This forever changed the worst thing about my voice (Stop sounding horrible)

#smashingpumpkins #rockstar #singer #sing #mixedvoice #screaming
@smashingpumpkins @TheGrungeScene @ThePunkRockMBA

The "N.O.S.E. Fix" or RULE:
Nasal
Opportunities to
Sound very
Excellent

Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins had the most off-putting vocal sound to my ears upon first listen. But it definitely grew on me...

I begin to notice all sorts of nuances that pointed to him being a much better vocalist than I initially gave him credit for. He moves the sound around his face like few other singers in the genre. This initially comes off as a very nasal sound. And... Well... It IS, but it's also a lot of other sounds that weave their way in and around his great melodic sense as a songwriter and frontman.

Join me for unpacking the masterful use of nasality and what it means for your vocal range, accessing distortion and general vocal wellbeing!

[christophernixonart]

I'm a huge fan of Billy and the Smashing Pumpkins, but I know so many people that won't listen to them because of his voice. I think he has a lot of character to his voice, and it really communicates the emotion of his music.

[TheeJordanRossi]

This made me think about how a song like Bullet With Butterfly Wings would sound with a more "polished" vocalist. The truth is, without Billy's idiosyncratic singing, it would sound like borderline post-grunge bubblegum and lose so much of what made it a timeless angst anthem. Billy's voice was a unique instrument that fit a unique band.

[creativeheadroom]

Billy Corgan's nasality is as razor sharp as the guitar tone he uses with Smashing Pumpkins. What he does fits the music so well. Great band, great musician!

[robertsteinberger]

I used to be a great singer back in 2020, then somehow (covid and life situation changes) I didn't sing at all for about a year, got sick and then I couldn't sing anymore for some time (nothing I did worked for some time, I think I just hadn't recovered yet). I've had the worst mental block since then, thinking I couldn't sing anymore. It slowly comes back, but somehow getting over this block is the hardest thing. Your videos help me get into a different mindset. Thank you.

[evandroid]

I love amazing voices like Freddie Mercury and Adam Lambert, but I also love "strange" voices like Brian Molko (Placebo) and Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins).

[khmer]

This single thing is THE REASON why vocalists like Brent Smith from Shinedown are so iconic. Their singing is just so rich and fun to listen to.

[Aburtov]

Another incredible analisys, I felt it short but so straight to the point. Thank you so much again for this one.

[justin]

Been watching you a few years, brother. I've commented before about how much you've helped just figuring my voice out. In my talking voice I have a fairly limited lower range/voice which, before this process, has not translated easily to the songs I like to listen to. But I love 90s grunge and nu-metal, it's what I grew up on, and I've found it's helped a lot with your videos and then understanding what these guys are doing with their own voices. Basically the dude's you called out in this video is exactly how I figured out what is for me a higher mixed voice. That nasal stuff did sound very harsh at first until I leaned into what my voice was doing and not chasing the notes or whatever

[delsings]

Omg that's SUCH a fantastic album!! Thanks for touching on it

[alnjgoveuifjbkelbfg]

Corgan does amazing screams on Mellon Collie. Bodies and XYU are brilliant.

[HumbleTrader]

Billy Corgan once said in an interview that he finds singing to be difficult. Singing is not easy for him.

[CoryFalde]

I like to imagine unknown Billy Corgan auditioning for American Idol, getting rejected, then blowing up with his band.

[Nausea]

AWESOME vid Chris! i think i just learned something ELEMENTAL!!

[murilooliveira]

Loved the new video format showing the official video clip

[PizzaVeet]

I'm kind of in love with this video. What a great lesson. Thank you so much for the encouragement! Embrace the weird!

[mistatobias]

You have the very best videos on singing on the whole ass internet. I need to sign up for that singing course one of these days! Thanks for kicking ass, Chris!

[romangehres]

So glad you finally did one about Billy Corgan. I’ve been a fan of all the bands and singers you dissect on this channel for a while, and as a rock singer and songwriter myself, I have struggled to try and take some of what Eddie vedder or Kurt cobain do in terms of distortion and put it to use. I have been a pumpkins fan for years but it wasn’t until this last year when I really dove into them. And doing so has not only unlocked a world for me as a guitar player, but it has especially done so as a singer. When I imitated Billy Corgan I started to realize that I was doing things I had not done before due to the versatility that nasality can give you. I can actually add distortion to my voice now, and even scream a bit too.

[fernbobbio]

Great analisys, Chris. Really enlightening! I never thought singing SP songs (which I often do) could help me approach Cornell-like singing (which I absolute admire and dream of doing myself). Thanks! I will practice this and see/feel the changes, but it already has helped me change perspective!

[lillyrith]

I was skeptical about this video because of the title and thumbnail, but after seeing it was just a bait and switch, I’m glad, because that’s how you’re going to get people to learn this and it’s so important.

[TeaspoonUlysses]

Damn, as a Smashing Pumpkins fan, I never put the idea of a contrast in Corgan's voice to be the reason why I dig their music so much.