BREATH-TAKING BELT! This Singer Held a Single Note for an UNBELIEVABLE 38 Seconds!

Morten Harket's vocal performance in A-Ha's "Summer Moved On," released in 2000 as the lead single from their album "Minor Earth Major Sky," features a remarkable display of sustained singing. During the track, Harket held a single chest voice note for 20.2 seconds, a feat recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest in any UK Top 40 single. This extraordinary duration stands out significantly in popular music, where vocal phrases typically last only a few seconds.

Achieving such a prolonged note requires exceptional breath control and vocal stamina. Singers employ precise diaphragmatic breathing, utilizing the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to regulate the airflow from the lungs, ensuring a steady and consistent tone. This controlled exhalation allows for maintaining pitch and volume throughout the extended period, demonstrating not only innate talent but also considerable vocal training and physiological strength. The ability to manage air efficiently prevents the voice (Review) from wavering or losing power as the breath dwindles.

While Harket's note is a record in its specific category, other vocalists have achieved even longer sustained notes in different contexts. For instance, Tee Green holds the record for the longest same-pitch vocal note on any studio recording, lasting 39 seconds in his 2011 rendition of "Everything Must Change." Similarly, Melba Moore held a 36-second note in her 1982 album track "The Other Side of the Rainbow." Vocal coach Richard Fink IV also set a Guinness World Record for the longest sustained singing note, holding a C for 1 minute and 53 seconds in 2019, though this was not in a hit song. These instances highlight the incredible range of human vocal endurance and the dedication required to master such intricate aspects of singing.