Erykah Badu (4,547 views)

[Alex61]

Erica Abi Wright
Vocal Range: B♭2 – E♭6

Significant High Notes:
E♭6 ("Other Side of the Game" live VH1 Soul Stage)
D6 ("Stay" live Live)
C♯6 ("Ain't No Mistaken (Danger Part II)", "The Healer", "Other Side of the Game" live Nove Jazz Festival 2011)
C6 ("The Cell")
B5 ("Danger", "Other Side of the Game" live VH1 Soul Stage)
B♭5 ("Bandy Bandy", "The Cell", "Humble Mumble", "That Hump")
A5 ("Ain't No Mistaken (Danger Part II)", "Fly Away", "Funky Nassau", "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long", "Green Eyes", "Hollywood", "Kiss Me on My Neck (Hesi)")
G♯5 ("Bandy Bandy", "Caint Use My Phone (Suite)", "Hollywood", "Humble Mumble", "Other Side of the Game" live MTV Unplugged, "Penitentiary Philosophy")
G5 ("Stay" live Live, "Telephone", "WiFi")
F♯5 ("4 Leaf Clover", "Ain't No Mistaken (Danger Part II)", "All Night Long", "Boogie Nights/All Night" live Live, "Fly Away", "Love", "Love of My Life Worldwide", "Out My Mind, Just in Time", "Twinkle", "Vibrate On")
F5 ("Love", "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)", "Me", "Time's a Wastin'", "Today (Earth Song)", "Ye Yo" live Live)
E5 ("Appletree", "Be Thankful", "Boogie Nights/All Night" live Live, "Caint Use My Phone (Suite)", "Certainly", "Cure", "Fly Away", "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long", "Fall in Love (Your Funeral)", "Funky Nassau", "Green Eyes", "Hollywood", "In Love with You", "Kiss Me on My Neck (Hesi)", "Master Teacher Medley", "Me", "Out My Mind, Just in Time", "Penitentiary Philosophy", "Stay" live Live)
E♭5 ("Bag Lady", "Cel U Lar Device", "Cleva", "Danger", "Didn't Cha Know?", "Humble Mumble", "Jump Up in the Air (Stay There)", "Medley: What's Yo Phone Number/Telephone (Ghost of Screw Mix)", "My Life", "Telephone", "That Hump", "Today (Earth Song)", "Umm Hmm", "Vibrate On", "WiFi", "Window Seat", "Ye Yo" live Live)
D5 ("All Night Long", "Bump It", "Certainly", "Come Close Remix (Closer)", "Heaven for the Sinner", "Hello", "Hey Shooter", "I Want You", "The Light" J Dilla remix, "Love of My Life Worldwide", "My People", "No Love", "No More Trouble" live One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute 1999, "Soldier", "Time's a Wastin'", "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)", "Twinkle")
C♯5 ("...& On", "4 Leaf Clover", "Ain't No Mistaken (Danger Part II)", "Boogie Nights/All Night" live Live, "Caint Use My Phone (Suite)", "Cleva", "Danger", "Fall in Love (Your Funeral)", "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long", "Green Eyes", "The Healer", "Hold On", "Hollywood", "Incense", "Jump Up in the Air (Stay There)", "Master Teacher Medley", "Next Lifetime", "One", "Other Side of the Game", "Out My Mind, Just in Time", "Penitentiary Philosophy", "Silly", "Sometimes…", "Sweet Baby", "Time's a Wastin'", "Vibrate On", "Window Seat", "Ye Yo" live Live)
C5 ("A Child with the Blues", "A.D. 2000", "Back in the Day (Puff)", "Bag Lady", "Booty", "The Cell", "Come Close Remix (Closer)", "Drama", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Fly Away", "The Grind", "Heaven for the Sinner", "I Want You", "In Love with You", "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)", "No More Trouble" live One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute 1999, "Orange Moon", "Plenty", "Poetry", "Searching" live Live, "Soldier", "That Hump", "Today (Earth Song)", Tyrone", "Umm Hmm", "WiFi")
B4 ("4 Leaf Clover", "All Night Long", "Appletree", "The Blast" remix, "Boogie Nights/All Night" live Live, "Cel U Lar Device", "Certainly", "Funky Nassau", "Get Live", "The Grind", "The Heart Gently Weeps", "Hello", "Hey Shooter", "Honey", "I C U (Doin' It)", "In Love with You", "Kiss Me on My Neck (Hesi)", "Love of My Life Worldwide", "Master Teacher Medley", "Me", "No Love", "On & On", "Orange Moon", "Stay" live Live", "Treehome95", "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)", "Twinkle", "Your Precious Love")

Significant Low Notes:
B♭3 ("...& On", "Afro Blue", "Agitation", "Back in the Day (Puff)", "Caint Use My Phone (Suite)", "Cleva", "Didn't Cha Know?", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Green Eyes", "Hey Sugah", "Humble Mumble", "I'll Call U Back", "Love", "Next Lifetime", "Out My Mind, Just in Time", "Plenty", "Rimshot (Intro)", "Rimshot (Outro)", "See Thru to U", "Sometimes (Mix #9)", "Telephone", "Think Twice", "U Don't Have to Call", "WiFi", "Window Seat", "Woo", "World Keeps Turnin' (Outro)", "You Loving Me (Session)")
A3 ("20 Feet Tall", "All Night Long", "Aquarius", "The Blast" remix, "Cel U Lar Device", "Dam(n)", "Funky Nassau", "Hello", "Hi", "Honey", "I Want You", "In Love with You", "Love of My Life Worldwide", "My People", "On & On", "Twinkle")
G♯3 ("Bag Lady", "Bandy Bandy", "Caint Use My Phone (Suite)", "Certainly", "Certainly (Flipped It)", "Fly Away", "Get Live", "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long", "The Healer", "Hollywood", "Incense", "Maiysha (So Long)", "Master Teacher Medley", "Maybach Music III", "Mr. Telephone Man", "My Life", "One", "Real Thing", "See Thru to U", "Sometimes (Mix #9)", "Sometimes…", "Southern Gul", "Time's a Wastin'", "Treehome95", "Tyrone", "U Don't Have to Call", "Umm Hmm", "Vibrate On", "You Loving Me (Session)")
G3 ("A Child with the Blues", "A.D. 2000", "Afro Blue", "Be Thankful", "Booty", "Dirty", "Drama", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Green Eyes", "The Heart Gently Weeps", "Hey Shooter", "I Want You", "The Light" J Dilla remix, "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)", "Maiysha (So Long)", "Me", "No Love", "No More Trouble" live One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute 1999, "On & On", "Orange Moon", "Phone Down", "Poetry", "Rememory", "Searching" live Live, "Stay" live Live, "Telephone", "That Heat", "Today (Earth Song)", "Treehome95", "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)")
F♯3 ("4 Leaf Clover", "All Night Long", "Cleva", "Danger", "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long", "The Healer", "Hello", "Hollywood", "Honey", "Medley: What's Yo Phone Number/Telephone (Ghost of Screw Mix)", "Next Lifetime", "Other Side of the Game", "Out My Mind, Just in Time", "Southern Gul", "That Hump", "Time's a Wastin'", "Vibrate On", "World Keeps Turnin' (Intro)", "World Keeps Turnin' (Outro)")
F3 ("Bump It", "Cel U Lar Device", "Certainly (Flipped It)", "Dirty", "Heaven for the Sinner", "The Light" J Dilla remix, "Love", "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)", "My Life", "No Love", "Out My Mind, Just in Time", "Orange Moon", "Poetry", "Real Thing", "Silly", "Soldier", "Sometimes…", "Telephone", "That Heat", "That Hump", "Today (Earth Song)", "Tyrone" live Live, "Umm Hmm", "Window Seat", "Woo", "Ye Yo" live Live, "Your Precious Love")
E3 ("4 Leaf Clover", "A.D. 2000", "Afro (Freestyle Skit)", "Appletree", "Be Thankful", "The Cell", "Drama", "Drivin Round", "Fall in Love (Your Funeral)", "Me", "I C U (Doin' It)", "In Love with You", "Kiss Me on My Neck (Hesi)", "Master Teacher Medley", "No More Trouble" live One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute 1999, "Penitentiary Philosophy", "Phone Down", "Sometimes…")
E♭3 ("...& On", "Agitation", "Bandy Bandy", "Certainly", "Certainly (Flipped It)", "Jump Up in the Air (Stay There)", "Maybach Music III", "Mr. Telephone Man", "On & On", "Umm Hmm", "Vibrate On", "World Keeps Turnin' (Intro)", "World Keeps Turnin' (Outro)")
D3 ("Appletree", "Cel U Lar Device", "Heaven for the Sinner", "Hey Shooter", "Honey", "I Want You", "Love of My Life Worldwide", "Phone Down", "Rememory", "Stay" live Live)
C♯3 ("...& On", "Afro (Freestyle Skit)", "Ain't No Mistaken (Danger Part II)", "Amerykahn Promise", "Appletree", "Danger", "Out My Mind, Just in Time", "Penitentiary Philosophy", "Window Seat", "Woo")
C3 ("Afro Blue", "Booty", "Bump It", "The Cell", "Certainly (Flipped It)", "That Heat", "Think Twice")
B2 ("Bump It", "Danger", "Hey Shooter")
B♭2 ("Afro Blue")
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• 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.

Erykah Badu is a neo soul singer, best famed for albums like Baduizm and singles "Bag Lady" and "Window Seat". Initially coming onto the music scene in 1997, Erykah immediately stood out with hits like "Other Side of the Game" and "Tyrone", with her particular vocal phrasing drawing comparison to Billie Holiday. Since then, Erykah has continually expanded on her artistic roots, introducing more complex harmonies and more provocative, lyric-driven songs to her albums, with recent hit "Window Seat" being highly controversial. A pioneer of neo soul music, Erykah stands out among her contemporaries because of her deeper lyrical messages and versatile voice.

Erykah's voice is unusual, having a slightly nasal and occasionally shrill quality to it, while still being exceptionally rich in its lower register. A low(ish) soprano, Erykah has a naturally light tone and is able to sing comfortably surprisingly high, using head voice mixes to "belt" into the sixth octave in live performances ("Other Side of the Game", "Stay"). Erykah is no less comfortable singing low notes than she is singing high ones, frequently dipping down into the lower third octave with surprising ease ("Appletree", "Penitentiary Philosophy"). Blessed with a wide-ranging and highly skilled voice, Erykah remains one of the most versatile and talented vocalists in soul music.

SPOILER: Click to show

{A Few Examples of Her Voice}
Insane live performance.


Arguably her best studio vocal performance - super smooth low notes.


Erykah got soul.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable Notes}
E6 ("Penitentiary Philosophy"^[1])
A5 ("Amerykahn Promise"^[2], "Bump It"^[2])
E♭3 ("Bag Lady"^[2])
C3 ("Cel U Lar Device"^[3])
B2 ("Love of My Life Worldwide"^[3])
B♭2 ("Danger"^[3], "Mr. Telephone Man"^[3])
A2 ("Dial'Afreaq"^[3])
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1. Questionable control.
2. Questionable harmonies.
3. Questionable low notes (fryish, etc.)
...................................................................
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:
Baduizm (1997): C3 – F♯5
Mama's Gun (2000): C3 – A5
Worldwide Underground (2003): B2 – B5
New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (2008): C3 – C♯6
New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) (2010): C♯3 – A5
But You Caint Use My Phone (2015): D3 – E♭5^[1]
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1. Mixtape albums.
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Notewatching of other performances not listed above done by Alex61.

[DaydreamingBaritone]

E♭6(s) in live performances of "That Hump" and "Tyrone" respectively:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=60734m_H_Ys&t=1m53s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=twa1Cmx5J5w&t=10m19s

F♯5 and B♭5 in "Revenge of Tyrone" LOL on Wild 'N Out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ONwUknLO8&t=1m50s

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable Notes...?}
Your thoughts on this B2 in "Out My Mind, Just In Time"...?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j4qvVyRgRk&t=8m48s

[rebaru]

great finds DANG

[Alex61]

DaydreamingBaritone I saw this a while ago but didn't update the thread, must've forgotten. As a result, you're more than free to take ownership of this thread if you wish :P

[DaydreamingBaritone]

Alex61 Thank you for the offer but I think I'll stay happily a note-watcher for now; although I've been around for a bit, I must admit that I still find the whole process of thread-making pretty daunting (especially for seasoned singers) therefore I don't think I'm up to that challenge yet. 😅

Nonetheless, I'm always eager to look out for her live shows and new materials to find if there's anything noteworthy to share. 👍🏻

[DaydreamingBaritone]

... I don't know what to say about this video (or her marketing ideas tbh). 😂 Regardless of that, she did hit multiple B2s and a brief A2 here, so I guess her range needs an update.

Link:

http://instagram.com/p/CDXKlRTpS3B