Marcella Detroit (2,949 views)

[Alex61]

Marcella Levy
Vocal Range: C3 – B♭6

Significant High Notes:
B♭6 ("Break My Heart (You Really)")
G♯6 ("Love Side" live Sydney 1984)
G6 ("Are We in Love Yet", "You're History")
F♯6 ("Dirty Mind" single version)
F6 ("Art of Melancholy", "Could You Be Loved", "Gasoline", "Perfect World", "Second Class Citizen", "Stay")
E6 ("Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "Black Sky", "Catwoman", "Come and Follow Me", "Cool People", "Cry" live San Francisco 2008, "Emotional Thing", "Heroine" live Megamix Arte 1992, "I Believe", "I Don't Care", "I Love Myself", "I'm No Angel", "Miss Anne Throp", "Paint You a Picture", "A Piece of Heaven", "She Loves You" live Holmdel 1985, "Singin' the Blues")
E♭6 ("Forget About Me", "Heroine", "I Just Wanna Feel Good")
D6 ("All My Love", "Closer", "Digital Age", "Hey Maestro", "I Am", "I Hate You Now…", "It's Still Christmas", "Layla" live Live Aid 1985, "Out of My Mind", "Queen of the Night" live Popstar to Operastar, "Red Rocket" live 1992, "Scared Silent", "Sign", "Time to Say Goodbye", "The Upside of Bein' Down…", "Waiting", "What's the Time in Tokyo", "Yell Cut", "You're History", "Your Girlfriend")
C♯6 ("Black Sky", "Dirty Mind" single version, "Goodbye Cruel World", "If You Could Read My Mind", "James Brown", "Peace")
C6 ("Are We in Love Yet", "Break My Heart (You Really)", "Close to Her", "The Dreamers", "Freedom", "Gold", "I Adore You" live 2001, "I Can't Wait That Long", "I Wish You Love", "Lighthouse", "Mein Herr Marquis" live Popstar to Operastar, "My Friend Misery", "My Weekend", "Serious" live London 2013, "She Loves You" live Holmdel 1985, "Somebody's Mother", "Stay", "Time to Say Goodbye", "Twist the Knife", "The Vehicle", "You're History")
B5 ("Alien 2 Me (7th Heaven)", "Ave Maria", "Black Sky", "Boxes", "Break the Chain", "Catwoman", "The Core" live Hyde Park 2018, "Crucify Me", "England Calling", "Find the Good" live London 2013, "Gasoline", "Help Me!", "Hold to Your Money", "I Am", "Innocent Times", "Love and Destruction", "Love Side" live Sydney 1984, "Love X a Million" live York 2013, "Moonchild", "My 16th Apology", "O Chanukah", "Paint You a Picture", "Red Rocket", "Rock of Ages", "Save Me" live San Francisco 2008, "Somebody's Mother", "Twist the Knife", "You're History", "Your Girlfriend")
B♭5 ("Art of Melancholy", "Casta Diva" live Popstar to Operastar, "Dancing Madly Sideways", "Digital Age", "Electric Moon", "Hey Maestro", "Jewel", "Love Side", "My Friend Misery", "Paradise", "Playing Me For A Fool", "Scared Silent", "Short, Sharp, Shot", "Singin' the Blues", "Un bel dì vedremo" live Popstar to Operastar, "Where Do I Go")
A5 ("Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "All My Love", "Casta Diva" live Popstar to Operastar, "Catwoman", "The Core" live Hyde Park 2018, "Crucify Me", "Cry" live San Francisco 2008, "Emotional Thing", "Flower", "Freedom", "Gasoline", "Girl on Instagram", "Glad to Be Me", "Happiness", "Hold to Your Money", "Home", "Hot Love" live Washington D.C. 1992, "I Am", "I Believe", "I Hate You Now...", "I Want to Take You Higher", "I Wish You Love", "I'm No Angel", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Kidd", "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" live Oklahoma Hall of Fame 2006, "Lighthouse", "Love and Destruction", "Love Yourself", "Mein Herr Marquis" live Popstar to Operastar, "Moonchild", "Mystery to Me", "O Holy Night", "Out of My Mind", "Queen of the Night" live Popstar to Operastar, "Perfect World", "Pill For Me", "Prima Donna", "Rock of Ages", "Run Silent", "Sacred Heart", "Sign", "Skin I'm In" live 2010, "Teach Me to Be Your Woman" live Miami 1975, "To You", "When She Finds You", "You Don't Tell Me Everything", "You're All I Need to Get By" live)
G♯5 ("Alien 2 Me", "Boxes", "Break the Chain", "Closer", "Goodbye Cruel World", "Heaven is in Your Arms", "Help Me!", "Kidd", "Lay Down Sally" Marcy Levy Band version, "Paint You a Picture", "A Piece of Heaven", "Where Do I Go", "You Want It All")
G5 ("Are We in Love Yet", "C U Next Tuesday", "Closer", "Cool People", "Cry" live San Francisco 2008, "Digital Age", "The Dreamers", "Fantasy", "Find the Good" live London 2013, "First Invasion", "Goddess in Despair" rehearsal 2013, "Golden Door", "Good Girl Down", "Happy Holiday!", "Hold to Your Money", "I Adore You" live 2001, "I Don't Care", "I Just Wanna Feel Good", "I Love Myself", "If", "Innocent Times", "Jewel", "The Key" live York 2013, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" live Oklahoma Hall of Fame 2006, "Life Is on the Line", "Love Side", "Mein Herr Marquis" live Popstar to Operastar, "My 16th Apology", "My Weekend", "O Holy Night", "Out of My Mind", "Perfect World", "Prima Donna", "Rock of Ages", "Run Silent" single version, "The Same Father", "Save Me" live San Francisco 2008, "Serious" live London 2013, "Shadow", "Short, Sharp, Shot", "Singin' the Blues", "Skin I'm In" live 2010, "So I Wrote You a Song", "Somebody's Mother", "Sunday", "The Trouble With Andre", "Twist the Knife", "U n Me", "Ugly Man Blues", "Un bel dì vedremo" live Popstar to Operastar, "The Upside of Bein' Down...", "Waiting", "You Knew What You Were Doing", "You Made Me Come to This", "You Better Be Good", "You Own the Moon")
F♯5 ("Ave Maria", "Black", "Break My Heart (You Really)", "England Calling", "Heroine", "I Am", "I'm No Angel", "James Brown", "Jellyroll Blues", "Lay Down Sally" Marcy Levy Band version, "Moonchild", "Mr Wrong", "O Chanukah", "Paint You a Picture", "Peace", "Sacred Heart", "Sign", "So I Wrote You a Song", "Un bel dì vedremo" live Popstar to Operastar, "Welcome to the Edge", "You Don't Tell Me Everything")
F5 ("Built for Speed", "Could You Be Loved", "Dancing Madly Sideways", "Fantasy", "I Wish You Love", "Layla" live Live Aid 1985, "Love, Faith and Hope", "My Friend Misery", "Not Just a Number", "The Nothing Life", "Paradise", "Prima Donna", "The Same Father", "Second Class Citizen", "Stay", "Sugar Daddy", "The Upside of Bein' Down...", "The Vehicle", "While We Are Sleeping", "You Made Me Come to This", "You Own the Moon", "You Want It All", "You're History")
E5 ("Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "All Is Forgiven", "All My Love", "All the Queen's Horses", "Boxes", "Boy", "Come and Follow Me", "Cry" live San Francisco 2008, "Emotional Thing", "Dirty Mind", "Drag Queen", "The Dreamers", "England Calling", "Find the Good" live London 2013, "First Invasion", "Fix Your Broken Heart", "Flower", "Glad to Be Me", "Gold", "Golden Door", "Good Girl Down", "Happy Holiday!", "Heaven is in Your Arms", "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)" live Washington D.C. 1992, "Hold to Your Money", "Home", "Hot Love" live Washington D.C. 1992, "Hungry", "I Believe", "I Hate You Now...", "I Wish You Love", "I'm No Angel", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Innocent Times", "James Brown", "The Key" live York 2013, "Lay Down Sally" Marcy Levy Band version, "Let Me Entertain You", "Lighthouse", "Love and Destruction", "Love Side", "Love X a Million" live York 2013, "Love Yourself", "Lust for Like", "Midnight Rider", "Monday Morning", "My Friend Misery", "My Weekend", "Mystery to Me", "Not Just a Number", "O Holy Night", "Peace", "A Piece of Heaven", "Pill For Me", "Red Rocket", "Rosalie", "Run Silent", "Save Me" live San Francisco 2008, "Serious" live London 2013, "Shadow", "She Loves You" live Holmdel 1985, "Skin I'm In" live 2010, "Sunday", "Tell Me", "Time to Say Goodbye", "To Die For", "To You", "Today's My Day", "The Trouble With Andre", "Turn Up the Volume on the Positive", "Ugly Man Blues", "Vicious Bitch", "Waiting", "Welcome to the Edge", "What's on the Inside" live Trannyshack 2007, "What's the Time in Tokyo", "When She Finds You", "Without Medication", "You Better Be Good", "You Knew What You Were Doing", "You're All I Need to Get By" live, "Your Girlfriend")
E♭5 ("Alien 2 Me", "Ave Maria", "Break My Heart (You Really)", "Built for Speed", "Close to Her", "Cotton Candy", "Electric Moon", "Forget About Me", "Goodbye Cruel World", "Happy Holiday!", "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)", "I Can't Wait That Long", "I Just Wanna Feel Good", "I Want to Take You Higher", "Scared Silent", "Twist the Knife", "Where Do I Go", "You Own the Moon")
D5 ("All Is Forgiven", "All the Queen's Horses", "Are We in Love Yet", "Art of Melancholy", "Asylum" live London 1999, "Black", "Black Sky", "Boy", "Built for Speed", "C U Next Tuesday", "California Christmas", "Casta Diva" live Popstar to Operastar, "Catwoman", "Cool People", "The Core", "Cotton Candy", "Could You Be Loved", "Crucify Me", "Dancing Madly Sideways", "Detroit", "Digital Age", "Earlier", "Elaine's Addiction", "Find the Good" live London 2013, "Fix Your Broken Heart", "Gasoline", "Girl on Instagram", "Goddess in Despair" rehearsal 2013, "Happiness", "Heaven is in Your Arms", "Help Me!", "Hey Maestro", "Hornet's Nest", "I Adore You" live 2001, "I Don't Care", "I Hate You Now...", "If", "Innocent Times", "It's Still Christmas", "Jewel", "Let Me Entertain You", "Love X a Million" live York 2013, "Love Yourself", "Love, Faith and Hope", "Lust for Like", "Madison's Light", "Midnight Rider", "Millie and Billie", "Miss Anne Throp", "My 16th Apology", "The Nothing Life", "O Chanukah", "Our Love Can Handle It", "Out of My Mind", "Playing Me For A Fool", "Queen of the Night" live Popstar to Operastar, "Remember My Name", "Rock of Ages", "Run Silent", "Sacred Heart", "Second Class Citizen", "Short, Sharp, Shot", "Silent Night", "Singin' the Blues", "Somebody's Mother", "The Suckers and the Sage", "Sugar Daddy", "Tangled in Love", "Teach Me to Be Your Woman" live Miami 1975, "Tell Me", "Time to Say Goodbye", "Today's My Day", "The Trouble With Andre", "U n Me", "Ugly Man Blues", "The Upside of Bein' Down...", "The Vehicle", "Welcome to the Edge", "What's on the Inside" live Trannyshack 2007, "While We Are Sleeping", "Without Medication", "You Don't Tell Me Everything", "You Knew What You Were Doing", "You Made Me Come to This")
C♯5 ("Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "Alien 2 Me", "All My Love", "Art of Melancholy", "Break the Chain", "Call Me Sunshine", "Closer", "The Core", "Cry" live San Francisco 2008, "Drag Queen", "The Dreamers", "England Calling", "Flower", "Glad to Be Me", "Hello (Turn Your Radio On)", "Help Me!", "Heroine", "Hot Love" live Washington D.C. 1992, "If You Could Read My Mind", "James Brown", "Jellyroll Blues", "Lay Down Sally", "Madison's Light", "Hungry", "Mr Wrong", "O Chanukah", "Paint You a Picture", "Peace", "A Piece of Heaven", "Rosalie", "To Die For", "To You", "Where Do I Go", "You Want It All", "You're All I Need to Get By" live)
C5 ("All Is Forgiven", "Black Sky", "California Christmas", "Close to Her", "Come and Follow Me", "Dirty Mind", "Emotional Thing", "Fantasy", "First Invasion", "Forget About Me", "Freedom", "Girl on Instagram", "Gold", "Golden Door", "Goodbye Cruel World", "Happiness", "Hornet's Nest", "I Adore You" live 2001, "I Believe", "I Can't Wait That Long", "I Just Wanna Feel Good", "I Love Myself", "I Want to Take You Higher", "If", "It's Still Christmas", "Jellyroll Blues", "Life Is on the Line", "Lighthouse", "Love and Destruction", "Miss Anne Throp", "My Weekend", "Mystery to Me", "O Holy Night", "Our Love Can Handle It", "Perfect World", "Pill For Me", "Prima Donna", "Primitive Love", "Run Silent", "Scared Silent", "Second Class Citizen", "Serious" live London 2013, "She Loves You" live Holmdel 1985, "Silent Night", "Skin I'm In" live 2010, "Somebody to Love", "Stay", "Sugar Daddy", "What's the Time in Tokyo", "Wonderful Tonight", "Yell Cut", "You Better Be Good", "You Own the Moon")

Significant Low Notes:
B3 ("Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "Asylum" live London 1999, "Boy", "Catwoman", "The Core", "Detroit", "Earlier", "England Calling", "First Invasion", "Gasoline", "Happy Holiday!", "I Don't Care", "If", "The Key" live York 2013, "Kidd", "Let Me Entertain You", "Love X a Million" live York 2013, "Millie and Billie", "O Chanukah", "O Holy Night", "Paint You a Picture", "Peace", "Prima Donna", "Promises", "Red Rocket", "Sacred Heart", "Sign", "Tell Me", "Time to Say Goodbye", "To You", "We've Been Told (Jesus Coming Soon)", "What's the Time in Tokyo", "Without Medication", "Fantasy", "Wonderful Tonight")
B♭3 ("Built for Speed", "California Christmas", "Dancing Madly Sideways", "Goodbye Cruel World", "Life Is on the Line", "Love, Faith and Hope", "Our Love Can Handle It", "Paradise", "Singin' the Blues", "Twist the Knife", "U n Me", "Welcome to the Edge", "Yell Cut", "You Made Me Come to This", "You Own the Moon")
A3 ("All My Love", "Are We in Love Yet", "Art of Melancholy", "Black", "Call Me Sunshine", "Cool People", "Crucify Me", "Cry" live San Francisco 2008, "The Dreamers", "Elaine's Addiction", "First Invasion", "Gasoline", "Glad to Be Me", "Goddess in Despair" rehearsal 2013, "Gold", "Golden Door", "Happiness", "I Am", "I Love Myself", "I Wish You Love", "Jellyroll Blues", "Lay Down Sally" Marcy Levy Band version, "Madison's Light", "Miss Anne Throp", "Mr Wrong", "My 16th Apology", "My Weekend", "Mystery to Me", "Not Just a Number", "The Nothing Life", "Pill For Me", "Prima Donna" Jewel: The Original Demo Recordings version, "Rock of Ages", "Scared Silent", "Second Class Citizen", "Serious" live London 2013, "Silent Night", "The Suckers and the Sage", "Sugar Daddy", "Teach Me to Be Your Woman" live Miami 1975, "To Die For", "To You", "Today's My Day", "Turn Up the Volume on the Positive", "The Upside of Bein' Down...", "The Vehicle", "Vicious Bitch", "Welcome to the Edge", "What's on the Inside" live Trannyshack 2007, "While We Are Sleeping", "You Don't Tell Me Everything", "You're All I Need to Get By" live)
G♯3 ("Alien 2 Me", "Boxes", "Closer", "Dancing Madly Sideways", "Emotional Thing", "Flower", "Good Girl Down", "Heroine", "James Brown", "Monday Morning", "Paradise", "Peace", "Stay", "Tell Me", "Ugly Man Blues", "You Don't Tell Me Everything" Jewel: The Original Demo Recordings version, "You Want It All")
G3 ("All Is Forgiven", "Black Sky", "Could You Be Loved", "Detroit", "Digital Age", "Elaine's Addiction", "Find the Good" live London 2013, "Fix Your Broken Heart", "Forget About Me", "Girl on Instagram", "Goddess in Despair" rehearsal 2013, "Gold", "Happiness", "Heaven is in Your Arms", "I Adore You" live 2001, "I Believe", "I Love Myself", "I Want to Take You Higher", "I Wish You Love", "It's Still Christmas", "I'm No Angel", "If", "Jewel", "Let Me Entertain You", "Lighthouse", "Love Side", "Love X a Million" live York 2013, "Love Yourself", "Miss Anne Throp", "Out of My Mind", "Perfect World", "Playing Me For A Fool", "Remember My Name", "Run Silent", "The Same Father", "Scared Silent", "Shadow", "She Loves You" live Holmdel 1985, "Singin' the Blues", "Silent Night", "Skin I'm In" live 2010, "Somebody to Love", "Somebody's Mother", "The Suckers and the Sage", "Sunday", "Waiting", "What's the Time in Tokyo", "While We Are Sleeping", "Without Medication", "You Better Be Good", "You Knew What You Were Doing", "You Own the Moon", "You're All I Need to Get By" live, "You're History", "Your Girlfriend")
F♯3 ("Alien 2 Me", "Asylum" live London 1999, "Call Me Sunshine", "Cool People", "Dirty Mind" single version, "Drag Queen", "Earlier", "Hey Maestro", "Home", "I Am", "James Brown", "Lookin' for Love", "Lust for Like", "Mr Wrong", "O Chanukah", "Sign", "Today's My Day")
F3 ("Built for Speed", "California Christmas", "Cotton Candy", "Dancing Madly Sideways", "Digital Age", "Hornet's Nest", "I Adore You" live 2001, "Jewel", "Love, Faith and Hope", "Mystery to Me", "Our Love Can Handle It", "Playing Me For A Fool", "Stay", "Sunday", "U n Me")
E3 ("Boy", "Break the Chain", "Closer", "Cool People", "Crucify Me", "Detroit", "Drag Queen", "The Dreamers", "Elaine's Addiction", "Find the Good" live London 2013, "Flower", "Girl on Instagram", "Gold", "Golden Door", "Happiness", "Home", "I Believe", "I Hate You Now…", "I'm No Angel", "James Brown", "Lay Down Sally" Marcy Levy Band version, "Love and Destruction", "Love Yourself", "Lust for Like", "Madison's Light", "Miss Anne Throp", "Monday Morning", "My Weekend", "Not Just a Number", "Peace", "Perfect World", "Pill For Me", "Shadow", "Somebody's Mother", "Stay" live London 2013, "To Die For", "Turn Up the Volume on the Positive", "Ugly Man Blues", "Vicious Bitch", "Waiting", "What's on the Inside" live Trannyshack 2007, "You Better Be Good", "You Knew What You Were Doing", "Your Girlfriend")
E♭3 ("Cotton Candy")
D3 ("Black", "Boy", "Detroit" Jewel: The Original Demo Recordings version, "Good Girl Down", "Hey Maestro", "Hornet's Nest", "It's Still Christmas", "Love and Destruction", "Lust for Like", "Out of My Mind", "Playing Me For A Fool", "Run Silent", "The Same Father", "Sunday", "Without Medication")
C♯3 ("I Want to Take You Higher", "You Don't Tell Me Everything" Jewel: The Original Demo Recordings version)
C3 ("Vicious Bitch")
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• Blue marks high falsetto or whistle register notes.
• Bold marks notes or passages that are particularly outstanding (relative to the singer).
• Italics mark non-melodic notes.
• Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.

An American singer-songwriter with surprisingly extensive credentials, Marcella Detroit's musical career didn't actually flourish until later than most. Though initially a backing singer for the likes of Bob Seger and Eric Clapton, it was her stint in the pop rock duo Shakespears Sister that truly brought her the most success, as the unusual combination of Marcella's light soprano voice against fellow member Siobhan Fahey's contralto saw both members showcase the strengths of the higher and lower ends of their respective voices. Though she has somewhat faded into obscurity since then, she is still remembered today for her powerful, impassioned vocal performances.

Marcella's voice is an astonishingly versatile one, capable of complex, multi-octave melismatic runs and seamless chest voice to falsetto transitions. Though she was often relegated to harmonies - at which she excelled - Marcella's solo spots in Shakespears Sister songs showcased her voice as light and angelic, a sharp juxtaposition to her counterpart Siobhan. Her lower register was never really fully explored - especially in her earlier career - though that's only because her upper register is so sublime. Her fifth octave belting is powerful yet clean, and her distinctive falsetto register is remarkably flexible, extending comfortably into the sixth octave. Remarkably consistent over her lengthy career (she's in her sixties now and she still sings "Stay" in the same key as she did in the '90s), Marcella's voice is one of incredible talent and finesse, yet one with enough quirk and charm to really draw you in.

SPOILER: Click to show

{A Few Examples of Her Voice}
The only song in Shakespears Sister's discography where Marcella has the lead, but also her strongest vocal performance. Killer highs here.


Can you believe this was recorded by a woman in her sixties?


Example of what she was like live - pretty decent!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable Notes}
A6 ("Miss Anne Thrope"^[1])
G6 ("Twist the Knife"^[1][2], "You Made Me Come to This"^[1])
F♯6 ("Catwoman"^[1][2])
D6 ("Lay Down Sally" Marcy Levy Band version^[1])
C6 ("I Want to Take You Higher"^[1], "Turn Up the Volume on the Positive"^[2])
B5 ("Miss Anne Throp"^[1])
C3 ("Playing Me For A Fool"^[3])
...................................................................
1. Questionable non-melodic notes (screams, vocal slides, etc.).
2. Questionable identity.
3. Questionable quality.
...................................................................
Questionable notes are any notes of questionable significance. In short, this spoiler acknowledges notes that I am aware exist, but do not want to contribute to the singer's range. These involve (but are not limited to) notes of questionable identity, notes of questionable legitimacy and notes of significantly poor quality.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Notewatching Credits & Other Info}
Alex61
Solo:
Marcella (1982): G3 – G5 – D6^[1]
Jewel (1994): C♯3 – B♭5 – F6
Feeler (1996): D3 – B5 – F6
Dancing Madly Sideways (2001): D3 – B5 – E6
The Vehicle (2013): E3 – G5 – C6^[2]
For the Holidays (2013): D3 – B5 – D6
Grey Matterz (2015): E3 – A5 – D6
Gold (2021): C3 – B5 – D6

Shakespears Sister:
Sacred Heart (1989): D3 – B5 – B♭6
Hormonally Yours (1992): F3 – C6 – F6

Marcy Levy Band:
The Upside of Being Down (2006): E3 – B♭5 – E♭6

Unavailable Albums:
Ballerina (1985)
Demoz (1999)
Made in Detroit (2021)
...................................................................
1. Under the name Marcy Levy; only tracks 1–3, 5 and 8–10 available.
2. Only tracks 3 and 9 available; alternative versions available for tracks 1, 2, 5, 8 and 12.
...................................................................
Unspecified live performances can be found here.

Notewatching of other performances not listed above done by Alex61.

[darby]

Wait her voice is so cool

[Baronessa]

Climb up to D6 here and F5s at earlier points in the song.

[glo]

There is a C3 here: youtu.be/KdhzeQ_Cj40 (around 1:04)

Still listening, I’ve now heard B2-E5 here