Best Bono vocal

[Dr. Lemonseed]

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the best vocal track Bono has ever laid down. There are some consideration: emotional nuance, melodic intricacy, varying technique, range, catchiness, tone quality...

For example, there are tracks where tone quality is great but the melody is very basic.

Please give the reason you think it's the best. A couple that came to mind for me:

Stay
Stuck in a Moment

The reasons are that it fulfills all of those categories I mentioned above. I especially like the varying technique in Stay.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Van Diemen's Land

 

[nesquick]

One, definetly. His broken voice and the emotion he put in it, it's stunning.

 

[nesquick]

M'y second is WOWY. His voice is powerful and very very sexy i would say, although i'm not gay... It reminds me Jim Morrison voice.

 

[U2girl]

Angel of Harlem, the way he soars along with the music.

 

[silkensky]

That's tough but studio Pride immediately comes to mind. The passion and strength in his voice here gives me goosebumps. It's perfect.

 

[djerdap]

Van Diemen's Land

His best guitar playing performance as well:

Bono & The Edge - van diemens land (The O2, Dublin, 2008) - YouTube

Other than that, The Fly, Running To Stand Still and Lemon.

 

[U2girl]

Outside of the 80's, One. 00's, Kite and MOS.

 

[Registered Dude]

One.. for it's restraint

 

[Globo14]

Stay and One come to mind.

 

[OpenG180]

Clannad's In a Lifetime.

 

[Tim Wallach]

Angel of Harlem, the way he soars along with the music.

Agreed. Angel of Harlem is very under-rated as a vocal performance. Not just any singer can do that.

But I'd have to include All I Want is You and With or Without You. Stunning vocals.

 

[Dr. Lemonseed]

While I'm sure we all can agree the sheer power of the 1980s material is unparalleled, I recently have been applying a more nuanced critique, such as expression and melodic strength (including verses). Some of his good choruses have really simple and unremarkable verse lines.

Another idea:
If You Wear That Velvet Dress

I agree with Angel of Harlem... as least as far as the verse melody, those are more complicated than most.

 

[Dr. Lemonseed]

In a Little While

 

[nielsgov]

Pride. Stay is amazing as well.

 

[blueeddy]

So Cruel

 

[Peterrrrr]

This is five great ones:
1.
4:44 to 5:18
Bonos high notes, vocal highlights from 360 tour era - YouTube

So much emotion and energy in those verses
I cant forgive U2.com for not including that version on U22

2.
U2News - Miss Sarajevo - Bono & Edge - A Decade of Difference Concert - YouTube
Bonos face on the high notes says it all

3.
All those flasettos:
Bonos voice(U2) High falsetto notes - YouTube

4.
Im not a fan of Bonos singing style on LT tour, but when he used his voice in the right way like in this version...
Best ever One Tree Hill - U2, Dublin Point Depot - YouTube

5.
The R&H version isnt to impressive in vocals, I choose this one:
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday (1986) - YouTube

 

[doctorwho]

4.
Im not a fan of Bonos singing style on LT tour, but when he used his voice in the right way like in this version...
Best ever One Tree Hill - U2, Dublin Point Depot - YouTube

This is a famous version - noted for both Edge's and Bono's performances.

But I never quite figured out all of what Bono says during the big guitar part (after "when it's raining, raining hard" part, but before "oh sweet ocean" end). Anyone with great ears want to help me?

I hear "bittersweet love" and what sounds like "hold somebody" being repeated, but I'd happily love to see what others hear.


As for the topic of this thread, my favorite STUDIO only Bono moments are:
Pride
WOWY
One Tree Hill
Exit
Angel of Harlem
Hawkmoon
One
The Fly
Wild Horses...
Stay
First Time
Kite
In a Little While
Beautiful Day
Sometimes...
MOS
NLOTH
Breathe

I selected these due to their range, passion, hoarse-voice pleading, or power.

 

[redhill]

U2 Stay live Dublin 1993 - YouTube

One of the best live performances / vocals...

 

[redhill]

U2 - Love Comes Tumbling - YouTube

Lest we forget...

The only time he ever sang quite like this.

 

[Von Schloopen]

4.
Im not a fan of Bonos singing style on LT tour, but when he used his voice in the right way like in this version...
Best ever One Tree Hill - U2, Dublin Point Depot - YouTube

I wish Bono would shut up on this one. He ruins the outro. Just screaming and hollering over an amazing guitar bit. Vocal wankery. It blows.

 

[chocky]

Tomorrow
One
In a Lifetime
Drowning Man
Miss Sarajevo - live versions
Unforgettable Fire

 

[AndrewCowley]

January 10th 1990. The final Lovetown show. His voice is just so 'on' that night. At the start of Edge's solo in Bad he belts out 'All I Want Is You' a few times. So powerful.

 

[JoRu]

Two great versions, one old and one quite new, of WTSHNN sprang into my mind:

U2 Rare Where the streets have no name New York Yankee Stadium on 1992 08 30 - YouTube
U2 Zurich 2010-09-12 Where The Streets Have No Name - u2gigs.com - YouTube

Two vocally perfected performances. When it comes to studio performances I particularly like:

Pride
One Tree Hill
The Fly
Love Is Blindness
Zooropa
Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad
Native Son
Moment of Surrender
Fez-Being Born
Cedars of Lebanon

 

[popacrobat]

Red Hill Mining Town anybody?

 

[redhill]

Red Hill Mining Town anybody?

Did not want to state the obvious ;]

 

[SLG]

'Red Hill Mining Town' vocal is stunning

 

[gvox]

:yep:

 

[LadySpinHead]

Everybody Loves A Winner

 

[redhill]

Good call with that Zurich Streets...

Rare to hear such a good live vocal on this song from Bono these days!