I think I figured out why Jon's voice is so appealing...

[Nautilus]

Jon has such a distinctive voice because he sings like a child.
Obviously his voice is high, but that's not the only rationale I have for making this claim.
He doesn't sing in a woman's voice or as a countertenor (those countertenors who are typically associated with the distinction countertenor) (at least I think he's a countertenor, I might be wrong) would sing; instead, he sings somewhat like a child. This style (while probably a holdover from when he supplemented his brother in The Warriors) befits the spiritual job he has; he is like a child in front of a higher power, with the same sort of wonder at the world that a little boy has.

[Gustavo]

There is something really fascinating when you can see the child in someone who is an adult. I think that was Marylyn Monroe’s secret charm: she was a little girl inside a voluptuous woman.

Jon does have that little kid thing going for him.

[YesNY]

Call me crazy, but I think all that is going on here is that Jon is a guy with a high voice. That it is a very amazing high voice goes without saying!

Really, I honesty don't hear this child-like quality that you hear in Jon's voice. A child-like vocalist,to my thinking, would describe somebody along the lines of Britney Spears, with that ridiculous kindergarten delivery of her's.

[Flo]

Jon's voice has something special, definitely. It's not just high. There's something more. If it's not child like, well, let's think it over and see what it is.

Hey Nautilus, interesting thread. In Thomas Mosbo's book, he terms Jon's voice as Alto. There is another Yes Fan whom I think is a musician, (and I can't remember the name) who said something related to Alto with something added. I'm sure it was not countertenor though.

I think that Flo has a point. There is something very special about his voice. I think that what he brings to his voice is just as special as the voice itself. I have been listening to a lot of his solo works lately and I find myself remarking about his interesting vocal choices. At times they seem like sheer genius. Couple that with his gift for interpreting so many types of music, his creativity in lyrical content and musical composition with that heady angelic voice and you have our Jon. We are so lucky to have him still interested in singing to us.

[YesNY]

Jon's voice is definitely in a class itself. There have been other notable high male singers in rock: Steve Perry of Journey; his voice became irritating after a while and made me appreciate the more conventional-voiced, early Journey vocalist Greg Rolie even more. Roger Hogdson of Supertramp was all right, but at times he'd sound like Edith Bunker which was just all too weird for my senses. Yes' rip-off Starcastle had a Jon rip-off as a lead singer, and the listener got what he payed for: a ripoff. My favorite high male singers next to Jon Anderson is Frankie Valle and Brian Wilson, though we all know those were only falsettos.

I hear a bit of Irish Tenor in Jon's voice. I would maybe use that as a starting point in beginning to descibe Jon's voice to somebody who has never had the pleasure of ever hearing it before. Of course, no description we can come up with will really do it it justice, but you gotta' start somewhere.

[nightliner]

Interesting thing is, we are in the minority. Many people who don't like Yes say its because of Jon's voice. I know of a couple people who think the band is great instrumentally, but get turned off when Jon sings.

[RobAdams]

A friend of mine insisted Jon sings in a falsetto. Then I played him the track on YESSHOWS, just before RITUAL where Jon is thanking all the road crew and lighting crew. My friend's reaction was "Oh my God. That's his real voice! No wonder he has such an amazing high singing voice!"

[Gustavo]

Originally posted by nightliner
Interesting thing is, we are in the minority. Many people who don't like Yes say its because of Jon's voice. I know of a couple people who think the band is great instrumentally, but get turned off when Jon sings.
People either love or hate Jon's voice.

The same thing happens to Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins.

Jonsi, the singer from the icelandic band Sigur Ros also has a very unique voice that I happen to love. He uses it in a very similar way to Jon.

Their loss!

Originally posted by Gustavo
Their loss!


Indeed!

[Faceintheplace]

There's higher voices out there than Jon's. What about Roger Hogson, or the Bee Gees or The Beach Boys when they sing really high harmonies, or Frankie from the Four Seasons?

Jon can go low when he tries hard enough. He even showed off his James Earl Jones impersonation on Rockline once.

[RobAdams]

A POST FROM MY WIFE ANN:

Robert got me to like Yes. The thing I likes about them is Jon Anderson's voice. That man can sing! His voice is smooth. Most men singing that high sound like they hurting themselves. I love the DVD Rob has of Yes with the orchestra.

[Sheerah]

You're a very astute woman, Ann!

Now come on and get your own cookie, Cookie!

[infinitestretch]

Well I know exactly what it is, after 20 years of hearing him in many realms, I think his voice captures more harmonics than most ordinary voices. Spiritualized people speak this way, when they are loving and when they have direction with their lovingness; if someone could measure the harmonics in his voice, I'd guarantee you that he has more than the average person... when I sing, there is just one tree standing, the rest have fallen. When Jon sings, there is a whole forest of music. That's kind of what harmonics is all about. His voice is actually more full than most voices...

Elizabeth

[David Momberg]

Well I know exactly what it is, after 20 years of hearing him in many realms, I think his voice captures more harmonics than most ordinary voices. Spiritualized people speak this way, when they are loving and when they have direction with their lovingness; if someone could measure the harmonics in his voice, I'd guarantee you that he has more than the average person... when I sing, there is just one tree standing, the rest have fallen. When Jon sings, there is a whole forest of music. That's kind of what harmonics is all about. His voice is actually more full than most voices...

Elizabeth
A very intersting thread, esp. the comment above. Whatever word or description you want to use-harmonics,countertenor,alto,etc.-there is a range that Jon's voice settles in that no one else comes close to, and He is VERY seldom flat or off pitch. Ask anyone who appreciates good voices and whether they like Jon's voice, if they are honest they have to respect him. And for nothing else-who has kept there voice that intact(if not better) after35+ years!!! No one comes close!!!

[Koko]

Jon has such a distinctive voice because he sings like a child.
Obviously his voice is high, but that's not the only rationale I have for making this claim.
He doesn't sing in a woman's voice or as a countertenor (those countertenors who are typically associated with the distinction countertenor) (at least I think he's a countertenor, I might be wrong) would sing; instead, he sings somewhat like a child. This style (while probably a holdover from when he supplemented his brother in The Warriors) befits the spiritual job he has; he is like a child in front of a higher power, with the same sort of wonder at the world that a little boy has.

Naah! jon might be something of a space cadet....(in the nicest possible way!) and yes , it's true we Each of Us have our 'inner child' some more evident and readily present than others.....but Jon is 'not' a child in his approach to singing or composing his voice does have an 'angelic' and 'innocent' quality to it..but so did Satchmo's....there is a difference between 'childlike' and 'spiritual'...and it is often the 'theme, subject matter' and 'spiritual & mystical' flavour of Jon's lyric's - sounds and melodies that lend and contribute towards his voice being perceived as such.
he is a hopeless romantic yes....and that's is No Bad thing....but he is also aware of the full human compass of emotions - our yin & yang - the duality of human nature - the good and the bad - gates of delirium is a classic example of this......
to sing of burning a peoples children's laughter on to hell - that is dark & so vengeful

then he sings such a Hopeful & Love embracing song/words in 'Soon'

and one of his most 'rockier' moments as a singer is in 'Order Of The Universe' - ABW&H - the first line
"You don't need anybody, don't you give me that suprise'

it Really ROCKS....especially for him as a singer there's an almost 'gruffness' to his voice , like he's pushing / or forcing it...which I'm sure he isn't but.....his voice IS "Unique"...and I very much doubt there will be his like again....not just as a composer and 'engine' for the Yes vehicle, with his passion and creative force/genius....but the sheer quality and 'use' of his gift as a singer.
There are many singers within the 'rock' genre who have a 'similarity'...or their approach to what they do has a similarity...even the great voices like Paul Rodgers of Free...what a voice.....Ian Gillan etc etc...Graeme Bonnet (?)....but Jon has always been his own man - his own singer....not falling in with the common denominator...and our lives are all the more "enriched" because of it.

But Hey! what do I know.


Koko.