Okay - that's it. It is time to clear up this nonsense. There is no way that a human voice can have a five-octave range. I don't care if you're Brett Manning or Mariah Carey or Minnie Ripperton. It is not physically possible.

Consider the facts: there are 88 keys on a standard piano keyboard. That encompasses seven full octaves (12 keys each) plus three more keys. Even a four-octave range is impossible. I'd like to know how these people count their octaves.

Thanks for allowing me the forum.

I think this all depends on what you consider a legit range. If you could actually utilize all these notes when singing and sing well doing so, maybe I'd buy it. But a lot of this is either low grumbling or high squeaking. This does not cut it for me. Julie Andrews had a four octave range and could actually use all of those notes. If Brett tried to actually sing using his "five octaves" he'd be laughed off the stage. I can grumble as well as the next guy, and squeak to my hearts content, but that doesn't make a legit singer outta me and I'd never go touting that ability especially if I was trying to make a name for myself as a vocal coach. This video honestly just makes me think less of the guy...

How do these facts prove that a four or five octave range is physically impossible?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-octave_vocal_range

I'm not saying this article answers or proves anything. But go to www.dogpile.com, type in "five octave range" and you'll find some other interesting sites.

dude. Give Brett a break.
I LOVED his range on "Every Rose has its Thorn"

To clarify - I wasn't trying to prove that a five octave range is physically impossible. I was just saying I don't think this is it. Or maybe it's just not a good enough example for me.

What a cheeseball. This guy is why Nashville sucks.

After a certain point does it really matter how many octives you can span if you can't put over the song.

Hated Michael Bolton, always thought he could hit the notes but really couldn't carry a tune.

Linda Ronstadt could sing but often gave the impression she didn't really understand what she was singing.

That fellow Garden Stater, Whitney Houston on occasion gave the impression the song only served as a vehicle to show off how many high notes she could hit.

I've got more out of Francesco DiGiacomo of the Italian band, Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, not having a clue to what he was saying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBvMViRz8lE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC80TjwxFA0&feature=related

David Thomas of Pere Ubu, while a middling singer in many cases, usually puts the song over with his ability as a storyteller.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHE1klulvPs&feature=related

A voice I really love is Laurie Anderson, she has such voice and phrasing, I love just hear her storytell as well as sing.
Speaking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snmllnY7-jI&feature=related
Sing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MafDPatLY2E

All this blather about the technical ability sing is moot if the singer is like the best performing racecar being driven by a student driver.

footnote, I wish there were better examples available, but limited to what's on YouTube.

Consider the facts: there are 88 keys on a standard piano keyboard. That encompasses seven full octaves (12 keys each) plus three more keys. Even a four-octave range is impossible. I'd like to know how these people count their octaves.

what if you were playing one of those pianos that was like, you know, "double".

This a moment I can authenticly ask out of ignorance not sarcasm,

...Who is Brett Manning?

The YouTube clip isn't exactly the most enticing demostration for his product/service.

Exactly.

you mean louie anderson?

Brett Michaels had true vocal range!

JR,

When you say had, doesn't mean past tense?