Vocals, Lyrics, and Delivery

Singing is most often a combination of voice and lyrics. ‘Vocals’ is used to describe the nature and quality of the voice. ‘Lyrics’ describes the words being sung by the vocals. A word that is used a little less commonly is ‘delivery’ which is perhaps most important. A great voice has to sound right in relation to the lyrics, and great lyrics mean nothing if they aren’t sung well.

I would admit to the idea that James LaBrie, vocalist of my favorite pin-cushion, Dream Theater, has a nice voice. He sings with a high-pitch and lots of long notes, sort of power-metal style. Sure, he’s not excellent, but this is a rock band, so it’s not about how pretty your voice is, but how well it fits the music. Let me take you to exibit A (you don’t necessarily have to listen, the song is 14 minutes long.) This song is an excellent example of his voice at it’s best, however it is also an example of his lyrics and delivery at their worst.

Dream Theater lyrics have a tendency to be very impersonal and un-emotional (just like their music.) The songs lyrics talk about cults and killing in the name of god with the spirit of a news report, opting not to take any side in the matter and offer only facts and questions. LaBrie sings with all of his power, but it’s hard to feel any emotion when the lyrics are so impersonal and un-opinionated.

I probably shouldn’t even need to point out the negatives of a band with great lyrics and poor vocals – pure wasted potential.

This collision of vocals and lyrics is delivery, and when done right, it is incredibly powerful. The lyrics that stick the best are those that carry their emotion straight to the heart with undeniable spirit. Lyrics written about anger should be sung with anger, and lyrics about happiness should be sung happily. This isn’t a restriction, though. The true emotion of the song is up to the singer, and sometimes the backward portrayal of an emotion is where it’s power comes from. Take for instance the Coheed and Cambria song Three Evils (Embodied in Love and Shadow) which describes horrific and desperate emotions in a light, poppy voice that still carries all of the emotions perfectly.

My favorite example of great delivery is all the songs by Circle Takes the Square, most notably Kill the Switch (which you can find here in poor quality) and Non-Objective Portrait of Karma. Their site lets you listen to four songs, that one included (which I recommend you listen to first since the others are pretty overwhelming.) It also lets you read the lyrics while you listen.

For starters, Circle Takes the Square are absolutely amazing lyricists. Their songs have the perfect mix of poetic verse, prose, emotion, and a hint of ambiguity – I’ve honestly never read better lyrics before. But more amazing yet is how the band’s two vocalists perform these lyrics. There are a female and male singer both mixing clean and harsh vocals (harsh are screamo-style) on each track. The vocals are sometimes back-and-forth, sometimes dualized to increase impact, and sometimes singled out or made melodic at parts. The focus is on capturing the perfect emotion for every lyric. As a result, almost every line from each song is memorable, emotional, and moving. I’ve gotten chills listening to their screams many times.

A good vocal delivery can be just as important as any instrument in a band and the difference between memorability and forgetability in a song.