Top 10 Highest High Notes in Music History

Alicia Keys

She may have chosen her name for her piano chops, but Alicia Keys talent goes far beyond just that. The New York-born singer is a rare musical powerhouse, writing, producing, playing multiple instruments and singing with one of the most expressive voices in the game. Keys puts those pipes to work on her 2004 hit If I Ain't Got You, where she croons about valuing love and connection over material things. Throughout the chorus, Keys hits and sustains a powerful high note, which she delivers with raw emotion and remarkable control. Its a testament to her vocal technique that she can make such a technically demanding moment sound so effortless. Be warned though, you may hurt yourself trying to hit those exact notes.

Queen

When you first hear Queens Somebody to Love, you might think there was a 100-person choir packed into the studio. In truth, its just Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor layering their voices into a rich choral sound. The track has several peaks and valleys, building to a powerful climax where the trio harmonize on a soaring high note, which ends with Mercury stretching the final word with surgical precision. As it fades, you can hear the yearning and frustration of the entire song being fully released. Few rock vocalists could blend operatic technique with the soul of gospel music the way these guys could. But it was nothing new. They had already reached similar vocal heights in the equally intricate Bohemian Rhapsody. (xref)

Beyoncé

For nearly any singer, Love On Top would be a technically demanding challenge. On the track, Beyoncé changes keys four times, each cranking things up to a higher and more tasking level. While the studio recording is already remarkable, her 2011 VMAs performance pushed the boundaries even further. In the final stretch of the song, Beyoncé delivered each ascending modulation with flawless control, maintaining a rich, full tone even in the highest registers. Hitting and sustaining multiple high notes in such quick succession would be difficult for even the most skilled singers, but Beyoncé made it look and sound so easy. The performance was made all the more impressive by the surprise pregnancy reveal at the end.

Dimash Qudaibergen[a]

When Dimash Qudaibergen joined the Chinese competition program Singer in 2017, he was the youngest participant in the shows history and considered the wildcard. But the moment he stepped onstage in the first episode, Qudaibergen quickly established himself as a fierce contender. Performing the 1978 French classic S.O.S d'un terrien en détresse, Qudaibergen began with a gentle, lower register then gradually ascended to astonishing high notes that left the audience in awe. These were the kind of piercing notes most singers wouldnt dare attempt, let alone deliver with such clarity. Yet, for Qudaibergen, it all looked so unstrained. In just about five minutes, the Kazakh singer introduced himself to the world as a vocal phenomenon, and ultimately finished as the runner-up.

Georgia Brown

Although there are many big-name vocalists who are famous for hitting sky high notes, the Guinness World Record for the highest note ever recorded actually belongs to Brazilian singer Georgia Brown. Three years before she snagged that title in 2004, Brown appeared on the Brazilian late-night talk show Programa do Jô to promote her debut album Black Nature. There, she treated host Jô Soares and his audience to a spirited rendition of the gospel classic Oh Happy Day. Brown flexed her extensive vocal range, gliding easily from low tones to dizzying highs, and finishing with an impressive whistle register that probably shattered a few glasses in the room. Even after the performance ended, she continued to showcase her skills, all while seated.

Celine Dion

Originally written and recorded by Eric Carmen in 1975, All by Myself found new life in 1996 when it was covered by Celine Dion. Her version became a massive hit around the world and was a masterful showcase of Dions incredible vocal range. While her performance is impressive from start to finish, the real showstopper comes towards the end when Dion hits and carries a powerful high note as the instrumentals build. Apparently, when the song was presented to her, even Dion was unsure if she could pull off the challenging high note. But when producer David Foster suggested offering it to a more experienced singer, it lit a determination in Dion that pushed her to nail the note, reportedly in just one take.

Whitney Houston

Dolly Partons 1974 country song I Will Always Love You was a tender ballad anchored by her masterful songwriting. But when it was revamped by Whitney Houston in 1992, the singer used her extraordinary voice to turn it into a soaring pop anthem. Throughout the track, Houston does what she does best, pouring her soul into every note. And just when you think the song is winding down, she reignites it for an explosive finale, during which she unleashes a gravity-defying high note that still gives goosebumps all these years later. The roughly 40-second electrifying climax has become one of the most iconic moments in music history, and a key reason why Houstons version of the song is considered the gold standard.

Kelly Clarkson

Early on in the first season of American Idol, it was clear that Kelly Clarkson, the 20-year-old contestant from Burleson[b], Texas, was the one to watch. But what truly cemented her win, long before the finale, was her performance of this 1967 classic. Clarkson paid tribute to the legendary Aretha Franklin by bringing a stylistic edge to the soulful song. The moment Clarkson brought the entire room to their feet was when she soared into a high note that seemed to hang in the air forever. Her pitch and control were not only perfect, but she brought it back down with an impressive growl. For a young, then-unknown singer to deliver something so taxing with ease? Remarkable doesnt even begin to cover it.

Minnie Riperton

During the recording of Minnie Ripertons 1974 hit single Lovin' You, the chirping of nearby songbirds was accidentally captured and left in the track. But when you hear that sound alongside Ripertons voice, its not so easy to differentiate between the two. Riperton adds to the songs ethereal, almost lullaby-like atmosphere with her dreamy vocals that soar up to the whistle register during the songs bridge. These incredibly high notes, which would leave most singers gasping for air, flow out of Riperton so effortlessly, all while she sings with a radiant smile. Her performance on Lovin You is a remarkable display of vocal control and range, one that will continue to inspire singers for decades to come.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Falsetto Note So High, It Could Kiss the Sky

This Australian Vocalist Set a Decade-Long Record by Hitting the D8 Note Live

Grande Flexes Her Powerful Pipes on This Track About Guilt & Regret

Steven Tyler Puts on His Trademark Screams for One of Rocks Most Explosive Songs

A Chorus So Intense It Builds up to Both a Soaring High Note & an Electric Beat Drop

Mariah Carey


Although Minnie Riperton was one of the trailblazers of the whistle register, it was Mariah Carey who truly popularized the technique. Nowhere is it done to perfection than on her chart-topping 1991 single Emotions. The song has an upbeat disco sound that practically forces you to dance, until the pre-chorus hits and Carey sends you into a trance with a flawless whistle. She does it again and again and again, making it seem so effortless that you forget just how much vocal mastery such a technique demands. For those who first listened to the song and doubted it was actually Carey hitting the high registers, she certainly cleared all those doubts when she performed Emotions on MTV Unplugged in 1992.


Which of these high notes do you think are powerful enough to shatter glass? Let us know in the comments below.

[b]https://forvo.com/word/burleson_%28texas%29/