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Retrospective Analysis: Taehyung’s Vocals in 「Singularity」
Singularity is one of the songs that largely influence our views on what kind of singer Taehyung is. It’s very well-known to us that the song was one of LY: Tear’s best tracks, +
Singularity is one of the songs that largely influence our views on what kind of singer Taehyung is. It’s very well-known to us that the song was one of LY: Tear’s best tracks, +
critically and widely praised for setting the album’s dark and elegant theme.
Spin Magazine’s take on the song piqued our interest the most. Now let’s further unravel on what makes this song so exceptional as we dissect Taehyung’s vocal performance and delivery. +
Spin Magazine’s take on the song piqued our interest the most. Now let’s further unravel on what makes this song so exceptional as we dissect Taehyung’s vocal performance and delivery. +
They said:
“On Singularity, the album’s introduction, singer V slinks in with a quiet confidence that sets the tone for the rest of the record. His rich, expressive voice blooms and lingers, like the smoke rising from a candle after it goes out.”
cr. https://www.spin.com/2018/05/bts-love-yourself-tear-album-review/
“On Singularity, the album’s introduction, singer V slinks in with a quiet confidence that sets the tone for the rest of the record. His rich, expressive voice blooms and lingers, like the smoke rising from a candle after it goes out.”
cr. https://www.spin.com/2018/05/bts-love-yourself-tear-album-review/
Firstly, while the song is mostly rooted in R&B with hints of neo-soul and jazz, but the instrumental composition itself is quite minimalist — guided by a metronome-like tempo and its liberal use of space — what truly drives this song is Taehyung’s vocals.
In a different track review, pop culture reviewer and critic Monique Jones mentioned Singularity as a perfect display of Taehyung as a torch singer, and we couldn’t agree further. (Read: https://colorwebmag.com/2018/05/08/bts-new-single-singularity-impresses-with-its-smooth-rb-sound/ )
A bit about the “torch singer”: The term literally came out from the phrase “carrying a torch”, an idiom used by and for people who are yearning love, experiencing pain, loss. The torch singer is a term that refers usually to ladies who sing love ballads, (think Sade or Adele), +
but has been occasionally used to describe males too. A good example of a male “torch singer” would be Ian Shaw or Nick Cave (any Nick Cave song really), but this song is pretty fitting with the entire concept of the torch singer: https://open.spotify.com/track/3OwtuzRo8mc7lgsBau9MWk?si=M_etPSYVSz6CmwjpehMJDw
UK-based journalist Piers Ford, also the blogger behind The Art of the Torch Singer, has mentioned that Torch singing is not just limited to the vocal technicalities to create an emotive voice that knows how to tell stories. He says:
cr. http://cabaretconfessional.squarespace.com/cabaret-confessional/2010/10/26/one-mans-passion-keeps-the-torch-singers-glowing-bright.html
cr. http://cabaretconfessional.squarespace.com/cabaret-confessional/2010/10/26/one-mans-passion-keeps-the-torch-singers-glowing-bright.html
This also reminded us of the times other critics have picked up storytelling in his K-Herald describing the song as “simply singular, as he told a beautiful story with his husky and soulful voice and movements” (read: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20191030000717
), while +
), while +
Grammys latched on the qualities of a torch singer as they summarised Tae’s overall performance as a whole while mentioning the pivotal character of Narcissus:
cr. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/bts-v-delivers-singularity-comeback-trailer-ahead-love-yourself-tear
cr. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/bts-v-delivers-singularity-comeback-trailer-ahead-love-yourself-tear
Writer Jones not only ascribed this on his singing for Singularity but also in Stigma, which makes another convincing point that Tae’s voice naturally has the torch quality, but let’s save that for another discussion! +
Moving on, we’ve seen plenty of reactions on Tae’s vocals in Singularity, in which reactors describe how he carries the whole flow of the song, and that’s because this song is mostly sung in legato (in which the notes are sung smoothly) +
and this “flow” is already established since the first verse. Singularity is sung by Tae in low-breath and chest voice. Here are the verses are sung in such manner:
The trills too when moving to the next verses give this sense of “flow”. Still in chest, but rapidly changing notes in single breath.
While Singularity offers plenty of spaces, the flow remains smooth as Tae occasionally uses vibrato on some ends of a line. Since the singing style is majorly soft, he places this technique on these ends for resonance. But you all already know about his natural vibrato, right? 
Another factor with the “flow” which makes the vocal - diverse. He interchanges with staccato (notes spaced out with silence) and legato in the refrains, just before the chorus:
Remember what we mentioned about Tae being a torch singer? Well, apart from his natural tone, he also makes use of techniques to push the emotional nuances in his vocal delivery.
What gives Singularity that luring quality, giving you that feeling of being “taken away” by the vocals is the clever use of vocal dynamics by Tae. +
You will notice in both the first and second chorus as to how he will use crescendos (marked as <, the gradual increase of volume), decrescendos and diminuendos (marked as >, decrease of volume and softening, respectively, he uses both at the same time plenty of times). +
First chorus goes something like:
Tto ulligoisseo geu soriga (>)
Ieoreo buteun hosue tto geumi ga (>)
Geu hosue naega nal beoryeot jana (<)
Nae moksoril neol wihae mudeot jana (>)
Tto ulligoisseo geu soriga (>)
Ieoreo buteun hosue tto geumi ga (>)
Geu hosue naega nal beoryeot jana (<)
Nae moksoril neol wihae mudeot jana (>)
In the first chorus as well, he usually transitions between chest and head. He also makes a very smooth and quick re-connection from his falsetto to chest with “Ieoreo (falsetto) buteun hosue tto geumi ga (chest)”. Just one of the many times he’s agile, really:
More diminuendos and decrescendos in the second chorus. Vocal dynamics are great for managing intensities and volumes to add to Tae’s musicianship, but also a mark of good breath control — technique.
The second chorus more or less goes...
Butakhae amu maldohaji ma (>) (chest to mixed-head)
Ibeul mageuryeo soneul ppeodeo bojiman (>)
Gyeolguk en eonjenga bomiwa (<)
Eoreumdeureun noga naeryeo heulleo ga
+
Butakhae amu maldohaji ma (>) (chest to mixed-head)
Ibeul mageuryeo soneul ppeodeo bojiman (>)
Gyeolguk en eonjenga bomiwa (<)
Eoreumdeureun noga naeryeo heulleo ga
+
Tell me nae moksoriga ga(<) jjaramyeon (>)
Nal beoriji marasseoyahaetneunji (>)
Tell me gotongjocha gajjaramyeon (slide with the last word)
Geu ttae naega mueolhaeyahaetneunji (>)
video cr.
Nal beoriji marasseoyahaetneunji (>)
Tell me gotongjocha gajjaramyeon (slide with the last word)
Geu ttae naega mueolhaeyahaetneunji (>)
video cr.
All right, that’s enough with technicalities! You know what else is impressive? That he sings this slowly, taking his time, while dancing to a fast tempo, his breath consistently controlled and supported. Always has throughout the entire tours of Love Yourself and Speak Yourself.
It was only fitting that we use footage from one of the final days for his swan song performance (no pun intended!) Singularity was a truly remarkable moment on Tae’s career and redefined him even more into an elegant and mature vocalist which succeeded Stigma.
Again, nothing less and expectations surpassed from our Taehyung! 
Also, we know we’re quite late but better late than never right? Happy #Singularitt700Days #Singularity133M!
Also, we know we’re quite late but better late than never right? Happy #Singularitt700Days #Singularity133M!
Never forget to stream view this artful masterpiece from time to time:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3gpU0uqDonMBKEcJu4Rzsf?si=Nj_OcRsVTnCe6fZNwZOn2Q
YT:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3gpU0uqDonMBKEcJu4Rzsf?si=Nj_OcRsVTnCe6fZNwZOn2Q
YT:
