itt Describe Michael McDonald's voice

A walrus who just received dental work

foie gras tenor

Joni Mitchell: "I think Billie Holiday was a very natural singer. In the context of opera, Maria Callas was an excellent singer. I think the lead singer from the Doobie Brothers [Mike McDonald] is a very natural singer."

The voice of god

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohNfQpf8SUY

I kind of think of his voice and Anita Baker's voice in a similar way-- there's a smoothness and marble-mouthed sort of lack of enunciation, particularly because of the ellision of plosives that a lot of singers engage in for obvious reasons. But also a headiness and roundness that I enjoy very deeply, I think he's a great singer! Same with Anita!

It's like stroking a couple of warm fluffy cats.

his facebook is very heartwarming but also mostly politically righteous, so there's an inevitable avalanche of boomer "STICK TO THE SINGING MICHAEL" comments below which are inevitably countered by boomer-hippies talking about Taking It To The Streets. I enjoy.

So you’re going with “of a generation”

well his recent bits with Thundercat, Holy Ghost, Grizzly Bear have been fun too! this is a jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_zTamb69bU

Trixie Delight

sonic bear hug

The reason this old SNL sketch (1979? 1980?) is so brilliant is because it perfectly nails the idea of McDonald as a sort of laboratory-designed soulful robot who can pristinely emote at will, turning it on or off like a tap when required.

relevant here is this SCTV sketch with Rick Moranis as Michael McDonald pic.twitter.com/4OcSvHbxEW

— Good Steely Dan Takes (@baddantakes) November 17, 2020

Argh, typed SNL instead of SCTV. Never mind.

I like his story of actually seeing that sketch

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/michael-mcdonald-sctv-sketch/

Haha excellent. McDonald seems like a cool guy.

mm is cher on drank

not braggin or anything but i do a v decent mm singing voice irl

This is revisionist history on Mike's part. In Dave Thomas' history of SCTV, he describes Mike coming up to either him or Rick and saying sternly, "That was cold, man. That was real, real cold."

which he followed up with "Don't let your heart grow cold, just reach out and call His name"

Also, the SCTV sketch is even funnier when you watch the entire Gerry Todd Show sketch, it is preceded by Michael McDonald's commercial for Carpets Galore: "Talkin' 'bout free installation, yeah yeah!"

Mike's voice is a fun topic for me because his voice gets imitated and parodied a lot, but not because it's 'bad', just because it's so unique. it's like he has a consonants-allergy, but he practically defined blue-eyed soul along with Loggins etc.

"What a Fool Believes" was a childhood favorite and if you'd asked me what the words were then, i woulda guessed

"If wuh a runsin fibbled it long ago
Sibby dibby deeeeeee abba donald flee"

I think it was Jd Ryznar who described mm’s voice as low register falsetto

That's kinda perfect

Was hoping Neanderthal would weigh in.

If beards could sing

This was posted in the Steely Dan thread but obviously belongs here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0u_JlK8JhI

And now I'm listening to the Doobie Brothers' Farewell Tour album, which is great.

honestly, words fail me. I can’t figure out why his singing is so powerful. it’s an unusual voice.

ALL IN 3D
FOREIGN MOVIE

I was just watching that ep of 30 Rock last night, where a bunch of singers do a charity song ('Kidney Now!') and wondered who the beardy guy was. spotted the name Michael McDonald and meant to check who it was but fell asleep instead and now this thread has helped me. thanks, thread!

Once my ex-neighbour played McDonald's cover of 'For Once In My Life' on repeat at an obnoxiously loud volume between 11pm and midnight.

only one phrase comes to mind when i think of this dude's singing: defective whoopee cushion.

booooooooooo

Was hoping for a challops-free thread, alas

i keep forgettin how your voice is like a malted scotch

Yah mo flag post

lol

lmao

I will admit I now want to here a rack of tuned whooped cushions singing the "Peg" harmonies.

"What a Fool Believes" was a childhood favorite and if you'd asked me what the words were then, i woulda guessed

Haha, I had this exact experience as a kid as well. I thought he was singing about Tab and Coca-Cola for some reason.

Hideous Lump,

I will admit I now want to here a rack of tuned whooped cushions singing the "Peg" harmonies.

are you familiar with these guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3HW67QzTpU

AS HE RAHSES TO'ER APOLOGY
ANYBAHDEH ELSE'LL SHOOOLY KNOOO

The sound of someone who just took a bite of something overly-hot. A high-pitched HAAH HOO HEEE-HAH, SHININ' DOWN ON ME, while frantically waving one hand in front of his mouth and reaching for his can of 7-Up with the other.

otm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q95-6MFoNBQ

canadian goose

SHENTIMENAL FOO

Sometimes when you eat marshmallows they leave a little residue on the back of your throat and you sound a bit like Michael McDonald.

YAH MOH MAKE SMORES

Went down the McDonald live performance rabbit hole, and man the dude could just effortlessly glide from note to note like he had it in the palm of his hand.

Still need a lyric sheet w the dude but he still sounds good tbh

I will admit I now want to here a rack of tuned whooped cushions singing the "Peg" harmonies.

― Hideous Lump, Friday, November 27, 2020 2:25 PM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink

The great lost La Monte Young piece