Earlier this year a new study shed light on the rules of attraction between men and women.
And part of that study focused on the sound of our voices.
For example, women with high-pitched voices apparently prefer deep-voiced, manly men. These women are not only thought of are sounding more attractive but often have faces others consider more attractive as well. (That’s what the study said.)
I’ve been thinking about this because, for the past few months, I’ve had this problem with my throat — and it’s causing me to sound like a veteran chain smoker.
Now normally my voice is fairly low. I don’t squeak or screech and can’t hit a high C.
But ever since I had a sinus infection — compounded with colds, flus and an allergy to mango flowers — I haven’t been able to shake this raspy voice.
And I get complimented on it. Complimented. Even though I sound like a teenage boy going through puberty.
So what’s with the attractiveness (to men) of a raspy voice? Think Demi Moore, Rachael Ray and Angie Harmon.
Someone explain this to me. Because I seriously don’t get it.
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To read all of Cat’s blogs, visit www.nonstophonolulu.com/thedailydish. Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at [email protected].
39 Comments
Hello Cat!
I don’t get it too! maybe it sounds sexy…… 🙂
Speak to me Cat!
@M I thought BRIEFLY about posting an audio stream of my voice so you can hear it. It’s awful.
@Cat @M if you do post an audio of your raspy voice, say this, please: “fasten your seat belts, it’s gonna be a bumpy night.’
Raspy voice sound like grandma. Eh you and I get same allergy with Mango flower. That’s why I lost my tonsils at 25. Infections every year since I got married. Wait, I not saying my wife made me sick 🙂
@Ynaku I wonder if it would help to get my tonsils removed… I never thought about that…
@Cat @Ynaku getting your tonsils out as an adult is more intense than when you’re five., but then, most early age tonsillectomies are unnecessary. however, for someone as healthy and fit as you are, you tend to get sick a lot, it might be worth a consultation
Me neither, Cat! haha nah, hmm… I think there’s a difference between rasp and manly. What does the Dr. have to say about it? BTW, I can furnish that audio stream if you like… I have a few recordings of you in Dolby 5.1 that I’m sure the crowd would love to hear! 🙂
because it sounds like gasping – as in; ‘oh, baby – oh, baby – oh, baby (gasp!) oh, baby. Kathleen Turner has it, so does Melane Griffith.
@turkfontaine wow. haha come to think of it, I don’t often notice a raspy voice… unless it’s like Joan Rivers raspy… that’s pretty extreme though, eh?
@johngarcia Joan Rivers? now that IS scary.
@turkfontaine I forgot about Kathleen Turner!
IMO, the appeal is it sounds sexy. Simple as that. I’m surprised at that study if it says higher-pitched women are perceived as more attractive. Personally, I find a higher-pitched voice unattractive. (Think Georgette on Mary Tyler Moore show.) But too low (Kathleen Turner, e.g.) and it’s downright scary.
@hawaii2000 — Dude… when Body Heat came out in the ’80s, Kathleen Turner’s voice was probably the sexiest of all time. She was Jessica Rabbit afterall. She, and her voice, did not age well however.
@MaxMaxMax Yep. Should have specified Kathleen Turner NOW.
@hawaii2000 — I love her oversexed agent character on Californication. Somehow, her gravely voice enhances it!
“Oh, you can play hard to get all you like Runkle…
But Sue Collini, always gets the weenie.”
I think women with raspy *singing* voices are cool, i.e. Kim Carnes, Joan Osborne etc. I’ve gotten compliments from women about my voice when I was sick too, which I also think is strange given the way I felt at the time. I guess low voice + throat cold = sexy sound for some people!
@808marv — Let’s add to the list… Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Tyler… Good call on the raspy singers.
@MaxMaxMax yeah the “Bonnies” are great too!
I get it too every time I have a bad cold: Male friends say they want to record my voice because it’s so sexy. Maybe it triggers thoughts of smoky bars with mysterious/dangerous women crooning soulfully and low at the mic.
Cat, your voice sounded really sexy on the Duke’s video. 😉
@strobie Is it the same for guys? What kind of voice do women find attractive for guys? Deep and Barry White? 🙂 heh
@johngarcia Barry’s a little intimidating… well, for me. He could be talking about changing out the oil in the Benz and it’d feel like he was seducing everyone in the room, right?
I don’t think about guys voices, actually. I’d notice a squeaker (I was thinking about that bromance set-up in “I Love You, Man” – the gym guy screaming “Give it all you got!” over and over). Good for comedy, not for “bow chika bow bow”.
Hmmm… for me, I think your three examples aren’t very sexy in my book. Demi’s look, sexy… voice, not so much. Rachel Ray is like nails on a chalk board. I can take Angie Harmon OK, but it doesn’t do her any favors.
I prefer low, velvety voices on women, just “without” the rasp. When I first came here in ’89, there was a girl in our office (21) who had the sultriest voice you’ve heard. EVERY guy in the office had her record their voicemail greeting, and some of the other girls too. She should have charged for it, haha!
Normally my voice is on the higher side of medium pitched, so when I’m sick, I take advantage of it and talk up a storm, LOL!
I’ve heard you on the old KHNL morning shows…nothing wrong with your voice Cat.
It’s not really a big deal
since i’ve only known u a couple months, i thot that was ur normal voice. now i’m wondering how u really sound???
@nonstopmari You should call my cell and listen to my voicemail message. That’s the REAL Cat. Meow.
Everyone likes a little texture in their sounds. Even a violin isn’t perfectly smooth, and I think that’s part of it’s appeal. If you want to take the ultimate test, you should just autotune your voice and see how many people compliment you then ;-] heheh
@umiworkshop haha awesome idea. Cat — I can make this happen as well… would be fun to test audio also. 🙂 LOL just say the word!
I don’t understand it, but I love it. Guess it’s just a guy thing. And, I love Willie Nelson’s raspy voice cuz I know he’s drunk a lot and smoked a lot.
@Maxcat Especially with Willy, the alcohol induced raspiness adds a ton of character. Not sure *that* same kind of raspy would be quite as attractive on a female 😉
Just stumbled upon an old voice over session recording with Cat and Diane for her top 10 list in iTunes… doesn’t sound raspy at all… maybe we should do a follow up complete with before, after rasp and auto-tuned, iJustine style?! 🙂 haha!
CAT,
Hawaii 2K mentioned Georgette on the MTM show who happens to be Georgia Engle a former Hawaii resident. The voice was a put on as she was type cast quite a bit using that sweet high pitch voice. Remembered her as Morgana the witch in a UH production, same voice. It also reminded me of Rose Marie who had a raspy voice on the same show. I think men like raspy voices because it does not remind them of their little sister…women who have a huskier voice evokes some intrigue, curiosity, and mystique because it is very uncommon. On one hand you have Rachel Ray then you have Ina Garten on the other end. Her voice is so melodious it puts you to sleep. Can you tell I watch the Fuud Network???!!!
who knows, but its sexy…its must be part of our primate brain for us guys, natural selection. you know like the deep sound of a rumbling exhaust from a V8 engine. it represents something strong and powerful…unlike the high pitch from a mosquito from a 4 cylinder rice cooker of a wanna be race car you see now days. weak and timid…who knows…LOL
I find the raspy voice so attractive and unresistable. I dont k now why, but if you personally dont like having that voice then you shouldnt keep for its ‘strange’ benefits.
I still cant explain why its so sexy.
I too have the raspy voice going on and have been so baffled by the compliments by both men and women….I don’t get it!!
I have no idea why raspy female voices are so pretty…
I found a WatchMojo list of ten sexy-voiced actresses, most of them had lower, huskier voices and sounded about in their thirties or fourties. Idk what’s up with the 30-40-y/o-woman-with-the-raspy-voice theory but Scarlett Johannsen & Angelina Jolie are awesome. 🙂
I hate and am getting tired of raspy female voices: Angie Harmon, Lorraine Bracco, Rachael Ray, etc. . Enough already. Also, what happened to 4 part harmony? Four Tops, Temptations, ? I hate 4 guys not having their own distinctive voices.
-Come on, ppl! Raspy voices are sexy because to the subconscious it’s a “energetic command voice”, it notes “intense” effort, and thus ..well, I’m not going to describe every guy’s mind here. Just join the dots..
It’s so strange that Demi Moore has totally lost her smokey rasp! Where did it go???? I thought with age it would only intensify! She sounds like a completely different woman in comparison to how she sounded 20yrs ago! I always loved her voice!!!!