Post by Bink on Oct 14, 2024 8:40:40 GMT
Daniel Dale Johnston (22 January 1961 - 11 September 2019)
Vocal Range: G♯2 - D6
{Vocal Summary}Just gonna say before this starts, and I have a warning this is going to be a long vocal summary. That I very much appreciate you attempting to read this. Have a nice day, people.
So. Daniel Johnston. I'm going to start with my own personal experience because it is by far the easiest part of this entire segment. I first became familiar with Johnston's work around late May/June of this year. I had heard of him before this point because I was trying to get familiar with avant-garde music within my area, and then eventually gave up because I realized I was not actually super interested in the people and the music they were making, but Johnston's name came up a few times, so I kept a slight mental check in my mind. No, the way I actually came across him properly is a lot less interesting, which was I was browsing rateyourmusic and I came across the album artwork for "Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album", which instantly intrigued me, this strange amphibian like creature with eyes stemming like an alien. Almost like a Fertzfeldt character that I felt I had seen before, and this name that I felt like I heard before, not because of the people that mentioned him to me but because of his name itself, "Daniel Johnston", with the dates of "September 1983" on the cover.
Then I looked over all his discography pre-1990. These weird but also amazing drawings across these album covers. So I figured why not, I'll give this album, his supposedly best and most popular at the time (I believe "1990" has a higher score at this point in time but it doesn't really matter), tagged as supposedly "avant-garde" and "experimental".
Personally, what I heard was not that.
What I heard was a collection of unbelievably lo-fi simple tunes, with some semi-decent chord progressions, with an unbelievably bright, high and boyish voice coming out of this recording. Some of the most beautiful songs at the same time. "Walking The Cow", "Desperate Man Blues" and especially the spoken-sung "Poor You", I must have listened to that album 50+ times that month, I absolutely fell in love with it. Somehow not really getting into much of Johnston's other catalog.
Eventually I did of course but I will admit it took me longer than I really should have. I eventually listened to "1990", "Songs of Pain" and a song here or there without going into many other albums. I definitely liked Johnston, but I wouldn't have said I had fallen in love with anything he had met outside of "Hi, How Are You", I'm not really sure why that was the one that stuck with me (at the time, I will get into why in a while). In fact, I'm not really sure what made me fall in love with Johnston to begin with. I was always absolutely fascinated by him. And then it turned into love as I listened to those albums more and more. This unbelievably bright but also strained voice, and the fact that despite all odds, was quite a decent pianist as well (seriously if you listen in depth to some of the songs on "Songs of Pain" you will notice how he is quite good at piano).
Now I would like to state here. Johnston was by no means a virtuoso. He was pretty good at piano, had a pretty decent ear for melody but his vocal technique was not great, and was never particularly good at singing high. Because in spite of his extremely boyish and bright tone, in terms of placement he was quite an average placed tenor all things considered, and while he definitely had his moments where his voice would shine through all things considered ("A Continued Story" definitely has a few moments of pretty good vocal control), he was always quite pitchy and usually had trouble in controlling his larynx.
And yet…
It's almost never irritating. I've binged this man's discography, and there have been very few times where I've found his voice in any way shape or form not to what I want to listen to right now, let alone "irritating". I don't even reach this frequency even with "good" singers. This is because for what he lacks in technical skill, Johnston has one of the most emotive, expressive and endearing voices I have ever heard. Through his absolutely soul-bearing songs he puts fucking everything into them vocally. Frustration, tenderness, sadness, melancholy, happiness, bittersweet feelings. He has one of the most expressive voices I have ever heard that I'm not really sure would be the same if he sounded like anyone else. Also another thing I would like to mention that I have not seen many people mention, his timbre sometimes changes, "Big Business Monkey" and "Poor You" (the first two tracks on "Hi, How Are You", and that I ever heard from Johnston) sound like completely different voices, both still bright and boyish but the former sounding unnaturally high and boyish).
Despite what the size of this thread may tell you, Johnston mostly wrote his melodies around the G3 - E4 range, this is obviously where he was most comfortable in most of his songs, and despite the fact that he demonstrated the ability to go high, he never really changed that comfort song, didn't really help that for a while, a solid 50% of his songs were in C major, and I would wanna say another 30-40% were in G major, however since a lot of the time his organs or pianos were a bit sharp or flat, he would often sing up to around C♯, or down to B.
And I would like to say, throughout his career while he still definitely had that bright tone, his technique got better towards the latter part of his career, he was still hitting the same notes however his phrasing sounded a lot more controlled and he had a hold of his range much easier than he originally did on the early 1980s tapes.
However, this did come with a cost, because of heavy amounts of damage already previously done to his voice, past the 20th century he very rarely went above G4 ever again due to previous events. However, this is not necessarily the worst thing in the world, man had already shown a hefty amount of high range (still wish he used his lower register a bit more but you give and you take). And I'm glad his voice got the break it kind of desperately needed later in his career.
I love Daniel Johnston. He has written some of the most lovely songs I have listened to this past year and I am so glad I stumbled upon him and I would like you too because he has opened up a portal to a bunch of songs that I am so glad I have now listened to. I also feel for the guy because of the various mental problems he encountered throughout his life, also surrounded by very exploitative people putting him into a box when he was truly an artist that expressed true creative freedom. God bless Daniel. One of the most unique musicians I have encountered in my lifetime. You were amazing.
Written by Bink
So. Daniel Johnston. I'm going to start with my own personal experience because it is by far the easiest part of this entire segment. I first became familiar with Johnston's work around late May/June of this year. I had heard of him before this point because I was trying to get familiar with avant-garde music within my area, and then eventually gave up because I realized I was not actually super interested in the people and the music they were making, but Johnston's name came up a few times, so I kept a slight mental check in my mind. No, the way I actually came across him properly is a lot less interesting, which was I was browsing rateyourmusic and I came across the album artwork for "Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album", which instantly intrigued me, this strange amphibian like creature with eyes stemming like an alien. Almost like a Fertzfeldt character that I felt I had seen before, and this name that I felt like I heard before, not because of the people that mentioned him to me but because of his name itself, "Daniel Johnston", with the dates of "September 1983" on the cover.
Then I looked over all his discography pre-1990. These weird but also amazing drawings across these album covers. So I figured why not, I'll give this album, his supposedly best and most popular at the time (I believe "1990" has a higher score at this point in time but it doesn't really matter), tagged as supposedly "avant-garde" and "experimental".
Personally, what I heard was not that.
What I heard was a collection of unbelievably lo-fi simple tunes, with some semi-decent chord progressions, with an unbelievably bright, high and boyish voice coming out of this recording. Some of the most beautiful songs at the same time. "Walking The Cow", "Desperate Man Blues" and especially the spoken-sung "Poor You", I must have listened to that album 50+ times that month, I absolutely fell in love with it. Somehow not really getting into much of Johnston's other catalog.
Eventually I did of course but I will admit it took me longer than I really should have. I eventually listened to "1990", "Songs of Pain" and a song here or there without going into many other albums. I definitely liked Johnston, but I wouldn't have said I had fallen in love with anything he had met outside of "Hi, How Are You", I'm not really sure why that was the one that stuck with me (at the time, I will get into why in a while). In fact, I'm not really sure what made me fall in love with Johnston to begin with. I was always absolutely fascinated by him. And then it turned into love as I listened to those albums more and more. This unbelievably bright but also strained voice, and the fact that despite all odds, was quite a decent pianist as well (seriously if you listen in depth to some of the songs on "Songs of Pain" you will notice how he is quite good at piano).
Now I would like to state here. Johnston was by no means a virtuoso. He was pretty good at piano, had a pretty decent ear for melody but his vocal technique was not great, and was never particularly good at singing high. Because in spite of his extremely boyish and bright tone, in terms of placement he was quite an average placed tenor all things considered, and while he definitely had his moments where his voice would shine through all things considered ("A Continued Story" definitely has a few moments of pretty good vocal control), he was always quite pitchy and usually had trouble in controlling his larynx.
And yet…
It's almost never irritating. I've binged this man's discography, and there have been very few times where I've found his voice in any way shape or form not to what I want to listen to right now, let alone "irritating". I don't even reach this frequency even with "good" singers. This is because for what he lacks in technical skill, Johnston has one of the most emotive, expressive and endearing voices I have ever heard. Through his absolutely soul-bearing songs he puts fucking everything into them vocally. Frustration, tenderness, sadness, melancholy, happiness, bittersweet feelings. He has one of the most expressive voices I have ever heard that I'm not really sure would be the same if he sounded like anyone else. Also another thing I would like to mention that I have not seen many people mention, his timbre sometimes changes, "Big Business Monkey" and "Poor You" (the first two tracks on "Hi, How Are You", and that I ever heard from Johnston) sound like completely different voices, both still bright and boyish but the former sounding unnaturally high and boyish).
Despite what the size of this thread may tell you, Johnston mostly wrote his melodies around the G3 - E4 range, this is obviously where he was most comfortable in most of his songs, and despite the fact that he demonstrated the ability to go high, he never really changed that comfort song, didn't really help that for a while, a solid 50% of his songs were in C major, and I would wanna say another 30-40% were in G major, however since a lot of the time his organs or pianos were a bit sharp or flat, he would often sing up to around C♯, or down to B.
And I would like to say, throughout his career while he still definitely had that bright tone, his technique got better towards the latter part of his career, he was still hitting the same notes however his phrasing sounded a lot more controlled and he had a hold of his range much easier than he originally did on the early 1980s tapes.
However, this did come with a cost, because of heavy amounts of damage already previously done to his voice, past the 20th century he very rarely went above G4 ever again due to previous events. However, this is not necessarily the worst thing in the world, man had already shown a hefty amount of high range (still wish he used his lower register a bit more but you give and you take). And I'm glad his voice got the break it kind of desperately needed later in his career.
I love Daniel Johnston. He has written some of the most lovely songs I have listened to this past year and I am so glad I stumbled upon him and I would like you too because he has opened up a portal to a bunch of songs that I am so glad I have now listened to. I also feel for the guy because of the various mental problems he encountered throughout his life, also surrounded by very exploitative people putting him into a box when he was truly an artist that expressed true creative freedom. God bless Daniel. One of the most unique musicians I have encountered in my lifetime. You were amazing.
Written by Bink
Significant High Notes:
D6 ("I Killed The Monster")
B♭5 ("Billions Rock")
G♯5 ("Catie")
G5 ("Billions Rock", "My Little Girl", "Speeding Motorcycle")
F♯5 ("I Killed The Monster")
F5 ("Etiquette", "For The Love of Pete", "Speeding Motorcycle")
E5 ("Billions Rock", "Catie", "Delusion and Confusion", "Fate Will Get Done", "Follow That Dream", "Funeral Girl", "Good God", "No More Pushing Joe Around", "Party", "What I've Seen")
E♭5 ("Dreams Come True", "Lost Without a Dame", "Never Die")
D5 ("Artificial Smiles", "Cosmic Kid", "Ghost of Our Love", "Happy Soul", "Happy Talk", "Her Blues", "Heart, Mind and Soul", "I Wish I Were Black", "Keep Punching Joe", "Tell Me Now", "What I've Seen", "When We All Become Famous In The Sky")
C♯5 ("Casper The Friendly Ghost" BBC Radio 1 Live Session, "Etiquette", "Ghost of Our Love", "Worried Shoes")
C5 ("And Then She Kissed Me", "Closer to The Truth", "Delusion and Confusion", "Don't Play Cards With Satan", "Do You Really Love Me" live Palmer Auditorium 1992, "Dream Lover", "Follow That Dream", "Grievances Revisited", "Happy Talk", "I Remember Painfully", "I Wish I Were Black", "Living Life", "Loner", "More About Wicked Will", "Museum of Love", "My Little Girl", "Oh What a Wonderful Feeling", "Only Missing You", "Phantom of My Own Opera", "Sorry Entertainer", "Speeding Motorcycle", "Stars on Parade", "Sweetheart", "That's Silly", "To Go Home", "Who Killed The Monkey", "Why, Without You?", "You Should Have Been My Wife")
B4 ("Ain't No Woman Gonna Make a George Jones Outta Me", "Billions Rock", "Casper The Friendly Ghost" BBC Radio 1 Live Session, "Cathy Cline", "Catie", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances", "Don't Play Cards With Satan", "Dreams Come True", "Etiquette", "Fly Me to The Moon", "Frankenstein vs. The World", "Funeral Home" A Continued Story, "Her Blues", "I Hate Myself" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "I Killed The Monster", "I Want You Back In My Life", "Joy Without Pleasure", "The Kool-Aid Medley" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Live And Let Die" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Living It For The Moment", "Memphis Tennessee", "More Dead Than Alive", "Museum of Love", "My Little Girl", "My Yoke Is Heavy", "Oh No", "Out West", "Party", "Polka Dot Rag", "Pot Head", "Rejected", "Rock n Roll / EGA", "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Scrambled Eggs", "Sense of Humor", "Sinning Is Easy", "The Startling Facts", "Tell Me Now", "Terminal Romance", "Thrill", "Worried Shoes")
B♭4 ("Artificial Smiles", "Big Business Monkey", "Casper The Friendly Ghost" BBC Radio 1 Live Session, "Chords of Fame", "Closer to The Truth", "The Creature / Third Chair", "Don't Play Cards With Satan", "Etiquette", "Fate Will Get Done", "Fly Me to The Moon", "Ghost of Our Love", "Good God", "Got to Get You Into My Life", "Happy Soul", "I Know What I Want", "I Wish I Were Black", "Keep Punching Joe", "Love Will See You Through", "Oh No", "Rejected", "Scrambled Eggs", "Stars on Parade", "Take a Little Walk", "Tell Me Now", "That's Silly", "Walking The Cow", "Wanting You")
A4 ("An Idiot's End", "Artificial Smiles", "The Beatles" Lost and Found, "Billions Rock", "Cathy Cline", "Chord Organ Blues", "Closer to The Truth", "Comes Back", "Davinare", "Dem Blues", "Desperate Man Blues", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances", "Don't Play Cards With Satan", "Evening Stars", "Fate Will Get Done", "Follow That Dream", "For The Love of Pete", "Frankenstein vs. The World", "Funeral Girl", "Funeral Home", "Ghost of Our Love", "Good God", "Go Some More", "Grievances Revisited", "Happy Talk", "Happy Time", "Heart, Mind and Soul", "Her Blues", "Hey Joe", "High Horse", "Honey I Sure Miss You", "I Killed The Monster", "I Hate Myself" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "I'll Do Anything But Break Dance For Ya, Darling", "I'm a Song", "I'm Just a Fool For You", "I Never Meant to Be Spooky", "I Remember Painfully", "It's Spooky", "I Want You Back In My Life", "I Wish I Were Black", "The Kool-Aid Medley" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Last Song For You", "Light of Day", "Like a Monkey In a Zoo", "Live And Let Die" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Living It For The Moment", "Living Life", "Love Defined (The Bible)", "Love Forever", "Love Wheel", "Love Will See You Through", "The Miracle of Love", "The Monster Inside of Me", "More About Wicked Will", "More Dead Than Alive", "Mother Mom Said", "Museum of Love", "My Little Girl", "My Yoke Is Heavy", "Only Missing You", "Party", "Phantom of My Own Opera", "Polka Dot Rag", "Pot Head", "Rock n Roll / EGA", "Scrambled Eggs", "Sense of Humor", "Scuttle Butt", "Sorry Entertainer", "Story to Tell", "The Sun Shines Down On Me", "Terminal Romance", "That's Silly", "Theme From Respect", "Thrill", "To Go Home", "Urge", "Wanting You", "The Wedding", "When Love Calls", "When You're Pretty", "Who Killed The Monkey", "Wicked World", "Wild West Virginia", "Wishing You Well", "You're Gonna Make It, Joe")
G♯4 ("All Around The World", "Big Business Monkey", "Casper The Friendly Ghost" BBC Radio 1 Live Session, "Danny Don't Rapp", "Dem Blues", "Desperate Man Blues", "Etiquette", "Fate Will Get Done", "Going Down", "Fly Me to The Moon", "Go", "How I Love The Organ Music", "I Am a Baby (In My Universe)", "I Know What I Want", "I'm Gonna Buy Me a Car", "I'm Nervous", "I Picture Myself With a Guitar", "It's Impossible", "Love Defined" The Lost Recordings II, "Keep Punching Joe", "Kiss Me Again", "Just Like a Widow", "Lost Without a Dame", "Oh No", "Rarely", "Rock Around The Christmas Tree", "Rocket Ship", "Rock n Roll / EGA", "Sorry Entertainer", "The Spook", "Stars on Parade", "Wishing You Well", "You're Not Laura")
G4 ("Ain't No Woman Gonna Make a George Jones Outta Me", "And I Love You So (And I Can't Let Go)" live At Home 2013, "And Then She Kissed Me", "An Idiot's End", "The Beatles", "Blue Cloud", "Casper The Friendly Ghost" A Continued Story, "Casper The Holy Ghost" live Frankenstein Love 1992, "Cathy Cline", "Catie", "Chord Organ Blues", "Chords of Fame", "Closer to The Truth", "Comes Back", "Cosmic Kid", "Country Song", "Cow at The Sacrifice", "Davinare", "Delusion and Confusion", "Desperate Man Blues", "Don't Be Scared", "Don't Play Cards With Satan", "Dream Scream", "Evening Stars", "Everlasting Love", "Every Day", "Fake Records of Rock and Roll", "Fate Will Get Done", "Fish", "Follow That Dream", "Folly" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Foolin'", "For The Love of Pete", "Funeral Girl", "Funeral Home", "Get Yourself Together" It's Spooky / Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston, "Girlfriend", "Girl of My Dreams", "Golly Gee", "Good God", "Got to Get You Into My Life", "Grievances", "Grievances Revisited", "Hands of Love", "Happy Soul", "Happy Talk", "Happy Time", "Harley Man", "Haunt", "Heart, Mind and Soul", "High Horse", "History of Our Love", "Honey I Sure Miss You", "Keep Punching Joe", "I'd Like to Say Goodbye", "If You Were Here Today", "I Killed The Monster", "I Give Up", "I Hate Myself" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "I Lose", "I'm a Song", "I'm Just a Fool For You", "In a Lifetime", "I Never Meant to Be Spooky", "I Remember Painfully", "I Want You Back In My Life", "I Wish I Were Black", "Joy Without Pleasure", "The Kool-Aid Medley" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Last Song For You", "Laurie", "Lennon Song", "Life In Vain", "Life Is Full of Joy", "Like a Monkey In a Zoo", "A Little Story", "Live And Let Die" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Living It For The Moment", "Living Life", "Lonely Orphan on The Run", "A Lonely Song", "Loner", "Lousy Weekend", "Love Forever", "Love Is Like a Toy" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Love Wheel", "Love Will See You Through", "Melody", "Memphis Tennessee", "Michelle", "The Miracle of Love", "The Monster Inside of Me", "More About Wicked Will", "Mrs. Daniel Johnston", "My Little Girl", "My Yoke Is Heavy", "Nervous Love", "Never Before Never Again", "No More Pushing Joe Around", "Oh What a Wonderful Feeling", "Out West", "Party", "Phantom of My Own Opera", "Polka Dot Rag", "Poptunes", "Pot Head", "Pow", "Premarital Sex", "Rejected", "Rock Around The Christmas Tree", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" It's Spooky / Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston, "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Scuttle Butt", "Sense of Humor", "Shoe", "Since I Lost My Tooth", "Sorry Entertainer", "Speeding Motorcycle", "The Spook", "Squiggly Lines", "Stale Spaghetti", "Story to Tell", "Super Person", "Sweetheart", "Sweet Loafed", "Take a Little Walk", "Tell Me Now", "That's Silly", "To Go Home", "Too Young to Die", "True Grief", "Try to Love", "Tuna Ketchup", "Unfinished Symphony", "Urge", "Wanting You", "We Could Be Together Again", "Wedding Ring Bells Blues", "What's The Matter With Me", "When Love Calls", "When You're Pretty", "Who Killed The Monkey", "Wishing You Well", "Why, Without You?", "Wicked World", "Wild West Virginia", "You Are The One", "You Put My Love Out The Door", "You're Gonna Make It, Joe", "You Should Have Been My Wife", "You've Got a Funny Sense of Humour")
F♯4 ("All Around The World", "Almost Got Hit By a Truck", "Berserk", "Bloody Rainbow" live At Home 2013, "Blue Clouds", "Cold Hard World" live at The Vic, Chicago 2007, "Country Song", "Danny Don't Rapp", "Davinare", "Dem Blues", "Fate Will Get Done", "Fish", "Fly Me to The Moon", "Get Yourself Together", "Girl of My Dreams", "Going Down", "Haunt", "Have Respect", "History of Our Love", "Holy, Holy, Holy", "How I Love The Organ Music", "I Am a Baby (In My Universe)", "I Killed The Monster", "I'm Nervous", "Impossible Love", "In The Palm", "I Picture Myself With a Guitar", "I Wish I Were Black", "Light of Day", "Live And Let Die" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Living It For The Moment", "Love Not Dead", "Kiss Me Again", "Mask", "Melody", "Mind Movies", "More Dead Than Alive", "Movie", "Nervous Love", "Party", "Rock Around The Christmas Tree", "Rock n Roll / EGA", "Sad and Lonely", "Sinning Is Easy", "The Spook", "The Sun Shines Down On Me", "Super Person", "Terminal Romance", "Theme From Respect", "This Song", "Thrill", "Too Young to Die", "Void (Space For The Memories)", "You Should Have Been My Wife")
F4 ("Ain't No Woman Gonna Make a George Jones Outta Me", "All The While", "Almost Got Hit By a Truck", "And I Love You So (And I Can't Let Go)" live At Home 2013, "And Then She Kissed Me", "An Idiot's End", "Artificial Smiles", "Big Business Monkey", "Brainwash", "Casper The Friendly Ghost", "Chords of Fame", "Closer to The Truth", "Comes Back", "Come See Me Tonight (Come to Me Tonight)" live Frankenstein Love 1992, "Danny Don't Rapp", "Delusion and Confusion", "Don't Act Nice", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances", "Do You Really Love Me" live Palmer Auditorium 1992 + live Waterloo Records 1992, "Dream Lover", "Easy Listening", "Etiquette", "Evening Stars", "Everlasting Love", "Every Day", "Favorite Darling Girl", "Feels Good", "First Day at Work", "Folly" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Foolin'", "Funeral Girl", "Girlfriend", "Girl of My Dreams", "Girls", "Go", "Got to Get You Into My Life", "Happy Talk", "Haunt", "Heartbreak Hotel", "Heart, Mind and Soul", "Hey Joe", "High Horse", "Honey I Sure Miss You", "I Am a Baby (In My Universe)", "I Feel So High", "If You Were Here Today", "I Had Lost My Mind", "I Hate Myself" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "I Give Up", "I Know What I Want", "I Love You", "I'm a Song", "I'm Just a Fool For You", "In a Lifetime", "I Remember Painfully", "It's Impossible", "It's Over", "It's Real", "I Will", "Jelly Beans", "Just Like a Widow", "Keep Punching Joe", "Kiss Me Again", "Last Song For You", "Lazy", "Lennon Song", "Living It For The Moment", "Lost", "Love Enchanted", "Love Forever", "Light of Day", "Lonely Orphan on The Run", "Lost Without a Dame", "Love", "Love Defined (The Bible)", "Love Is Like a Toy" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Love of My Life", "The Making of The Album", "Man Obsessed", "Melody", "Merry-Go-Round", "Michelle", "The Monster Inside of Me", "More About Wicked Will", "Mother Mom Said", "Mrs. Daniel Johnston", "Museum of Love", "Must", "My Little Girl", "Oh What a Wonderful Feeling", "Only Missing You", "Out West", "Peace and Tranquility", "Poptunes", "Pot Head", "Pow", "The Power of Love", "A Prayer From The Depths", "Psycho Nightmare", "Rarely", "Rejected", "Ruby Tuesday", "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Scuttle Butt", "Sense of Humor", "Since I Lost My Tooth", "Sorry Entertainer", "Stale Spaghetti", "Stars on Parade", "Strange Boy", "Sweet Loafed", "Syrup of Tears", "There Ain't Much That You Can Do", "Too Young to Die", "True Grief", "Undying Love", "Walking The Cow", "Wanting You", "We Could Be Together Again", "The Wedding", "Wedding Ring Bells Blues", "What's The Matter With Me", "When Love Calls", "Whiz Kid" Merry Christmas, "Who Killed The Monkey", "Why, Without You?", "Wicked Will", "Wild West Virginia", "Wish", "Wishing You Well", "Without You", "You Hurt Me", "You Killed My Baby", "You Put My Love Out The Door", "You're Gonna Make It, Joe", "You Should Have Been My Wife", "You've Got a Funny Sense of Humour")
Significant Low Notes:
F3 ("Artificial Smiles", "Before It's Too Late", "Brainwash", "Casper The Friendly Ghost", "Chords of Fame", "Closer to The Truth", "Comes Back", "Delusion and Confusion", "Devil Town", "Do You Really Love Me" live Palmer Auditorium 1992 + live Waterloo Records 1992, "The End Is Near", "Everlasting Love", "Favorite Darling Girl", "First Day at Work", "Foolin'", "Forever Your Love", "Go", "Happy Soul", "Happy Talk" Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston / It's Spooky, "Haunt", "Have Respect", "Heart, Mind and Soul", "I Can't Think Anymore", "I Feel So High", "I Had a Dream", "I Had Lost My Mind", "I Hate Myself" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "I'm Just a Fool For You", "It's Over", "I Will", "Kicking The Dog", "Lazy", "Lost Without a Dame", "Love Defined (The Bible)", "Love Is Like a Toy" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Lullaby", "Mountain", "Mrs. Daniel Johnston", "Must", "No Love In Town", "Polka Dot Rag", "Pow", "The Power of Love", "Rocket Ship", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", "Some Time Spent In Heaven", "Stars on Parade", "Super Person", "Surely You Don't Work All Night", "There Ain't Much That You Can Do", "True Love Will Find You In The End" Retired Boxer, "True Grief", "Walking The Cow" live at The Vic, Chicago 2007, "We Could Be Together Again", "What's The Matter With Me", "White Magic", "Wild West Virginia", "You Are a Writer")
E3 ("Ain't No Woman Gonna Make a George Jones Outta Me", "All Around The World", "All The While", "And I Love You So (And I Can't Let Go)" live At Home 2013, "An Idiot's End", "Billions Rock", "Bloody Rainbow" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000 + At Home 2013, "Blue Clouds", "Careless Soul", "Casper The Holy Ghost" live Frankenstein Love 1992, "Catie", "Christmas In The Loony Bin", "Circus Man", "Cold Hard World", "Come See Me Tonight (Come to Me Tonight)" live Frankenstein Love 1992, "Cow at The Sacrifice", "Danny Don't Rapp", "Davinare", "Death", "Dem Blues", "Despair Came Knocking", "Desperate Man Blues", "Devil Town" demo, "Do It Right", "Don't Act Nice", "The Dream Is Over", "Fate Will Get Done", "Fish", "Fly Eye", "Folly" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Foolin'", "Fool on The Hill", "Forever Your Love", "Funeral Girl", "Girl of My Dreams", "God", "Going Down", "Good Luck", "Got to Go On", "Grievances", "Happy Time", "Held The Hand", "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Honey I Sure Miss You", "Hoping", "I'd Like to Say Goodbye", "I Feel So High" Laurie EP, "If I'd Only Known", "I Get Depressed When You Undress", "I Know Casper", "I'll Never Marry", "I Lose", "In The Palm", "It's Spooky", "Jelly Beans", "The Kool-Aid Medley" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Life Is Full of Joy", "Like a Monkey In a Zoo", "A Little Story", "Love Defined" The Lost Recordings II, "Love of My Life", "Man Obsessed", "Mask", "McDonalds on The Brain", "Mean Girls Give Pleasure", "Melody", "Michelle", "Mind Contorted", "Mind Movies", "Mountain", "Mountain Top", "My Baby Cares For The Dead", "Out West", "Polka Dot Rag", "Pot Head", "A Prayer From The Depths", "Queenie The Doggie", "Ruby Tuesday", "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Running Water", "Sad Sac and Tarzan", "Scrambled Eggs", "Screw", "Shoes", "Silly Love", "Spirit World Rising", "The Spook", "Stale Spaghetti", "Story to Tell", "Sublime Groove" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Sweetheart", "The Sun Shines Down On Me", "Surely You Don't Work All Night", "Tell Me Now", "Terminal Romance", "Thrill", "True Love Will Find You In The End", "Where The Soul Never Dies", "Wicked Will", "You Are a Writer", "You Ruined It For Yourself")
E♭3 ("All Good Children Go to Die", "Almost Got Hit By a Truck", "Dead Lover's Twisted Heart", "Dreams Come True", "Go", "Harley Man", "Held The Hand / Where The Soul Never Dies" Merry Christmas, "I Can't Think Anymore", "Keep Punching Joe", "Never Die", "No Love In Town", "Oh What a Wonderful Feeling", "Once Upon a Dream", "Ostrich", "Poptunes", "Rarely", "Rejected", "Spirit World Rising" White Magic, "That's Silly", "True Love Will Find You In The End" Retired Boxer, "The Undertaker's Assistant", "White Magic")
D3 ("Ain't No Woman Gonna Make a George Jones Outta Me", "All The While", "Billions Rock", "Bloody Rainbow" live At Home 2013, "Blue Clouds", "Careless Soul", "Circus Man", "Cold Hard World" live at The Vic, Chicago 2007, "Dead Lover's Twisted Heart", "Dem Blues", "Despair Came Knocking", "Devil Town" demo, "Fake Records of Rock and Roll", "Fly Eye", "Freedom", "Girl of My Dreams", "Give Me Your Hand", "Grievances", "Hands of Love", "Happy Soul", "Happy Talk" Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston / It's Spooky, "Haunt", "Held The Hand", "Held The Hand / Where The Soul Never Dies" Merry Christmas, "Hey Joe" live Albertstudios 2010, "Honey I Sure Miss You", "I Did Acid With Caroline", "If I Kissed You Once", "I Get Depressed When You Undress", "I Had a Dream", "I Killed The Monster", "I Know Casper", "I Met Roky Erickson", "In a Lifetime", "I Save Cigarette Butts", "It's Over", "I Will", "I Wish I Were Black", "Jelly Beans", "The Kool-Aid Medley" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "Like a Monkey In a Zoo" live Volksbühne Berlin 2000, "A Little Story", "Lullaby", "Man at War", "Mask", "McDonalds on The Brain", "Michelle", "Mind Contorted", "Mrs. Daniel Johnston", "My Little Girl", "Never Get to Heaven", "Nothing Left", "Oh What a Wonderful Feeling", "Party", "A Prayer From The Depths", "Queenie The Doggie", "Ruby Tuesday", "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Running Water", "Sad Sac and Tarzan", "She Called Pest Control", "Silly Love", "The Story of an Artist", "Super Person", "Tears", "Tears Stupid Tears", "This Song", "Tongues Wag In This Town", "True Love Will Find You In The End", "Try to Love", "Unfinished Symphony", "What The World Needs Now", "Where The Soul Never Dies", "Whiz Kid" Laurie EP, "Wild West Virginia", "Wish", "You Are The One", "You Should Have Been My Wife")
C♯3 ("All Good Children Go to Die", "An Angel Cry", "Death", "Desperate Man Blues", "Dreams Come True", "Good Morning You", "Heartbreak Hotel", "If I Kissed You Once", "It's Spooky", "I Wish I Were Black", "Keep Punching Joe", "Kiss Me Again", "Laura Hadley", "A Little Bit of Soap", "Loneliness", "Mean to Me", "Never Die", "No More Pushing Joe Around", "True Love Will Find You In The End" The Blue Room - BBC Session, "White Magic", "You Killed My Baby")
C3 ("Artificial Smiles", "Before It's Too Late", "Casper The Friendly Ghost", "Closer to The Truth", "Crazy Love", "The Dead Dog Laughing In The Cloud", "Dear Abby", "Delusion and Confusion", "Easy Listening", "The End Is Near", "Everlasting Love", "First Day at Work", "Good Morning You", "Got to Go On", "Grievances", "Hate Song", "It's Got to Be Good", "A Little Story", "Lord, Give Me Hope", "Lullaby", "Mind Movies", "Mother Mom Said", "Mrs. Daniel Johnston", "My Little Girl", "Never Get to Heaven", "Never Relaxed", "No More Pushing Joe Around", "Party", "The Power of Love", "Rejected", "Queenie The Doggie", "Story to Tell", "Sweetheart", "Tongues Wag In This Town", "When I Met You", "Whiz Kid" Laurie EP, "Why, Without You?", "You Are The One", "You Killed My Baby", "You're Gonna Make It, Joe")
B2 ("Careless Soul", "The Dead Dog Laughing In The Cloud", "If I Kissed You Once", "I Killed The Monster", "I Live For Love", "I'm In The Mood", "In a Lifetime", "I Saw Her Standing There", "Laura Hadley", "A Little Bit of Soap", "Mean to Me", "McDonalds on The Brain", "Nothing Left", "Scattered Like Birds", "She Called Pest Control", "The Spook", "The Startling Facts", "Sweet Loafed", "The Undertaker's Assistant", "A Walk in The Wind", "You're Not Laura")
B♭2 ("Dream", "Every Day", "How I Love The Organ Music", "I'm In The Mood", "Jelly Beans", "Kiss Me Again", "Loneliness", "Poor You", "Villiam", "The Undertaker's Assistant")
A2 ("Billions Rock", "Crazy Love", "A Ghostly Story", "Got to Go On", "Never Relaxed", "Poor You", "A Prayer From The Depths", "Rejected", "Summer Time", "Terminal Romance", "Villiam")
G♯2 ("Poor You")
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Blue marks falsetto or whistle notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.
NOTE: I'm not adding bolds or best vocal performances, however if you do want to hear Johnston's finer vocal moments, "Etiquette", "The Creature / Third Chair", "I Killed The Monster" and "Billions Rock" (if I was adding bolds I would 100% bold the verse B4s) are good for notes, "Impossible Love", "Follow That Dream" and "True Love Will Find You In The End" are good full vocal performances that sound really nice, "Big Business Monkey", "Walking The Cow", "Grievances" (honestly you could for pretty much any performance pre-1984) to show his unique vocal sound and performances.
{Album Ranges}Songs of Pain (1981): A2 - C5
Don't Be Scared (1982): C3 - B4 - C5
The What of Whom (1982): C3 - C5
Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album (1983): G♯2 - D5 - E5
More Songs of Pain (1983): C3 - C5 - F5
Yip / Jump Music (1983): B2 - C5 - F5
The Lost Recordings (1983): A2 - C5 - E♭5
The Lost Recordings II (1983): B♭2 - D5 - E♭5
Retired Boxer (1984): D3 - B4
Respect (1985): B♭2 - B♭4
Continued Story (1985): B2 - F5
Merry Christmas (1988): B2 - C5
Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston / It's Spooky (1989): A2 - C5 - E5
1990 (1990): B2 - C5
Artistic Vice (1991): A2 - B4 - D6
Laurie (1992): B♭2 - B♭4 - E5
Fun (1994): A2 - G5 - G♯5
Rejected Unknown (1999): A2 - G5 - B♭5
The Lucky Sperms: Somewhat Humorous (2001): C♯3 - G4
Sinning is Easy (2002): A2 - B4
Fear Yourself (2003): C3 - B4
White Magic (2004): A2 - C5 - D5
The Electric Ghosts (2006): N/A
Lost and Found (2006): C3 - A4
Is and Always Was (2009): C3 - A4
Beam Me Up!!! (2010): N/A
Space Ducks (2012): D3 - B♭4 - B4
There are various live albums floating around, notable notes will be added.
Don't Be Scared (1982): C3 - B4 - C5
The What of Whom (1982): C3 - C5
Hi, How Are You: The Unfinished Album (1983): G♯2 - D5 - E5
More Songs of Pain (1983): C3 - C5 - F5
Yip / Jump Music (1983): B2 - C5 - F5
The Lost Recordings (1983): A2 - C5 - E♭5
The Lost Recordings II (1983): B♭2 - D5 - E♭5
Retired Boxer (1984): D3 - B4
Respect (1985): B♭2 - B♭4
Continued Story (1985): B2 - F5
Merry Christmas (1988): B2 - C5
Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston / It's Spooky (1989): A2 - C5 - E5
1990 (1990): B2 - C5
Artistic Vice (1991): A2 - B4 - D6
Laurie (1992): B♭2 - B♭4 - E5
Fun (1994): A2 - G5 - G♯5
Rejected Unknown (1999): A2 - G5 - B♭5
The Lucky Sperms: Somewhat Humorous (2001): C♯3 - G4
Sinning is Easy (2002): A2 - B4
Fear Yourself (2003): C3 - B4
White Magic (2004): A2 - C5 - D5
The Electric Ghosts (2006): N/A
Lost and Found (2006): C3 - A4
Is and Always Was (2009): C3 - A4
Beam Me Up!!! (2010): N/A
Space Ducks (2012): D3 - B♭4 - B4
There are various live albums floating around, notable notes will be added.
{Questionable Notes}
F5 ("Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances"[1])
E♭5 ("Loner"[5])
D5 ("I Remember Painfully"[5])
C3 ("Walking The Cow"[1])
A2 ("Grievances"[1])
G♯2 ("Heartbreak Hotel"[5] I'm willing to have debates on this one)
G2 ("Rejected"[5], "Villiam"[5])
C2 ("Summer Time"[4])
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[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.
F5 ("Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances"[1])
E♭5 ("Loner"[5])
D5 ("I Remember Painfully"[5])
C3 ("Walking The Cow"[1])
A2 ("Grievances"[1])
G♯2 ("Heartbreak Hotel"[5] I'm willing to have debates on this one)
G2 ("Rejected"[5], "Villiam"[5])
C2 ("Summer Time"[4])
.......................................................
[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.