14 Great Rock Songs Featuring Falsetto
Written by C.I. DeMann on June 14, 2017
Every couple months, my KPSU radio show Six Degrees of Rockination has a theme. In June 2016, the theme was falsetto vocals. What songs did I play?
Lenny Kravitz – “Fields of Joy”
A great way to begin our show. It starts slow and pretty, rocks hard in the middle, then goes slow and pretty again. Fun fact: the guitar solo is by Slash, from Guns ‘n’ Roses.
Frank Ocean – “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You”
From the world of R&B, Frank shifts beautifully between his regular voice and his falsetto voice. Just beautiful.
The White Stripes – “Blue Orchid”
Jack White always has a high singing voice, but rarely does he break out the falsetto. On this scorcher, he does.
Pas/Cal – “The Bronze Beached Boys”
I’m not sure if this song should be classified as “weird” or “awesome.” It’s a little of both, really, but there’s no doubting the high falsetto notes in it.
Queen – “Flash”
As with Jack White, Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury always had a high voice, but only rarely did he use his falsetto. He does so here, on the title track of the 1980 camp classic “Flash Gordon.”
Collective Soul – “Needs”
My favorite part of this song is the fake-out ending. You think the song’s over, and then, hey, it’s back! Good fun, plus a wonderful falsetto.
The Darkness – “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”
This rocker’s from 2003, but if you think it sounds more like the Big Hair ’80s, you’re not alone, and it’s no accident. That’s exactly the retro sound and look the Darkness were going for.
MIKA – “We Are Golden”
Mika has a vocal range of three and a half octaves and zips up and down it so effortlessly, it’s almost hard to believe. This might be the most technically impressive singing in the entire show.
The Heavy – “Colleen”
If you ever get a chance to see this band live, take it. Their front man is a mix of Otis Redding and James Brown.
Mayer Hawthorne – “Dreaming”
This guy mostly plays and sings with a Motown feel, but on this song, I hear a lot of Beach Boys influences. Two great tastes that taste great together.
Guster – “Either Way”
Okay, I think this is our winner for the day. Yes, Mika has the amazing vocal range, but this song beats him simply because of how long the singer holds his clear and perfect falsetto note. It almost gives me goosebumps.
Jack Penate – “Spits at Stars”
Fun fact: while he was attending University College London, Penate’s best friend was Adele.
Panic! At the Disco – “Always”
Lead singer Brendon Urie has one of the best voices in current music. He reminds me of Freddie Mecury, both in his voice and his flamboyant way of using it.
U2 – “Sweetest Thing”
If I could have anyone’s singing voice, I would choose Bono’s. He can hit all the notes in all the styles. This song was on none of U2’s studio albums. Rather, it was a B-side to 1987’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.”
And there you go. Quite a list, eh? Want to hear the entire radio show? Here’s the link. A solid hour of fantastic rock ‘n’ roll featuring falsettos.
Anthony White On February 14, 2019 at 2:21 pm
1) Frank Ocean is not rock 2) You did not include Nude. I give the article 2 stars.
[email protected] On March 28, 2019 at 7:52 pm
Actually Freddie is not the falsetto in Flash, Roger Taylor is. His amazingly high falsetto is in Seven Seas Of Rhye, Killer Queen, Bo Rhap and wayyyy more.
C.I. DeMann On March 29, 2019 at 10:52 am
This is very cool. Thanks!
Marcus On April 19, 2019 at 6:21 am
this is a great list, thanks. also check out Passengers: Your Blue Room, Muse: Supermassive Black Hole, almost every soul singer from the 60s.
C.I. DeMann On April 20, 2019 at 12:29 pm
I know, right? I could have just had Al Green for the entire hour!
Randy On June 8, 2019 at 2:59 am
Bullshit! What about Muse’s Micro Cuts???!!
C.I. DeMann On June 8, 2019 at 10:16 am
Great song. If the show had been two hours long, it might have made the cut.
Jason On September 9, 2019 at 10:22 pm
Some of my favorites are:I was a lover and second song (get to the chorus) by tv on the radio, free radicals and the WAND by the flaming lips, modify by kniles (look on youtube), and recently I can’t stop listening to a song called ghosts by aldo
C.I. DeMann On September 10, 2019 at 8:52 am
these are great suggestions. TV on the Radio is awesome. That guy can hit all the notes.