Solo artists may employ professional backing vocalists in studio recording sessions as well as during concerts. In manyrock andmetal bands (e.g., thepower trio), the musicians doing backing vocals also play instruments, such as guitar, electric bass or keyboards. InLatin orAfro-Cuban groups, backing singers may play percussion instruments or shakers while singing. In somepop andhip-hop groups and inmusical theater, they may be required to perform dance routines while singing through headset microphones.
Styles of background vocals vary according to the type of song and genre of music. In pop andcountry songs, backing vocalists may sing harmony to support the lead vocalist. Inhardcore punk orrockabilly, other band members who play instruments may sing or shout backing vocals during the chorus (refrain) section of the songs.
Alternative terms for backing vocalists includebacking singer,backing vocals,additional vocals or, particularly in the United States and Canada,backup singer,background singer, orharmony.
While some bands use performers whose sole on-stage role is backing vocals, backing singers commonly have other roles. Two notable examples of band members who sang back-up areThe Beach Boys andThe Beatles. The Beach Boys were well known for their close vocal harmonies, occasionally with all five members singing at once such as "In My Room" and "Surfer Girl".
The Beatles were also known for their close style of vocal harmonies[opinion] – all of them sang both lead and backing vocals at some point, especiallyJohn Lennon andPaul McCartney, who frequently supported each other with harmonies, often with fellow BeatleGeorge Harrison joining in.Ringo Starr, while not as prominent as a backup singer due to his distinctive voice, sings backing vocals in such tracks as "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" and "Carry That Weight". Examples of three-part harmonies by Lennon, McCartney and Harrison include "Nowhere Man", "Because", "Day Tripper", and "This Boy".The members ofCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young andBee Gees each wrote songs, sang backup or lead vocals, and played various instruments in their performances and recordings.
In the lyrics, the backing vocals are standardly written in parentheses to differentiate them from the main vocals, which are written without any markup. The backing vocals for a line may come in mid-line, or even after the main lyrics have already been sung. Vocalizing is fairly common so as to not detract from the meaning of the lyrics of the primary vocals. The sound of the backing vocals is often in a differing style (e.g., either more muted or pitched up) so as to complement rather than compete with the main parts.
In the recording studio, some lead singers record their own backing vocals byoverdubbing with amultitrack recording system, record their own backing vocals, then recording the lead part over them. Some lead vocalists prefer this approach because multiple parts recorded by the same singer blend well.
Prominent vocalists who provide backing vocals in other artists' recordings are often uncredited to avoid conflicts with their own recording agreements, and for other reasons. Examples include:
Mick Jagger doing background vocals onCarly Simon's recording of "You're So Vain", which led to the erroneous theory that the song was about Jagger.
Paul McCartney as one of the background revellers onDonovan's 1966 "Mellow Yellow". (Contrary to popular belief, McCartney does not whisper "quite rightly" in the chorus, but Donovan himself).[5]
Al B. Sure!'s background vocals inGuy's song "You Can Call Me Crazy". (According to producerTeddy Riley, the song was originally planned for Sure!'s debut albumIn Effect Mode but didn't make the final cut.[18])
^"Top 500".Smooth Radio. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved2 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
