These isolated vocal tracks will blow your mind

23 May 2024, 12:00

What happens when you remove the band and leave the singer exposed? Listen to magical versions of tracks by David Bowie, Linkin Park, The Rolling Stones, The Smiths and more.

By Radio X

@RadioX

Sometimes isolation can be a positive thing.

Thanks to the advance of technology and various bedroom producers dicking around with the elements from various Rock Band and Guitar Hero audio tracks, it’s now easier than ever to listen to individual bits of your all-time favourite tracks.

Radio X has trawled the internets for some of the greatest examples of a capella vocals. These clips give you an insight into just how amazing some of these great rock performances were… and they’re positively spine-tingling.

1. Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine

   This track is classic Alex Turner swagger… but when Matt Helders hits the falsetto backing vox, the song enters another dimension.

   

   Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine? (Vocals Only)

2. Queen And David Bowie - Under Pressure

   Stadium-filling superstars meet Ziggy Stardust himself in a studio in Montreux. Freddie Mercury and Bowie try to top each other in the drama stakes. Who wins? YOU decide.

   

   Under Pressure (A-Capella) - Only Vocals

3. The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter

   OK, so the Mick bits are pretty standard Stones fare… but wait until backing singer Merry Clayton hits her solo spot. The sound of her voice is sure to give you goosebumps.

   

   Mick Jagger and Merry Clayton making vocals Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones

4. Linkin Park - Numb

   The late Chester Bennington soars in this intricately-layered performance.

   

   Linkin park numb vocals only (official music video)

5. Florence + The Machine - Hunger

   Hear Florence Welch's soaring vocals in sweet isolation.

   

   Florence and the Machine - Hunger (Isolated Vocals)

6. The Smiths - This Charming Man

   It’s easy to take the piss out of Morrissey’s melancholic warble, but by God he can infuse his lyrics with a very particular sort of emotion. You may miss the Johnny Marr riff, but this is like a whole new song.

   

   The Smiths - This Charming Man (Acapella)

7. Coldplay - Yellow

   Chris Martin’s lead vocal is mannered and gentle, but when those ethereal backing vocals appear in the chorus… you find yourself right back at Glastonbury, in front of the Pyramid Stage, wristband glowing gently in the dark.

   

   Coldplay - Yellow (Vocals Only)

8. Muse - Hysteria

   Matt Bellamy heads off into the Vocoder stratosphere without the fuss of his guitar playing to distract you.

   

   Muse - Hysteria (Vocals Only)

9. Adele - Someone Like You

   No, we've just got something in our eye, that's all.

   

   Adele - Someone Like You (Official Studio Acapella)

10. Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box

    Genuinely spine-tingling stuff from Kurt Cobain.

    

    Heart shaped box - Nirvana - vocals

11. Radiohead - Creep

    It's like having Thom Yorke as a flatmate and he's singing in the shower right next to your bedroom.

    

    Radiohead - Creep (Voice Only)

12. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

    Tony Wilson gave Ian Curtis a copy of Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits the night before he recorded this classic - and it shows.

    

    Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart isolated vocals, vocals only

13. Queen - Somebody To Love

    Mercury leads, May and Taylor provide exquisite back-up. Just a ridiculously talented band.

    

    Queen - Somebody To Love (Only Freddie's Vocals)

14. Guns N'Roses - Sweet Child O'Mine

    One of the most distinctive voices in rock.

    

    Sweet Child O' Mine (Real Acapella) - Guns N' Roses