Bono's vocals + JT Bonus Songs - Page 3

Thanksandy · 12-08-2007, 09:33 PM

I'm talking more about the recordings of his voice rather than singing live. I don't think the Wave of Sorrow vocals are anywhere as good as Luminous Times or Spanish Eyes for example, let alone the songs from JT.

Singing it live might be another thing and Beautiful Day is a good example of a song that he sings so much better live. I am just disappointed with some of the vocals he has layed down on CD, it doesn't seem to capture the best vocals he can deliver.

I really want it to be good, but it just sounds like he is struggling on Wave Of Sorrow, straining in fact. I can't believe anyone doesn't notice this. I did say there were times it was strong, like some of the Waaavvesss at the end, but there were times where he couldn't hold the note, it sounded croaky and weak.

Songs like Mercy, City Of Blinding Lights and Electrical Storm are examples of strong vocal performances on the albums, I think there is a greater inconsistency in the quality of his vocals in the recordings of songs in the last 4-5 years.

shaun vox · 12-08-2007, 10:14 PM

bonos voice is just too raspy now.

listen to One (original version) and then the new remake with mary j blige. bonos vocal tone has diminished.

The Sad Punk · 12-08-2007, 11:09 PM

That was recorded in 2005, it's his 2006-07 voice that folks are going mad about.

Jdelbove · 12-08-2007, 11:15 PM

yea i dont hear it on wave of sorow I think his voclas are very good throughout the whole song. If anything I think he is restrained on the track he is holding back . The only thing I realize is he seems to be trying to sing lower than he has lately so maybe he is struggling to pull that of but he does pull it off i think.

Peterrrrr · 12-09-2007, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shaun vox
bonos voice is just too raspy now.

listen to One (original version) and then the new remake with mary j blige. bonos vocal tone has diminished.

Have you heard the last months london performences and the 5th leg Vertigo performences? No rapsy at all.

When Bono recorded One with blige his voice wasnt the best that day...

Quote:

Originally posted by Thanksandy

I really want it to be good, but it just sounds like he is struggling on Wave Of Sorrow, straining in fact. I can't believe anyone doesn't notice this. I did say there were times it was strong, like some of the Waaavvesss at the end, but there were times where he couldn't hold the note, it sounded croaky and weak.

If I remember right, Bono did record this song just in one day. But I think he wanted to sound a bit tard, just like he did for the studio version of One(AB) and IALW.

Rob33 · 12-09-2007, 02:46 PM

this is ridiculous...anyone complaining about Bono's voice right now either a) is forcing his/herself to think so

or b) hasn't heard London Union Chapel 2007 performance....people...SEARCH FOR IT ON YOUTUBE!!!

peterrr is right on here

personally, I'm enjoying his lovetown and zooTV voices as much as his current voice...his JT voice, while it was great no question, it lacked the smoothness and warmth that he demonstrates nowadays...

as for WOS... I've listened to the album version quite a bit and I'm yet to here any moments of struggling...I think his voice sounds awesome, ESPECIALLY on the 2007 live version

Thanksandy · 12-10-2007, 06:28 PM

I'll say it again, the debate is not over his live vocals but the quality of his vocal on the original recording.

This might not matter to some people so much, it could be that U2 record songs quicker nowadays or that Bono isn't concerned about getting his vocals totally right i.e. cutting out any croakiness etc.

Even though his voice LIVE is stronger now than during PopMart for example, I would say he sounds a lot better on Pop than he did on some stuff on HTDAAB and something like Wave Of Sorrow, in regards to the recording, NOT the Union Chapel performance.

t8thgr8 · 12-10-2007, 09:33 PM

yeah because he got a little candy in his ass

**Diemen** · 12-10-2007, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob33
this is ridiculous...anyone complaining about Bono's voice right now either a) is forcing his/herself to think so or b) hasn't heard London Union Chapel 2007 performance....people...SEARCH FOR IT ON YOUTUBE!!!

That was one night. An admittedly good night, but it also wasn't a night that was preceded by countless shows wearing on his vocal chords, and this night was only 4 songs long. He wouldn't be able to carry that kind of performance through a tour.

last unicorn · 12-11-2007, 01:45 AM

Bono's voice has been constantly improving in recent years. His vocals on ATYCLB weren't good, his vocals on Bomb were much stronger and better. Live he sounds the best he has sounded in years. I think people should appreciate this and have a little trust instead of complaining about something that hasn't even happened yet, i. e. the new album. I guess he's much more self-conscious about his new and improved voice now and it looks like he wants to show it, so I'm hopeful for the new songs. I would love to hear songs that have "more space around the voice".

U2DMfan · 12-11-2007, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thanksandy

This might not matter to some people so much, it could be that U2 record songs quicker nowadays or that Bono isn't concerned about getting his vocals totally right i.e. cutting out any croakiness etc.

My personal theory is that he re-writes his lyrics so many times that I'm sure half or more of the vocal takes that end up on the album were recorded within a few months or even weeks of the completion of the album. That is, when he's been constantly singing for up to a year, maybe more.

U2girl · 12-11-2007, 02:45 AM

The raspyness has been there since 1991/1992, and it doesn't equal weaker singing. If he's sounding more raspy, especially on the last two albums (and live, last two tours), that's is just the price paid for his early singing+smoking. Of course touring has its toll too, look at live Wanderer and new version of One with MJ Blige - those were done mid tour and it shows. Add to that it's one thing singing 100+ shows when you're 30 or 27 and another if you're pushing 50, his voice was able to recover faster.

That said, when he is rested, he can still do very good stuff, ie Union Chapel songs or last leg of Vertigo. Maybe a solution would be playing stadiums (less dates to play, less strain on vocals) or having more time in between tour legs and/or more space between gigs.

Thanksandy · 12-11-2007, 06:58 PM

U2girl I like your suggestion about playing stadiums, with less dates and more time between legs. This could be the way to go to safeguard Bono's vocals for the future.

ahittle · 12-12-2007, 07:52 PM

I'm cool with the vocal chords. I'm concerned about the lyrics. Raspiness is excusable, but lyrical clumsiness/obtuseness is not.

12-08-2007, 09:33 PM	#41
Thanksandy Acrobat Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ilford, Essex, England Posts: 308 Local Time: 09:02 PM	I'm talking more about the recordings of his voice rather than singing live. I don't think the Wave of Sorrow vocals are anywhere as good as Luminous Times or Spanish Eyes for example, let alone the songs from JT. Singing it live might be another thing and Beautiful Day is a good example of a song that he sings so much better live. I am just disappointed with some of the vocals he has layed down on CD, it doesn't seem to capture the best vocals he can deliver. I really want it to be good, but it just sounds like he is struggling on Wave Of Sorrow, straining in fact. I can't believe anyone doesn't notice this. I did say there were times it was strong, like some of the Waaavvesss at the end, but there were times where he couldn't hold the note, it sounded croaky and weak. Songs like Mercy, City Of Blinding Lights and Electrical Storm are examples of strong vocal performances on the albums, I think there is a greater inconsistency in the quality of his vocals in the recordings of songs in the last 4-5 years. __________________

12-08-2007, 10:14 PM	#42
shaun vox New Yorker Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: LA.cal ROCKnRoll city! Posts: 3,192 Local Time: 09:02 PM	bonos voice is just too raspy now. listen to One (original version) and then the new remake with mary j blige. bonos vocal tone has diminished. __________________

12-12-2007, 07:52 PM	#54
ahittle Refugee Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,096 Local Time: 09:02 PM	I'm cool with the vocal chords. I'm concerned about the lyrics. Raspiness is excusable, but lyrical clumsiness/obtuseness is not. __________________

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12-08-2007, 11:09 PM	#43
The Sad Punk Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: VEGA INTL NITE SKOOL Posts: 28,702 Local Time: 06:32 AM	That was recorded in 2005, it's his 2006-07 voice that folks are going mad about.

12-08-2007, 11:15 PM	#44
Jdelbove Acrobat Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US Posts: 450 Local Time: 09:02 PM	yea i dont hear it on wave of sorow I think his voclas are very good throughout the whole song. If anything I think he is restrained on the track he is holding back . The only thing I realize is he seems to be trying to sing lower than he has lately so maybe he is struggling to pull that of but he does pull it off i think.

12-09-2007, 02:46 PM	#46
Rob33 Rock n' Roll Doggie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,420 Local Time: 01:02 PM	this is ridiculous...anyone complaining about Bono's voice right now either a) is forcing his/herself to think so or b) hasn't heard London Union Chapel 2007 performance....people...SEARCH FOR IT ON YOUTUBE!!! peterrr is right on here personally, I'm enjoying his lovetown and zooTV voices as much as his current voice...his JT voice, while it was great no question, it lacked the smoothness and warmth that he demonstrates nowadays... as for WOS... I've listened to the album version quite a bit and I'm yet to here any moments of struggling...I think his voice sounds awesome, ESPECIALLY on the 2007 live version

12-10-2007, 06:28 PM	#47
Thanksandy Acrobat Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ilford, Essex, England Posts: 308 Local Time: 09:02 PM	I'll say it again, the debate is not over his live vocals but the quality of his vocal on the original recording. This might not matter to some people so much, it could be that U2 record songs quicker nowadays or that Bono isn't concerned about getting his vocals totally right i.e. cutting out any croakiness etc. Even though his voice LIVE is stronger now than during PopMart for example, I would say he sounds a lot better on Pop than he did on some stuff on HTDAAB and something like Wave Of Sorrow, in regards to the recording, NOT the Union Chapel performance.

12-10-2007, 09:33 PM	#48
t8thgr8 War Child Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: gulf coast Posts: 990 Local Time: 09:02 PM	yeah because he got a little candy in his ass

12-11-2007, 01:45 AM	#50
last unicorn Blue Crack Addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: lost in poetry Posts: 19,446 Local Time: 10:02 PM	Bono's voice has been constantly improving in recent years. His vocals on ATYCLB weren't good, his vocals on Bomb were much stronger and better. Live he sounds the best he has sounded in years. I think people should appreciate this and have a little trust instead of complaining about something that hasn't even happened yet, i. e. the new album. I guess he's much more self-conscious about his new and improved voice now and it looks like he wants to show it, so I'm hopeful for the new songs. I would love to hear songs that have "more space around the voice".

12-11-2007, 02:45 AM	#52
U2girl Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: slovenija Posts: 21,099 Local Time: 11:02 PM	The raspyness has been there since 1991/1992, and it doesn't equal weaker singing. If he's sounding more raspy, especially on the last two albums (and live, last two tours), that's is just the price paid for his early singing+smoking. Of course touring has its toll too, look at live Wanderer and new version of One with MJ Blige - those were done mid tour and it shows. Add to that it's one thing singing 100+ shows when you're 30 or 27 and another if you're pushing 50, his voice was able to recover faster. That said, when he is rested, he can still do very good stuff, ie Union Chapel songs or last leg of Vertigo. Maybe a solution would be playing stadiums (less dates to play, less strain on vocals) or having more time in between tour legs and/or more space between gigs.

12-11-2007, 06:58 PM	#53
Thanksandy Acrobat Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ilford, Essex, England Posts: 308 Local Time: 09:02 PM	U2girl I like your suggestion about playing stadiums, with less dates and more time between legs. This could be the way to go to safeguard Bono's vocals for the future.