Vocal hiccup
# Vocal hiccup

Vocal hiccup is a "hiccuping" singing technique which was notably used by Buddy Holly and Michael Jackson.

## Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly used the "vocal hiccup" in many of his songs. It is described as "a clipped ‘uh’ sound used to emphasize certain words", for example, "We-UH-ell, the little things you say and do, make me want to be with you-UH-ou..." in his record of the song Rave On (1958).

Edward Comentale asserts that Holly's hiccup technique comes from the southern tradition of "eefing". He describes it as follows: "he [Buddy Holly] cuts off the sound at the back of the throat, blocking the flow of sound so that it pops out again with greater intensity - hic-a! A sharp break or silence is immediately followed by a loud burp, an extra 'supplemental' syllable."

Scott "Buddy" Cameron, known for his impersonation of Buddy Holly, in particular in the 2005-2009 production of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story musical, among other "trademark" features of Buddy Holly, uses "lilting vocal hiccup".

## Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson started using the "vocal hiccup" in 1973, in the song "It's Too Late to Change the Time" on the G.I.T.: Get It Together album. The next time he used this technique several years later, in his 1979 solo album Off the Wall. Jackson's hiccup technique is described as "somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping".

Diana Ross claimed on The Today Show that Michael Jackson took the vocal hiccup technique from her.

