The hidden sounds in Humanoid/Tom singing Monsoon

[melluransa]

You know how sometimes you can unplug your headphone jack slightly and it removes the center, foreground sounds? You know, in a sound field.... the sounds in the center are usually the main vocals and effects. That's the foreground. And the other background effects are quieter and more "on the sides" and not in the center of the sound field? It's

Comments

[steinsgrrl]

Ohh, this is fascinating! I don't know if it'll work if I try it with my headphones, but I know I'm going to have to try. :)

[melluransa]

Good luck! Sometimes it works with some, sometimes it doesn't.

[vanillalatte88]

I find this whole post to be absolutely fascinating & I'd love to sit down with you & have you "show" me all this cool shiz. I understand some of what you're talking about and get the descriptions of what we're hearing, but I don't know any if the technical things your are talking about. I love your analysis of Bill's voice & I think it's just fascinating. I wanna hang out with you for like a month. :)

[melluransa]

I was thinking about that while explaining this -- words can't express how I'm trying to describe sounds. Like glottal fry. We all do it and hear it all the time, and if I showed you, you'd totally be like, "Oh yeah, Bill does that all the time!" But I just have these typed-out words. They're not as effective or illuminating as showing the sound itself.

I know Bill's voice super well! I've only listened to it constantly for over 3 years. And it's the obsession-love. That helps a lot.

Hanging out for a month would be neat! I wish we all lived in Humanoid City and could meet each other in real life. There's some neat TH fans out there. :)

I was thinking of doing this for Scream, Schrei, and Zimmer 483 too. Maybe an entry and analysis for each?

[vanillalatte88]

I think that would be awesome. I'm serious, this is really interesting. I'm going to look up some of this stuff. But that comment about how he ends words with that little breathy-gaspy sound? I totally get that. That's one of the coolest things about his voice IMO.

Another thing I've been wanting to talk to someone about - and you are obs the right person - is how he sounds on "That Day". His voice is beautiful, but the sounds of the breaths he takes before he sings each line, which I believe are usually edited out or at least not so pronounced, are what make that song AMAZING. Am I making sense?

[melluransa]

Hey! You made me realize I missed WBMW and That Day!!! And Screamin, and Attention. AND Shadow, and Hurricanes. I'm so gonna add those.

You make total sense. I was listening to That Day Thursday night (on the drive home from school) and only listened to Bill's breathing and grunting. The inhales are usually edited out, but sometimes they keep those exhaling gasps/pitch jumps. It's his personal signature. It is cool that he can do that with his voice and still keep it in control. That's the reason I still have Totgeliebt on my ipod, because of his vocal thingies because other than that, Totgeliebt doesn't float my boat.

[mcpofife]

mte @ Bill singing the bg vocals of Monsoon. I've always thought so for the same reason

[melluransa]

Yep! It astounds me that people think it's Tom.

[elizabeth21r]

Oh wow this looks fascinating and amazing but I don't have the time to read it right now so *saves for later*

[melluransa]

:D

[tinie]

What an amazing post, this is all very interesting!

[melluransa]

Thank you!