deep voice
A note about “real” vs “fake”
Michael Jackson used different voices for different reasons. Some were protective. Some were performative. Some were playful.
They were all real parts of the same man, shown at different moments depending on context, comfort, and control.
Yes, he sometimes used a voice that was not his natural speaking register. But that doesn’t mean he was fake. It means he was surviving.
Three distinct registers
Many people refer to “his deep voice” and then present a concert clip where Michael speaks a bit lower than usually. However, that’s not his naturally deep voice. In our opinion, Michael possesses three distinct vocal registers.
- To kick things off, we have his high-pitched, soft-spoken voice. (his public voice)
- Next up is the smooth mid-range he employs during the spoken segments of ‘In the Closet’ and right at the start of the ‘You Rock My World’ music video.
- Finally, there’s his deep voice, a baritone gem he kept under wraps from the public eye. (see: Westhaven ranch 1976/Ralphige prank call 2007)
Honorable mention: A dazzling array of voice impressions. A seriously underrated and underutilized talent.
A one-of-a-kind vocal shape-shifter1Not our expression, but the great Arthur Jafa‘s
In the 1976 Westhaven Ranch video below you can see how Michael shape-shifts his voice constantly, switching between registers and modulating his voice. He not only changes his voice, he switches between different personas. He even says “and we’ll now turn the mic over to another person” and “I’ll turn the mic back to my daughter”. It’s a playful way of trying out voices and personas.
Michael also says “that’s me controlling this voice”. He is literally acknowledging here that his voices are an intentional act he was in full control of.
That means that the high-pitched voice was a choice, and sometimes a performance. But it was also something he maintained for decades, which tells us how important it was to him. That doesn’t mean it was false. It means it was deliberate.
What was the psychology behind it?
We believe Michael
- performed different aspects of himself for different purposes
- used voice like an instrument – technically, artistically and psychologically
- had to protect his vulnerable self by shifting registers in public
We believe Michael’s high-pitched voice contributed to his non-threatening persona. It may also have stemmed from his struggles with body dysmorphia. He was told he sounded like a frog and wanted to avoid resembling his father.
Technically he was able to preserve his remarkable high singing voice by limiting the usage of his deep voice registers.
We’ve noticed that the more relaxed or annoyed he was the deeper his voice tended to be. Others suggest that the context played a role as well: he often used his natural voice in private or business settings.
His voice coach kept insisting he should embrace that rich, deep sound of his, but apparently, those pep talks fell flat.
We want to take a short moment to address doubts many people have.
Argument 1)
I don’t believe there is this deep voice many people are claiming. He didn’t go his whole life faking his voice.
He showed us a part of himself, the part he was comfortable with showing in public. But there’s more to him than the childlike image. That doesn’t make him less innocent. It makes him more human.
Argument 2)
Nobody talks like that naturally. What was he hiding?
Maybe he wasn’t hiding something sinister. Maybe he was just doing whatever was necessary for him to survive while being under pressure all his life.
Speaking Voice
The Westhaven Ranch Video
ca. 1976
You’ve got it right baby. That’s me controlling this voice.
~ Michael Jackson, Westhaven Ranch, ca. 1976 ~
The Westhaven Ranch video captures rare home footage likely filmed between 1974 and 1976, showing the Jacksons enjoying time outdoors. With occasional candid audio, it offers a glimpse into their personal lives, away from the spotlight.
Portions of this footage first appeared in fan-made VHS compilations and bootleg documentaries during the 1990s and early 2000s, with some clips later surfacing on YouTube through fan channels and archival accounts.
The full original source tape is not officially released, the footage is low-res, the audio is poor, and it is often overlaid with text or fan music.
This recording is particularly notable as it includes rare moments of Michael speaking in a deep voice, both on and off camera. It also holds significance for depicting the Jacksons in a relaxed state, prior to Michael’s solo superstardom, and outside the realm of media performance.
That video is one of the only known recordings where Michael uses his unguarded voice on camera in a natural family setting. It’s a rare glimpse into his real vocal identity, and it corroborates what close insiders have said: That Jackson’s voice was much deeper in private.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SMCfoyiKoI&pp=ygUVd2VzdGhhdmVuIHJhbmNoIHZpZGVv
Authenticity
🗸 yes
Evidence
- Jermaine Jackson has referenced private family videos like this existing from the 1970s and early 1980s.
- The camera format and visual style match what would have been available to a well-off family in the 1970s (Super 8 film or early VHS).
- Michael is visibly relaxed, using a deep, resonant voice, laughing without filter, and showing none of the performative restraint seen in later years.
Sources
YouTube, MJJ Community, Lipstick Alley, Reddit, Instagram etc.
https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/jackson-family-home-movie-at-westhaven-ranch.612365
Westhaven Ranch (ca. 1976) I
You’ll find more excerpts and the complete video in our Deep Voice – Deep Dive page
Source: youtube channel LivinofftheWall | Edit: JS
The Ralphige Prank Call
April, 2007
You think you were talking to Mr. Jackson didn’t you?
Michael Jackson, The Ralphige Prank Call, 2007
The prank call was made by Ralphige, a notorious prankster who has previously deceived celebrities like Donald Trump, Busta Rhymes, and John Mayer.
During the call with Michael Jackson, Ralphige impersonated Akon and made light of allegations against MJ. Jackson insisted that he was not speaking to the real Michael Jackson, but an impersonator.
Subsequently, the Jackson Estate issued a cease and desist letter to Ralphige for non-authorized usage of name and likeness, warning of potential legal action for selling the recording on his website without their permission.
This is seen as confirmation that Jackson was indeed pranked and is the one you can hear on the recording.
In response, Ralphige stated: “The letter, if anything, it at least proves to the doubters that the prank call is real.” He adds, “I am afraid the estate is not aware Michael personally gave me permission to release the phone call.”
It seems the Estate has accepted his claim, and as of now, you can still buy the prank call on Ralphige’s site.
Authenticity
🗸 yes
Evidence
- Estate serving a seize and desist letter for using name and likeness
- Ralphige still sells this recording, apparently now with estate’s approval
- TMZ article
- MJJ Community exclusive interview with Ralphige
Sources
TMZ, MJJ Community, Lipstick Alley, Reddit – a random sample:
https://www.mjjcommunity.com/threads/mjjc-exclusive-q-a-with-ralphige.132644
“Akon Prank Calls MJ” – Complete – Ralphige YT (April, 2007)
Source: youtube channel LivinofftheWall | Edit: JS
Ralphige Prank Call – edit (April, 2007)
Beginning and end of the conversation | Edit: JS
Michael answers the phone (being much too polite is a
dead giveaway it’s him). In the end he is audibly hurt but,
thinking on the fly, manages to turn it around. That’s impressive.
Compare the Westhaven video with the Ralphige recording.
Both serve to validate each other, since the voices are very similar.
You’ll probably say:
Yes, Michael Jackson’s voice is clearly recognizable in the middle part,
but who says that he is the one speaking in the beginning and end?
We’ll try and get to the bottom of that later on. Stay tuned.
Another example:
The Glenda tapes, 3/15 & 7/15 (1991-1992)
Imitating Joe Jackson.
Source: LivinOffTheWall – youtube | Edit: JS
Deep Voice Deep Dive
– More deep voice videos
– The 2000 Watts controversy
– What voice means to people
(in terms of gender/sexuality/race/culture)
Singing Voice
Vocal Ranges
Baritone Range
The soft, high voice image is extraordinarily pervasive. Fans argue that MJ doesn’t have a Barry White/Morgan Freeman kind of deep voice, musicians explain on Youtube his voice while listening to audio that highlights Michael’s mid-range voice, arguing for his Castrato-like tone, thus reaffirming his child-like nature.
Confirmation bias makes us collectively fit what we hear to what we have been told is true. But what we hear and see is an illusion for the sake of art.
Voice Coach Session with Seth Riggs (1994):
- lowest key he sings (uncomfortable): F2
- lowest key he sings comfortable: G2
- highest key he sings comfortable: G#5 (wtf)
This is a 3 1/4-octave range.
Vocal Ranges:2https://web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/music/vocal-ranges
Michael is as baritone as they come.
Vocal Styles
Castrato? Or Countertenor?
Castrato vs Countertenor:3https://vocalability.com/countertenors-vs-castrati/
A boy castrated before puberty will not have this larger larynx. This means that the castrato’s larynx is essentially the same as a typical adult woman’s. A hormonally normal man with a tenor or baritone speaking voice can only stay in the tessitura of an alto by using falsetto, and cannot usually unite this to the full chest voice. The castrato is not singing with falsetto, and therefore makes a different sound, mechanically and acoustically.
Usually. Michael is the exception. He sings Castrato-like.
This is one reason Michael was so adamant about limiting the use of his deeper voice: To keep his higher pitches as rich as they are.
The typical Countertenor range is G3–E5.4https://www.classical-music.com/features/musical-terms/countertenor,5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countertenor
Michael also covers the Countertenor range.
If there are still questions about it: Was MJ chemically castrated?
infographic
Vocal Ranges vs Michael Jackson