Hello everyone! I hope I don't sound like a crazy person asking this! But I thought it would be interesting to find others' opinions on this... unless you don't know what on earth I'm talking about! Which I will now explain...

I personally think Loreena has two methods of singing. At least I've picked up what sounds like to me two "voices". One is "smooth" like when she performs higher pitched songs such as Sangtiago and *from an earlier album Elemental* "Blacksmith" and then *in my opinion* a "Dryer" or "hollow" voice that is more prominent in a great deal of songs like "The Two Trees" and especially "Greensleeves"... What I am wondering first is does anyone know what I'm talking about? and secondly do you prefer one or the other or are they both beautiful in their own ways.

I personally love them both. I think loreena's smoother more liquid voice is very operatic, and soothing it makes my soul soar! It adds a strength and "dynamism" to it's songs! Like the Alhambra version of The Bonny Swans! Sorry I just realized I'm rambling a bit, but must finish!

I love her more "hollow" voice because it's such an emotional sound. The Dark Night of the Soul touches parts of my own soul that I didn't know existed! It sounds so pained and hurt in "Greensleeves" and especially in the live performance of "Caravanserai does her voice make you feel the majesty and emense desert the line "Beyond the valleys in the searing heat" sounds like "Searing heat"...

okay, I've probably confused a lot of people and am sorry, I was just curious if other's notice these vocal qualities in Loreena, and also what would you describe them as? I want it to be a beautiful word for both, and "dry" and "hollow" really almost sound negative but they're just because I can't think of a better word...

Yes, I have noticed, especially when Mom and I are listening to her music, and she says, "Oh, I like this one!" or "Mmmm...Not crazy about it." I think she generally prefers her smoother voice, particularly like in Penelope's Song and The Mummers' Dance.

I apologize for getting carried away with the technicality of singing. I realize that your blog was not really intended for that. So with that in mind, I'll say that two of the songs I like, in which Loreena uses her different voices is Greensleeves (Really captures the heart break of it all for me)And Dante's Prayer(The sound she makes with her voice is like a choir singing unison)

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Originally posted by LoreenaMckennittfan:
Hi Lizjul! I don't think that's a bad theory! It's something I've thought of as well! However the enchantress does it or for whatever reasons she does it... I don't place to much concern I'm just glad our friend can do and does do it!
Blessings!

quote:

thank you I have tried to draw her! But she has a very unique face and I can't capture it very well yet!

You did a great Loreena on my drawing! Katheryne noticed right off the bat!! Love that drawing!!!

Thanks again Sweetie,
Gina

Hi Lizjul! I don't think that's a bad theory! It's something I've thought of as well! However the enchantress does it or for whatever reasons she does it... I don't place to much concern I'm just glad our friend can do and does do it!
Blessings!

I think I have a theory. Not a unique one though. Maybe it has something to do with the pitch in the music. I think with certain songs, you can sing with a natural voice, other songs you can sing with a falsetto - you know when you want to sing with a voice that is very high in pitch. La La La LAAAAAAAA!

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Originally posted by Gina:
Hey Jesse
Please don't EVER shut up!
Love,
Gina

Thanks Gina!

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Originally posted by Kimberly26:
LoreenaMcKennitFan, I know what your talking about with regard to Loreena's two voices. I thought it was just me until I read your comment tonight. "Searing heat" yes, yes, yes . I think that same tonal qualitly is in some words in Raglan Road in NFTA. I'm very new to LM, so I haven't heard all versions of all songs, but Greensleves sounds almost not like LM, but I love her version. I believe I've seen some of your drawings on youtube, your very good. Have you tried to draw Loreena?

Hi Kimberly! Being new to Loreena is the best because each new song is like a gift for the soul! And after you've know her for years each song is like a gift for the soul!! They never go stagnant! I agree with the greensleeves statement! She sounds very different! But amazing! I know that she said she was trying to sing like she thought Tom Waits would sing it, and until recently I didn't know who he was. But yesterday I looked him up and was very confused because I personally find his voice very frightening and hard to understand... But Loreena's voice *when she is trying to sound like Tom Waits* is filled with passion and an angelic tone unmatched! But I suppose it's just my opinion.
thank you I have tried to draw her! But she has a very unique face and I can't capture it very well yet!
Blessings!

LoreenaMcKennitFan, I know what your talking about with regard to Loreena's two voices. I thought it was just me until I read your comment tonight. "Searing heat" yes, yes, yes . I think that same tonal qualitly is in some words in Raglan Road in NFTA. I'm very new to LM, so I haven't heard all versions of all songs, but Greensleves sounds almost not like LM, but I love her version. I believe I've seen some of your drawings on youtube, your very good. Have you tried to draw Loreena?

Can you believe that I first thought that Loreena had an "invited singer" in all her CDs? Imagine my surprise when I saw the DVD nights in the Alhambra and I saw that she sang herself with those "2 voices". I find absolutely admirable how she can combine those 2 voices and I love both of them.

Hey Jesse
Please don't EVER shut up!
Love,
Gina

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Originally posted by Jesse:
I've noticed more than two different styles. In my opinion, her voice varies at least on every album, sometimes every song! But please don't ask me to describe them, I'm not very good at that sort of thing (I mean, I do have a fairly large vocabulary, but I don't know how to 'access' it properly and can only 'use' a small amount of it...that probably makes me soud metally challenged or something, but I don't know how else to describe it because...welll, read the last sentance again. Am I making sense or should I just SHUT UP!?). I like all of them. It seems that Loreena knows just how to make her voice sound for each of her songs. I mean, if she used, say, her "Caravanserai" voice (esp. in the Alhambra version) to sing say, Balulalow and vice versa, both song would sound weird (it would be subtle, but still weird)

I've noticed more than two different styles. In my opinion, her voice varies at least on every album, sometimes every song! But please don't ask me to describe them, I'm not very good at that sort of thing (I mean, I do have a fairly large vocabulary, but I don't know how to 'access' it properly and can only 'use' a small amount of it...that probably makes me soud metally challenged or something, but I don't know how else to describe it because...welll, read the last sentance again. Am I making sense or should I just SHUT UP!?). I like all of them. It seems that Loreena knows just how to make her voice sound for each of her songs. I mean, if she used, say, her "Caravanserai" voice (esp. in the Alhambra version) to sing say, Balulalow and vice versa, both song would sound weird (it would be subtle, but still weird)

Hi LMF!!! So what is wrong being crazy? I don't have a problem with you being crazy!!!

I know what you are saying and I might have to have my voice teacher friend define it better for you and the rest of us as she is a fan as well.

There is one other voice that Loreena has that was not listed (my favorite) and that is when she sings "Prospero's Speech". It is the most operetic of them all and I just melt and then fly... I'd love to hear more of that type of singing!!!

Thanks for a great topic that can get very nit-picky. Love it!!! And you!!!

Love, Peace, and a bit a crazy to keep you from being boring!!!
Gina
)O(

Hi LoreenaMckennittfan,

You make perfect sense. I prefer all "voices" as well. It's music for all "personal seasons". I guess each song depicts a different time, a different place, and maybe it emotionally calls for a voice to relate to that essence in the music. Yes?