Ed's most 'technical' performances

Release_Me

Guys, I'd like to know your opinion on what you think are Ed's best performances vocally, from a technical standpoint. I realise that a lot of you may not be into the technicalities of vocals, but if anyone is, I'd like to know their choices. For those who want a general idea of what would constitute a 'technical' performance, think LROM, I've Got A Feeling, Release, In Hiding, SOLAT, etc. Also, something like Dead Man Walking, where he sings really low. Basically, songs that are 'difficult' to sing, where he showcases a lot of range, etc. I'd like to be linked to some specific live performances too, where you feel he takes the song to another level.

Johnny Aggro

Definitely All Night. Probably Leash and Tremor Christ also come to mind also

Dazzler

I think the best Ed has sang for a long time was at the who Tribute in 2007, where he gave the best performances ever of Love, Reign o'er me and The Real Me.

Rockin in the free World with Bono and The Edge from Australia 2006 had some good vocal moments too.

Long Road at Wembley 2007 was amazing vocally, pity there isn't an official boot of that show, but Long Road from Manchester 2009 was very similar and shows how Ed is stretching himself vocally all of the time.

PART.OF.eV3RY.DAY

Considering the songs you've mentioned, I figured these would fit in nicely. Taken from Eddie performing w/ the Doors @ their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (1-12-93?). Sorry, couldn't pick just one. Power, range, & control all on display here:

Roadhouse Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TxjxzdmFW4
Break on Through
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfljH8mfJp8
Light My Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1lVcAay_g

Many vocalists have great technical ability, but Ed's tone & emotional connectivity have always helped set PJ apart from the crowd as far as I'm concerned . Check these out:

PJ, Gone-AOL Sessions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArslVcMLeQ8
EV, My City of Ruins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaKsHNxRfJk

shadowcast

His solo show when he does ARC. If you haven't seen it's an darn right spiritual experience.

joely_91

nothingman seattle 2 - 2000
cant ever listen to this to much

Tom K

"Stuff and Nonsense" from 7 worlds collide..

Black Diamond

City of Ruins with the choir at Kennedy Center Honors.

CrookedTom

Tom K wrote:

"Stuff and Nonsense" from 7 worlds collide..

100% agreed...Wonderful song and performance

Tom K

Must be a name thing..

DewieCox

None...Don't see too many technical singers made funny faces when trying to hit the more difficult notes. Not to say he doesnt have some amazing performances of stuff that's somewhat difficult to sing, I just don't think they necessarily come from technical know how as much as just diggin in deep and lettin er rip.

I think the most technical thing Ed does is the overdubs, which have really put a cool touch on alot of post 2000 catalog.

TUTMAN08

My opinion - Seeing Arc Live in DC was a life changing experience. Seeing it in Atlanta a year later was no different.

I love the City of Ruins at the Springsteen tribute.

Finnally, EV and J Depp doing Society is a hard one to ignore. J Depp is indeed, talented but Eddie really made him shine .

Jerome230

Evacuation and Blood, for sure.

realmgeorge

DewieCox wrote:

None...Don't see too many technical singers made funny faces when trying to hit the more difficult notes. Not to say he doesnt have some amazing performances of stuff that's somewhat difficult to sing, I just don't think they necessarily come from technical know how as much as just diggin in deep and lettin er rip.

I think the most technical thing Ed does is the overdubs, which have really put a cool touch on alot of post 2000 catalog.

Dopey post

DewieCox

realmgeorge wrote:

DewieCox wrote:

None...Don't see too many technical singers made funny faces when trying to hit the more difficult notes. Not to say he doesnt have some amazing performances of stuff that's somewhat difficult to sing, I just don't think they necessarily come from technical know how as much as just diggin in deep and lettin er rip.

I think the most technical thing Ed does is the overdubs, which have really put a cool touch on alot of post 2000 catalog.

Dopey post

Sorry, just don't think Ed is that great of a technical singer. Sue me. He's a great singer, and probably my favorite ever, I just think it's more of a 80-20 split. I think many of the songs mentioned in this thread support this.

Release_Me

Thanks for your response, guys! I've already heard some of these songs, the ones I haven't, I'll be sure to check out

Also, I'd like to say that although Ed isn't a formally trained vocalist, he is definitely skilled. Not as technically skilled as say, Jeff Buckley or Chris Cornell, but enough to be considered one of the greats. (Jeff Buckley is another who never received any formal training, just used his immense talent). You can't sing LROM and do it justice unless you have some serious skill. You have to do more than just try and hope to hit some of those highs, you really need to know what you're doing. Same with some of the great lows he gets in Dead Man, for example. Anyway, there's a lot more to singing than the technical aspects and he does extremely well with those too; like phrasing, versatility, emotion, etc.

Just to illustrate his range, the screams in LROM ("Looove, reign over me") are D5s, while the lowest he goes in Dead Man Walking is D2 ("the hammer that I once brought down now"). That's three full octaves, right there. He's gone lower (and higher) of course; the lowest I've found so far is A1 in I'm Still Here ("order another round"). The highest in full voice is an E5 in I've Got A Feeling ("Yeah... wow, I've got a feeling"). One of my favourite Ed moments is in Dissident when he sings "Escape is never the safest place" in the last verse. The bolded is a D5, very clean and effortless sounding for a note that high. I've never heard him reproduce this one live, even though he's done the D5 screams in LROM a number of times.

eboweddie

i think 'in hiding' is a fab vocal. very hard song to sign aloud too. love ed's range

Dazzler

Check out Dissident from Mansfield 1 in 2003.

He tries for that D5 that you mention, not sure if he quite gets it, but it sounds great, and it is my favourite live version. Most other times, he just speaks that line at the end.

JordyWordy

Evacuation is impossible to sing! He does a great job on that, even though they've stopped playing it live.

I think the show ive heard with the most "complete" technical performance throughout was Benaroya Hall. He hits notes nice and steady (and didnt do the wavering thing with his voice as much as he normally would) and the notes sound soft and warm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLFBMCV1 ... re=related

Go, Comatose, Spin The black circle, Leash, Blood, Habit, Grievance are all songs where he moves from accurate loud high screams to low end notes all the time, difficult stuff to do for 2 hours. The Perth 2006 version of Blood is a fantastic example of Ed nailing the screams.

I also love the high wailing noise he does live at the very end of Black.

Release_Me

Dazzler wrote:

Check out Dissident from Mansfield 1 in 2003.

He tries for that D5 that you mention, not sure if he quite gets it, but it sounds great, and it is my favourite live version. Most other times, he just speaks that line at the end.

Could you give me a link for that one? I don't have the bootleg

Dazzler

http://www.pearljambootlegs.org/modules ... /index.php?
2003

2003-07-02 Tweeter Center for The Performing Arts, Mansfield, MA

track 07 Dissident
That note you were looking for is at the 3:13 marker.
It's close!!!