Bono....even aware of the fact that he

[DevilsShoes]

A singing coach thought he had a good range in 1977:

"He has one of the best-known voices in rock 'n' roll. But it could all have been so different for Bono had he been successful auditioning at Dublin's prestigious College of Music in the late 1970s. The school's singing coach Veronica Dunne claims while punk rock was raging in the streets of Dublin, Bono, alias Paul Hewson, auditioned for her in 1977 in the hope of enrolling at the Chatham Row singing school. Speaking to the Sunday Tribune 81-year-old Dunne said: "I can clearly remember Bono coming in because he had such an unusual name... But I remember he was a very polite young man. Dressed in leather so he might have come on a motorbike. He told me before he started singing that he sang in a pop group." She said, "I must say Bono as he called himself had a lovely voice. Joyful and charming. I remember it ringing out around the room as he went through his scales. After he finished I complimented him on his range and performance." Despite going on to sing with U2, whose combined wealth is estimated at €624m, Bono failed to make the cut. "Unfortunately I had to say no to poor Bono. I couldn't do anything for him at the time because my term had just started and I had a stable of young singers at the time. When I told Bono the news, he seemed very disappointed but there was nothing I could do. He went off looking a little sad."

Singing coach regrets having 'to say no to poor Bono'

That's a great story Bonocomet, I'd never heard it before, thanks for posting it.

 

[BVS]

But I'd take 80s power over perfect pitch with squeaks anyday.

You keep mentioning "squeaks", what do you mean by that?

 

[Peterrrrr]

I think he was capable of real power throughout both those era's but I just prefer the overall sound and quality of Bono's voice more during the Rattle and Hum/Lovetown years, warm and rich and clear as a bell.

He had a much more stronger voice in hitting notes, "Wide Awake", "Name of love"... He had a problem hitting those on JT/LT, when he didnt succed hitting them he screamed them short. But Bono low voice was much deeper and lower on LT

 

[the tourist]

You keep mentioning "squeaks", what do you mean by that?

Just using one song as an example, in Vertigo, at the end of the words "you" and "feel" in the chorus, and "kneel" in the outro his voice squeaks.

 

[Peterrrrr]

Just using one song as an example, in Vertigo, at the end of the words "you" and "feel" in the chorus, and "kneel" in the outro his voice squeaks.

I think I know what you mean, on the first live performences of Vertigo he didnt do that, two examples:

YouTube - U2 - Vertigo (Under the Brooklyn Bridge)

YouTube - U2 CD:UK 2004 - Vertigo

But if Im correct you mean what he does in this one:

YouTube - Vertigo (live from Vertigo Buenos Aires)