Agreed on the comment of soul as defined as an honest connection to the music (at least in part) and I don’t think rough or heavier is what I mean when I think of soulful vocals. Because soft and sweet can be VERY soulful, e.g. “my funny valentine”. His songwriting definitely does not lack in soul. His vocals are, as I said, wispy without much variation in dynamics for the most part. I can’t quite pinpoint what else makes it different from other soft-spoken or falsetto singers (such as Iron & Wine) but it has a certain disjointed quality. It floats instead of glides. I also think his voice serves a practical purpose in the grander scheme of the ensemble on a good number of songs rather than standing out as his “voice”, if that makes sense. He doesn’t have a bad voice and it’s growing on me, as has the album, but it just doesn’t land emotionally on me the way other wimpy-white-whiny guys do. I guess my previous understanding during all these years of Sufjan disfavor meant that it seemed somehow less honest because of all that. Which it’s not. So maybe it’s simply a question of defining soul from my own internal perspective.
But that aside, the word choice of soul was more tongue and cheek than part of a serious request. Sooo there was that.
There’s a lot I want to say, but I’ll leave it at these 2 notes.
- Glad you’re coming around to the album/the performer. Always nice to see.
- A Note on Soul: Soul, especially in the traditional sense doesn’t necessarily mean rougher vocals or vocals that might sound heavier (Sufjan tends to sing lighter). Soul to me, and to a lot of old school Motown performers meant having a connection to the music, and attaining an honesty in that connection. No matter how that manifests itself. While he might sing in a lighter tone or with a lighter demeanor, I don’t think his voice/his songwriting is lacking in soul. I think in his own way, and for the style of music he’s chosen to write, he’s very soulful. Very soulful indeahd.
I gotta say, never got into Sufjan after all these years, mainly because of his wispy voice. Friends would play me some of his stuff and I’d always be lukewarm about it. It never went anywhere for me and the music just seemed kinda bland and clean cut, which translated into this weird general emotion that wasn’t very personal. ”John Wayne Gacy Jr.” was a fitting song for this sound because it was creepy and detached enough to sell the story of the character, otherwise I didn’t get it. But I gotta say this video is making me give him another listen. He’s got a charm to him at the beginning and the arrangement/instrumentation is very admirable.
Though I still think he would benefit to deliver some semblance of soul with his vocals.
