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Comment by amelius | Hacker News Reader

I have yet to see a real performance where this technique is used artistically and in a way that sounds pleasant.

Created an account just to link you a few: 1. The HU - Yuve Yuve Yu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4xZUr0BEfE) 2. Sowulo - Wolfwiga (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSITHrvAyTw) 3. Jim Cole & Spectral Voices - Noctilucent Clouds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1WHDiJuIx8)

Obviously "pleasant" is pretty subjective, but here's Huun-Huur-Tu performing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bDntRWfL70

Pleasantness is in the ear of the beholder, but I've always enjoyed listening to On Ensemble, where Shoji uses this technique in pieces like After Rain [1] and Yamasong [2]. Or if you're feeling funky, the remix [3].

[1]: https://onensemble.bandcamp.com/track/after-rain

[2]: https://onensemble.bandcamp.com/track/yamasong

[3]: https://onensemble.bandcamp.com/track/yamasong-campagna-remi...

Have you watched Ghengis Blues? That's actually the very first place I ever heard of Tuvan throat singing, which has a lot of polyphonic overtones going on.

The story is great, and the mix with blues is really interesting. The dude has the most thunderous voice I've ever heard. Subwoofer gold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_xlbCq0WTw

Definitely an interesting sound, but not my definition of singing. The term "polyphonic singing" makes me want to hear a single person sing in a way such that it sounds like two or more people singing in harmony.

I think some of Bobby McFerrin's work might be as close as you're going to get.

His live song Drive has 2 distinct types of overtone singing in there. Some people think he's a tad weird, but his skill is unmistakable once you get used to "do" being the primary lyric.

There is at least one person who does Amazing Grace with a moving "bass" line underneath. Most people just stick to the key note though, which in my mind is cheating since the whole song is basic pentatonic to begin with.

So I definitely agree that the level one might consider a solo song, with melody and changing chord progression and/or oblique harmony, sung by a single person in solo, is rather rare.

it's very brief, but she gets quite a reaction from the band at around 6:10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SJIgTLe0hc

I noticed David Lee Roth (Van Halen and solo) does exactly that polyphonic vocal riff in a number of songs.

His vocal track separated. Try around 3:25 or so: https://youtu.be/IArxakPsPE0

It's only 3:28 long. I think you meant 2:25 since he does a really good overtone at about 2:30. Thanks for this perfect example. Usually I'm the only one who knows wtf I'm talking about when I mention such obscure things.

Oops, yes...2:25.

You know this music isn't FOR you to consume and enjoy. It is a part of another culture.

Did you just assume OP’s culture?

Stating that overtone singing is not artistic is all you the information you need to infer where they come from. It shows a complete misunderstanding of where the technique comes from and the culture it belongs to. It's asinine to be annoyed that it isn't enjoyable.

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