The voice is the most amazing instrument of all - we hear phrasing in instruments and have some words to identify aspects of it - but in vocals, there's far more phrasing techniques going on to create charisma and interest, and draw the listener in.

In fact - I would be willing to bet if you try to emulate some of your favorite singers characteristics - you can do so far more easily than come up with the correct words to describe the vocal technique being used. I do some things with my voice in copying songs and I don't have names for them (not that they do justice to the artist). About the only 3 that come to my mind are falsetto (think Robert plant - but I'm pretty sure people refer to his as a 'head voice'), vibrato, and as you pointed out 'singing at the top of your range' - but obviously, the effect of 'singing at the top of your range' (I don't know that there are words for what happens to your voice at this point) can't easily be applied if you're NOT at the top of your range.


As you can hear, this is an area probably well studied and old hat for many hear (pun intended ; ) but I'm just discovering it...