Sting, renowned for his distinct high-pitched voice in the rock realm, has humorously labeled himself a “heavy metal singer”. Although this title might be surprising to many, considering his reputation as a solo artist for melodious ballads and soothing mid-tempo numbers, he isn’t entirely off the mark.
Back in his Police days, Sting delivered energetic tracks like “Message in a Bottle” and “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” which, while speedy, didn’t exactly delve into metal.
In a recent chat with “Everything Music” host Rick Beato and guitarist Dominic Miller, Sting delved into the reason behind his preference for the high register. He quipped, “A lot of heavy metal vocalists use the upper register, so in that sense, I’m one of them, but perhaps with a bit more tune.” He added that the higher tones help rise above the loud instrumentals in a band, suggesting it’s tough for a baritone voice to take center stage in rock.
However, artists like Iggy Pop, Glenn Danzig, and the legendary Jim Morrison might have a thing or two to say about that, having successfully fronted rock bands with their deeper vocal tones.
Interestingly, while Sting’s voice may not scream “heavy metal,” his high notes can be somewhat likened to those of Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden or Rob Halford from Judas Priest, albeit with less theatrical flair.
Building on this, Sting drew a parallel with the military, saying, “Just as a sergeant major would shout over the noises of battle, singers need to make themselves heard. It’s a necessity for both.”s
