vocals
The sung or spoken parts of a musical performance.
In Depth
Vocals encompass all human voice contributions to a recording or performance — lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonies, spoken word sections, and ad-libs. The human voice is the most expressive and versatile instrument, capable of an enormous range of timbres, dynamics, and emotional colours.
In popular music, the vocalist is typically the focal point — the voice that carries the melody and delivers the lyrics. Great vocalists develop a distinctive signature sound that is instantly recognisable: Freddie Mercury's operatic power, Billie Holiday's intimate phrasing, Amy Winehouse's raw soul. Recording technology has expanded what vocals can sound like, from Auto-Tune effects to layered vocal harmonies.
Freddie Mercury's vocal range spanned four octaves, but scientists have found that the unique quality of his voice came from an unusually fast vibrato and the ability to use subharmonics — a technique more common in Tuvan throat singing.