Bonos voice on new album

[monsieur fly]

Bono hasn't sounded this good on an album since Zooropa. Generally there is much less scratchiness (though it still there at certain times making the album a synthesis of older and later stylings, perhaps), more strength and a greater thickness. I am very impressed that a 48 year-old can broadly sound like his much younger self. Well done, Bono!

 

[Jdelbove]

ummm bono sounds great the oooooooooooohhhhs on the title track are freaking operatic - Magnificent is sung beautifully with the correct amount of power and smoothness MOS vocals are huge - White as snow - sleeeeeeeeeeep the niiiiiiiiiiight part is probably the best Bono has ever sounded and he sounded great on live performance of breath yesterday -

my only complaint is I miss the long notes which he seemed to be getting into on Bomb (its not that I dont think he can do it I guess they just didnt fit the songs)

 

[U2opra]

His voice is awesome, but I really hate the way he sings UC. I just feel that his voice tone is totally wrong for that song.

 

[johnb137]

i love bono's voice in this album especially on MOS

the only slight problem i have with this album is that the guitar on the record is too loud in some songs like SUC and UC in the beginning and maybe breathe. i prefer the guitars to be layered and not so upfront like achtung baby. i think this is the reason why i dont really like some songs in htdaab as well, songs like crumbs and miracle drug have guitar sounds that are way too loud compared to the vocals and drums and bass. anyway this is a thread bout bono's voice and i dont have any problem with his voice in this album, he is in top form imho

 

[yenlard]

breathe sounded pretty good yesterday. the edge was shredding. sound sounded much better live than i thought it would. however, i worry about bono being able to do that for hundreds of shows throughout the tour. ouch

 

[Jdelbove]

he will be fine the high notes are similar to the high feels in vertigo and he managed that quite nicely

 

[alanah]

All i know is Bono's voice is amazing, it's giving my goosebumps

That's it.

 

[AtomicBono]

His voice is awesome, but I really hate the way he sings UC. I just feel that his voice tone is totally wrong for that song.

Are you serious? That's one of my favourite vocals on the album. Bono sounds so miserable that I want to give him a hug. Absolutely heartbreaking. The way he sings the verses makes me choke up sometimes, so perfect. Contrasts with the more joyous chorus...what a strange, wonderful song.

as for this thread, yeah, well there was a Bono appreciation thread which I guess is the closest thing to a Bono's voice thread. Bono needs more love though. His voice is amazing this album, a lot of diversity. Moment of Surrender is easily one of his best vocal takes ever, and I love the low voice of Cedars. In No Line he sounds incredibly youthful, while on White as Snow he sounds like a world-weary man, both fitting the songs perfectly.

I'm tempted to start an Edge backing vocals appreciation thread too... every song has amazing backing vocals! Especially Breathe

as for Edge being MIA in terms of guitar, well, this isn't the thread for that. But I'd say, first of all, he can't possibly be MIA if he did a one minute solo on Unknown Caller. Besides a couple monster riffs (GOYB and SUC) I'd say his guitarwork is much more subtle, which, shocker, is what Edge is pretty much known for!

 

[Jdelbove]

am i the only one who hates edges backing vocals on breath. I mean they are great until the big last BREEEEEEATH in the chorus - their harmony doesnt fit edge is singing his traditional vibrato and bono is singing that high sharp powerful note - Bono needs to be solo on that note like he was yesterday when they preformed it live - love the song but that annoys me

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

He sounds awesome on this album.

 

[ultravioletPOPs]

Just remember, Bono decides each night on tour which key he will sing in, then Dallas tunes Edge's guitars accordingly. It will depend on where Bono can sing on a nightly basis, but he definately is strong on the album.

 

[powerhour24]

There's points on this album where he sounds like many of the different periods he's been through, but this is his best overall vocal performance since JT for me, so powerful

 

[TheBrazilianFly]

Just remember, Bono decides each night on tour which key he will sing in, then Dallas tunes Edge's guitars accordingly. It will depend on where Bono can sing on a nightly basis, but he definately is strong on the album.

What? That sounds very weird. Where did you read that?

 

[Salome]

I think a song like Magnificent wouldn't even have been possible when they recorded How to dismantle .... because of Bono
it is close to a miracle he's doing this

 

[U2opra]

Are you serious?

Well yeah... Don't be so shocked it's just my opinion. I thought it could've been a little less vulnerable in the chorus because in my opinion it made it sound weak. I understand he wanted an emotional aspect to his voice for the song but I feel it doesn't help the song.

I have nothing against anyone for liking his voice on the song, but for me I just don't like it and I think it could've sounded better that's all.

 

[adam3000]

bono's live singing voice is not doing so great ... why does he write such verbose lyrics that leave him out of breath and have him shouting the song (Vertigo, Breathe, GOYB, etc.) ... the Breathe performance from the french program tanked.

 

[U2opra]

I think he's a bit out of practice... When he was recording the album he was singing constantly in the studio - therefore his voice had taken adjustment in the respect it was being used a lot. Whereas now for example, he's probably had a bit of a break/gap and his voice needs time to adjust again to singing constantly. This always happens. At the beginning of a tour he always has a weak voice and then later throughout his voice gets stronger and stronger.

 

[BEAL]

This is the best his voice has sounded in many, many years. Mag & FBB are two songs that his voice sounds like it's been lifted out of TJT era.

What I love on this album in regards to his voice is the keeping it in the lower register. He didn't scream or try to hit falsetto on every song. Keeping it in a lower register or key (i really don't know what I'm talking about so please follow....) added so much to the songs, and probably make this effort much better than the last 2 albums. He isn't trying as hard. It feels more natural.

 

[wtonis]

Bono's voice rocks on this album......
....can't wait for the live shows..

 

[The Disciple]

bono's live singing voice is not doing so great ... why does he write such verbose lyrics that leave him out of breath and have him shouting the song (Vertigo, Breathe, GOYB, etc.) ... the Breathe performance from the french program tanked.

4give me, but U should seriously get Ur ears checked.

 

[U2girl]

He hasn't been this good since Zooropa. Also he is trying new things vocally (SUC, Breathe)

A little raspy on NLOTH, but otherwise fine.

The only thing he should have re-recorded are those two little squeaks in Crazy tonight.

 

[Gonna Run 2 U]

His voice does shine on certain songs on this album. I think without a doubt they should have done a different take on Magnificent or added some reverb or something, he sounds very bored with the song in my opinion....a big reason why i cant get into the song, that and there isnt nearly enough edge.

 

[Tripoli]

His voice does shine on certain songs on this album. I think without a doubt they should have done a different take on Magnificent or added some reverb or something, he sounds very bored with the song in my opinion....a big reason why i cant get into the song, that and there isnt nearly enough edge.

bless you sir, bless you

 

[ShipOfFools]

Bono's voice is at it's best on this album. I was blown away by some of the vocals on NLOTH, it's just amazing that he can sing like that at his age.

 

[redhill]

bono's live singing voice is not doing so great ... why does he write such verbose lyrics that leave him out of breath and have him shouting the song (Vertigo, Breathe, GOYB, etc.) ... the Breathe performance from the french program tanked.

You must be kidding.

The vocals on the live Breathe were spectacular - no opinion involved.

 

[U2opra]

So is that a fact or?

 

[AtomicBono]

Well yeah... Don't be so shocked it's just my opinion. I thought it could've been a little less vulnerable in the chorus because in my opinion it made it sound weak. I understand he wanted an emotional aspect to his voice for the song but I feel it doesn't help the song.

I have nothing against anyone for liking his voice on the song, but for me I just don't like it and I think it could've sounded better that's all.

sorry, I wasn't trying to attack you. I was just surprised because I love his vocals so much on that song and I think they fit perfectly, but I can understand if you wanted his voice to sound stronger. I just like vulnerable Bono I guess

it's not a HIIILL its a MOUNTAAIN!!

 

[AtomicBono]

You must be kidding.

The vocals on the live Breathe were spectacular - no opinion involved.

I happen to agree but, I'm pretty sure it's an opinion

I think he sounded much better on Breathe than GOYB.

 

[Gonna Run 2 U]

Bono's voice is at it's best on this album. I was blown away by some of the vocals on NLOTH, it's just amazing that he can sing like that at his age.

"The sirens wailing but its me that wants to get away"

 

[doctorwho]

The album singing is amazing. The live stuff recently has me worried.

I agree - album stuff great.

I disagree - live stuff great too!

The two performances of GOYB were great (the Grammy section with "No, not right now" was excellent - haven't heard some good Bono screams in a while). Maybe inaugural was a bit off, but the inaugural rehearsal was great! And performances of other songs (like "Breathe" in Paris, with B.B. King and, going back just a bit, the JT re-issue performance of some new songs) were fantastic.

One has to remember that even JT Bono wasn't "on" every day. R&H Bono had to cancel shows. AB Bono was often scratchy. On any given day, a singer can be a bit off. But that doesn't mean he's "off" all around. Everything I've heard from the end of the Vertigo tour to now sounds good.

As for his voice on the album, Peterrrr, I've written that I think it's the best since R&H/AB. Great low tones, great high tones, more control, good power - much better than what we heard in the past. If Bono quit smoking for good, then clearly it shows.