Steve Lunt, Jive Records A&R, debunking the Baby voice conspiracy theory “she came to us with that voice”

[PrinceAli89]

Steve Lunt, who was once the head A&R guy for Jive/Zomba records, is the latest guest on Steve Rodriguez’s The Original Doll podcast. He recently debunked the long standing fan conspiracy theory that Britney was forced to sing in a “baby voice.” He said, “that’s just the way she sings, she came to us with that voice.” 
 

He worked on every Britney project from 1998-2005 (BOMT to Chaotic EP). 
 

‎The Original Doll with James Rodriguez: Baby Voice - Britney Spears - A&R Steve Lunt on Apple Podcasts

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‎Show The Original Doll with James Rodriguez, Ep Baby Voice - Britney Spears - A&R Steve Lunt - Jan 27...

Personally, I’ve always said that Britney has always sung in a unique tone and she is a multi range singer. No she’s not Mariah or Whitney or Celine but she still has a beautiful voice.
 

What are your thoughts on this? 🤔

[I Can Bang]

"that’s just the way she sings"

Her "baby voice" started around the Oops/Britney era tho, so...

Edited February 1, 2023 by Exhaolic

[Gutterguppy]

Agree with you that she indeed has a unique voice, but they also felt it was too similar to Christina’s in sound and if I iirc they didn’t know how to market her like that, 

[DiamondCircus]

I don't know if I'm buying that, everything we've ever seen of Britney singing before she got her record deal was in her natural voice.,

MMC

Star Search

Home Videos

In her early recordings that didn't make her debut album i.e. Love The Hurt Away

Britney was known for having a more mature deep voice.

[Gutterguppy]

1 minute ago, DiamondCircus said:

I don't know if I'm buying that, everything we've ever seen of Britney singing before she got her record deal was in her natural voice.,

MMC

Star Search

Home Videos

In her early recordings that didn't make her debut album i.e. Love The Hurt Away

Britney was known for having a more mature deep voice.

Yeah, I don’t think this guy is being completely honest here 

[DiamondCircus]

1 minute ago, Gutterguppy1202 said:

Yeah, I don’t think this guy is being completely honest here 

I agree cause the demo that was sent to jive was Britney singing Whitney Houston.

All the home videos we have seen as well don't show her in a baby voice.

[Lil-Jay]

While it's certainly NOT her natural voice, I do think it's possible that she herself came up with that "baby" voice...like it started developing in BOMT era and shaped fully in OIDIA era.

[Gutterguppy]

2 minutes ago, Lil-Jay said:

While it's certainly NOT her natural voice, I do think it's possible that she herself came up with that "baby" voice...like it started developing in BOMT era and shaped fully in OIDIA era.

Yeah, but this guy is saying she came to them with that voice, which is not entirely true. I do think record execs had some major influence over her sound for sure. 

[---]

max martin literally forced her to copy robyn's original vocal style. they kept raising the range of her songs until her voice thinned out so much she started singing falsetto/breathy to avoid cracking.
 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by ---

[Eternalhouse]

I think it was mostly due to Max Martin's instructions. The Oops album emphasized it even more and I think she stuck to it. (I personally think whenever she worked with Max, her vocals were pitched a semitone up.) And it became her trademark.

We all know she did have a lot of deep voice moments at the beginning of her career.

[Louis-j]

Then he hasn't listened to her first 2 albums. 

[Matou]

I'm not buying it till Britney confirms this. Tired of people speaking for her.

[blackingouthenegativity]

Actually that’s not the truth Steve

[2K16NEY]

29 minutes ago, Exhaolic said:

"that’s just the way she sings"

Her "baby voice" started around the Oops/Britney era tho, so...

So what? She evolved very quickly from 98 to 00. I’m sure Britney enjoyed playing around with her voice.

[G-unit]

Max Martin has literally confirmed that the “baby voice” (I cringe at that term) was started because they were trying to emulate the singing styles of other pop acts, such as BSB at the time and when Britney attempted to sing in the same style, they got the trademark Britney vocal we now know.

[Stefani]

At least she used that voice that she stole from a baby for the greater good and found success.

[stanLOONA]

1 hour ago, Gutterguppy1202 said:

Agree with you that she indeed has a unique voice, but they also felt it was too similar to Christina’s in sound and if I iirc they didn’t know how to market her like that, 

Britney debuted before Christina.

[I Can Bang]

Just now, 2K16NEY said:

So what? She evolved very quickly from 98 to 00. I’m sure Britney enjoyed playing around with her voice.

Except, that's not what he said? 

He said that Britney came to them with that baby voice which we all know it's BS, There are literally demos from that 97/98 where Britney still had her real voice, plus, like I said the baby voice wasn't even a thing during BOMT (the album) or at least not as present as her following albums! 

 

 

[Pfefferminz]

42 minutes ago, Exhaolic said:

"that’s just the way she sings"

Her "baby voice" started around the Oops/Britney era tho, so...

Her voice at 2:23 doesn’t sound like it’s coming from a natural place. It’s like she’s trying to sing like Whitney. Her old singing technique reminds me so much of Jessica.
 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by Pfefferminz

[The Exhale Psychic]

I Constantly get questions from my students asking why Britney sings in a "Fake"  Voice

What Britney does with her voice is not Fake.   it's just a stylistic choice.  and we have seen her switch between the two when she has needed too.   for some songs it needs the power so she puts the sound more in her chest.   when its a soft song she will pull back.   Britney has very good vocal technique.   she can flip from chest to head well and her agility is well controlled.   also if you listen to her old recordings from around MMC she is pushing her  Larynx down to create a deeper tone.  again a style choice.   Britney has always been a character Singer