Post by galaxyseal on Nov 2, 2019 18:00:04 GMT
Joy Elizabeth Williams
Vocal Type: Soprano
Vocal Range: D3 - C6
Associated Acts: The Civil Wars (2009 - 2014), Solo (2001 - present)
{Background & Vocal Summary:}Joy Elizabeth Williams is an American singer-songwriter most known for being part of The Civil Wars along with John Paul White from 2009 to 2014 and being famous for songs such as "Safe & Sound" with Taylor Swift, "Poison & Wine", "Barton Hollow", etc. She signed to Reunion Records in 1999 and released her self titled debut album in 2001 titled "Joy Williams" with a Christian-influenced sound. She eventually released her second album "By Surprise" in 2002 and her third album "Genesis" in 2005 before leaving her label later that year saying that she was becoming less comfortable with the type of music she was creating. In 2009 she released an EP titled "One of Those Days", two joint EPs titled "Songs From This/Songs From That" and a Christmas EP titled "More Than I Asked For: Celebrating Christmas with Joy Williams". In 2010 she released another EP titled "We Mapped the World". She met John Paul White in 2008 and in 2009 they formed the duo "The Civil Wars". They released their debut album in 2011 titled "Barton Hollow" to positive reviews and the duo received three Grammy nominations for the record including "Best Folk Album" and "Best Country Duo/Group Performance" while they won two categories. In 2012 they released a song for the soundtrack of "The Hunger Games" with Taylor Swift titled "Safe & Sound". They released their self-titled album in 2013 before unfortunately breaking up in 2014. Since then, Joy released an album titled "Venus" in 2015, sung "Misery Chain" with Chris Cornell for the soundtrack of "12 Years a Slave", etc. and is likely working on her next album.
Joy's vocals could easily confuse a person as her voice could be described as being a sort of low-ish soprano. In her early career career, her voice was much brighter and youthful, reaching into the mid-fifth octave frequently while still reaching into her lower extremes when necessary. Nowadays her voice has darkened slightly and matured a fair bit. Joy has unfortunately lost some of the comfort in her upper range choosing to not venture too often above the C5/D5 area although her lows are still as strong as ever. Throughout her entire career Joy has always possessed a very strong, comfortable and pleasant lower range ("The Love of the Lord Endures", "Hush", "Hate to See Your Heart Break") which is impressive for a soprano. In her early career, Joy had strong belting being able to hit fifth octave notes with ease and strength ("I Believe in You", "No Less") although over time as her voice matured her comfort has lessened and she tends to only reach her upper extremes sparingly. Her falsetto is sweet and soft ("Speaking a Dead Language", "Touch of Faith", "Venus") and can reach into the sixth octave quite easily despite hardly showing it. Overall she is a very capable vocalist who likes to stay within her limits.
Joy's vocals could easily confuse a person as her voice could be described as being a sort of low-ish soprano. In her early career career, her voice was much brighter and youthful, reaching into the mid-fifth octave frequently while still reaching into her lower extremes when necessary. Nowadays her voice has darkened slightly and matured a fair bit. Joy has unfortunately lost some of the comfort in her upper range choosing to not venture too often above the C5/D5 area although her lows are still as strong as ever. Throughout her entire career Joy has always possessed a very strong, comfortable and pleasant lower range ("The Love of the Lord Endures", "Hush", "Hate to See Your Heart Break") which is impressive for a soprano. In her early career, Joy had strong belting being able to hit fifth octave notes with ease and strength ("I Believe in You", "No Less") although over time as her voice matured her comfort has lessened and she tends to only reach her upper extremes sparingly. Her falsetto is sweet and soft ("Speaking a Dead Language", "Touch of Faith", "Venus") and can reach into the sixth octave quite easily despite hardly showing it. Overall she is a very capable vocalist who likes to stay within her limits.
{Questionable Notes:}C♯3 ("Beautiful Somehow")
B2 ("I Want You Back")
Any notes like the G♯5 in "We Are" are not going to count towards her range as they are uncontrolled, incredibly brief, weak and a poor example of her voice.
B2 ("I Want You Back")
Any notes like the G♯5 in "We Are" are not going to count towards her range as they are uncontrolled, incredibly brief, weak and a poor example of her voice.
Significant High Notes:
C6 ("Touch of Faith")
G5 ("Safe & Sound", "Speaking a Dead Language", "Touch of Faith", "You're My Favorite")
F♯5 ("Lover, Find Your Cover", "No Less", "Safe & Sound", "Serious", "Up")
F5 ("Any More Sure", "God Only Knows", "I Believe in You", "I Had Me a Girl", "If You Wanna Go", "Surrender", "Unafraid")
E5 ("2000 Decembers Ago", "Doesn't Get Better Than This", "Every Day", "Fine Line", "Hands Over Our Eyes", "Hide", "Midnight Cry", "Safe & Sound", "Serious", "Stay", "Tightrope", "Tip of My Tongue", "Up Means Down", "You Are the Best", "You're My Favorite")
E♭5 ("Charmed Life", "God Only Knows", "Golden Thread", "Home", "I Believe in You", "If You Wanna Go", "Lover, Find Your Cover", "No Less", "Oh Henry", "Silence", "Sweet Love of Mine", "Touch of Faith", "Unafraid", "Up", "We Mapped the World", "Woman (Oh Mama)")
D5 ("2000 Decembers Ago", "Barton Hollow", "Beautiful Somehow", "Better Than I", "By Surprise", "Desperate", "Devil's Backbone", "Falling", "Fine Line", "From This Valley", "Here With Us", "Hide", "Home", "Hungry (Falling On My Knees)", "Hush", "I Believe in You", "I Hate It When We Fight", "I Wonder", "If I Didn't Know Better", "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart", "I've Got This Friend", "Lily Love", "Long Time Gone", "Love Played a Trick On Me", "Midnight Cry", "New Day", "One of Those Days", "Second Nature", "Stay", "Surrender", "The Love of the Lord Endures", "Tightrope", "Until the Levee", "Venus" acoustic version, "We", "Wish", "You're My Favorite")
C♯5 ("Beautiful Redemption", "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella", "Child of Eden", "Dust to Dust", "Every Moment", "God Only Knows", "Golden Thread", "If You Wanna Go", "Long Time Gone", "Love Played a Trick On Me", "Lover, Find Your Cover", "Misery Chain", "More Than I Asked For", "No Less", "One of Those Days", "Say Goodbye", "Serious", "Stay", "The Star Spangled Banner" live at Turner Field 2012, "Turnaround", "Up", "We Are", "We Mapped the World", "What Can I Do (But Love You)", "Woman (Oh Mama)")
C5 ("2000 Decembers Ago", "A Little Bit of Love", "A Million Miles To Go", "Any More Sure", "Barton Hollow", "Beautiful Redemption", "Before I Sleep", "Better Than I", "Billie Jean", "Birds of a Feather", "By Surprise", "Dance Me to the End of Love", "Desperate", "Devil's Backbone", "Disarm", "Every Day", "Falling", "Go", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Here With Us", "Hungry (Falling On My Knees)", "I Had Me a Girl", "I Wonder", "Kingdom Come", "Oh Henry", "Same Old Same Old", "Second Nature", "Silence", "Someone to Love You" acoustic version, "Sour Times", "Sunny Day", "Surrender", "Talking in Your Sleep", "Tell Mama", "The Look of Love", "The Love of the Lord Endures", "The Sound of Silence", "Tip of My Tongue", "To Whom It May Concern", "Turnaround", "Unafraid", "Up Means Down", "We Are", "What a Good Woman Does", "Woman of a City", "You Are My Sunshine", "You Are the Best", "You're My Favorite")
B4 ("20 Years", "Billie Jean", "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella", "C'est La Mort", "Charmed Life", "Child of Eden", "Dance Me to the End of Love", "D'Arline", "December Song", "Devil's Backbone", "Don't Let Me Down", "Eavesdrop", "Every Moment", "Forget Me Not", "Go", "Goodbye Girl", "Hands Over Our Eyes", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Hide", "Home", "How Deep the Father's Love For Us", "I Want You Back", "If I Didn't Know Better", "I'm in Love With You", "It's All Good", "I've Got This Friend", "Kingdom Come", "Lily Love", "Long Time Gone", "My Father's Father", "O Come O Come Emmanuel", "Ordinary World", "Say Goodbye", "Speaking a Dead Language", "Sweet Love of Mine", "Till Forever", "To Whom It May Concern", "Tracks in the Snow", "Until the Levee", "Up Means Down", "Venus" acoustic version, "We", "We Can Never Go Back" acoustic version, "We Mapped the World", "Welcome Home", "What Can I Do (But Love You)", "You Are My Sunshine", "You Loved Me")
B♭4 ("A Million Miles To Go", "Any More Sure", "Birds of a Feather", "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella", "Dust to Dust", "Finding North", "From This Valley", "Hate to See Your Heart Break", "Here With Us", "Lover, Find Your Cover", "Misery Chain", "More Than I Asked For", "Not Good Enough", "Oh Henry", "Poison & Wine", "Same Old Same Old", "Sour Times", "The One That Got Away", "The Star Spangled Banner" live at Turner Field 2012, "Touch of Faith", "Turnaround", "We Can Never Go Back" acoustic version, "Wish")
Significant Low Notes:
A3 ("20 Years", "2000 Decembers Ago", "Before I Sleep", "Billie Jean", "By Surprise", "C'est La Mort", "Child of Eden", "Dance Me to the End of Love", "December Song", "Devil's Backbone", "Do They See Jesus in Me?", "Every Day", "Falling", "Girl With The Red Balloon", "Hate to See Your Heart Break", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "How Deep the Father's Love For Us", "Hush", "I Believe in You", "I Hate It When We Fight", "I Want You Back", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "I'm in Love With You", "It's All Good", "I've Got This Friend", "Long Time Gone" Dustbowl version, "Love Played a Trick On Me", "Misery Chain", "Oh Henry", "One Day I Will", "One of Those Days", "Ordinary World", "Pressing Flowers", "Second Nature", "Serious", "Someone to Love You" Acoustic version, "Speaking a Dead Language", "Stay", "Sunny Day", "Talking in Your Sleep", "Tell Mama", "The Dying Kind", "The One That Got Away", "The Sound of Silence", "Tightrope", "Tip of My Tongue", "Tracks in the Snow", "Venus" acoustic version, "We", "What Can I Do (But Love You)", "Woman of a City", "You Are My Sunshine", "You're My Favorite")
G♯3 ("A Million Miles To Go", "Beautiful Redemption", "Beautiful Somehow", "Charmed Life", "Don't Let Me Down", "Dust to Dust", "Eavesdrop", "Finding North", "God Only Knows", "Golden Thread", "Goodbye Girl", "If You Wanna Go", "More Than I Asked For", "No Less", "Sacred Heart", "Till Forever", "The Look of Love", "Turnaround", "Unafraid", "We Are", "We Can Never Go Back" acoustic version, "We Mapped the World", "Welcome Home", "What Can I Do (But Love You)", "Woman (Oh Mama)")
G3 ("A Little Bit of Love", "Any More Sure", "Barton Hollow", "Better Than I", "Between the Bars", "Billie Jean", "By Surprise", "Desperate", "Do They See Jesus in Me?", "Doesn't Get Better Than This", "Every Day", "Fine Line", "From This Valley", "Girl With The Red Balloon", "Go", "Hands Over Our Eyes", "Hate to See Your Heart Break", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Here With Us", "Hide", "Home", "Hungry (Falling On My Knees)", "Hush", "I Heard Bells On Christmas Day", "I Wonder", "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart", "Kingdom Come", "New Day", "O Come O Come Emmanuel", "Ordinary World", "Poison & Wine", "Same Old Same Old", "Silence", "Someone to Love You" acoustic version, "Surrender", "Tell Mama", "The Love of the Lord Endures", "The Sound of Silence", "Until the Levee", "Up Means Down", "Venus" acoustic version, "We", "What a Good Woman Does", "When Creation Was Young", "Wish", "Woman of a City", "You Are the Best", "You Loved Me", "You're My Favorite")
F♯3 ("20 Years", "Charmed Life", "Don't Let Me Down", "Eavesdrop", "Every Moment", "Golden Thread", "Goodbye Girl", "If I Didn't Know Better", "I'm in Love With You", "It's All Good", "Kingdom Come", "Lily Love", "Love Played a Trick On Me", "Lover, Find Your Cover", "Marionette", "Not Good Enough", "O Come O Come Emmanuel", "One of Those Days", "Say Goodbye", "Serious", "Sweet Love of Mine", "The Dying Kind", "The Star Spangled Banner" live at Turner Field 2012, "Tracks in the Snow", "Up", "We Can Never Go Back" acoustic version)
F3 ("Barton Hollow", "Before I Sleep", "Desperate", "Dust to Dust", "Every Moment", "Finding North", "From This Valley", "God Only Knows", "Hush", "I Believe in You", "I Had Me a Girl", "I Heard Bells On Christmas Day", "I Wonder", "Misery Chain", "New Day", "Oh Henry", "Tell Mama", "The Love of the Lord Endures", "The One That Got Away", "Touch of Faith", "Unafraid", "When Creation Was Young", "Wish")
E3 ("A Little Bit of Love", "Beautiful Somehow", "Better Than I", "Dance Me to the End of Love", "Every Day", "Fine Line", "Girl With The Red Balloon", "Hide", "Home", "I Hate It When We Fight", "I Heard Bells On Christmas Day", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart", "Lily Love", "Not Good Enough", "One Day I Will", "Pressing Flowers", "Sacred Heart", "Speaking a Dead Language", "Stay", "Sweet Love of Mine", "The Sound of Silence", "Tightrope", "Until the Levee", "What a Good Woman Does", "Woman of a City", "You Loved Me")
E♭3 ("No Less", "Sweet Love of Mine", "The Love of the Lord Endures", "Touch of Faith", "Up", "We Are")
D3 ("Before I Sleep", "Fine Line", "Hate to See Your Heart Break", "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart", "One Day I Will", "Speaking a Dead Language", "Until the Levee", "You Loved Me")
.............................................................................................
Bold marks notes that are particularly impressive (for the singer's standards).
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Underlines mark notes that are part of background vocals or harmonies.
{Album Ranges:}Solo:
Joy Williams (2001): E♭3 - C6
By Surprise (2002): E♭3 - F5
Genesis (2005): E3 - F5
One Of Those Days (2009): D3 - E♭5
Songs From This/Songs From That (2009): D3 - G5
We Mapped The World (2010): E3 - F♯5
Venus (2015): D3 - E♭5
The Civil Wars:
Barton Hollow (2011): E3 - D5
The Civil Wars (2013): E3 - F5
Joy Williams (2001): E♭3 - C6
By Surprise (2002): E♭3 - F5
Genesis (2005): E3 - F5
One Of Those Days (2009): D3 - E♭5
Songs From This/Songs From That (2009): D3 - G5
We Mapped The World (2010): E3 - F♯5
Venus (2015): D3 - E♭5
The Civil Wars:
Barton Hollow (2011): E3 - D5
The Civil Wars (2013): E3 - F5
{Best Vocal Performances:}1. I Believe in You
2. Stay
3. Touch of Faith
4. No Less
5. Hate to See Your Heart Break
6. Barton Hollow
7. The Love of the Lord Endures
8. If I Didn't Know Better
9. What a Good Woman Does
10. If You Wanna Go
2. Stay
3. Touch of Faith
4. No Less
5. Hate to See Your Heart Break
6. Barton Hollow
7. The Love of the Lord Endures
8. If I Didn't Know Better
9. What a Good Woman Does
10. If You Wanna Go