it and don't over do it you can maintain the highest level of performance as you get older. This guy is 60 and sounds like he's 20. I'm voting as the best.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Is Hugo Valenti the best vocalist on the planet today? The dude has been singing in the stratosphere for over 30 years now and hasn't lost anything. He has the same range as he had back in the 90's proving if you keep working it and don't over do it you can maintain the highest level of performance as you get older. This guy is 60 and sounds like he's 20. I'm voting as the best.

Yes and no. Other tenors - like Perry and Chalfant and Mickey Thomas - mostly sing (or sang) in that glass-shattering stratosphere using their full voice. Hugo is a great talent, but def. utilizes some sort of falsetto/head voice trickery.

[Monker]

Yes and no. Other tenors - like Perry and Chalfant and Mickey Thomas - sing (or sang) in that glass-shattering stratosphere using their full voice. Hugo is a great talent, but def. utilizes some sort of falsetto/head voice trickery.

Head voice is not the same as falsetto and is not trickery. Head voice is simply the upper range of your full voice...the lower range is chest voice. All of the above singers use head voice. It's only called "head voice" because the singer feels a resonance or vibration in their head, instead of coming from the chest. Falsetto is forcing that high range and sounding like the Bee Gee's.

I'd have to listen again, but I think Hugo is always in head voice and never backs off and uses his chest voice. Perry could switch between the two without it being noticeable at all. So, Perry had a full range...I think Hugo is zeroed in on that high tenor and doesn't switch to chest voice to get any lower notes at all...that is why Perry's voice sounds so much more powerful and not thin like Hugo.

Maybe Jeremy can confirm the above. But, that is how I hear it.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Head voice is not the same as falsetto and is not trickery.

Not what I said. I said Hugo uses "some sort of falsetto/head voice trickery." Could be a blend/mix of the two. It doesn't matter. Hugo doesn't attack these songs in a full throated way like the tenor singers I mentioned. Part of the reason why Hugo is thin as a reed and has the nasality of Perry is because his voice permanently resides in that upper falsetto/head register.

Head voice is simply the upper range of your full voice...the lower range is chest voice. All of the above singers use head voice. It's only called "head voice" because the singer feels a resonance or vibration in their head, instead of coming from the chest. Falsetto is forcing that high range and sounding like the Bee Gee's.

If you want to discuss this, get an actual real singer - like Brywool - to weigh in here. I personally know some singers who are more comfortable hitting high notes using upper chest instead of switching to mix or head. Sounds better too.

All of the above singers use head voice.

Never said they didn't. But they certainly didn't rely on head/falsetto voice trickery like Hugo.

[Monker]

Head voice is not the same as falsetto and is not trickery.

Not what I said. I said Hugo uses "some sort of falsetto/head voice trickery." Could be a blend/mix of the two. It doesn't matter. Hugo doesn't attack these songs in a full throated way like the tenor singers I mentioned. Part of the reason why Hugo is thin as a reed and has the nasality of Perry is because his voice permanently resides in that upper falsetto/head register.

Not trying to make a big argument with you.

Why do you group head voice and falsetto together?
Why do you believe head voice can be used as trickery? What IS "trickery"?

Some of the best voices ever use mostly head voice. Brad Delp and Rik Emmet are two I can think of right away. Do you believe they are using "trickery" because they do not use chest voice more often?

If you want to discuss this, get an actual real singer - like Brywool - to weigh in here.

I said I would like to hear Jeremy comment. If Bry is a pro singer, I'd like to hear him, too.

I personally know some singers who are more comfortable hitting high notes using upper chest instead of switching to mix or head. Sounds better too.

Yes, they could be vocally trained that way, or maybe don't like their head voice, or just prefer to sing that way. Someone like Jim Morrison does the same. Nothing wrong with that at all.

All of the above singers use head voice.

Never said they didn't. But they certainly didn't rely on head/falsetto voice trickery like Hugo.

And, someone like Steve Perry moves in and out of head voice effortlessly and you can't even tell he's doing it. When he does that, do you believe it's "trickery"?

I'm not sure I would even classify falsetto as "trickery". For example, Air Supply...Russell Hitchcock has a fantastic voice. There are songs where he sings in head voice, or chest voice, and Graham Russell comes in and sings in harmony in falsetto. Is that 'trickery"? Is what the Bee Gee's did in falsetto what you are calling "trickery"?

I just don't get what you are saying. Why do you group head voice and falsetto together when you say, "head voice/falsetto trickery?" What do you mean by "trickery?"

[The_Noble_Cause]

Not trying to make a big argument with you.
Why do you group head voice and falsetto together?

Because they are both upper register / above the passagio.

Why do you believe head voice can be used as trickery? What IS "trickery"?

I refer to Hugo's approach as trickery (or voodoo, if you prefer) because 1) he's not tackling these songs full-bore like many other older tenors and 2) I still don't know HOW exactly he pulls it off. Unlike Perry or any of the replacements, Hugo comes at this Journey material sideways - or in a technically different way. The only thing comparable is Axl Rose and Augeri - both now using light head/falsetto/mix to sing tenor material. And they often sound lousy.

Having seen Hugo live, some stuff is obvious (vowel placement etc), and other things make me question....
Maybe he just sings softly in falsetto and they max out his mic? I really just don't know.

And, someone like Steve Perry moves in and out of head voice effortlessly and you can't even tell he's doing it. When he does that, do you believe it's "trickery"?

Now that you mention it, someone on here (maybe it was you) used to mention how certain fans thought Perry had a "magic microphone."

SP definitely modified his approach to cover the material in later tours (most noticeably ROR). As he was the originator of the material, it doesn't matter.

For example, Air Supply...Russell Hitchcock has a fantastic voice.

Sure about that? Hitchcock uses autotune in almost every clip I've seen over the past five years or more.

Is that 'trickery"? Is what the Bee Gee's did in falsetto what you are calling "trickery"?

What I am discussing is very specific: Hugo and his approach to Journey material.
Other artists -unless they are covering Journey - have no relevance.

What do you mean by "trickery?"

Hugo is covering one of the most challenging/demanding catalogs in rock using only a very fraction of his range imo.
To some he sounds "exactly like Perry!" To others, it's fairly obvious there's more dynamics at play.

[Aaron]

It's good to see nothing has changed in 15 years here other than we lost Dean-0.

I hate to say it but I agree with Monker for once in a row. Hugo runs a lot in head but not all the time. He's not a little pussy boy, he's a bigger person. Not mini me like Perry and Pineda. His geometry will drive him to spend more time in head voice in that range.

So back to the question after the analysis, is he The Best Male Vocalist on the planet at the moment?

[Andrew]

is he The Best Male Vocalist on the planet at the moment?

Not by a long shot.

[Aaron]

Hot Damn, Mac's around. So who is it boss?

I'm going with Hugo or Josh as the best active singers. And I'm talking high tenors as anything else is shite.

is he The Best Male Vocalist on the planet at the moment?

Not by a long shot.

[verslibre]

He's not a little pussy boy, he's a bigger person. Not mini me like Perry and Pineda.

Okay, Maynard. Reading you loud and clear. 10-4!

[verslibre]

I'm going with Hugo or Josh as the best active singers. And I'm talking high tenors as anything else is shite.

Michael Anthony is better. But he doesn't have to work the casinos.

[youkeepmewaiting]

That an outrageous suggestion

[4everkop]

Hugo is approaching this material with longevity in mind. I think it's obvious and quite smart for his vocal health. What did Perry in was switching to a chestier sound around Frontiers and SLAMMING high B4s-Eb4s with a pulled chest sound. No matter how brilliant of a voice you have and great technique it will do damage, especially with their touring schedule. Now while I don't care all that much for Hugo's voice I do appreciate what he's consciously doing. He's definitely doing a mixed voice probably starting around F#4 and keeping it light, adding that signature Perry "twang" while also keeping his soft palate lifted. "Trickery" it is not. He also may simply have a softer vocal production than Perry and it's been working for him. Augeri lost his voice doing this catalog as well as Perry and we know that Pineda has struggled too. I must reiterate that the touring schedule is partially at play and the frequency and size of the rooms so Hugo still has a vocal longevity advantage. A chesty sound singing Journey is exhilarating but it is incredibly vocally taxing that will take it's toll over time. I like to think of Jon Anderson's voice from YES. Very boyish and light and the cricothyroid connection is still there. He's retained his voice probably because he wasn't pushing as much. Perry was absolutely wreckless vocally during Raised on Radio, brilliant moments but the guy was shredding his cords night after night pulling up so much weight it's a miracle he was able to sing like that.

[ebake02]

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

[Monker]

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

If you are going to include female singers, I don't think anybody comes close to Floor Jansen right now. She can sing anything.

[ebake02]

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

If you are going to include female singers, I don't think anybody comes close to Floor Jansen right now. She can sing anything.

I'm somewhat familiar with her but I haven't listened to her yet so I will check her out. I would put Sharon den Adel and Erik Martensson ahead of Hugo too.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Hugo is approaching this material with longevity in mind. I think it's obvious and quite smart for his vocal health. What did Perry in was switching to a chestier sound around Frontiers and SLAMMING high B4s-Eb4s with a pulled chest sound. No matter how brilliant of a voice you have and great technique it will do damage, especially with their touring schedule. Now while I don't care all that much for Hugo's voice I do appreciate what he's consciously doing. He's definitely doing a mixed voice probably starting around F#4 and keeping it light, adding that signature Perry "twang" while also keeping his soft palate lifted. "Trickery" it is not. He also may simply have a softer vocal production than Perry and it's been working for him. Augeri lost his voice doing this catalog as well as Perry and we know that Pineda has struggled too. I must reiterate that the touring schedule is partially at play and the frequency and size of the rooms so Hugo still has a vocal longevity advantage. A chesty sound singing Journey is exhilarating but it is incredibly vocally taxing that will take it's toll over time. I like to think of Jon Anderson's voice from YES. Very boyish and light and the cricothyroid connection is still there. He's retained his voice probably because he wasn't pushing as much. Perry was absolutely wreckless vocally during Raised on Radio, brilliant moments but the guy was shredding his cords night after night pulling up so much weight it's a miracle he was able to sing like that.

Appreciate the insights.

[Aaron]

I'd prefer not sir, it's not nearly the same.

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

If you are going to include female singers, I don't think anybody comes close to Floor Jansen right now. She can sing anything.

[Aaron]

The answer is yes folks. Listen to the new Voyage cd.

[Aaron]

That memory is long!

He's not a little pussy boy, he's a bigger person. Not mini me like Perry and Pineda.

Okay, Maynard. Reading you loud and clear. 10-4!

[Aaron]

Really, chicks? Naw Kelly Clarkson, yes. Diana Ross, yes. Karen Carpenter, yes. But we're talking dudes here sir. Any chick can sing in that range. No different than the tranny dude lifting weights in the chick category.

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

[Aaron]

Any chick can do it ma'am.

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

If you are going to include female singers, I don't think anybody comes close to Floor Jansen right now. She can sing anything.

I'm somewhat familiar with her but I haven't listened to her yet so I will check her out. I would put Sharon den Adel and Erik Martensson ahead of Hugo too.

[Monker]

Really, chicks? Naw Kelly Clarkson, yes. Diana Ross, yes. Karen Carpenter, yes. But we're talking dudes here sir. Any chick can sing in that range. No different than the tranny dude lifting weights in the chick category.

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

It's not just about range. Floor can sing anything. Hugo can sing Perry'ish and Journeyesque songs and that's about it. What does he do besides sing in a high Perry like voice that causes everybody to compare him to Perry? Does he sing ANYTHING besides melodic, 80's sounding, rock?

Opera (Ok, it's really theater, but close enough):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plCScjvDOJM

Modern symphonic metal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYjIlHWBAVo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzlaBXbat4k

pop and ballads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahykaAPHhs8
(BTW, the guy who takes a deep breath and cries at the end wrote and recorded the song about his parents divorce)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-OVZvQrvik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adPGSh5ktZo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsmS0vmbNTw

covering Heart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fu-yP6q6Gk

And, I have to include this because I love Anneke, and she's better than Hugo as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR6wlLNF5Wo

[Aaron]

Thanks for your response Monker, I appreciate you taking the time to provide some feedback. I'm listening and here goes:

1. painful to the point I killed it at 20 seconds

2. A chick doing easy work making it look hard. fk that

3. Another chick trying to look bad ass singing in their natural range expelling little energy

4. Not bad singer but nothing monumental, a chick doing ok

5. Another chick under achieving singing within a dudes range

6. same as 5 above

7. Same as 6 above

8. about the same as fatass anne wilson, ask her how she licked the bird for her set in 08 in Indy, crap

9. More chick crap. Nothing to see here

If you want to see some chicks that can sing, these are chicks on par with what I'm talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UrFYvl5TE

Really, chicks? Naw Kelly Clarkson, yes. Diana Ross, yes. Karen Carpenter, yes. But we're talking dudes here sir. Any chick can sing in that range. No different than the tranny dude lifting weights in the chick category.

Hugo is barely an after thought on the list of the best singers today. He certainly has the chops but it's outrageous nonsense to suggest the Hugo is a better singer than someone like Lzzy Hale or Amy Lee.

It's not just about range. Floor can sing anything. Hugo can sing Perry'ish and Journeyesque songs and that's about it. What does he do besides sing in a high Perry like voice that causes everybody to compare him to Perry? Does he sing ANYTHING besides melodic, 80's sounding, rock?

Opera (Ok, it's really theater, but close enough):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plCScjvDOJM

Modern symphonic metal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYjIlHWBAVo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzlaBXbat4k

pop and ballads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahykaAPHhs8
(BTW, the guy who takes a deep breath and cries at the end wrote and recorded the song about his parents divorce)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-OVZvQrvik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adPGSh5ktZo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsmS0vmbNTw

covering Heart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fu-yP6q6Gk

And, I have to include this because I love Anneke, and she's better than Hugo as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR6wlLNF5Wo

[Monker]

Thanks for your response Monker, I appreciate you taking the time to provide some feedback. I'm listening and here goes:

1. painful to the point I killed it at 20 seconds

2. A chick doing easy work making it look hard. fk that

3. Another chick trying to look bad ass singing in their natural range expelling little energy

4. Not bad singer but nothing monumental, a chick doing ok

5. Another chick under achieving singing within a dudes range

6. same as 5 above

7. Same as 6 above

8. about the same as fatass anne wilson, ask her how she licked the bird for her set in 08 in Indy, crap

9. More chick crap. Nothing to see here

If you want to see some chicks that can sing, these are chicks on par with what I'm talking about:

Your opinion about Floor's voice was not the point. The point is that she can sing ANYTHING. Hugo can NOT sing anything other than Steve Perry. Range is not everything. Hugo is VERY limited and is NOT one of the best singers out there. It would be like claiming Tommy Shaw is one of the best singers ever. He's simply not. He has a great voice and does his thang extremely well...but he is not like Steve Perry or Freddy Mercury or John Farnham. Neither is Hugo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UrFYvl5TE

Kelly Clarkson, really? You go and mock Ann Wilson's weight and then you post Kelly Clarkson who has also struggled with weight. Come on. Anyway, I have no desire to listen to any pop music like this. To me, it just sounds like a Brittany Spears wannabe. If that is what you like, good for you. But, it's not me'ish.

[AR]

I like Hugo, especially his own stuff. Sounds good doing the Journey stuff, but his voice is a little thin. Jeremey had a lot more power when he was doing the Frontiers tribute thing.

[Journey/Survivor]

It would be like claiming Tommy Shaw is one of the best singers ever. He's simply not. He has a great voice and does his thang extremely well...but he is not like Steve Perry or Freddy Mercury or John Farnham.

Two points that I would make about that topic.

#1 It's all in the ear of the beholder.

#2. Tommy Shaw is one of the greatest Rock singers of all time in my opinion. Is he in my top 5? No. Is he in my top 10? Probably not quite. Is he in my top 20? Probably.

Can any of you guys at all give me a list of some of John Farnham's best vocal performances?

Based on what I've heard of Farnham he's obviously very good. But I haven't heard anything that has blown me away that he's sang. Thus far my opinion (and I admit that I have not heard a lot of his songs) of Farnham would fall into how Monker described Tommy Shaw.

Maybe that will change if I hear some of his best performances?

[Aaron]

It is range for me, it makes singers great as they're pushing the limits of their capability. It provides positive energy for me that is important.

I should not have made the anne wilson comment. She's a decent singer. She offended me when they opened for Journey in Indy in 08ish. She will remember me, my back and my middle finger for their whole set from the front row.

How do you know Hugo can't sing anything other Perry's range? I can tell you if you sing in the stratosphere, you can sing lower. Anyone can sing lower and I don't think you know what Hugo can or can't do. He choses the absolute hardest range, why would you think he can't do lay ups?

I'm not a huge fan of Clarkson's music style. What I am a fan of is her absolute mastery of the high end of the range. She is a great example of Steve Perry in female form. She has the range that I think is great (opinions vary, just like ah's).

I do enjoy another person's view on topics I enjoy. Thanks for your posts. I don't always agree with you but I do always appreciate your posts.

Thanks for your response Monker, I appreciate you taking the time to provide some feedback. I'm listening and here goes:

1. painful to the point I killed it at 20 seconds

2. A chick doing easy work making it look hard. fk that

3. Another chick trying to look bad ass singing in their natural range expelling little energy

4. Not bad singer but nothing monumental, a chick doing ok

5. Another chick under achieving singing within a dudes range

6. same as 5 above

7. Same as 6 above

8. about the same as fatass anne wilson, ask her how she licked the bird for her set in 08 in Indy, crap

9. More chick crap. Nothing to see here

If you want to see some chicks that can sing, these are chicks on par with what I'm talking about:

Your opinion about Floor's voice was not the point. The point is that she can sing ANYTHING. Hugo can NOT sing anything other than Steve Perry. Range is not everything. Hugo is VERY limited and is NOT one of the best singers out there. It would be like claiming Tommy Shaw is one of the best singers ever. He's simply not. He has a great voice and does his thang extremely well...but he is not like Steve Perry or Freddy Mercury or John Farnham. Neither is Hugo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UrFYvl5TE

Kelly Clarkson, really? You go and mock Ann Wilson's weight and then you post Kelly Clarkson who has also struggled with weight. Come on. Anyway, I have no desire to listen to any pop music like this. To me, it just sounds like a Brittany Spears wannabe. If that is what you like, good for you. But, it's not me'ish.

[Aaron]

Jeremey is outstanding as well. Hugo's original material is hard to compete with.

I like Hugo, especially his own stuff. Sounds good doing the Journey stuff, but his voice is a little thin. Jeremey had a lot more power when he was doing the Frontiers tribute thing.

[Aaron]

Good post brother. I need to dig into Farnham deeper and have a think. I know his hits but he never hit me me as great, I need to have a look. And your #1 is TRUTH.

It would be like claiming Tommy Shaw is one of the best singers ever. He's simply not. He has a great voice and does his thang extremely well...but he is not like Steve Perry or Freddy Mercury or John Farnham.

Two points that I would make about that topic.

#1 It's all in the ear of the beholder.

#2. Tommy Shaw is one of the greatest Rock singers of all time in my opinion. Is he in my top 5? No. Is he in my top 10? Probably not quite. Is he in my top 20? Probably.

Can any of you guys at all give me a list of some of John Farnham's best vocal performances?

Based on what I've heard of Farnham he's obviously very good. But I haven't heard anything that has blown me away that he's sang. Thus far my opinion (and I admit that I have not heard a lot of his songs) of Farnham would fall into how Monker described Tommy Shaw.

Maybe that will change if I hear some of his best performances?