Changes in SP's speaking voice

[ArnelRox]

Has anyone else noticed that Steve's speaking voice changed in pitch & tonality over the years (never mind his singing voice)? Now mine has changed too but I blame it on my nasty little smoking habit. Mine got deeper, more gravelly. If I'm not mistaken, Steve's got higher.

If u compare his speaking voice here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD6Cil4_5_Y (1983)
w/his voice here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUPoSXgzHow (1986)
then here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5swl3jZGaU (1991)
then here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62DpVKF1-4g (2001)
& then listen to his interview w/UJ last week, doesn't it sound like he gets higher & higher? Not just more raspy, but actually higher pitched?

So, my question is, what would cause that? Aging, voice abuse, some kind of surgery for polyps? Any thoughts?

[Saint John]

I forgot that he fucked up the words to Faithfully at the Graham tribute. As far as his voice goes, it sounds pretty much the same to me. Just a bit older.

[ArnelRox]

I forgot that he fucked up the words to Faithfully at the Graham tribute. As afr as his voice goes, it sounds pretty much the same to me. Just a bit older.

Really? U don't hear the difference from the low manly voice he spoke in on the Frontiers & Beyond video, to the high pitched voice he speaks w/on BTM?

I need new ears then!

[donnaplease]

I didn't really listen too intently to the interview, but it seemed to me his voice was smoother (less raspy) than I had heard it in other interviews. I thought that in the song he did with Guff too. And I just imagining things, or is it possible that with the rest combined with the vocal coach/whatever he's been doing recently, that he's regained some of his voice???

[TRAGChick]

Has anyone else noticed that Steve's speaking voice changed in pitch & tonality over the years (never mind his singing voice)? Now mine has changed too but I blame it on my nasty little smoking habit. Mine got deeper, more gravelly. If I'm not mistaken, Steve's got higher.

If u compare his speaking voice here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD6Cil4_5_Y (1983)
w/his voice here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUPoSXgzHow (1986)
then here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5swl3jZGaU (1991)
then here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62DpVKF1-4g (2001)
& then listen to his interview w/UJ last week, doesn't it sound like he gets higher & higher? Not just more raspy, but actually higher pitched?

So, my question is, what would cause that? Aging, voice abuse, some kind of surgery for polyps? Any thoughts?

I've always thought that Steve had to keep a "higher end" to his voice while he spoke during concerts to be able to "switch", if you will, to the higher-pitched areas of some songs:

Here's a great example: Listen to how he speaks in a "low voice", but then when he has to start singing again, the speaking voice "ramps up" to a falsetto: It's near the end of this clip:

From (low)"Let's get honest about it" to (falsetto)"So, one more time I say" (and then sings):
http://download.yousendit.com/0892E4217124F2C1

[ArnelRox]

Has anyone else noticed that Steve's speaking voice changed in pitch & tonality over the years (never mind his singing voice)? Now mine has changed too but I blame it on my nasty little smoking habit. Mine got deeper, more gravelly. If I'm not mistaken, Steve's got higher.

If u compare his speaking voice here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD6Cil4_5_Y (1983)
w/his voice here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUPoSXgzHow (1986)
then here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5swl3jZGaU (1991)
then here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62DpVKF1-4g (2001)
& then listen to his interview w/UJ last week, doesn't it sound like he gets higher & higher? Not just more raspy, but actually higher pitched?

So, my question is, what would cause that? Aging, voice abuse, some kind of surgery for polyps? Any thoughts?

I've always thought that Steve had to keep a "higher end" to his voice while he spoke during concerts to be able to "switch", if you will, to the higher-pitched areas of some songs:

Here's a great example: Listen to how he speaks in a "low voice", but then when he has to start singing again, the speaking voice "ramps up" to a falsetto: It's near the end of this clip:

From (low)"Let's get honest about it" to (falsetto)"So, one more time I say" (and then sings):
http://download.yousendit.com/0892E4217124F2C1

Yes but Nora, how does that jive w/my examples above? Did u look at/listen to my examples at all? I pulled one example of him speaking during a 1983 concert, when granted, he was mad. But, I could pull others from 1979, 1980, 1981, where he always speaks in a low manly voice during concerts. My examples from 1986 and 2001 were NOT concerts at all. They were both interviews. & his speaking voice is definitely higher pitched than it was before. The 1991 Bill Graham Tribute was a time when he was about to sing, but that is the only one that would jive w/ur theory. & even the low speaking tones in ur example from 1994 or 1995 are significantly higher pitched than his speaking voice during concerts in earlier years. Take for example, his voice here, right before he sings a very vocally challenging song: http://youtube.com/watch?v=iUkHffR3CUY That is a deeper voice than ur example. Surely u can hear that too? I know u have pitch trained ears.

Something changed in his voice somewhere between 1984 & 1986. I'm convinced of it. & it wasn't just his singing voice, but his speaking voice. To me, that means it's some overall thing.

[bluejeangirl76]

I forgot that he fucked up the words to Faithfully at the Graham tribute. As afr as his voice goes, it sounds pretty much the same to me. Just a bit older.

He fucked up the words a lot, even going all the way back the early days.
I think that most singers to that though.

And yeah, sounds the same to me too, except obviously older.
Everyone's speaking voice changes with age. I don't sound the same as I did 10 years go.

[ArnelRox]

And yeah, sounds the same to me too, except obviously older.
Everyone's speaking voice changes with age. I don't sound the same as I did 10 years go.

Is ur voice higher pitched? Or deeper & more gravelly? Most people's voice changes. But usually, they become deeper, not higher pitched.

[fredinator]

JR, actually I noticed his voice seemed higher and a LITTLE raspy, almost thin perhaps? JeremyP posted something on another thread regarding Steve's voice which made a lot of sense but I can't remember exactly what he said--something about one vocal cord being like a wet noodle, or something...

[bluejeangirl76]

And yeah, sounds the same to me too, except obviously older.
Everyone's speaking voice changes with age. I don't sound the same as I did 10 years go.

Is ur voice higher pitched? Or deeper & more gravelly? Most people's voice changes. But usually, they become deeper, not higher pitched.

I sound a bit higher pitched than I used to, yes. And I've never had any vocal trouble that was worse than laryngitis.
No surgery or anything. I think it just depends on the person.

But I don't think that SP sounds any higher pitched than he did before. He still sounds very much like he did 20 years ago.
And thank god too. Would hate to think of him with one of them old man voices. Yikes. ROFL!

[Chevypv]

Speaking in the higher register of your voice is easier on your voice, its more healthy, and is actually a treatment prescribed when someone has nodes on their vocal chords. He may just be under instruction from his vocal coach to speak higher and not bear down on his voice....just a thought...

[ArnelRox]

Chevy, interesting thought. I know that my vocal teacher years ago used to tell me to try to speak w/range as it would improve my singing range. She would tell me to go up at the end of sentences & make it kinda sing-songy. I didn't know that was a type of therapy for vocal problems.

BlueJean, I can't believe u don't hear the differences & that his voice is higher pitched. I swear I hear differently than other people.

[Chevypv]

Chevy, interesting thought. I know that my vocal teacher years ago used to tell me to try to speak w/range as it would improve my singing range. She would tell me to go up at the end of sentences & make it kinda sing-songy. I didn't know that was a type of therapy for vocal problems.
BlueJean, I can't believe u don't hear the differences & that his voice is higher pitched. I swear I hear differently than other people.

Yeah, i had a vocal teacher in High school who had developed nodes on his vocal chords, partly from a throat infection, partly from years of constant use...He was told that he was also bearing down on his voice when speaking by speaking too low in his range, and that if he spoke in the middle of his range or a little higher, the nodes would heal better and he would preserve his vocal chords better, He still speaks that way to this day....

[ohsherrie]

I've noticed in interviews and various clips of Steve's speaking voice over the years that he seems to speak in different ranges. I don't see it having anything to do with his age though because I hear the differences throughout all the years. It seems to have more to do with the tone of the subject matter, his mood, and just a different way of expressing or putting a certain emphasis on what he's saying. Sort of like he sings.

[ArnelRox]

I've noticed in interviews and various clips of Steve's speaking voice over the years that he seems to speak in different ranges. I don't see it having anything to do with his age though because I hear the differences throughout all the years. It seems to have more to do with the tone of the subject matter, his mood, and just a different way of expressing or putting a certain emphasis on what he's saying. Sort of like he sings.

Ok that's it sis. Listen to my examples would u? His voice has changed, damn it. Otherwise, u need to change ur signature. "A loon is someone who is so enamored w/Perry that he/she refuses even to admit that his voice has changed over the years & continues to do so even when faced w/undeniable proof".

[Deb]

But I don't think that SP sounds any higher pitched than he did before. He still sounds very much like he did 20 years ago.
And thank god too. Would hate to think of him with one of them old man voices. Yikes. ROFL!

LOL, not even close.

JRox, I know what you mean....compared to Escape/Frontiers IMO the tone of his speaking voice does seem a 'little' higher, but not much. I noticed his voice seems more raspy on radio than it does in person.

[ArnelRox]

JRox, I know what you mean....compared to Escape/Frontiers IMO the tone of his speaking voice does seem a 'little' higher, but not much. I noticed his voice seems more raspy on radio than it does in person.

Not much higher? Come on. It's a good bit higher. & that goes for in person too:

http://steveperry-perryville.com/COTW22/100_0731.MOV

But ur right about the rasp there.

[ohsherrie]

I've noticed in interviews and various clips of Steve's speaking voice over the years that he seems to speak in different ranges. I don't see it having anything to do with his age though because I hear the differences throughout all the years. It seems to have more to do with the tone of the subject matter, his mood, and just a different way of expressing or putting a certain emphasis on what he's saying. Sort of like he sings.

Ok that's it sis. Listen to my examples would u? His voice has changed, damn it. Otherwise, u need to change ur signature. "A loon is someone who is so enamored w/Perry that he/she refuses even to admit that his voice has changed over the years & continues to do so even when faced w/undeniable proof".

I can't listen to your examples Suz because it takes too long to download stuff on dialup so I was just commenting on differences that I've noticed in the interviews that I've heard. I'm not saying his voice hasn't changed over the years. Everyone's does to some extent. I'm just saying I've heard differences in the timbre of his voice in various interviews throughout the years. I think a certain amount the tone you hear in one interview as opposed to another has to do with the things I said above rather than simply age.

Everyone uses different tones of voice to convey different expression in what they're saying. For example, in the Kitchen's Closed interview that he did for FTLOSM he spoke in a deep tone of voice because he meant for it to be a serious discussion. In the ROR Doc he spoke mostly in a higher, lighter tone of voice because he was having fun.

Adding an afterthought. I think he may be a better actor than he gives himself credit for.

[ArnelRox]

I can't listen to your examples Suz because it takes too long to download stuff on dialup so I was just commenting on differences that I've noticed in the interviews that I've heard. I'm not saying his voice hasn't changed over the years. Everyone's does to some extent. I'm just saying I've heard differences in the timbre of his voice in various interviews throughout the years. I think a certain amount the tone you hear in one interview as opposed to another has to do with the things I said above rather than simply age.

Everyone uses different tones of voice to convey different expression in what they're saying. For example, in the Kitchen's Closed interview that he did for FTLOSM he spoke in a deep tone of voice because he meant for it to be a serious discussion. In the ROR Doc he spoke mostly in a higher, lighter tone of voice because he was having fun.

Really? YouTube is tough on dialup? Damn. I haven't used dialup in so long, I forget. Can u listen at all in a friend's house? Or do u have those videos at home?

But seriously, even in the Kitchen's Closed interview the pitch of his voice is higher than it was in the ROR interview. I'm talking about pitch here, not tone. We can change the tone of our voice to make what we're saying sound different. & yes, everyone's voice changes over the years. I made that point. However, for most people, the voice becomes lower & more gravelly. Someone made a good point to me in PM. There is one other singer whose voice (speaking & singing) became higher later in life: Freddie Mercury. He commented on it himself saying that he didn't know if it was his illness or the meds he was on, but he was singing higher than he ever had.

[ohsherrie]

I can't listen to your examples Suz because it takes too long to download stuff on dialup so I was just commenting on differences that I've noticed in the interviews that I've heard. I'm not saying his voice hasn't changed over the years. Everyone's does to some extent. I'm just saying I've heard differences in the timbre of his voice in various interviews throughout the years. I think a certain amount the tone you hear in one interview as opposed to another has to do with the things I said above rather than simply age.

Everyone uses different tones of voice to convey different expression in what they're saying. For example, in the Kitchen's Closed interview that he did for FTLOSM he spoke in a deep tone of voice because he meant for it to be a serious discussion. In the ROR Doc he spoke mostly in a higher, lighter tone of voice because he was having fun.

Really? YouTube is tough on dialup? Damn. I haven't used dialup in so long, I forget. Can u listen at all in a friend's house? Or do u have those videos at home?

But seriously, even in the Kitchen's Closed interview the pitch of his voice is higher than it was in the ROR interview. I'm talking about pitch here, not tone. We can change the tone of our voice to make what we're saying sound different. & yes, everyone's voice changes over the years. I made that point. However, for most people, the voice becomes lower & more gravelly. Someone made a good point to me in PM. There is one other singer whose voice (speaking & singing) became higher later in life: Freddie Mercury. He commented on it himself saying that he didn't know if it was his illness or the meds he was on, but he was singing higher than he ever had.

If you'll tell me the specific interviews I'll try to find them and listen to them. Any video is excruciatingly slow, if not impossible, on dialup and the only place I had to go to use broadband was my daughter's office. She out on maternity leave now so I don't have that option for the next few weeks.

I understand what you're saying though. I didn't mean to seem like I was contradicting you. I was just commenting on the subject based on what I'd heard that I thought might pertain to it.

[ArnelRox]

If you'll tell me the specific interviews I'll try to find them and listen to them. Any video is excruciatingly slow, if not impossible, on dialup and the only place I had to go to use broadband was my daughter's office. She out on maternity leave now so I don't have that option for the next few weeks.

I understand what you're saying though. I didn't mean to seem like I was contradicting you. I was just commenting on the subject based on what I'd heard that I thought might pertain to it.

Frontiers & Beyond where he gets angry at the guy who throws the bottle at Neal.
The ROR Hard Rock interview.
The Bill Graham Tribute.
Behind The Music.

& I also threw in how he spoke before Mother Father in concert in 1981.

Alright, I will give u a pass on being a totally loony loon for now. But only because ur the long lost sis that I never had

When is ur daughter's baby due? That should be exciting.

[lowdbrent]

1. A male voice peaks by mid thirties, and then usually gives up an octave. Generally, not all of the time, but most of the time.
2. Falsetto. In that clip cited by Nora, there was no "falsetto". There is no such thing really. It is a misnomer. If you can generate a note via "falsetto", then you can generate that note full volume, with proper breathing and resonance training. Your range is your range. But I know what she meant. Steve did not sing with his "head voice" or "falsetto" or whatever you want to call it. He was breathing correctly and belting it, high or low. Steve also knows how to work the mic.

[ArnelRox]

1. A male voice peaks by mid thirties, and then usually gives up an octave. Generally, not all of the time, but most of the time.
2. Falsetto. In that clip cited by Nora, there was no "falsetto". There is no such thing really. It is a misnomer. If you can generate a note via "falsetto", then you can generate that note full volume, with proper breathing and resonance training. Your range is your range. But I know what she meant. Steve did not sing with his "head voice" or "falsetto" or whatever you want to call it. He was breathing correctly and belting it, high or low. Steve also knows how to work the mic.

Ok so on ur 1st point, why is Perry's speaking voice higher in ur opinion? Surely the giving up an octave usually occurs in the high range, right?

Personally, I think a whole octave is a bit extreme. Most people can only sing in a range of about an octave to an octave and a half w/out training to begin with. A good friend of mine who I did some theatre w/years ago, decided to train his voice when he was about 39-40. He gained more than an octave even at that point in his life. He went into training in Nashville w/Brett Manning who supposedly sings in 5 octaves. My friend didn't get that far, but he did get to the point of singing in almost 3 octaves. I disagree that ur range is ur range. I've heard many singers increase their range w/proper training.

Falsetto or no falsetto is an age-old argument. Perry didn't sing falsetto, but he definitely used his head voice (which is NOT the same as falsetto "false voice"). Perry blended his chest & head voice perfectly so that there were no breaks. But there is a very distinct difference in where some of his singing sounds resonate. I can definitely hear sounds resonating in his chest & in his head cavities.

But everyone has a different theory of singing & whether there are distinctions between head, middle & chest voice so it's not worth arguing really.

[JeremyP]

If you can generate a note via "falsetto", then you can generate that note full volume, with proper breathing and resonance training.

Wow....are you talking about Tiny Tim falsetto or just using head voice instead of chest voice? Cuz I got the Tiny Tim falsetto nailed. If I can hit those notes at full volume (and in tune of course) watch out Steve Perry.


Welcome to forum, hope you like it here.

[Melissa]

If you can generate a note via "falsetto", then you can generate that note full volume, with proper breathing and resonance training.

Wow....are you talking about Tiny Tim falsetto or just using head voice instead of chest voice? Cuz I got the Tiny Tim falsetto nailed. If I can hit those notes at full volume (and in tune of course) watch out Steve Perry.


Welcome to forum, hope you like it here.

Love the Santa hat Jeremy, too cute! lol

[JeremyP]

Love the Santa hat Jeremy, too cute! lol

Thanks Melissa!

[ArnelRox]

If you can generate a note via "falsetto", then you can generate that note full volume, with proper breathing and resonance training.

Wow....are you talking about Tiny Tim falsetto or just using head voice instead of chest voice? Cuz I got the Tiny Tim falsetto nailed. If I can hit those notes at full volume (and in tune of course) watch out Steve Perry.


Welcome to forum, hope you like it here.

Love ya Jeremy!

[JeremyP]

Love you too Susie!

1. A male voice peaks by mid thirties, and then usually gives up an octave. Generally, not all of the time, but most of the time.

That's an interesting point. I wanted to check it out so I recorded a sample of my voice as I sound now at age 23 and then pitched it exactly one octave, which is 12 half steps, higher.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4BA4BWFO

It's a very small mp3 (152kb) and won't take long for anyone, even on dial up, to download.

[ArnelRox]

Love you too Susie!

1. A male voice peaks by mid thirties, and then usually gives up an octave. Generally, not all of the time, but most of the time.

That's an interesting point. I wanted to check it out so I recorded a sample of my voice as I sound now at age 23 and then pitched it exactly one octave, which is 12 half steps, higher.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4BA4BWFO

It's a very small mp3 (152kb) and won't take long for anyone, even on dial up, to download.

Well u have a very nice sexy voice now, but I guess in about 15 yrs, u will become a chipmunk!!! LMAO

[JeremyP]

Thanks for the compliment Susie.


So I guess this will be me at around 38-40: