Could THIS be the most EDITED song OF ALL TIME?!!

[@r.j.9394]

Sometimes you looked disgusted, sometimes amused. All in all - serious kudos to you. The love you have for music, and the dare I say intolerance (?) of “fixing” voices, you were far more diplomatic that I could have even come close to. You’re a class act. Like you, I prefer the real. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@Heightsomethinghuman]

@@r.j.9394 Well said!

[@quinnhen2325]

Texas girl here that’s seen him live in very small venues. He doesn’t need these mechanical adjustments. Seriously. He’s INCREDIBLE and the natural fluctuations make it real and heartfelt. This is so frustrating.

[@ChrisP3000x]

Artists also use auto tune in very small venues.

[@quinnhen2325]

@ Sure, but this was back in the early 90’s. He would have had to hide the equipment in his pocket. Small church, no hidden sound rooms or equipment.

[@ChrisP3000x]

@@quinnhen2325 Yes, but until we hear the unedited version of this specific performance, we'll never know what he sounded like on this specific performance.

[@stevesanderson8360]

​@@quinnhen2325 Small church? This was a glorious theater with state of the art audio capabilities and a full sound/recording crew present that evening.

[@irvlockhart363]

Phil is a jealous idiot. He knows nothing about music.

[@wendyvanhorn6386]

“They’re doing it with their eyes” Not ideal for a medium meant for ears! Thank you for this!

[@knuteskild]

Astonishing, and yes, it is almost stupid: David is a GREAT singer, and he does NOT need to be edited at all to "please" any audience!, Thanx a lot; I'm (and have been for 25 years) one of his most excited listeners!💖

[@jakepalmer8160]

Agreed! I have seen David live more than 7 times and his voice is that pure live! Other than the ad-lib, his “Oh, Holy Night” was the same each time.

[@oberladyElise]

Saw him live, he truly is amazing! Intimate, personal, great range and control. My husband turned to me during his concert and said “ so much power and so much control “. A truly wonderful performance. I hate that the powers that be feel a need to mess with a live performance.

[@Reven-p9g]

...but you didnt "hear" him live . that was being very. "messed with" as you were seeing it.

[@stoferb876]

It's so unnecessary too as it doesn't actually improve the sound at all. It only makes the occasional note here and there stick out like a sore throat sounding unnatural and robotic instead of like a real human voice.

[@Skibbidyboobop]

@ He would never mime. I'm sure it was legit. Only way you can mess with vocals live is using autotune. No way that would happen either. This was done without his consent.

[@GospelisforMe]

Yes! He’s absolutely amazing live!

[@corinneyaworski-mh9uc]

This makes me angry that they messed with his voice!! Thanks for your analysis, Fil! Your ability to hear all these things is much appreciated.

[@kencoil5705]

Thank you so much for your analysis. I’ve always thought that it was just a little too perfect. Now I see why. I really enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@johnbeach7985]

We all miss natural voices!!! Drives me crazy.

[@Heightsomethinghuman]

Me too! Whyyyyyyyyy?????

[@toria-j]

Yep, and some...delicacy to the singing too. Not every line needs to be belted. There's no character, no building to the crescendo here. I love this tune, when sung with a bit of feeling. This was just an computerised assault to the eardrums.

[@GoodBaleadaMusic]

AI will bring it back. We arent trapped by humans trying to emulate randomness anymore. It will train people back into not expecting this. AI Music is now better than computer optimized humans.

[@ThelSuperlKing]

Then listen and support independent singers like me. World class vocals delievered and presented au naturale. Let's face it commercially released songs are all edited even many independent artists.

[@GoodBaleadaMusic]

@ThelSuperlKing Stop pretending you can write your own songs and sing one of the thousands I wrote since last June

[@keithdavis9897]

David Phelps has an incredible voice but it appears that the technicians don't think "its a wrap", until they process it. Thank you for showing this....very good !!!

[@ssmithstudios]

Fil, thank you for what you do! I'm a "average" singer but I'm also a disabled music producer and musician. I love your exposing of the industry. Pitch correction can have a place in this whole thing, but only when used tastefully or at LEAST disclosed! I've never commented on your videos before though, so if you see this, thanks for inspiring this handicapped musician to keep creating!

[@thelastjohnwayne]

I do not think that Pitch Correction and Auto Tune should ever be used. We need to bring back and find the really great singers. There are still great singers out there ( many are undiscovered ) but they are being over looked and even not encouraged because of the evil modern music industry because of Auto Tune and Pitch Correction because of the evil modern music industry only wanting Pretty People instead of great voices. Most of the greatest voices of the past would not get record deals today because the industry would not say that they are pretty enough

[@jeremyjames4417]

The song was recorded 25 yrs. ago. Auto tune was in its infant stages at that time. Think chers i believe. It wasn’t being used like that at that time. I’ve heard him perform this live 3 times . While it had slight differences with each performance he sounds exactly the same as this performance. I’ve never heard anything like this man’s voice. It is pure perfection. The technology for auto tune and pitch correction was in its infant stages at this point . Certainly had not made its was into southern gospel recordings . This is what is sounded like if i would have recorded him without a mic onto a tape recorder.

[@Reven-p9g]

... no. how can there possibly be a place for fake .. really i want to know .. am i missing something ?

[@johnbriggs3916]

​@@jeremyjames4417 This video was posted to KZbin 12 years ago. That's when the pitch correction was done, not at the time of recording.

[@MrJdsenior]

My thinking is that the ARTIST should be the one saying where and how much pitch correction he wants, if any, working with the sound engineer. The artist is the one who knows what he or she is trying to produce, and they are the ones that should have final say over the tweaks. Obviously, this is what a thinking sound engineer would want, the two COLLABORATING to get the best final sound. It seems like this industry, too, is just quickly filling up with a lot of idiots, screwing it up for the few that actually care.

[@garyhalmbacher6875]

You have to love the smug look of Fil. He doesn't even have to say "gotcha!". You can see it in his face. Great work Fil. They don't know it yet but you are doing the entertainment industry a great service.

[@jp4942]

I’ve seen David live several times and every time he has blown me away.

[@ChrisP3000x]

Blown away by live autotune.

[@trekkiejunk]

One of the most important things you said, that all naysayers should get is, "That's not how vocal cords work." You have to make sure people understand not just that no singer can sing like that naturally, but also explain that the actual physiology of the human body don't allow a singer to sing like that.

[@elizabethmiller7291]

Precisely.

[@kyleboreingmusic]

This performance was recorded in 2001. At that time, Antares (the maker of Auto-Tune) was mostly an "all or nothing" editor, meaning you could set a "path" for the notes to follow, then adjust how strictly you wanted the notes to adhere to that path. If you don't crank the sensitivity on it, then what you get is exactly what is shown here - longer notes are mostly dead on pitch, while shorter ones are imperfect. That being said, it's also easier for longer notes to land (and stay) on pitch than shorter notes, and there are times in this performance where there's a bit of a "slide" before the note snaps to pitch. That's not necessarily indicative of auto tuning, so much as it's a classically-trained vocalist - which is also evident by the "solid-to-vibrato" vocalizing.

[@carriestreeter5313]

The side eye Fil does at 1:15 is PRICELESS!!! 😂

[@poorthing]

Had to watch ...multiple Xs, ha ha

[@djrand62]

That is Bill Gaither for you. All of his productions go through the tuner. That being said, I have heard Phelps live, and he is literally the most pitch-accurate singer I have ever heard.

[@ChrisP3000x]

Live autotune.

[@andreleibee354]

it is so good that you expertly expose the industry, fil. sad to me that it is not rare but the norm pretty often these days.

[@charleshoward324]

We just saw him in December here in Waco! Blown away by his performance.

[@ChrisP3000x]

Blown away by live autotune.

[@videditorEB1]

Hey there. You truly do God’s work. Thank you. The Gaither Vocal Band was anti tuning of any kind until a few years after this. I’ve listened to them for about 20 years and the record that started being tuned is instantly noticeable. I’d say about 10 years after this. Phelps is a freak of nature, training, and massive amounts of performance experience. I’m pretty sure he Majored in Vocal Performance at Baylor. The dude is straight unbelievable.

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

What you wrote here is incoherent. This isn't an outlier - this is what Gaither does.

[@videditorEB1]

@ you have no idea what you’re talking about, but it’s fine. Have a great day.

[@rollinupeverest5042]

I doubt that you're talking to someone who has been listening to it for over 30 years he has heard the changes they made😂​@@WillBravoNotEvil

[@willarasmith4893]

Agree with this. Their acapella album a few years after this was very heavy on the tuning. And it's been that way ever since. Every singer in GVB is good in their own right (I personally like Wes Hampton, great singer and great dude). It's just disappointing when they do this and it's so obvious to the trained ear. I much rather prefer hearing them live than on one of their recording projects or videos because I know how edited it is.

[@cwrighta70]

​@@WillBravoNotEvilactually he's spot on.

[@uriburstein4187]

I've watched several of your analysis videos and gotta tell you you're doing a superb job.

[@benpowersguitar]

Great video Fil. You really are a one of a kind channel.

[@HenryJames-q6t]

The more they use computers to make their excellent voices "perfect" the more they are training the audience to accept AI generated voices in which case they won't be needed at all.

[@jennifursun3303]

this is an old video and unless someone re did it with pitch correction it was not done that way originally

[@TroyArchAngel]

@@jennifursun3303 yes they are grabbing everything that is online deleting and reuploading. Queen had some sort of same thing happen to one of their classic performances. A shame, it's almost like they want to feed us this AI no matter where we look at we won't find anything real. That time will com eventually. People have to wake up more and more. And we should have more like Fil here.

[@BelindaTN]

Not to mention if it is so easy to technically make the voice perfect, why would a singer bother to work at making their voices ‘perfect’. Or even good for that matter. Anyone can be a perfect singer with the technology that we have now.

[@HenryJames-q6t]

@@BelindaTN I doubt it's the singer who's doing this. My guess is it's the label or producer. These technologies remove the nuances and qualities that we like to listen to in the first place and make the voices sound artificial. At some point the technology will allow record companies to eliminate the middleman (or woman) and the listening audience will have been conditioned to accept it.

[@BelindaTN]

@@HenryJames-q6t No. I do not expect it to always be the singer artificially perfecting the voice. But those that make the most money from the singers. A mediocre singer that wants to be a star, might even pay a professional to make him or her sound good. Like hiring makeup artist, plastic surgeons, personal trainers, professional photographers, to make someone look better than they actually do.

[@vickyburton2434]

I am not sure why the sound engineers need to do this because this man has an amazing voice and is classically trained. I have seen him sing without a mic and he is amazing.

[@DiamondGirl-1234]

What a powerhouse voice he has. It's a shame they thought it needed "perfecting."

[@waynedouglasvideos]

DId the PITCH correction make it SOUND better...Have a feeling it did. (a thought)

[@Heightsomethinghuman]

Fil said he is already a great singer, doesn’t need ridiculous ‘corrections’ done to it.

[@brt5273]

No accounting for taste😬

[@Sister_Felinity_Imaculata]

Powerhouse voice but no performance skills, even if not pitch corrected.

[@jennifursun3303]

agree I wonder if he knows

[@craignobles8285]

I’ve actually heard David perform this live several times. His pitch is naturally very close. What this doesn’t tell you is how much or little the pitch may have been corrected. His voice doesn’t need that much correction.

[@Melodymatters2me]

I would really love to hear a completely untouched and natural version of this hymn sung by David. He has a great voice and he doesn't need any pitch correction. It is a real shame we have come to accept this manipulation as normal.

[@elizabethmiller7291]

Let's try NOT accepting it and see what happens!

[@suevillarreal9315]

I agree ! David does not need pitch correction and Bill would probably not allow it for any of David's performances!

[@trekkiejunk]

@@elizabethmiller7291 -- And how does one "not accept it?" It is what it is. How on Earth do you send a signal to studios to not pitch-correct? It's not like they release a song two ways, and you can choose to download the non-pitched version. So, how do you "not" accept it?

[@elizabethmiller7291]

@@trekkiejunk There's that phrase that I keep running into - " it is what it is". That is SUCH a defeatist attitude and I won't succumb to it. Dammit. :) Hey, that's not a bad idea you have there - releasing two versions, pitch corrected and non pitch corrected. I like it! Seriously, there are many ways to fight back against a music industry standard that is depriving us and not allowing us to hear the best version of a great singer's voice. Worse than that, with all of the retroactive and posthumous pitch correction that is going on when our favourite old albums are re-released and songs officially uploaded anew, there will soon come a time when there won't be any great natural human voices left as great singers will cease to even emerge. I don't know about you but the fight to save natural human voice singers from oblivion is definitely a fight that is worth everything we can throw at it, even if it turns out to be a quixotic fight. Whether we can mount such a fight will be answered as soon as Fil launches his side project and we see how many of us - music lovers and artists along with industry professionals with integrity - get on board with it. If we can turn this fight into a movement, we may have a chance to make some positive change in how the music industry operates with regard to the destructive and undisclosed use of pitch correction on a great singer's voice AND with regard to encouraging more fully live vocal performances.

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

@@suevillarreal9315 Do you think Bill had nothing to do with this? Bill has _EVERYTHING_ to do with his releases.

[@atreb56]

I'm glad that I have uncorrected recording of Andy Williams singing this.

[@aldebaran4154]

And Nat and Ella and other singers from that time period who thankfully existed before auto tuning & pitch correction existed. My favorite version is an odd one, Rickie Lee Jones with the The Chieftains. She sings it so softly and emotionally that with The Chieftains backing it sounds heartbreaking.

[@jaymasterscrapper301]

Unless its been remasterd

[@peggyuser-oq6xz7fg9o]

Perry Como is in that group of excellent earlier singers. Pure velvet.

[@GrandTeuton]

It's so sad that they won't let the singers sing. David really is a spectacular singer (I have heard him live and in person), and it's just unfair that this artificial version of his performance is what most people get to hear. Thanks for all these analysis videos, Fil. They are really worth all the effort you put into them.

[@lonestarladytyler1980]

I agree. I've heard David live and he was great. No need for the artificial.

[@Elvista]

Live is not necessarily "natural voice" these days.....most sing auto-tuned (using engineered microphones). Get them to sing without microphones and you'll hear the differences.

[@jennifursun3303]

I have as well and wish they would leave the voices alone

[@55Porter]

I used to have this performance recorded off TV on a VHS tape in the early 2000's. I wish I still had it to compare to this modern day KZbin version.

[@cindi1313]

That would be interesting, I bet it's quite different.

[@55Porter]

@@cindi1313 I definitely don't recall that first big high note before the choir sounding so obviously manipulated like it does on KZbin.

[@cindi1313]

@@55Porter I checked and David Phelps has this song, audio only on his YT channel also, and the song is available on Apple Music on the Christmas in the Country album, and those are the same pitch corrected version as this one, unfortunately, so this is the "official" version now. But I bet your early 2000s version was different.

[@peteriskrumings8771]

@@cindi1313 I have a "Christmas In the Country'' dvd released in 2000 (purchased years later but it shouldn't change anything) where David sings this song. I don't recall any differences in the song. Maybe should do exact comparision but it should sound the same. Could be that in youtube version there are some sound enhachements like equalizer etc. but he sounds as amazing as he is in both.

[@skinnyhastrup4614]

I found a DVD-rip from 2000 of this. It's the same.

[@olibertosoto5470]

Maybe we should be looking for non autotuned performances - is there anybody left out there that doesn't use it?

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

My last dozen concerts attended didn't even use microphones.

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

unsigned artists like me. ☝️ although i see some unsigned artists using it too 😳

[@IBAndreas]

Me in the shower.

[@stoferb876]

This wasn't autotuned, it was just messed with pitch correction which happens afterwards on a computer in the studio, not at the concert. Autotune had been looking (and sounding) much more obnoxious especially since it cannot really handle such wide vibratos well. Those wouldn't have sounded like a human vibrato at all it would have sounded like a trill on a keyboard. His vibrato might indeed be the reason he doesn't use autotune.

[@Skibbidyboobop]

@ His incredible accuracy is the reason. I can't imagine he would ever consider it.

[@markkinnish1196]

Great update as always Fil

[@RobBrown88]

I remember one you did a while back where they stuck Carrie Underwood’s long held notes right on the lines and it sounded like a tornado siren. As we saw at the inauguration, she doesn’t need digital assistance to sound great.

[@solideomusical]

I headd her for the first time at the inauguration but didn't think she sounded great. She did push through and sing acapella, though.

[@elmoblatch9787]

Did someone watch the inauguration? Why would you watch a traitor to the constitution we hold dear? Trump tried to stop the constitutionally-mandated certification of a free and fair election. That makes him a traitor without question.

[@paulettegray7625]

@@solideomusical You need to watch the Wings of Pegasus reaction

[@solideomusical]

@@paulettegray7625 I saw it

[@VIDEOHEREBOB]

Sad to see this. David is an amazing singer. Now it's highly likely he will be thought of differently for something he may not even have wanted.

[@randyg.9696]

Bro, Everything produced is tuned. I promise David don’t need heavy autotune. There’s a ton of real live videos out there of him.

[@elizabethmiller7291]

Have you found a fan video of him!? I'd love to hear his beautiful natural voice. I tried to find one of this performance but I didn't have any luck.

[@TinyFord1]

I’ve seen David Phelps live in South Africa, and the power went out (loadshedding leaves us without power often) so he went on without a microphone. Sounded EXACTLY like this without a mic as well

[@Budley]

Wow! I can actually hear it this time. If a was a singer with David's talent, I'd be livid with someone editing, (unknowingly), my work. It's as if they're telling me, I'm not quite good enough. What a joke.

[@merrittmerit7567]

I've had the pleasure of seeing him live, performing this song in a very small venue. It was truly amazing, gave me goosebumps. I'm glad someone requested this, I've wondered the same. I thought perhaps it may not be pitch corrected since it is several years old. I've watched enough of your analysis, that occasionally I can hear the difference. I heard it a couple of times on this. This was probably originally done on VHS. I'm going to look for it and a player. If so, maybe it's not altered. This took all the joy out of it for me. I assume that the producer of this (Gaither Music) has probably done this to all of Gaither music productions. The Gaither vocal band happens to be one of my favorites. Now I'll probably not me listening to it with the same pleasure as before. If I listen to them at all. I want to know I am hearing the real thing, not a manipulated version. Thank you for doing this.

[@juliemartin2834]

G'day, Fil, thanks for calling out these butchers.That sound hurt my ears and my heart and soul. ❤ 🇦🇺

[@Changmin200]

That performance was touched in a recent time, cause back then it wasn't that edited, someone took the time to edit the audio, pitch correct it and repost.

[@reercudi]

Do you actually can see data on that video that it was touched recently?

[@johnbriggs3916]

​@reercudi It was posted to KZbin 12 years ago. That was when the pitch correction was done.

[@solideomusical]

How would you know that?

[@LuciferXFallen290]

They forgot those hideous gasps.

[@rgblack316]

Someone has clearly NEVER seen David Phelps perform live. He IS that good.

[@lowercase3635]

Nah not really. He’s good. But not that good. He’s also a total d bag.

[@DeeDee-fi4kq]

I felt like I was listening to an AIR RAID SIREN!

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

It is even worse with the overdone backing.

[@solarvanlife8177]

Yeah. A bit over the top for me, but I've never been into that style of singing. Opera included.

[@Cashcrop54]

I agree Fil. I have seen David live many times and he did this song and it was much better than this recording. He has a magnificent voice and it's criminal to do this to him. I'm really angry about it.

[@atlantamx3]

been waiting on this one. Its my fave version of this song for many years,

[@buzzbradley3648]

Fil , for me there's only one version of this "hymn" and that's from Johnny Mathis and Percy Faith. The arrangement and voice are , to my ears , beautifully synchronised . We had it on vinyl and on hearing it as a youngster in the late sixties I loved it and ,to this day, I automatically compare any new version I hear with it. I am neither a musician nor a singer just a listener but I love hearing you analyse , debunking what is wrong and praising what is right.

[@johnbriggs3916]

Remember, kids, sincerity and authenticity are most important qualities -- if you can fake those, you've got it made!

[@checkedoff]

All you got to do is act naturally

[@tnmoppylaura5476]

Such a beautiful song that is incredibly difficult to sing. Too bad that the “performance” has become more important than the message. Thanks Fil.

[@DiamondGirl-1234]

I agree 💯

[@Chez8922-kf6cy]

The message I'm getting out of this is the church has no reservations when it comes to fooling the flock.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

I've gotten excellent performances from amateurs, mostly mezzos, by understanding that it was writtem for a lower voice and sung in a key appropriate to that.

[@davidduff5123]

Fil, I truly love your channel!!! I cannot listen to this guy any longer. He is murdering this song.

[@Ratzfourtyfour]

That title could be a new Grammy category.

[@francesdalton4345]

This song, Cantique du Noel, was written for the beauty of the natural voice.

[@chillnophone2024]

Good job, Fil❣️💯🎼💙☮️

[@cyndy812]

Go to Dan Vasc, Dan totally nailed this song, along with his Amazing Grace, Dan is a very awesome vocalist.

[@artgirlparis]

I love your lie-shattering and authenticity-celebrated channel! ❤

[@barbaramilone2800]

This guy's performance is LOVELY ❤ -- why mess with it? This auto-tune junk has gone way too far. The audience is looking at the artist and his performance -- nobody knows, or even cares, if his individual notes are "on the line!" I've played this wonderful piece on my English horn many, many times with a piano accompaniment. Was I always perfectly in tune? Jeez, no! Was it heartfelt? YOU BETCHA! And that's what the audience cared about!!! Thanks, Fil, for these analyses. You're doing a great job, but all I can say is that with each one, it makes me more and more angry that artists can't perform naturally anymore without someone messing with their performances. Blessings!

[@KYRIE_eleison2]

Fil, it seems that pitch correction and auto tune has invaded all genres of music. Are we in an inescapable situation and unable to return to natural and authentic voices going forward? Love your channel and all you do.

[@MickSupper]

Escapable when you leave the mainstream. Go to a local pub and watch real musicians.

[@guyjiminjapan9824]

Good question! For live performances (or even studio recordings), why don't they simply offer the pitch corrected/autotuned version and the "raw" version, and give listeners the choice of which one they'd like to buy or download?

[@glamgal7106]

@@MickSupperapparently it seems like the local pub is the place to go..that is, if the pub has the option of live musicians performing. But let’s not give them any ideas about anything because who knows-the music industry might invade them too!

[@MickSupper]

@ Then you move onto the next band or musician. By the time mainstream takes over anything it's usually outdated by then.

[@glamgal7106]

@@MickSupper I can only hope that the use of pitch correction and auto tune becomes outdated…hopefully sooner than later. But from the looks of things, it seems like the latter.

[@monteirolobato6830]

Pitch corrected or not, I don't care for this 'braggadocio' in singing such a pleasant, beautiful song.

[@trekkiejunk]

YES! It's called "running vocal lines." Every singer has an ego, and i get that. They have to in order to be a performer. But there's a point when you make the performance more about you than the material. And unless the material itself absolutely sucks, a good vocal should celebrate and enhance the great song, not overshadow it.

[@grietjemenger8905]

Glad someone said it, I don't like this over-emoting at all. I listened a bit to the original video to hear the accompaniment, see if it was better. It was even worse as the pianist was twiddling like mad as well.

[@cindi1313]

@grietjemenger8905 Yes, agree totally about the pianist! I listened to it as well and thought the same thing. What an over the top arrangement of this song. 😬

[@cmecre8629]

true, but this song often used by singers to show off

[@jennifursun3303]

love David but I dont either same with Star Spangled Banner

[@nancyholter5646]

If you want unedited O Holy Night, search for the fan video "Austin Brown - O Holy Night". Solo, in concert in mid-Dec.

[@blamecilantro]

Are vocal artists able to prevent producers from doing this? What if they added a clause to their contracts to prevent manipulation? Would that force people to follow the artists’s wishes or is there no recourse for violating that wish?

[@spaveevo]

I doubt they can and with everyone doing this they all want to be able to stay at the top.

[@solarvanlife8177]

I suppose there could be a clause in the contract. If there isn't, there should be one.

[@Heightsomethinghuman]

This is the thing Fil is working on; FULL DISCLOSURE in the industry.

[@davidadams9391]

I think the singers are in favor of correction!

[@zakwojnar4714]

The closest I can think of is The Killers. Singer Brandon Flowers was disappointed at the autotune, superfluous harmonies and electronic manipulation of his voice on their first album, so for the second record, Sam’s Town, he made sure his voice was raw and untouched.

[@albeech5157]

Relentlessly calibrated. What a great phrase!

[@stephanierhodes8587]

Just a question, not an attack, could David be as scarily accurate as Karen Carpenter? He was trained in opera and could just be scarily accurate. There is a video of him demonstrating, in what I assume is a voice lesson, the high note in Just as I Am and it sounds bang on! It would be nice to see this seemly live vocal put through your software ❤️ You’re amazing, keep up the awesome work!

[@NuManXplore]

It literally hurts my ears to hear it edited so perfectly.

[@dancalkins97]

I've heard David Phelps live three times in a variety of venues (from a church sanctuary that could seat 350-400 to Reunion Arena in Dallas), and he's fantastic! These notes are honestly in his range, and he generally stays on pitch (at least in proportion to the instruments or track and the way I've heard him in the audience). Sad to see this pitch correction, he doesn't need it.

[@johnbriggs3916]

He might not be able to do it anymore -- which might explain why old recordings are being doctored.

[@RickiKeith]

The obsession with "the lines" is like the 80's with those "white lines" - it is SO addictive!

[@elizabethmiller7291]

Good point!

[@skinnyhastrup4614]

Searched a lot for an alternative version of this very performance, but it seems like this autotune has already been done to the DVD from year 2000, so it must be with Antares software. That explains the straight lines and a few glitches. A lot of work went in to pitching a vocal that needed no fix.

[@miriampoole4037]

Beautiful singer ❤

[@PalindromeDesign]

Never heard of him, but he obviously can sing, but I am not liking this choppy version of the song, edited or not. Serve the song and just let it flow. No need for vocal gymnastics in every phrase.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

More like vocal contortions.

[@geonerd]

"Starting to get a theme....." A bit of an understatement!

[@Joetenor]

I don't like the alterations David makes to this song anyway. He is clearly just trying to show off rather than focus on expressing the song in an honorable way. The pitch correction just makes it worse.

[@kimmillard9445]

Thank you!! I've been calling out David for YEARS for drawing attention to himself, and get lambasted by the sheep for supposedly having a critical spirit.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

We church musicians call it "Six Flags over Jesus" style.

[@bettyparker3317]

@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee 😄💯🎯

[@rollinupeverest5042]

That's why I loved it he seemed very reverent, while using the voice God gave him for his glory

[@jeffnash6601]

You are assuming he did the pitching correcting. He sang it live in the concert.

[@eve_in_paris]

I don’t want fake perfection. I love a lively vibrato!

[@VegasAlien1]

Jesus wept. Jesus facepalmed.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

Jesus was proud the Jewish guy (Robert Merrill) did it better.

[@TheProtestantPope]

Jesus is getting upset.

[@teda88]

Tune with your ears not your eyes. Excellent video!

[@batshuayaddah1567]

David's version of 'Battle Hymn of the Republic ' that he did with Squire Parsons is my fav version of that song. He has an incredible voice. Maybe you can assess that song, too.

[@jason4522]

Sir, I heard David Phelps LIVE just a couple weeks ago. Jan 2025. He has an anointed and strong voice. He also does opera. Any manipulation done or anomaly’s is most likely due to KZbin video software. Listen to some other of his music before hating on a talented artist. 🤗 👍🏼😎

[@keilorca]

Don't know about most edited but it's definitely up there in the list of "Most ruined by vocal gymnastics."

[@nowster]

I do also prefer a much less ornamented performance of this. Even as written it's not the easiest sing: there are grace notes in the original score many performances miss out.

[@Skibbidyboobop]

His other songs are not as such. It was on the fence for me. Many singers really take it too far.

[@peggyuser-oq6xz7fg9o]

Opera doesn't allow for embellishment. Heard one, heard them all except for slight vocal textures.

[@Spo-Dee-O-Dee]

@@peggyuser-oq6xz7fg9o Up through the time of early Verdi, singers were expected to add their own ornamentation. There are a number of transcripts made of "Casta Diva", for example, that survive, that show different interpretive approaches withing accepted bel canto style.

[@moondogaudiojones1146]

For an over grandiose performance of a beautiful tune, I tune out on this vocal acrobatics. Puddles Pity Party’s version is the one for me. Live, or the recorded version, has all the emotion and peace the song should have.

[@pamelah6431]

Puddles is astonishing, everything he does is spectacular.

[@Wigglesinthewoods]

I would love to see you analyze Dan Vasc , either his O Holy Night or Amazing Grace. Then again if I find out he’s not singing live, I’ll be shattered.. hmm..

[@pamelah6431]

Dan Vasc is a fun singer. Idk if he does some tweaking for studio recordings, which doesn't bother me. Hope he doesn't do it to "live" recordings, though.

[@glamgal7106]

Hi Fil, thanks for your amazing and always interesting analysis. Like you, I don’t understand the music industry’s A440 obsession. I think it’s reached the point of insanity. Like you said, it’s come to this point where producers listen with their eyes and not their ears. David has natural singing abilities that don’t need to be manipulated. I had to take off my headphones because I literally got a headache from listening to this..not you, Fil, but what whoever decided, “Well, it’s not directly over the line here..and here..and…” I could see the expressions in your face. Anyway, thanks for all you do, Fil!

[@jennifursun3303]

so true he can do three octives

[@WokeSteve]

His voice is already amazing,why fork with it.

[@RealBobLoblaw]

Phelps had that poor dearly loved carol on the floor with both hands around its throat. Yes the man has a great voice but his ego always dominates the song! Maybe there should be an Olympic event for such gospel singers.

[@bettyparker3317]

💯🎯

[@RachelLWolfe]

I'm not a fan of his voice. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me, and his constant gasping is just a bit much for me. You're spot on though. His ego is front and center.

[@patriciamcl54]

Thanks. Exactly my opinion of Phelps. There is a basic lack of musicality. Check out the version by Austin Brown at a recent concert, live and recorded from the audience. It's deeply heartfelt without being melodrmatic. And unlike Phelps, he knows how to breather without sounding as if he' s just run a marathon.

[@kennethmeeker6369]

@@RachelLWolfedifferent style of singing not for everyone

[@virtuoso07]

Its called Worship and communication.... He is singing it like he believes what he is singing and communicating that to the audience.... Its not just a traditional Christmas Carol to him.

[@mikestaff3042]

Jesus save us from autotune 🙏

[@judypurcell954]

This just upsets me! This young man has got it! He rocks! Why, why, why? Do they have to do this?

[@MultiKamil97]

Young? He's 55. This performance is from 2000 if I remember well.

[@anssia3123]

Floor Jansen has performed O Holy Night at Raskasta Joulua Christmas concerts. She has performed it twice on different occasions and there are quality recordings of both, it would make a great comparison video. She is 6 months pregnant in one of those, which adds a variable to the voice. I'd love to see how it affects the performance. Also, I would love to have it confirmed that it's not pitch corrected. Hope I'm right.

[@yvonnevanwaegeningh-tiggel4577]

Oh yes, those performances are amazing. Especially when she was pregnant an still hit it out of the park... Did you hav those in your vault yet Fil? @wingsofpegasus ... I'm also really curious to know what you think about those. Knowing Floor I guess they will be far more natural than the butchered video you had to watch this time...

[@b.nunn.2702]

WHAT he's singing about is whats actually perfect! The birth of our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua/ Jesus Christ!! 🙏✝️🙏

[@rossmills5017]

Hi Fil, As always I enjoyed this "review". If you want to inspect a great natural voice performing this music look no further than the YT item ...O Holy Night by Mario Lanza (including as expected a "reprise" of the final line with a typical Lana finish.) If you can manage to get round to it I am sure many would really appreciate it. All the best.

[@bobclarke5913]

My local civil alarm horn can hold a note that perfectly too.

[@zephyrbear]

My mum used to say their breathing sounded like a leaky gaspipe... this guy, every time he breathes in is demonstrating this principle precisely. If you want to hear an unmutilated version of this song go and have a listen to either Aled Jones or Cormac Thompson.

[@RachelLWolfe]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this. His sharp intake of breath between nearly every line and sometimes single words was a bit much for me. He's literally gasping for breath. I just can't......

[@brt5273]

😵‍💫

[@Peaceful_Rayne]

That is so on the line that it becomes the new line lol

[@hrizonsdebbie]

He has expressive vibrato *until* he holds a note. 🤪

[@solarvanlife8177]

Makes you wonder if those "held" notes originally had vibrato on them.

[@johnbriggs3916]

​@@solarvanlife8177 Yes, it's difficult to switch vibrato on and off. You wonder what is truly going on.

[@MusedeMented]

Any good singer turns their vibrato on and off on certain notes. It's a common technique.

[@hrizonsdebbie]

@@MusedeMented I think you misunderstood me. In the video, a guy with a noticable vibrato magically doesn't have it on the notes they corrected. I'm a singer and I can control my vibrato, but I'm unlikely to sing a near sine wave just on held notes.

[@solarvanlife8177]

@@MusedeMented That's very true, but they can also flatline vibrato in post.

[@ryanluchuck8445]

"to the point of insanity". Amen

[@nigelstuart756]

Now check out Floor Jansen showing how it should be done. 2017 version available on KZbin. Singing it LIVE whilst 7 months pregnant too.

[@yvonnevanwaegeningh-tiggel4577]

Exactly. Perfect example for showing that good singers don't need to be edited!

[@heidicook2739]

Love David. Favorite male vocalist.

[@HeatherCooperMusic]

I love what you're doing, and I'm obsessed with your videos. However, I'm not sure about your statements on the held-out notes. My held out notes seem very on-the-line according to my pitch app, which looks like what you're using. I won't let my studio guy use pitch perfecting on my vocals. Drives him a little crazy, but I agree with you 100%. I always give recording transparency on my videos. I would love for you to check it with your software. I have the raw cell phone recordings, as well. That's what I use with the vocal pitch app.

[@elizabethmiller7291]

What percent of the time, on average, are your held notes very-on-the-lines of an A440Hz standard tuning, equal temperament graph?

[@HeatherCooperMusic]

@@elizabethmiller7291 I have two studio videos up. Sia- Alive: The "alive" held out notes are close enough that I feel he would think it's pitch corrected. Otherwise, that song sounds good with some "off" notes and sliding, but I do hit the lines a lot. I'm confused, because I thought we were supposed to sing on key, lol. I totally get what he's saying and agree, but I feel like some singers can do that. Run To You has less held out notes, but that last "away" is pretty much spot on, as far as I can tell. I would love to hear Fil's take.

[@virtuoso07]

Take this for what its worth. I met a guy in college that worked on Gaither projects in the studio. He said David was a machine and rarely had to fix anything. This is a live performance and have no doubt that some edits were made but i dont really think its tuned as much as you think it is. If you have ever heard David in concert, he just leaves you shaking your head at how incredible his voice control is. Just look at all the people around him who have sang their whole lives in disbelief and awe. The reaction of the people tell you how good this performance was. Truely one of the best to ever do it.

[@robinblankenship117]

Just so tiresome to have to put up with the ' is this live or is it Memorex'. Sad that enjoyment of music has become this ❤ Fil thanks for the channel

[@mimi-3212]

"Why?" is right. I'm sure David's voice sounds wonderful without someone "fixing it" with Melodyne.

[@LOL-Can]

Hymns can be so soul lifting. This was the opposite. I am just a casual listener and cannot imagine how painful this must be for you with your acute hearing and musical ability. This was awful even to my uneducated ear. Thank you for the analysis.

[@philiphumphrey1548]

I've heard performances of O Holy Night in church on Christmas Eve that left much to be desired, but at least they were real.

[@reneeburich9497]

If you talk to anyone who has seen him live, they’ll tell you he has an unusually gifted voice.

[@gilgillis4230]

But gifted doesn't mean perfect. Autotune is not part of gifted. Natural beauty has flaws, but put botox in and make everything glass smooth and it is no longer human.

[@Flowerbranche]

Fil, you should really have a look on the classic Swedish version of this song (Oh helga natt) with the tenor Jussi Björling, recorded in 1959! The best performance of this song you will ever hear. I'd really like to know how pitch perfect he was naturally!

[@bakimum5286]

Problem is, when rereleasing old recordings, the producers feel the need to autotune and pitch correct. Example, the rerelease of queen recordings where the studio producers autotuned freddie mercury.😢😢😢 Nowadays, even old recordings are being autotuned before being rereleased to the public. Unless you have the old recordings like vynyl etc., anytime you hear something in this digital age, especially if touched by producers, good chance it was digitally edited.😂😂😂

[@peggyuser-oq6xz7fg9o]

Making these strong held notes is a Hallmark of Good gospel singing. I've sung gospel and I've heard live gospel many times by excellent gospel singers and I have to say they truly can hit a note in a straight tone and hold it for a very long time and it's astonishing. I'm wondering, on David's held notes, what are those tiny little variations above and below the line if not quivering of the natural voice? I'm beginning to wonder if there's a bias against any vocal that might actually be able to do that. I think it would be interesting to see you bring somebody in and sing live for us so we can actually hear and see what a natural voice sounds like on the spot.😊 If you have done that I guess I missed it but that would be something I would like to see and hear. Overall, I do think what you have brought our attention to is important for aspiring singers especially, so not to hold themselves to such an unattainable standard.😊

[@mikecolie9290]

Have to admit I have never heard of him let alone this version of O Holy Night. Watched the video and really didn't care for it much. But with your "training" it was easy to pick up the changes to a natural voice. For many, many years of not knowing what was actually happening in the background, I always felt some voices were just "too good to be true". My curiosity was piqued when Brittany Spears came to fame. Now, thanks to watching and learning from you, I understand why. Thanks for all you do to teach/enlighten us.

[@barrysmith8920]

In 5 years, these pitch corrected singers will ALL be replaced by far cheaper AI.