Male belters

[Broadway Flash]

Can we make a list of amazing male belters? The first person I thought of was Jeremy Jordan. Who are others?

[CATSNYrevival]

The voice experts generally chime in on these types of threads and say men don't belt.

I say Adam Lambert.

[Wayman_Wong]

The following video is a pretty impressive compilation. It's called ''Broadway Male Stars Belting'' (even though a number of the clips aren't from Broadway). Still, what great guys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zos0M5aARQ

[darquegk]

The common blanket statement is, “men’s voices work differently than women’s, so they can’t belt,” with the caveat that “some men can go into a weird power-mix that essentially replaces their falsetto, but it’s an unusual and somewhat off-putting sound.”

The main example of that sound is Geddy Lee of the band Rush, who goes into the odd power-mix in most songs where others would either push their chest voice into a scream or switch into falsetto.

The flip side of this is female falsetto, another peculiar and not exactly beautiful vocal trick. I can’t think of any major musical theatre examples, but Amanda Palmer plays with it a lot and it makes up a few passages of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up.”

[haterobics]

Aren't most guys except Reeve Carney belters?

[inmyownlittlecorner]

haterobics said: "Aren't most guysexcept Reeve Carney belters?

"

Hey, you can’t mention one Orpheus without the other! I had this debate with my friends the other day about whether Damon Daunno uses falsetto or just a weird mix, he seems to walk the line most of the time. For my ears at least, he uses more of his falsetto than an actual mix

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

I would have to say Billy Porter. Just heard lots of his music this morning on Broadway station on Serius XM. 

[CT2NYC]

inmyownlittlecorner said: "haterobics said: "Aren't most guysexcept Reeve Carney belters?

"

Hey, you can’t mention one Orpheus without the other! I had this debate with my friends the other day about whether Damon Daunno uses falsetto or just a weird mix, he seems to walk the line most of the time. For my ears at least, he uses more of his falsetto than an actual mix"

He was making a joke about the suspenders.

[inmyownlittlecorner]

CT2NYC said: "inmyownlittlecorner said: "haterobics said: "Aren't most guysexcept Reeve Carney belters?

"

Hey, you can’t mention one Orpheus without the other! I had this debate with my friends the other day about whether Damon Daunno uses falsetto or just a weird mix, he seems to walk the line most of the time. For my ears at least, he uses more of his falsetto than an actual mix"

He was making a joke about the suspenders."

I literally just slammed my head on my table, I AM SO DUMB, GOD. 

[haterobics]

inmyownlittlecorner said: "I literally just slammed my head on my table, I AM SO DUMB, GOD."

I even added the photo just to underline the joke, hehe.

[inmyownlittlecorner]

haterobics said: "inmyownlittlecorner said: "I literally just slammed my head on my table, I AM SO DUMB, GOD."

I even added the photo just to underline the joke, hehe."

Ugh, I’ve been cramming all day that my brain just doesn’t understand humor I guess

[darquegk]

It has occurred to me that I mentioned the actual "male belting equivalent" sound is rare in the theatre for its somewhat ugly and unnatural quality, but I did manage to think of a fairly iconic example: Michael Shaeffer as Annas in the 2000 "Jesus Christ Superstar" film. He sings neither in falsetto nor in a chest-voiced scream, but in the somewhat harsh, barking sound of male power mix. I don't think you'll ever hear a protagonist or a romantic lead singing that way in a show.

[CATSNYrevival]

Not that the show or song was any good, but out of curiosity, if there are any vocal experts who care to sit through this clip, if Adam isn't belting here, what is it technically called? Just screaming?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvwcJUhIa0U

[Lot666]

CATSNYrevival said: "Not that the show or song was any good, but out of curiosity, if there are any vocal experts who care to sit through this clip, if Adam isn't belting here, what is it technically called? Just screaming?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvwcJUhIa0U"

I'm not a "vocal expert", but I definitely wouldn't call that "just screaming".

On a side note, what on earth was Val Kilmer doing in there?

[Alex Kulak2]

Drew Sarich. This is him singing the title song in Jesus Christ Superstar. The production itself kinda sucks, but his voice and performance make him my favorite Judas ever.

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

[CATSNYrevival]

Lot666 said: "On a side note, what on earth was Val Kilmer doing in there?"

Like one of the commenters said, he was having an eargasm and trying to stay in character.