One vocal characteristic I don't dig but feel I'm hearing more of from RS lately is "speak singing" in some places in lieu of melodic singing. I can't think of a specific recent example but I can remember being really struck by it in a "not good" way some time this summer in a show I heard... I will try to find an example.
Anyone else notice this? A matter of trying to save vocal chords or just not quite being able to make it work out?
Yes Ive noticed the "speak singing", always a lower pitch than the true melody line.
I could understand him doing that if his voice had gone over the years. But his singing is as strong as ever, his vocals haven't deteriorated over the years like it can do for a lot of singers. So maybe it's laziness or trying to save the voice over a concert.
How were the Sydney Disintegration shows, did he sing the melody lines from the album?
steve
Big Hand
Songs Of A Lost World *CRUMPET BOY*
Yes Ive noticed the "speak singing", always a lower pitch than the true melody line.
I could understand him doing that if his voice had gone over the years. But his singing is as strong as ever, his vocals haven't deteriorated over the years like it can do for a lot of singers.
It really went in 2016 by the time they got to Europe & maybe (as he's no spring chicken these days) he's watching himself to make sure he doesn't do some permanent damage. I suspect there is a bit of that, but, as I said already, I think he wants to add some variety too & keep a song fresh (perhaps the wrong word) or alive maybe. The arrangements for the instruments have also changed too. Let's not ignore that. So perhaps he wants to try something with the vocal melodies to fit that too. Push has been really angry sounding when he starts & I really enjoyed the different light it shone on the song to be fair
I was at Manchester 2016 when his voice had gone but that is very rare, every other time his vocals have been top notch.
I don't agree with changing the vocal line to keep a song fresh or new though. The studio melody line has been carefully constructed and usually any deviation on it will be inferior.
The only example I can think of Bob improving on the studio melody line is on A Night Like This when he's finishes the song with
Ch...a..a...a...a....a....a....nge
But that's adding something which isn't on the studio version rather than changing a melody
Around 2004 he was doing a different melody line to the refrain of JLH
YOU YOU YOU lost and lonely YOU YOU YOU soft and only YOU YOU YOU strange as angels
But at barfly 2004 he decided to sing it like the record but we were singing the "you you you" bit so loud that he changed to "you you you" by the second time of the refrain.
The power of persuasion, and a small venue.
Last Edit: Jul 2, 2019 21:42:08 GMT 1 by mralphabet
steve
Big Hand
Songs Of A Lost World *CRUMPET BOY*
I was at Manchester 2016 when his voice had gone but that is very rare, every other time his vocals have been top notch.
I don't agree with changing the vocal line to keep a song fresh or new though. The studio melody line has been carefully constructed and usually any deviation on it will be inferior.
His voice was shot for a lot of the European shows too. I was amazed they opened with SDS in Budapest to end the main set with Give Me It.
I get the studio melody has been crafted, but we're now talking a live environment. A studio recording is cast in .... wax...tape..whatever. A live performance is a 2 way thing with the audience I guess & every one is different because every audience is different. & given the time passed since the songs were committed to whatever medium, the band has evolved & arranged slightly differently. Doing The Unstuck is a completely different animal to what you hear on Wish, for example. Robert's always going to try to make it better as he thinks it should be & my personal preference is that when I see them & hear them live, I don't feel like I'm just listening to the record. I want to feel it. Imperfections & all.
Tear out the pages with all the bad news
Pipperoo
Big Hand
Songs Of A Lost World Moon Moderator
I totally think he gets bored with his own songs and tries to mix it up in addition to saving his voice. I can't remember the last time he sang WCIBY completely like the studio version. But given the amazing emotion he has been exhibiting in his singing the last few shows, which IMHO has been astounding, I don't care if he sings in Swahili.
Go and listen to pretty much every/any concert in the last few years and listen to the way he sings some of the songs’ melodies. He has been changing them. It’s annoying and it sucks.
His pitch has changed, I think that's the only way he can still do them without dropping the whole band half a step. The actual song Disintegration has always been slightly higher (and was faster..) that he's comfortable with.
I'll take vocal melody changes over key changes every time!
Nothing wrong with changing the key. U2 have been doing it for years. Live they tune the guitar and bass down by a semitone to D# so the edge n Clapton still play the same chord/bass shapes and Bongo can sing the correct melody a little easier.
But for the audience, the songs sound normal and they wouldn't know that they are in a slightly lower key. I had no idea they were dropping the key till I tried playing a regular tuned guitar along to a U2 show on the tv.
No reason why The Cure couldn't do this too, there's even a transpose feature on the sandwich trolley for Roger.
Last Edit: Jul 3, 2019 0:23:26 GMT 1 by mralphabet
Actually thinking about it, The Cure already play one of their songs live in a different key. The studio version of Friday is speeded up so it's in a key between D and D sharp. Live they play it in D but no one notices that's in a different pitch to the record.
One of mine too along with the way a few of the songs are played too slow, the tempo controlled by click track.
Disintegration, I love the song but I find it difficult to even get through it live with the incorrect vocal line and sluggish tempo. It just drags when it should be vibrant.
Sorry!
Last Edit: Jul 3, 2019 14:48:43 GMT 1 by mralphabet
steve
Big Hand
Songs Of A Lost World *CRUMPET BOY*
One of mine too along with the way a few of the songs are played too slow, the tempo controlled by click track.
Disintegration, I love the song but I find it difficult to even get through it live with the incorrect vocal line and sluggish tempo. It just drags when it should be vibrant.
Sorry!
The tempo never really irked me until they effectively dipped Primary in molasses on the 4Tour. That was (I think) a mistake. But we all have our own little niggles I suppose. I think I appreciate the changes to live versions as it's still a sign of progression rather then stagnation. I think the only vocal change that really bothered me was also in Primary after ".....& quickly changed the tune..." when in 84 he started adding the "la la las" right there. He's even added "The hills are alive.." for reasons only Robert knows. Primary's a thundering thumper & doesn't need that IMHO
