Singing Guide: Paul Young
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Paul Young: How to Sing Like the Blue-Eyed Soul Singer
Paul Young is widely recognized as one of the greatest blue-eyed soul singers of all time. His soulful voice, emotional depth, and smooth vocal phrasing make him a highly respected singer among contemporaries. Many singers owe a great deal to Paul Young for showing them the way to combine the soulful aspects of R&B with pop-catching hooks that appeal to diverse audiences.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how to get started on singing like Paul Young. We’ll show you the fabled techniques that he used and the song that best showcases them. Here’s how you can start:
- Analyze Your Voice
- Vocal Registers
- Excellent Breath Support and Posture
- How to Sing Like Paul Young's Vocal Technique
- Advanced Techniques
Analyze Your Voice
The first step in learning to sing like Paul Young is to analyze your voice. By taking our vocal range test, you can determine the range of your vocal cords and compare it with Paul Young's. Analyzing your voice is crucial in understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, it allows you to hone in on the techniques that Paul Young mastered.
Vocal Registers
Paul Young is masterful in switching between vocal registers effortlessly. To emulate his vocal style, you’ll need to learn how to navigate these various registers. Check out our article on voice registers and vocal break for tips on how to develop your techniques in this regard.
Excellent Breath Support and Posture
Paul Young is famous for his diaphragmatic breathing, which expands the ribcage and abdomen simultaneously. You can learn these breathing techniques by reviewing our article on breath support. Conjointly with his breathing, Paul Young made it a habit to practice proper posture, ensuring that he always maintained a straight back while singing.
How to Sing Like Paul Young's Vocal Technique
Now that we have covered the basic techniques of Paul Young’s singing style, let’s move onto the main attraction. We’ll take a look at the song that best showcases Paul Young's unique vocal style and technique.
The song "Everytime You Go Away" offers an excellent showcase of Paul Young's almost trademark vocal register switching. Pay close attention to the smooth transition from falsetto to chest voice that he employs. You can watch the vocal range and pitch of this song on our pitch monitor. Additionally, our article on open mouth and throat can assist you in attaining the quality of sound that Paul Young was able to achieve.
Advanced Techniques
If you’re feeling up to it, Paul Young was a master at using heavy modal, twang, and belting techniques to add extra spice to his music. Check out our article on contemporary vocal techniques for tips on developing these advanced vocal techniques.
Conclusion
In summary, understanding the basic elements of Paul Young's vocal technique can help you sing like him. His masterful interplay between registers, combined with superb breath control and straight posture, was the foundation on which his soulful voice flourished. By using Singing Carrots as your go-to resource, you can enhance your vocal techniques and progress towards singing like Paul Young. Now it's your turn, start singing!