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Hi cassie!



I have to write you - otherwise I will explode with anger....

My elder brother is a musician (guitarist) for over 30 years now and he is a very intelligent person (normally!). But if it comes to Adam's voice he always drives me nuts. He thinks Adam is a good singer, but not at all suited for Queen. Okay, I can deal with that. But he says that Adam has no control over his vibrato, better said, he says that Adam has NO vibrato. He said that a good vibrato has to sound like that from (for example) Dennis De Young, whom I dearly love as a singer by the way. And my brother also said that Adams vibrato sounds like a bleaking goat.

There are so many people saying that about Adam's vibrato? Why don't I hear that? And what exactly do they mean?

Thanks for your answer .








I feel you. I have just about convinced my younger sister to attend the Chicago concert with me. I sent her the official promo video. Her comment, "I still don't care for Adam." WTF? The nearest I come to understanding is that she likes the bluesy/folksy guy with guitar sound. Adam is too theatrical, too big, too showy.



But, to answer your question, Adam DOES have vibrato, even if your musician brother says he doesn't. He also has good control over it, singing in a straight tone, a light vibrato, or a more pronounced vibrato. An example of Adam controlling his vibrato is in Feeling Good. On the glory note, he starts with a pure, straight tone for about 3 seconds, then gradually adds in the vibrato (a pronounced, semi-broad one). Then, on the last note, he also starts with a straight tone, before adding vibrato at the end, this time less pronounced and faster (but still not bleating, IMO).





In Soaked, Adam uses quite a bit of vibrato, which is is narrow and fast, but, I don't think it is too fast either.





Of course, in Come to Me, Bend to Me, he uses vibrato throughout, as is appropriate in musical theater. It is wider and more pronounced than in Soaked. Different people have their own preferences, but I think the amount of vibrato, the width and the speed is perfect.





In Red House, Adam uses a very different style. He sings in ALMOST a straight tone for much of it, but colors the sustained notes with a very subtle, light, quick vibrato which you may not hear as vibrato at all, but just a warming of the tone.





In this performance of Stay, he also sings with an almost straight tone that is noticeable on the long notes of the word "stay". But, on much of the songon the sustained notes, he is adding warmth with a slight, quick vibrato. Why does it sound so different from Red House? He is bending the notes very differently, and using different resonances to add bite to Red House and smoothness for Stay.





Sometimes, when Adam is singing Queen songs, he DOES use a pronounced, very fast vibrato. I noticed it immediately at the EMA performance. I wondered why, but, then thought that Freddie often had this very fast, almost bleating vibrato, and I think Adam was trying to recreate the style. (Not pure imitation, but reference to Freddie's voice).



This YT is pretty informative in talking about vibrato (and he does some good demonstrations, altho when he is demonstrating non-vibrato, a little sometimes sneaks in on the long notes despite his attempt at a straight tone). If you start where I cued it up, he demonstrates an excessive, wobby vibrato and a vibrato that is too fast, which some refer to as a goat vibrato.





I've given up on my sister ever liking Adam's voice, tho' she, like your brother, admits he is a good singer. Just not a style that touches her. So be it. You may have to grit your teeth and accept the same with musician brother. But, as for his argument that Adam does not use vibrato, or uses a bleating sound, I would vehemently disagree. Hope this helps you calm down.