Lorelili's definitions
In singing, this refers to a soprano or tenor voice type of a vocal weight between a lyric voice and a dramatic voice, a "light heavyweight" voice.
Lyric voices are light, smooth, sweet, and agile; dramatic voices are heavy, rich, powerful, and full of emotion.
"Spinto" is Italian for "pushed" (this should not imply force) and applied to a tenor or a soprano it means a lyric voice which can be "pushed" to large musical climaxes at moderate intervals. This effect is achieved by a sharp edge in the voice's tone (squillo), which allows it to "cut" through a full orchestra (rather than singing over it like a true dramatic voice).
Since spinto voices bridge lyric and dramatic voices, they are able to play a wide range of roles in opera (but a spinto is not a common voice type).
Lyric voices are light, smooth, sweet, and agile; dramatic voices are heavy, rich, powerful, and full of emotion.
"Spinto" is Italian for "pushed" (this should not imply force) and applied to a tenor or a soprano it means a lyric voice which can be "pushed" to large musical climaxes at moderate intervals. This effect is achieved by a sharp edge in the voice's tone (squillo), which allows it to "cut" through a full orchestra (rather than singing over it like a true dramatic voice).
Since spinto voices bridge lyric and dramatic voices, they are able to play a wide range of roles in opera (but a spinto is not a common voice type).
A spinto tenor or spinto soprano may or may not have a darker color than their lyric counterparts; they often have the color of a baritone/mezzo-soprano and the high tessitura of a tenor/soprano.
Famous operatic spinto sopranos and spinto tenors include Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, Michele Crider, Aprile Millo, Renata Scotto, Mario Lanza, Mario Frangoulis, Carlo Bergonzi, Placido Domingo, and Franco Corelli.
Pop singers who could qualify include Kelly Clarkson, Michelle Branch, Rachelle Lampa, Diana DeGarmo, Adam Lambert, Adam Pascal, Clay Aiken, Freddy Mercury, Steven Tyler, and Michael Jackson.
Famous operatic spinto sopranos and spinto tenors include Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, Michele Crider, Aprile Millo, Renata Scotto, Mario Lanza, Mario Frangoulis, Carlo Bergonzi, Placido Domingo, and Franco Corelli.
Pop singers who could qualify include Kelly Clarkson, Michelle Branch, Rachelle Lampa, Diana DeGarmo, Adam Lambert, Adam Pascal, Clay Aiken, Freddy Mercury, Steven Tyler, and Michael Jackson.
by Lorelili July 7, 2011
Get the spintomug. Women who love other women, in the romantic sense, along with friendship. Heterosexual men often are very aroused by seeing two women making love. Unfortuanately for those men, lesbians are women who are devoted romantically, emotionally, and sexually to other women, not to men.
You'd think that there's many single gay men and many devoted lesbian couples... but look: there's lots of loving gay male couples and countless of single lesbians!
by Lorelili February 22, 2005
Get the lesbiansmug. A plastic doll that is targeted at little girls. A tall, thin blonde with a fake tan and a 24/7 smile and unblinking eyes, not to mention a head that turns 360 degrees. A doll that represents a limited and unrealistic view of women.
She seems to gain a new sister every year or so, but why have we never seen their mother? Barbie is probably hiding the fact that she regularly has sex with Ken... but then, she has no uterus and her hips are too narrow for carrying a child, and Ken is likely bisexual, if not gay. Seriously, where is she getting all of these "baby sisters" and what is the nature of her relationship with Ken?
She seems to gain a new sister every year or so, but why have we never seen their mother? Barbie is probably hiding the fact that she regularly has sex with Ken... but then, she has no uterus and her hips are too narrow for carrying a child, and Ken is likely bisexual, if not gay. Seriously, where is she getting all of these "baby sisters" and what is the nature of her relationship with Ken?
For a women to have Barbie's body, she would have to be 7'2'', weigh 120 lbs, have an 18''-23'' waist, a 38''-45'' bust, 36'' hips, and a neck twice the length of a normal human neck. Barbie would have to crawl around on all fours just to support her unnatural proportions if she were a human.
by Lorelili September 16, 2006
Get the barbiemug. A mystical creature. A mermaid is a young woman of the merfolk (or "merpeople"); from the waist up, she is most likely a beautiful maiden with flowing hair and generous proportions, while from the waist down, she has the tail of a fish or dolphin. Mermaids, along with appearing physically beautiful, are also gifted with beautiful singing voices. Aside from the young women, the other merpeople are rarely shown.
Mermaids are known for falling in love with human men, and many ships and sailors are said to have been dragged under the waves by the watery nymphomaniacs. Others are known to play tricks on seafarers. Still others are known for saving people who are in trouble at sea.
Then there is "the mermaid problem": despite being an enticing woman from the waist up, it is not known how these creatures procreate, which has led many human males to great frustration and many mermaids to great confusion. Still, if you don't think to hard about it, it works out well... especially if merpeople have the ability to assume full human form rather than half-fish, half-human.
Mermaids are known for falling in love with human men, and many ships and sailors are said to have been dragged under the waves by the watery nymphomaniacs. Others are known to play tricks on seafarers. Still others are known for saving people who are in trouble at sea.
Then there is "the mermaid problem": despite being an enticing woman from the waist up, it is not known how these creatures procreate, which has led many human males to great frustration and many mermaids to great confusion. Still, if you don't think to hard about it, it works out well... especially if merpeople have the ability to assume full human form rather than half-fish, half-human.
"Look out, lad, a mermaid be waiting for you
In mysterious fathoms below"
-Lyrics from the opening of "The Little Mermaid"
In mysterious fathoms below"
-Lyrics from the opening of "The Little Mermaid"
by Lorelili November 29, 2006
Get the mermaidmug. From Italian words meaning "first woman" or "first lady", depending on your preference, the prima donna is the leading lady in a performance, and especially in opera. Can also be called a diva.
Is now often used to describe someone arrogant, vain, or just plain bitchy. Diva and prima donna have become synonomous with a show-off or a bitch, regardless of whether or not the person in question is male or female.
Is now often used to describe someone arrogant, vain, or just plain bitchy. Diva and prima donna have become synonomous with a show-off or a bitch, regardless of whether or not the person in question is male or female.
Maria Callas was one of the great dive (DEE-vay) of the twentieth century. A coloratura-spinto soprano, she was determined to be the best of the best on the stage, often singing outside of her natural singing range, which eventually ruined her voice and led to her downfall. This Greek diva was known to give tantrums offstage. Still, her strong, metallic, if not angelic, singing and good sense of high drama enabled her to become a stellar actress and singer.
Fans claim that she was feuding with fellow soprano, the Italian spinto-lyric soprano, Renata Tebaldi, despite the strong friendship between the two singers.
Did you see that?! Charlotte pushed me off the stage and grabbed the spotlight for herself! What a prima donna!
Fans claim that she was feuding with fellow soprano, the Italian spinto-lyric soprano, Renata Tebaldi, despite the strong friendship between the two singers.
Did you see that?! Charlotte pushed me off the stage and grabbed the spotlight for herself! What a prima donna!
by Lorelili June 4, 2005
Get the prima donnamug. Often defined as aggressive, strong, and unfeeling or stoic. Being masculine means in modern times, at least, no shows of emotion, no flamboyance, no hugging or even looking at other men, must be interested in sports and physical/violent activity.
What masculine is is simply what a man does. Assuming responsibility for your actions; being sympathetic, sensitive, and caring; and gentleness are perfectly fine for men. A true man is not a hard-nosed, violent, overgrown child; he's a mature, kind individual.
What masculine is is simply what a man does. Assuming responsibility for your actions; being sympathetic, sensitive, and caring; and gentleness are perfectly fine for men. A true man is not a hard-nosed, violent, overgrown child; he's a mature, kind individual.
Until the 1800s, men's dress was about as flamboyant as women's dress, and men were allowed to show emotion and tears. But their clothing styles sobered and they were taught to be strong, stoic. Affection was still allowed... but as the world became aware of gays and other sexual minorities, male/male affection was scorned.
by Lorelili March 5, 2005
Get the masculinemug. The lowest womyn's singing voice; at the bottom of their range, they sound almost like men, often leading to people mistaking them for men on the radio, telephone, or wherever.
The alto range, which is below soprano, is really an easy combination of the mezzo-soprano range and the contralto range; the mezzo-soprano is the medium female voice and therefore the higher of the two.
The alto range, which is below soprano, is really an easy combination of the mezzo-soprano range and the contralto range; the mezzo-soprano is the medium female voice and therefore the higher of the two.
The contralto voice is a pretty rare voice. And there is little work that was written specifically for the contralto. Countertenors, mezzo-sopranos, and often tenors, baritones, and basses take the roles that were written for them.
Marian Anderson and Kathleen Ferrier were legendary operatic contraltos in their day.
Toni Braxton is a famous popular music contralto. As are Brandy, Alicia Keyes, Cher, and Blu Cantrell, among others.
Marian Anderson and Kathleen Ferrier were legendary operatic contraltos in their day.
Toni Braxton is a famous popular music contralto. As are Brandy, Alicia Keyes, Cher, and Blu Cantrell, among others.
by Lorelili August 26, 2005
Get the Contraltomug.