We often pit female singers against one another, comparing their looks, career choices, songwriting skills, and, especially, their vocal abilities. Which singer can effortlessly slide into their whistle register without breaking a sweat? Who can hit high notes in a steady tone while performing an intricate dance routine? These questions are often used as metrics to assess the talents of some of the finest vocalists in the music industry.
While hitting sky-high notes is impressive, reaching ocean-deep ones can be just as challenging. The ability of some current female singers to hit impressive low notes is often underappreciated. That is why Funktasy is delighted to spotlight, in no particular order, 10 female singers and their often unsung killer lower registers.
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Adele
She is one of the most decorated female singers in modern times and has attracted great acclaim for her mighty mezzo-soprano range. Adele has often been praised for her emotionally evocative voice and her moving songs. One area she does not get enough credit for (a missing cherry on an already crowded cake) is her deep lower register.
Just listen to how she sings “To the way you move” in the first verse of her hit “When We Were Young” from her album 25. Her voice initially starts at a regular register and then dips down beautifully like a wave crashing on the ocean. Many singers who cover this song often sing this line in a higher register because the note is too low for them. Although there have been many masterful interpretations of this song, barely any have managed to capture the unique touch brought forth by Adele’s passionate lower register.
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Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is no stranger to adoration, being called one of the greatest songwriters of her generation. Her poignant and complex storytelling and genre-defying music has elevated her to the status of a legend at a relatively young age. However, Swift has not received as much praise for her voice, particularly, her stable and steady lower register.
On the chorus of “Champagne Problems,” her acclaimed track from “Evermore,” she gently steers the chorus, concluding it with a low E3 note. She can transition between slightly higher and much lower notes, as seen in her rendition of “Cruel Summer,” one of her most popular hits from Lover. Despite the constant criticism of her voice, one cannot deny that without it, even her most impressively written songs would just be lifeless lyrics on a page.
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Toni Braxton
One of the most celebrated female artists in history, Toni Braxton is an R&B and soul songstress with a truly singular voice. In a genre often dominated by mezzo-sopranos, Braxton has carved a niche for herself with her crystal-clear contralto voice.
In “Unbreak My Heart,” one of the best-selling singles of all time, Braxton puts her sultry and deep voice on full display. Be it with her gentle descent on “Come and kiss this pain away” or “Time is so unkind,” she is truly masterful in her vocal execution. More female voices like Braxton’s need to be celebrated, especially considering they are so few and far between.
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Tracy Chapman
Another famous contralto, Tracy Chapman has enjoyed a long and celebrated career. She has often been celebrated for her distinctive voice, which breaks typical expectations of what a woman’s voice should sound like.
Her song “Fast Car” is often regarded as one of the greatest songs of all time, thanks in no small part to Chapman’s interpretation of the lyrics. Right from the starting line, “You’ve got a fast car,” she grabs you and transports you right into the heart of the song. She is not trying to showcase her vocal chops; she is simply telling the story of her life. Her voice lends itself beautifully to each line of the song, making listeners inhabit this rich world she is sharing. Through this song, Chapman brilliantly showcases how lower voices can be such powerful storytelling instruments.
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Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter of the popular duo “The Carpenters” received worldwide fame for her buttery-rich contralto voice. In 2023, Rolling Stone placed her on their list of “200 Greatest Singers of all Time.” Carpenter’s brother, Richard, understood the nuances of her voice well and would often compose songs that sat comfortably within her vocal range.
In their hit song “Rainy Days and Mondays,” she charges each line with longing through her resonant voice. When she hits the low “down” at the end of “Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down,” you feel it deep in your heart. Carpenter was also famous for clearly enunciating each word she sang, making it easier for people to connect with the messages in the duo’s songs.
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Lorde
The New Zealand songstress Lorde is truly special, from her songwriting and live performances to her mesmerizing, raspy voice. She shot to stratospheric fame with the release of her debut album “Pure Heroine,” which spawned her most famous hit, “Royals.”
In this song, Lorde teleports us to the pavements of New Zealand with her gravelly tones. You know she means business when she makes that confident landing at the end of “We count our dollars on the way to the party” and then effortlessly takes off with “And everyone who knows us knows.” Notably, she won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance in a category stacked with vocal powerhouses like Sara Bareilles (“Brave”) and Justin Timberlake (“Mirrors”), showing that female voices with lower registers don’t just win fans but also industry awards.
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Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus was once the poster child for controversy. Now, she is regarded as one of the most talented singers and performers of her generation. Her sturdy mezzo-soprano vocal range is enlivened by her trademark gritty and raw lower register.
In one of her biggest hits, “Flowers,” she digs deep both emotionally and vocally to present a much-needed message about self-love. She makes tricky lines like “Kind of dream that can’t be sold” and “Built a home and watched it burn” sound easy to sing, owing to the incredible command she has over her lower register. In a genre often dominated by high-pitched voices, Cyrus has paved the way for female singers with similar vocal types to make their voices loudly and strongly heard.
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Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey’s name has become synonymous with musical greatness. A modern pop icon with a spell-binding voice, Lana Del Rey has proved you don’t need to shatter glasses to break glass ceilings. Her wistful and melancholic melodies have helped distinguish her from her industry peers, many of whom have praised her for her superb songwriting skills.
Del Rey’s delicate lower register feels like it belongs in a past century. It can be likened to a magical relic in a long-forgotten jack-in-the-box that suddenly springs to life when wound up. Her mystical vocals add such depth to “Once Upon a Dream,” a song she covered for Disney’s Maleficent. Her haunting touch to the final line of the chorus elevates this classic to something both modern and timeless, reminding us why Del Rey is as beloved as she is.
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Cher
Popularly known as the “Goddess of Pop,” Cher’s glowing career speaks for itself. A multi-hyphenated artist who wears numerous hats in addition to being a musician, she has constantly reinvented herself and redefined what it means to be a female pop star. One thing that has stayed constant through all her success, however, is her signature contralto voice.
Having an invigorating voice that both men and women resonate with, Cher has used her contralto vocal range to great effect. In her 70’s hit “Half-Breed,” she expertly hits a balance between both high and low notes. She starts high in the first three lines of the chorus and then ends the line “Both sides were against me since the day I was born” with a soft pulsating punch to the ears. A true game-changer, Cher has worked hard to earn her place in pop music history.
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Stevie Nicks
The lead vocalist of the legendary Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks is considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Both her contributions to Fleetwood Mac and her solo career have inspired many female artists, including some of the ladies on this list. Her voice, especially her deep lower register, has also brought her incredible acclaim.
On “Landslide,” one of the band’s most iconic songs, she sings right from the depths of her soul, making listeners feel every word coming out of her mouth. She brilliantly showcases her lower register on “I don’t know” and seamlessly ascends slightly higher with “Well, I’ve been afraid of changing”; Nicks makes this all look so easy. Many singers who try to cover this iconic song struggle with these transitions and the breath control required to carry the notes. Through this song and many others, Nicks easily demonstrates why her voice is so renowned.
Digging Deep to Soar High
All the masterful singers on this list are testaments to how unconventional vocal tones and styles are not limitations but divine gifts. In an industry that often tries to slot artists into specific boxes, these singers show that your true superpower lies in building on what makes you unique. So, here’s to all those women out there with husky or raspy voices who may not be able to hit the same high notes your peers can; like the women on this list, you are incredible, talented, and one of a kind!
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