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Hello everyone, i've decided to make an account because i have some questions that pertain to singing, and since i haven't been able to find any properly operating singing forums on the net, i thought i'd come here to ask some questions about singing because i feel the questions might be tied closely to flamenco.
Some backstory:
- I know very little about Flamenco - I want to start taking singing classes soon so that i can properly engage in my artistic endeavors - I'm a big fan of Alejandro Sanz
I'm not sure if anyone here has heard of Mr Sanz but he has a famously rich association to Flamenco and my question is the following...
Alejandro's voice has often been described as raspy, rasposa, husky, etc etc , Rhapsody.com describes him as: "Sanz can sing with the husky intensity of a Gipsy King when he wants to - which isn't too often."
He has a certain vocal quality, and i feel it was arguably magnified most during his mid 2000's endeavors with songs like the ones below.
My question is, is his vocal quality mostly unique to him, or can such abilities and style be learned? I for example dont have his vocal quality or the ability to do some vocal effects he can, but i've also noticed that his voice has rolled more husky as he's grown older. How much is his vocal quality down to genetics, and down to actually training and modifying?
RE: Flamenco Singing Characteristics (in reply to 12x8)
12x8, that's big lumber! couldn't resist, I'm a contractor.
Never heard of this guy but his voice does have a good tone for flamenco. It's what we call voz afillà. Super common in flamenco. I've heard people try to have it artificially, sounds really lame. Either you've got it or you don't. Cigarettes, brandy and lack of sleep help though. embrace the tone you're born with and make it the best it can be. Don't try to "make a voice" it'll be obvious that it's fake. Oh yeah, we call it Cante, not singing, you'll find more cool stuff using that word, Cante and Cantaores.
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: Flamenco Singing Characteristics (in reply to Morante)
correct ...anyone who lives in Spain , or has been there for a while would not be able to avoid hearing him on the radio ... a bit too much at times ...
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Flamenco Singing Characteristics (in reply to 12x8)
So long as your investigations here are understood as scraping the superficial cheese off the surface of flamenco...here is the only reason I know of that Sr. Sanz is known to be having some "flamenco" background....cheesy collaborations like this:
In this vein I would have to admit I would prefer the Paco/Bryan Adams flamenco combo. At least their song is in 3/4. Comparing these types of pop singers to flamenco cante is like comparing Kanye to Billie Holliday.
RE: Flamenco Singing Characteristics (in reply to Leñador)
Does it seem curious that the pioneers in any genre are always regarded as the best, even when they are obviously technically surpassed?
In Blues, who is better than Robert Johnson or Muddy Waters?
Who plays better flamenco guitar than Manolo de Huelva?
Who sings better than Pastora or her brother Tomás? Who dances better than Carmen Amaya or El Farruco?
I believe that "best" is a word that only applies in activities which can be objectivly measured. As a result most arguments about the relative merits of various artists are often at cross purposes.
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couldn't resist, I'm a contractor. 
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