Winehouse was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, (sometimes labelled as blue-eyed soul and neo soul), rhythm and blues, and jazz.
A countertenor is a male singer who can sing as high as a soprano or mezzo-soprano. The countertenor is the rarest of all voice types.
As a mezzo-soprano, Adele's songs sit in a range that suits most listeners, singing along. Adele can mix her chest voice up quite high (E5, 10 notes above middle C) but she is not taken to the range extremes of early Mariah or Celine.
Contraltos are arguably the rarest of female voice types and they possess a tone so dark they often give the men a run for their money. If mezzos are like clarinets, contraltos are more like bass clarinets.
Are you one of the lucky women who considers herself a contralto? You're a rare and special voice type for sure, but also in great company! Some famous contralto singers include Cher, Toni Braxton, Sade, and Annie Lennox in popular music. You'll have no trouble discovering contralto songs that are perfect for you.
Is Miley Cyrus a contralto? Miley Cyrus is a Mezzo-Soprano. Contraltos are exceptionally rare because of their androgynous vocal quality, and Cyrus's timbre is womanly, lacking a true androgynous character even in her lower register, and she still naturally shines in a mezzo's tessitura.
Lady Gaga is a great example of a mezzo-soprano. Her timbre is feminine, but slightly darker and more sensitive and mature than a typical lyric soprano.
Taylor Swift is an extremely popular alto (AKA mezzo) singer that has a very impressive lower range and upper range for a pop star. She has a unique mix of rich dark notes and a bright upper range, which is why many people classify her as a light lyric soprano that has the capability of an alto.
Ariana is famous for her four-octave soprano and whistle tone vocal range.
Soprano: this is the highest singing voice, with the highest tessitura. It is also the most common female voice. Sopranos are given prominent singing roles, and are often the protagonists of the opera.
The Contralto (10)
In the world of popular music, by way of contrast, much is made of the Contralto spectrum. Singers such as Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Alicia Keys all exploit the lowest area of the Contralto voice to great effect! We've assembled some of our favorites from this rare and rarely-celebrated voice.
Famous Singers with Alto Vocal Ranges:
Amy Winehouse, D3 - Eb6. Cher, C3 - E5 - F6. Fiona Apple, D3 - E5. Tina Turner, D#3 - F#5.
Winehouse was immediately distinctive, both in terms of music – in an era dominated by girl and boy bands hers was an incredible, authentic and big-selling jazz voice carrying the most original lyrics out – and style, with her winged eyeliner, beehive hair and growing collection of tattoos.
The contralto or alto is the lowest female voice type. In the industry there are many women who have been classified as altos in their choir, though their voice type is really that of a mezzo-soprano or soprano.
She's a clear soprano, but with incredible mezzo notes along the way.
Celine Dion
Her 5-octave vocal range and ability to even reach an E6, paired with the skill of projecting her voice in all registers, thus allowing it to pierce through the heaviest of instrumentations, has earned her a multitude of awards and sold out shows worldwide.
Katy is indeed a light-lyric soprano. However, she is not your typical soprano. Her tessitura sits lower than the usual soprano. Working on her technique would allow her to have more comfort in the upper 5th octave and expose her true soprano voice.
Lavigne possesses a soprano vocal range. Themes in her music include messages of self-empowerment from a female or an adolescent view.
The voice. You think Streisand, you should immediately think: that voice. She carries the technical proficiency of a mezzo soprano that allows her to hit and hold the high notes that most people love in a diva's singing.
What is Jennifer Hudson's vocal range? My vocal range is first soprano. That is my vocal range.
Vocal Type: Light-Lyric Soprano (4 Octaves, 1 note and a semi tone.) Positives: Wide chest register, topping out at Bb5.
Contralto. Cher provides a great example of a true contralto. Her voice is distinctly low, but most importantly it is androgynous.
While Adele might sing an alto part in a choir, “alto” is not a true vocal fach. The equivalent fach is a contralto, but Adele lacks the truly androgynous character and weight of one. Instead, she is a lyric mezzo-soprano, as her voice demonstrates the womanly character, weight, timbre, and tessitura of one.