Love Shack

[Seeker of Rock]

Hmm, heard it for the umpteenth time tonight. Never posted in this forum, but it is labeled "techniques", so I guess I can't be too far off. Maybe it is "self" techniques searching for advice, and sorry gentlemen and ladies if I am not in the swing. But, techciques in recording....I have heard "Love Shack" by B-52s a million times (a young man in the '80s mind you) and of all the times I have listened to it haphazardly, tonight it hits me....the male singer may not have that much of a lisp (the way it was EQ'd and/or produced really made the vocal track sound feminine, and maybe or maybe not there was already something in the delivery of that nature, but)...classic, if not THE classic case, of sibilance in recording (actually mixing EQ). Never hit me before, but if you listen beyond the pronounced sibilance, he sounds very average for a male singer.
Anyway, crazy how technique can completely alter performances I thought to myself.

 

[chizzy]

Have you ever heard him talk? He has one of the most stereotypical "gay" voices ever. Oh, sweetie, that's all him!

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Have you ever heard him talk? He has one of the most stereotypical "gay" voices ever. Oh, sweetie, that's all him!

Oh yesth, darling! Fred Schneider had a flaming lisp whether he was in front of the mic or not.

Now, I have to admit that I have never listened with discriminate detail to any of the B-52's stuff any of the bijillion times I have heard it either (that's kind of like paying attention to the recipe for a Quarter Pounder with Cheese ); perhaps they may have emphasized the sibilance to emphasize the campiness of his vocals. If so, that's an amusing idea . Next time I rock my lobster I'll have to give it a critical listen. But I have a feeling that with Fred's voice, studio emphasis was not necessary.

G.

 

[Tim Brown]

Oh yesth, darling! Fred Schneider had a flaming lisp whether he was in front of the mic or not.

Now, I have to admit that I have never listened with discriminate detail to any of the B-52's stuff any of the bijillion times I have heard it either (that's kind of like paying attention to the recipe for a Quarter Pounder with Cheese ); perhaps they may have emphasized the sibilance to emphasize the campiness of his vocals. If so, that's an amusing idea . Next time I rock my lobster I'll have to give it a critical listen. But I have a feeling that with Fred's voice, studio emphasis was not necessary.

G.

"There's a monster in my pants and he does a little dance!" - Fred Schneider's solo "hit"



Tim

 

[Seeker of Rock]

I can't remember hearing him talk, even when they were on top of the charts with that one back in the '80s and all of MTV. Of course, I don't remember a lot of things from the '80s. Anyway, his femininity on video was clue enough to his sexual orientation...I should have know it was coming from the source. I still think they may have either pronounced it during mixdown or not have tried to correct it with EQ. I guess it is part of their trademark, his lispy voice.

 

[sweetpeee]

Oh yesth, darling! Fred Schneider had a flaming lisp whether he was in front of the mic or not.

From Love Shack: "Bang Bang...on the door baby!!! "

ewwww...Fred.....


J.P.

 

[A Reel Person]

Wha...?

Hmm, heard it for the umpteenth time tonight. Never posted in this forum, but it is labeled "techniques", so I guess I can't be too far off. Maybe it is "self" techniques searching for advice, and sorry gentlemen and ladies if I am not in the swing. But, techciques in recording....I have heard "Love Shack" by B-52s a million times (a young man in the '80s mind you) and of all the times I have listened to it haphazardly, tonight it hits me....the male singer may not have that much of a lisp (the way it was EQ'd and/or produced really made the vocal track sound feminine, and maybe or maybe not there was already something in the delivery of that nature, but)...classic, if not THE classic case, of sibilance in recording (actually mixing EQ). Never hit me before, but if you listen beyond the pronounced sibilance, he sounds very average for a male singer.
Anyway, crazy how technique can completely alter performances I thought to myself.

You mean Fred Schneider somehow sounded like a lisping, limp wristed, swishing, flamboyant, effeminate feigh???

That just can't be! It must be recording studio trickery!!!