Ethel Merman (2,054 views)

[kaji]

Ethel Merman (16 January 1908 - 15 February 1984)
Voice Type: Soprano
Vocal Range: E♭3-G5

Significant High Notes:

G5 ("Anything You Can Do", "My Mother Would Love You", "Put On Your Sunday Clothes", "Rose's Turn")
F♯5 ("If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Baked A Cake")
F5 ("Anything You Can Do" Live with Bowser, "Put On Your Sunday Clothes")
E5 ("Anything You Can Do", "Old Man Blues", "You're the Top", "You Say The Nicest Things")
E♭5 ("Alexander's Ragtime Band", "An Earful of Music", "Anything Goes", "Calabash Pipe", "First You Have Me High (Then You Have Me Low)", "It's Just a New Spanish Custom", "My Future Just Passed", "Old Man Blues", "Sing, You Sinners", "Talk", "Waltz Me Around Again Willie/Sidewalks of New York/A Bicycle Built for Two/She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain")
D5 ("After You've Gone", "A Husband - A Wife", "Anything You Can Do", "Be Like Me", "Blow, Gabriel, Blow", "Devil Sea", "Eadie Was a Lady, Part 2", "First You Have Me High (Then You Have Me Low)", "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here" Ethel's Ridin' High version, "Hello My Lover, Goodbye", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "It's De-Lovely" Songs She Has Made Famous version, "It's Just a New Spanish Custom", "Just a Little Bit More", "Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please", "My Future Just Passed", "My Mother Would Love You", "Put On Your Sunday Clothes", "The Medley from the Waldorf", "Red, Hot and Blue", "Shake Well Before Using It!", "Shanghai-Dee-Ho", "Take Back Your Gold/Frankie and Johnny", "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Der-E/The Band Played On/The Bowery/On a Saturday Night/While Strolling Thru the Park One Day", "Time On My Hands", "Waltz Me Around Again Willie/Sidewalks of New York/A Bicycle Built for Two/She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain", "Wipe That Frown Right off Your Face", "You're the Top", "You Try Somebody Else")
C♯5 ("A Bird in a Gilded Cage/Moonlight Bay/By the Light of the Silvery Moon/Shine On Harvest Moon", "A Lady Needs a Change", "An Earful of Music", "Dearie", "Devil Sea", "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "First You Have Me High (Then You Have Me Low)", "I'll Pay the Check", "I'm An Indian Too", "It's All Yours", "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "Let's Be Buddies", "Listen to the Mocking Bird/You Tell Me Your Dream I'll Tell You Mine/School Days/Memories", "My Future Just Passed", "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!/Dear Little Boy of Mine/Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway/Mary's a Grand Old Name/Give My Regards to Broadway", "Old Man Blues", "Ridin' High", "Satan's Holiday", "Shadows on the Wall", "Shake It Off with Rhythm", "Shanghai-Dee-Ho", "Sing, You Sinners", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "There's No Business Like Show Business (Reprise)", "They Say It's Wonderful" Merman Sings Merman version, "Time On My Hands", "When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along", "With You on My Mind", "You'll Never Get Away from Me", "You Say The Nicest Things", "You Try Somebody Else")
C5 ("A Bird in a Gilded Cage/Moonlight Bay/By the Light of the Silvery Moon/Shine On Harvest Moon", "After You've Gone", "A Husband - A Wife", "A Lady Needs a Change", "All Alone/All By Myself", "All That Jazz", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "A Lot of Livin' to Do", "An Earful of Music", "A New-Fangled Tango", "An Old-Fashioned Wedding", "Anything Goes", "Anything You Can Do", "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody", "A Sailor's Not a Sailor ('Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed)", "Be Like Me", "Blow, Gabriel, Blow", "Calico Sal", "Devil Sea", "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend", "Doin' What Comes Naturally", "Down in the Depths on the 90th Floor", "Eadie Was a Lady, Part 2", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Finale (Call Me Madam)", "First You Have Me High (Then You Have Me Low)", "Friendship", "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here", "Grand Finale (Happy Hunting)" , "Happy Hunting", "Hawaii", "Heat Wave", "Hot and Happy", "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Baked A Cake", "If You're Gonna Be a Witch, Be a Witch", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "I Got Lost In His Arms", "I Got Rhythm", "I Got The Sun In The Morning", "I'll Pay the Check", "I'm a Funny Dame/This Much I Know", "I'm An Indian Too", "I Put My Hand In", "I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Prayers)", "It's Just a New Spanish Custom", "It's the Animal in Me", "I've Still Got My Health", "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "Let Me Entertain You", "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries", "Listen to the Mocking Bird/You Tell Me Your Dream I'll Tell You Mine/School Days/Memories", "Love Is The Reason", "Love, Look In My Window", "Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please", "Make The Man Love Me", "Marching Along WIth Time", "Marching Through Berlin", "Marrying For Love", "Moonshine Lullaby", "Move It Over", "Mr. Goldstone, I Love You", "Mr. Livingstone", "Mutual Admiration Society", "My Mother Would Love You", "My Walking Stick", "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!/Dear Little Boy of Mine/Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway/Mary's a Grand Old Name/Give My Regards to Broadway", "Oldies", "Once Upon A Nickel", "Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet/M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I", "Red, Hot and Blue", "Ridin' High", "Rose's Turn", "Send in the Clowns", "Shadows on the Wall", "Shake Well Before Using It!", "She's Shimmyin' On The Beach Again", "Simple Melody", "Sing, You Sinners", "Some People", "Something to Dance About", "Take Back Your Gold/Frankie and Johnny", "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Der-E/The Band Played On/The Bowery/On a Saturday Night/While Strolling Thru the Park One Day", "That Old Gang of Mine/Sweet Adeline", "The Best Thing for You", "The Game of Love", "The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball", "The Impossible Dream", "The International Rag", "The Lake Song", "The Medley from the Waldorf", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "The Washington Square Dance", "The World Is Your Balloon", "They Say It's Wonderful", "This is All I Ask", "This Is It" Merman In Vegas version, "This Is What I Call Love", "Together Wherever We Go", "Waltz Me Around Again Willie/Sidewalks of New York/A Bicycle Built for Two/She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain", "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans/Somebody Stole My Gal/Smiles/Row, Row, Row/I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)/Sweet Georgia Brown", "What I Did For Love", "What Kind Of Fool Am I?", "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'", "When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along", "Whispering", "Why Do They Call A Private A Private?", "Wipe That Frown Right off Your Face", "With You on My Mind", "You Appeal To Me", "You Are the Music to the Words in My Heart", "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun", "You'll Never Get Away from Me", "You're A Builder Upper", "You're Just In Love", "You're the Top", "You Say The Nicest Things", "You Try Somebody Else")
B4 ("A Bird in a Gilded Cage/Moonlight Bay/By the Light of the Silvery Moon/Shine On Harvest Moon", "After You've Gone", "All Alone/All By Myself", "All That Jazz", "A Lot of Livin' to Do", "An Earful of Music", "Anything You Can Do", "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody", "A Sailor's Not a Sailor ('Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed)", "Before the Parade Passes By", "Blow, Gabriel, Blow", "Calabash Pipe", "Can You Use Any Money Today?", "Doin' What Comes Naturally", "Don't Believe It", "Eadie Was a Lady, Part 1", "Everybody Step", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Finale (Call Me Madam)", "First You Have Me High (Then You Have Me Low)", "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here", "Hawaii", "Heat Wave", "Hello, Dolly", "Hello My Baby/I've Got Rings On My Fingers/In My Merry Oldsmobile/In the Good Old Summertime/Sweet Rosie O'Grady/Little Annie Rooney", "Hello My Lover, Goodbye", "He's a Right Guy", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "I Got The Sun In The Morning", "I Put My Hand In", "It's De-Lovely", "Just a Little Bit More", "Let's Be Buddies", "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries", "Listen to the Mocking Bird/You Tell Me Your Dream I'll Tell You Mine/School Days/Memories", "Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please", "Make The Man Love Me", "Marrying For Love", "Mr. Goldstone, I Love You", "My Mother Would Love You", "Nothing Can Stop Me Now", "Oldies", "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil", "My Walking Stick", "Ridin' High", "Rose's Turn", "Satan's Holiday", "Shake It Off with Rhythm", "Shanghai-Dee-Ho", "Small World", "Some People", "Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Der-E/The Band Played On/The Bowery/On a Saturday Night/While Strolling Thru the Park One Day", "That Old Gang of Mine/Sweet Adeline", "The International Rag", "The Medley from the Waldorf", "There's No Business Like Show Business (Reprise)", "This Is It", "Tomorrow", "Ukulele Lady", "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans/Somebody Stole My Gal/Smiles/Row, Row, Row/I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)/Sweet Georgia Brown", "What Kind Of Fool Am I?", "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'", "Wipe That Frown Right off Your Face", "With You on My Mind", "World, Take Me Back", "You Appeal To Me", "You're the Top")
B♭4 ("A Husband - A Wife", "A Lady Needs a Change", "All Alone/All By Myself", "All That Jazz", "An Elephant Forgets", "A New-Fangled Tango", "An Old-Fashioned Wedding", "Anything Goes", "A Sailor's Not a Sailor ('Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed)", "Dawn of a New Day", "Dearie", "Devil Sea", "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend", "Do I Love You?", "Doin' What Comes Naturally", "Down in the Depths on the 90th Floor", "Embraceable You", "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here", "Grand Finale (Happy Hunting)", "Happy Hunting", "Hello, Dolly", "Hello My Baby/I've Got Rings On My Fingers/In My Merry Oldsmobile/In the Good Old Summertime/Sweet Rosie O'Grady/Little Annie Rooney", "Hot and Happy", "How Deep is the Ocean", "If You're Gonna Be a Witch, Be a Witch", "I Got Lost In His Arms", "I Got The Sun In The Morning", "I'll Pay the Check", "I'm a Funny Dame/This Much I Know", "I'm An Indian Too", "I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Prayers)", "It's All Yours", "It's Just a New Spanish Custom", "It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House", "It's the Animal in Me", "I've Still Got My Health", "Just a Lady with a Song", "Just a Little Bit More", "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "Marching Along WIth Time", "Marching Through Berlin", "Moonshine Lullaby", "My Future Just Passed", "My Walking Stick", "Nothing Can Stop Me Now", "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!/Dear Little Boy of Mine/Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway/Mary's a Grand Old Name/Give My Regards to Broadway", "Old Man Blues", "On A Clear Day", "Once Upon A Nickel", "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil", "Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet/M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I", "Red, Hot and Blue", "Rose's Turn", "Say It with Music", "Shadows on the Wall", "Shake It Off with Rhythm", "Shake Well Before Using It!", "Simple Melody", "Sing, You Sinners", "Some People", "Something to Dance About", "Take Back Your Gold/Frankie and Johnny", "The Best Thing for You", "The Game of Love", "The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball", "The Impossible Dream", "The International Rag", "The Lake Song", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "The Washington Square Dance", "The World Is Your Balloon", "They Say It's Wonderful", "This is All I Ask", "This Is What I Call Love", "Time On My Hands", "Together Wherever We Go", "Tomorrow", "Waltz Me Around Again Willie/Sidewalks of New York/A Bicycle Built for Two/She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain", "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans/Somebody Stole My Gal/Smiles/Row, Row, Row/I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)/Sweet Georgia Brown", "What I Did For Love", "What Kind Of Fool Am I?", "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'", "Whispering", "You Appeal To Me", "You Are the Music to the Words in My Heart", "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun", "You'll Never Get Away from Me", "You're A Builder Upper", "You're An Old Smoothie", "You're Just In Love")

Significant Low Notes:

B♭3 ("A Husband - A Wife", "A Lady Needs a Change", "Alexander's Ragtime Band" The Ethel Merman Disco Album version, "All Alone/All By Myself", "An Elephant Forgets", "An Old-Fashioned Wedding", "Be Like Me", "Devil Sea", "Doin' What Comes Naturally", "Eadie Was a Lady, Part 1", "Eadie Was a Lady, Part 2", "Embraceable You", "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here", "Hello My Baby/I've Got Rings On My Fingers/In My Merry Oldsmobile/In the Good Old Summertime/Sweet Rosie O'Grady/Little Annie Rooney", "I Got Lost In His Arms", "I'll Pay the Check", "I'm An Indian Too", "It's Just a New Spanish Custom", "It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House", "Just a Lady with a Song", "Marching Through Berlin", "Nothing Can Stop Me Now", "Red, Hot and Blue", "Ridin' High", "Shadows on the Wall", "Sing, You Sinners", "Something to Dance About", "Take Back Your Gold/Frankie and Johnny", "The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball", "The International Rag", "The Lake Song", "The Washington Square Dance", "They Say It's Wonderful", "Time On My Hands", "Together Wherever We Go", "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans/Somebody Stole My Gal/Smiles/Row, Row, Row/I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)/Sweet Georgia Brown", "What I Did For Love", "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun", "You're Just In Love")
A3 ("All Alone/All By Myself", "A Lot of Livin' to Do", "A New-Fangled Tango", "Blow, Gabriel, Blow", "Can You Use Any Money Today?", "Grand Finale (Happy Hunting)" , "Heat Wave", "He's a Right Guy", "How Deep is the Ocean", "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Baked A Cake", "If You're Gonna Be a Witch, Be a Witch", "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "I Got Rhythm", "I'll Pay the Check", "I'm a Funny Dame/This Much I Know", "I Put My Hand In", "It's De-Lovely", "Just a Little Bit More", "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries", "Love, Look In My Window", "Marching Along WIth Time", "Move It Over", "Mr. Goldstone, I Love You", "Mutual Admiration Society", "My Mother Would Love You", "Send in the Clowns", "Shanghai-Dee-Ho", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Some People", "Something For The Boys", "That Old Gang of Mine/Sweet Adeline", "The Best Thing for You", "The Game of Love", "The Impossible Dream", "There's No Business Like Show Business (Reprise)", "This is All I Ask", "Ukulele Lady", "Whispering", "With You on My Mind", "World, Take Me Back", "You Are the Music to the Words in My Heart", "You're the Top" Merman Sings Merman version, "You Try Somebody Else")
G♯3 ("A Little Girl From Little Rock", "An Earful of Music", "A New-Fangled Tango", "Anything Goes", "A Sailor's Not a Sailor ('Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed)", "Dearie", "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend", "Doin' What Comes Naturally" Together on Broadway version, "Do I Love You?", "First You Have Me High (Then You Have Me Low)", "Friendship", "If You Catch A Little Cold (I'll Sneeze For You)", "I Said My Pajamas (And Put On My Prayers)", "Listen to the Mocking Bird/You Tell Me Your Dream I'll Tell You Mine/School Days/Memories", "Love Is The Reason", "Moonshine Lullaby", "My Walking Stick", "Rose's Turn", "Say It with Music", "The Medley from the Waldorf", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "There's No Business Like Show Business (Reprise)", "The World Is Your Balloon", "This Is What I Call Love", "What Kind Of Fool Am I?", "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun" Merman In Vegas version, "You'll Never Get Away from Me", "You're An Old Smoothie", "You Say The Nicest Things")
G3 ("A Lot of Livin' to Do", "An Elephant Forgets", "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody", "A Sailor's Not a Sailor ('Til a Sailor's Been Tattooed)", "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" Merman In Vegas version, "Eadie Was a Lady, Part 1", "Hello, Dolly", "He's a Right Guy", "Hot and Happy", "I Get A Kick Out Of You" The Ethel Merman Disco Album version, "I Got Lost In His Arms" A Musical Autobiography version, "I Got Rhythm" Merman Sings Merman version, "I'll Pay the Check" A Musical Autobiography version, "It's the Animal in Me", "I've Still Got My Health", "Just a Little Bit More", "Make The Man Love Me", "Marrying For Love", "Mr. Goldstone, I Love You", "Mr. Livingstone", "Mutual Admiration Society", "My Mother Would Love You", "Nothing Can Stop Me Now", "On A Clear Day", "Simple Melody", "Small World", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Something For The Boys", "Sunrise, Sunset", "That Old Gang of Mine/Sweet Adeline", "The Best Thing for You" film version, "The Impossible Dream", "There's No Business Like Show Business" The Ethel Merman Disco Album version, "They Say It's Wonderful" Meman In Vegas version, "This Is It", "When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along", "Whispering", "World, Take Me Back", "You Appeal To Me", "You'll Never Get Away from Me")
F3 ("Before the Parade Passes By", "Everything's Coming Up Roses" Merman Sings Merman version, "I'm a Funny Dame/This Much I Know", "Mr. Goldstone, I Love You" demo version, "Ridin' High" Ethel's Ridin' High version, "Tomorrow")
E♭3 ("What Kind Of Fool Am I?")
........................................
Blue marks notes sung in head voice.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable notes}
B♭5 ("Oldies" ^[3])
G5 ("Alexander's Ragtime Band" ^[2])
E5 ("Mr. Goldstone, I Love You" ^[3], "Rose's Turn" ^[3])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Discography}
Kid Millions (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1934) - G♯3-E♭5
Anything Goes (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1936) - A3-E5
Stars in Your Eyes (1939) - G3-D5
Panama Hattie (1940) - G3-G5
Annie Get Your Gun (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (1946) - G♯3-G5
Songs She Has Made Famous (1947) - G3-D5
Call Me Madam (Radio Cast Recording) (1950) - G3-C5
Call Me Madam (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1953) - G3-C5
The Ford 50th Anniversary Show (1953) - G3-D5
Anything Goes (1954) - G3-E♭5
There's No Business Like Show Business (Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1954) - G3-E♭5
Memories (1955) - G3-E♭5
Happy Hunting (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (1956) - F3-C5
A Musical Autobiography (1958) - G3-D5
Gypsy (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (1959) - G3-G5
Merman In Vegas (1962) - G3-C♯5
Journey Back to Oz (Original Soundtrack) (1964) - G3-C5
Annie Get Your Gun (Lincoln Center Cast Recording) (1966) - G♯3-F5
Merman Sings Merman (1972) - F3-D5
Ethel's Ridin' High (1975) - E♭3-D5
The Ethel Merman Disco Album (1977) - G3-D5
Together on Broadway (1977) - G3-D5
Ethel Merman At Carnegie Hall (1982) (missing)