O/T: Singers that sound like ..
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Topic: O/T: Singers that sound like ..
Posted By: EdisonLite
Subject: O/T: Singers that sound like ..
Date Posted: 13 April 2021 at 1:54pm
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Off topic, but might be a fun topic to discuss. I just heard "Hot Child In the City" by Nick Gilder. I remember when I first heard it on release I thought it was a female singer, as it reminded me of singers in some of the female pop/rock bands back then. Then when I noticed the line, "Come on down to my place, woman, and we'll make love", I realized I might have gotten that wrong. :)
Other mis-hearings: The first time I heard "I Miss You" by Klymaxx, I thought it was Michael Jackson. (A friend recently told me he thought the same thing, so there are at least 2 people who thought that!) First time I heard "Vision of Love", I thought it was Whitney Houston. Now that we know so many songs by each singer, there's clearly a distinction between the 2 voices, but the first time that song popped up on the radio, I really thought it was a new Whitney single (especially since we'd never heard Mariah's voice before or had other records of hers to get a better sense of her voice). The first time I heard Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity", I said, "I'm surprised my CHR station would play a new song by Stevie Wonder. It's been a long time since a new song of his was played on top 40 radio!" Anyone else have similar reaction to the above 4 songs? Or similar experiences with other songs? I'm sure there are others where this happened to me but I can't think of any at the moment. |
Replies:
Posted By: thecdguy
Date Posted: 13 April 2021 at 2:50pm
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I always thought the lead singer on Ozark Mountain Daredevils' "Jackie Blue" was female. It wasn't until sometime in the mid-80's that I
found out otherwise. The 1981 hit "Somebody's Knockin'" always confused me too. I would've sworn Terri Gibbs was male by her voice and I thought "Wow...a guy singing about another guy?" I couldn't believe we'd come that far at the time, as it was only 1981. Also, I didn't have the 45 at the time so I didn't know that the first name was spelled with an "I" on the end as opposed to a "Y". I only heard the DJ's say the song was by Terri Gibbs, and for all I knew it could've been a guy who spelled his name "Terry". I think some people also assumed Mick Hucknall of Simply Red was female when they had their first hit in the US in 1986, "Holding Back The Years". I remember hearing it one time on the radio and after Mick sang the last line, "That's all I have to say", the DJ come on and said, "That's all she's got to say...". Never made a connection to Michael Jackson and the Klymaxx song, but I did find it hard to believe that Siedah Garrett was actually singing on her duet with Michael, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". Her vocals sounded to me like it could have been Michael singing. Also never noticed anything different about Nick Gilder. If anything, his voice on that song sounded like a guy holding his nose, lol. Also thought the same thing when "Vision Of Love" first came out. But now that more than 30 years have gone by, it's easy to hear the differences in their voices. ------------- Dan In Philly |
Posted By: Santi Paradoa
Date Posted: 13 April 2021 at 4:08pm
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For years I thought the lead singer of Shocking Blue was
a man. Even hearing the lyrics of "Venus" and "Mighty Joe" I still thought it was a man. When I finally saw the female lead singer was a hottie I was shocked. ------------- Santi Paradoa Miami, Florida |
Posted By: jono
Date Posted: 13 April 2021 at 8:03pm
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I think it was the late 80’s or early 90’s when I discovered “More Today
Than Yesterday” by Spiral Staircase was sung by a guy (Pat Upton was the lead singer, so I never thought twice about it), and “You Were On My Mind” by We Five was sung by a female. Had thought the opposite on both those 1960’s songs for years. I do remember the Klymaxx song being mistaken by some for Michael Jackson, and certainly I can understand that. But I must have known right away who the artist was (don’t remember if it was introduced beforehand by a DJ on the radio or if I saw a video). I think I first heard “Hot Child In The City” on a New Year’s Rockin’ Eve or something on tv, so I saw him “sing” (lip-synch) it before I formulated my own image. Jon O. |
Posted By: AdvprosD
Date Posted: 13 April 2021 at 8:28pm
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Going way back for this one... Wayne Newton "Danke Schoen." I never even knew who sang it until sometime in the 80's. I always assumed it was a female.
Pretty much the same thing for the lead singer for the Stylistics. That's a falsetto that fooled me for years. I also agree with Santi Paradoa. Man! What a beautiful singer to miss on that one! ------------- <Dave> Someone please tell I-Heart Radio that St. Louis is not known as The Loo! |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 14 April 2021 at 2:40am
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A couple that were a little before my time, but my brothers remember...
"A Horse With No Name" - America (sounded like Neil Young) "Don't Say You Don't Remember" - Beverly Bremers (sounded like Donny Osmond) I personally remember lots of talk at the time that "It's A Heartache" by Bonnie Tyler sounded a lot like Rod Stewart. Also, that "Oh Sheila" by Ready For The World sounded a lot like Prince. |
Posted By: Plastic Steel
Date Posted: 14 April 2021 at 7:03am
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I'll go to my grave thinking (hoping?) John Cleese did
the "We're so sorry...Uncle Albert" spoken part in "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey." |
Posted By: AutumnAarilyn
Date Posted: 14 April 2021 at 8:42am
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My dad thought Simply Red was female. I was more used to
the male falsetto (ie Russell Thompkins of Stylistics). I always thought Carly Simon singing "You belong to me" was doing a very good El Debarge impression. |
Posted By: jono
Date Posted: 15 April 2021 at 3:56pm
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[QUOTE=Paul Haney]
I personally remember lots of talk at the time that "It's A Heartache" by Bonnie Tyler sounded a lot like Rod Stewart Paul - I remember that one as well. Personally, I remember kind of laughing at that one at the time (I was probably around 15 years old and could distinguish sounds better than now, for sure). Listening now, I could definitely understand the resemblance, but still... Jon O. |
Posted By: eriejwg
Date Posted: 15 April 2021 at 4:22pm
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"Ben" and "Got To Be There" sounds like those songs could
have been recorded by a young Donny Osmond. ------------- John Gallagher Erie, PA Celebrating 28 years as a full-time wedding & special event DJ! |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 16 April 2021 at 2:04am
Conversely, "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds could've easily been mistaken for the Jackson 5. |
eriejwg wrote:Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 16 April 2021 at 2:06am
Yeah. Once I saw a photo of Bonnie there was no more mistaking her for Rod, LOL! |
Posted By: AndrewChouffi
Date Posted: 16 April 2021 at 5:41am
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To Paul Haney:
Yes, I remember when I was ten years old and that record first came on the air, I thought it was a great new hit by the Jackson 5 (it was before "Mama's Pearl" started getting airplay). Then I bought the 45 and I noticed the songwriter credit was listed as (Jackson), kinda blew my mind. I don't know how I found out that it was written by *George* Jackson, not a member of the Jackson 5 family - there was nothing like the internet then for music trivia. I think possibly I called the Blue Note Record Shop in Albany, or a radio station pro like Dan Martin of WTRY back then to get the truth! Andy |
Posted By: NightAire
Date Posted: 16 April 2021 at 8:33am
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I still struggle to keep it straight in my head that "Too Shy's" Kajagoogoo has a male lead singer and not a female singer with a smokey voice. :-D
I'm sure there are others, but that one leapt to mind. ------------- Gene Savage http://www.BlackLightRadio.com - http://www.BlackLightRadio.com http://www.facebook.com/TulsaSavage - http://www.facebook.com/TulsaSavage Tulsa, Oklahoma USA |
Posted By: AdvprosD
Date Posted: 16 April 2021 at 1:30pm
I might have agreed on this one, however there was the MTV thing going on and it was in heavy rotation there. No mistaking it in the video! ------------- <Dave> Someone please tell I-Heart Radio that St. Louis is not known as The Loo! |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 16 April 2021 at 9:23pm
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Right around 2000 at the tail end of Celine Dion's run of top 10 hits I thought she had come out with a brand new single "I Will Love Again" and I was excited. It sounded awesome and was moving up the charts!
Then when I went to find the CD Promo it was Lara Fabian. If you listen to the first 30 seconds it sought of sounds like a Celine Dion song. She even almost looks like her: https://www.discogs.com/Lara-Fabian-I-Will-Love-Again/release/187630 - https://www.discogs.com/Lara-Fabian-I-Will-Love-Again/releas e/187630 ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 17 April 2021 at 9:29pm
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Yes, count me in for the Klymaxx tune, but I'll give you one more MJ-soundalike--I always mistook
Minnie Riperton's "Loving You" for being by Michael Jackson. ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 18 April 2021 at 11:08pm
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Very interesting reading all the replies. I, too, couldn't distinguish Siedah Garrett from Michael J on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."
Similarly, in 1976 I had a hard time distinguishing Kiki Dee from Elton on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". But I had a friend who clearly could, so I guess my ears needed some improving (or cleaning). But even bigger than that, in 1974 I bought Kiki Dee's "I've Got the Music in Me" - she had such a raspy, husky, bluesy voice - and even to this day, I can't believe that singer is the same one on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". Where did all her grit and rasp go - and in only 2 years? Lol. Also, I don't know if any of you know the minor US (top 10 UK) hit "Romeo" by the UK band Mr. Big (not to be confused with the US band who did "To Be With You".) Anyway, that record was always a favorite of mine. I bought the single in 1976. So I was SHOCKED when, in the 2000s, I saw a Top of the Pops performance and saw it was TWO members of the band singing back and forth in the verses. I always thought it was one guy singing all the way through. For two guys that ended up in the same band, how odd that they had the same (exact) voice :) |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 18 April 2021 at 11:17pm
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If you listen Regina on Baby Love in 1986 sounds exactly like Madonna did on her songs of that time period. You can easily mistake it as a Madonna hit! ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 18 April 2021 at 11:20pm
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Also ... I thought the Stylistics had a female singer.
"It's a Heartache" always sounded like a female to me - raspy and often referred to as sounding like the female Rod Stewart. I'll have to listen and see if I can hear her sounding like the male Rod Stewart :) And as far as the little bit that may sound like John Cleese in "Uncle Albert" - if anyone knows the Carole Bayer Sager low-charting single (a top 10 UK hit),"You're Moving Out Today" - there's a "ba ba ba" bridge that sounds just like Bette Midler, who also had a single with the song. Carole wrote the lyric on the song. So it's quite possible Carole was in the studio for Bette's recording. Maybe the reverse was true, too. But on the LP credits on the Carole Bayer Sager album, Midler isn't listed as a background vocalist. It could be a label/contract thing, because the singers were on different labels, and maybe Midler was contracted to only sing on Atlantic Records. So she sang uncredited. Just my theory. If anyone wants to YouTube "You're Moving Out Today"/Carole Bayer Sager, doesn't it sound just like Bette Midler in the "ba ba ba" section? :) And as for the other subject - singers who sound just like someone else... I don't know how many people here who are familiar with current music. Everyone I know who's heard the huge Christian artist Lauren Daigle says the same thing I say ... that she sounds EXACTLY like ... Adele. Not 99%. But 100%. Everything about her voice. I swear she somehow got Adele's DNA in her! The similarities are stunning. Check out Lauren Daigle's "Remember" (or maybe "You Say"). If people describe her as the Adele of Christian music, they aren't kidding. lol |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 18 April 2021 at 11:22pm
Yes, Regina and at least 11 other female singers in the '80s! |
Posted By: Hykker
Date Posted: 19 April 2021 at 5:20am
Actually, it was mistaken for the J5...by none other than Berry Gordy! Rumor has it he was driving around and heard OBA on the radio, and when he got to the office demanded to know how a new J5 song got released without his knowledge. |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 20 April 2021 at 7:45am
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Here's another one I thought of--Andy Kim's "Rock Me Gently" was a dead ringer for Neil Diamond. ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 22 April 2021 at 9:29am
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How about Garth Brooks crossing over to the CHR chart in
1994 with Hard Luck Woman - when I first heard this I said , I think they mislabeled the cd, this is Rod Stewart! |
Posted By: Steve Carras
Date Posted: 22 April 2021 at 10:29pm
To me, so did Kim Carnes. She and Bonnie Tyler had the female Rod Stewart voice. 1975, same year as Jackie Blue discussed, Sky High sounded like a girl. Getting my hopes that high, i was surprised that it was a guy. Yeah, Beverly Bremers (the earlier DON'T SAY.. sounded like Donny Osmond, who DID start out like the Jackson Five.). ANd also, now, (5;/;14/21), it was one thing for Terry Jacks to jave a male/female name, but he SOUNDED like a girl (though his band,the Poppy Family, DID have a girl-his wife, Susan.) ------------- You know you're really older when you think that younger singer Jesse McCartney's related in anyway to former Beatle Paul McCartney. |
Posted By: Steve Carras
Date Posted: 22 April 2021 at 10:29pm
Sure sounded like that to me,too. ------------- You know you're really older when you think that younger singer Jesse McCartney's related in anyway to former Beatle Paul McCartney. |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 26 April 2021 at 4:03am
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This morning I listened to "Who Do You Think You Are" by
Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods. My first thought was that it sounds a lot like Todd Rundgren. |
Posted By: RoknRobnLoxley
Date Posted: 26 April 2021 at 8:52am
| The Box Tops "Soul Deep" : a dead ringer for The Grass Roots, or vice versa... |
Posted By: VWestlife
Date Posted: 26 April 2021 at 7:30pm
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Joshua Kadison's "Beautiful In My Eyes" is often mistaken for an Elton John song. And Dan Hartman admits that "I Can Dream About You" was an attempt to sound just like Hall & Oates.
And given her voice and the song's subject matter, Carole Pope was often mistaken for being male in the 1981 Canadian hit "High School Confidential": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFwom4D3i4g |
Posted By: sriv94
Date Posted: 27 April 2021 at 11:58am
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A lot of Jim Croce in Keith Carradine’s “I’m Easy” too. ------------- Doug --------------- All of the good signatures have been taken. |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 28 April 2021 at 3:20am
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Julian Lennon sounds a lot like his father on Valotte and
he sounds like David Bowie on Now You're In Heaven. |
Posted By: Indy500
Date Posted: 28 April 2021 at 5:22pm
| Redeye - Games (1971) Sounds like Crosby, Stills & Nash. |
Posted By: vanmeter
Date Posted: 28 April 2021 at 6:16pm
And not a hit, but Firefall's "Sweet and Sour" might be my favorite CSN song, and they're not anywhere near it. |
Posted By: AndrewChouffi
Date Posted: 29 April 2021 at 7:58am
Yes! but the cut before it on the album 'Elan' ("Strange Way") was published by Stephen Stills Music so Stills' presence is closer than we think... "Sweet And Sour" is a great song by the way. Andy |
Posted By: Yah Shure
Date Posted: 29 April 2021 at 10:04am
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I was expecting an entire album's worth of "Wham Bam" when promo copies of the self-titled Silver album on Arista arrived at the distributor I was working for in 1976. Was I in for a surprise when I popped it on the turntable for an audition!
"All I Wanna Do" and "Trust In Somebody" were the two best songs that Poco never recorded. The two groups actually did have something in common: album covers designed by the late Phil Hartmann. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 15 May 2021 at 1:58pm
I, too, was hoping the Silver album would have more songs that sounded like "Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang" and was sad that wasn't the case. I really do like the aforementioned "All I Wanna Do" and also the ballad "Memory". All 3 of these songs were the only 3 not written by the band but picked by the record company president Clive Davis. All the rest of the songs on the album were written by the band members. Which told me I really didn't like the band - just the songs that Clive chose for them. :) I mean, without those 3 songs, I really didn't like Silver at all. Maybe I shouldn't admit this in public but I think "Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang" was my #1 song of 1976! And speaking of that song, there was a certain type of poppy sound in records that I liked from 1972 (the year I started listening) to 1976. And I really felt that "Wham Bam..." was literally the last hit song that fell into that style. After that, there were still many great uptempo pop songs but none that were like my favorites from 1972-1976. I can't really put into words what that "sound" was, but I just never heard that sound again afterwards. |
Posted By: C J Brown
Date Posted: 15 May 2021 at 4:09pm
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I share some of the music thoughts expressed above by
EdisonLite. I feel similar about his description of "Whan Bam Shang a Lang" I would probably add Pilot and "It's Magic" and Jig Saw with "Sky High". Plus "Bad Time' by Grand Funk. If I think of any more I will find a thread title and start a new separate thread. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 16 May 2021 at 12:31am
| I agree with all 3 of the songs that C J Brown mentions - all would fit in that style I was mentioning. |
Posted By: The Hits Man
Date Posted: 17 May 2021 at 12:40am
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Just joining this thread:
I also thought the lead singer of "Hot Child In The City" was a woman as I did the singer of "Jackie Blue". I thought the singer Garnett Mimms of "Cry Baby" was a woman. ------------- |