He's had his up and downs over the last 10 or so years (tour wise). I agree, some songs are pretty rough these days but I think '13 sounded better than many years of late. Ed solo sounds fantastic! I do think they'll get to the point where many songs aren't or are rarely played. If they stay together for years to come, I can also see them slowing down. I also think WHY they play their classic songs so fast now is that the tempo covers up a lot of the vocals. Slowed down, Ed's voice is more of the focal point.
He's had his up and downs over the last 10 or so years (tour wise). I agree, some songs are pretty rough these days but I think '13 sounded better than many years of late. Ed solo sounds fantastic! I do think they'll get to the point where many songs aren't or are rarely played. If they stay together for years to come, I can also see them slowing down. I also think WHY they play their classic songs so fast now is that the tempo covers up a lot of the vocals. Slowed down, Ed's voice is more of the focal point.
While there are some excellent points in some earlier posts, this one hits the mark for me. I think Ed's voice has been taking a noticeable hit from 2008-now. Part of it being age, part the wear n tear of these songs, and part due to smoking. However that being said, he KILLS IT solo (full control and no competing with a loud band). And I really just think they occasional "crackage" is the price we're going to pay to hear some of the songs we love from now on.
2009 was the roughest (Given to Fly on the vancouver boot is really bad).
2010 (Boston!) and then Europe in 2012 was alot better.
Only listened to Philadelphia 2013, but yeah - its a bit more harsch than earlier years. Animal is one example of this (even though I was at the show and it was rocking!)
Only listened to CVille so far, and I thought he sounded a lot better. Watched a few of the South American shows on youtube from earlier in 2013, and I thought he really struggled.
Smoking vs. Not smoking Period Mostly phenomenal performances until after LA 2.. Then his vocals are a wreck Brooklyn 1 and 2 are amazing So is Hartford IMO New Orleans is another that people overlook That show is stellar and a festival no less
"This here's a REQUEST!"
EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
10/25/13 Hartford
I also think WHY they play their classic songs so fast now is that the tempo covers up a lot of the vocals. Slowed down, Ed's voice is more of the focal point.
I think that's why they need to slow down. He doesn't have a chance to breath, so all the power is coming from his vocal cords. I'm not a pro singer, but it's much easier to sing when you can breath properly, and more damaging when you don't.
Of course he's gonna age, but some other singers from the early 90s have hung on pretty good compared to EV. I will say he's done a pretty good job if rolling with the changes through the years, he just makes a lot more strained faces these days.
I also think WHY they play their classic songs so fast now is that the tempo covers up a lot of the vocals. Slowed down, Ed's voice is more of the focal point.
I think that's why they need to slow down. He doesn't have a chance to breath, so all the power is coming from his vocal cords. I'm not a pro singer, but it's much easier to sing when you can breath properly, and more damaging when you don't.
Of course he's gonna age, but some other singers from the early 90s have hung on pretty good compared to EV. I will say he's done a pretty good job if rolling with the changes through the years, he just makes a lot more strained faces these days.
I think you both are right. Especially the point Eddie being able to breath properly is spot one. I think this is the reason why he can't get Mind your manners to really work.
Not sure though if it is the reason why he can't hit the high notes. That's probable just age, smoking and the wine. Although like others said he did seem to be sick during the tour.
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
You can't help age, but the other two are preventable ESPECIALLY the smoking. No human being who makes their living singing should smoke EVER much less regularly or in the solo of Even Flow. Keep doing it, you won't be able to sing at all at some point.
I think Ed actually LIKES when he makes his voice crack sometimes. Like on All Night on Fallon a couple years ago. Think he feels like it's the punk rock thing to not make your voice sound good. I don't get it.
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I also think WHY they play their classic songs so fast now is that the tempo covers up a lot of the vocals. Slowed down, Ed's voice is more of the focal point.
I think that's why they need to slow down. He doesn't have a chance to breath, so all the power is coming from his vocal cords. I'm not a pro singer, but it's much easier to sing when you can breath properly, and more damaging when you don't.
Of course he's gonna age, but some other singers from the early 90s have hung on pretty good compared to EV. I will say he's done a pretty good job if rolling with the changes through the years, he just makes a lot more strained faces these days.
I think you both are right. Especially the point Eddie being able to breath properly is spot one. I think this is the reason why he can't get Mind your manners to really work.
Not sure though if it is the reason why he can't hit the high notes. That's probable just age, smoking and the wine. Although like others said he did seem to be sick during the tour.
He totally killed Mind Your Manners in Vancouver. Worked perfectly.
Also heard him hit plenty of high notes. I think his main issue is doing such long shows. If they didn't do that, then his voice would be in consistently better shape (although honestly, what are we talking about here? I heard his voice crack maybe three times in 3 1/2 hours).
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Mind your manners was roughroughrough in Philadelphia. Would ove to hear the one from Vancouver if it "worked perfectly"
I think it just took them almost the whole tour to straighten it out maybe! But yeah, it sounded great in Van. For me it was actually one of the show highlights.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I feel it's unrealistic to expect his voice to sound the same as it did when he was 20 years younger. That's like expecting someone to look the same as they did when they were 20 years younger. No one does!
People change over time because they are encased in bodies that age.
Ed uses the voice he has now very well. Let's be happy he's still out there sharing it with us since we (his fans) love his voice so much!!
Yeah he totally sounds good. I actually don't give a fuck if his voice cracks once in the while. It doesn't reduce my personal enjoyment of the shows one tiny little bit!
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Cornell credits his revived vocals to quitting smoking. I can almost guarentee that is the major factor in whether Ed has a good night or not. The age and # of shows theory gets blown away with performances like the second leg of 2008 tour and Wrigley . Have you heard Wrigley ????? Holy god !
"This here's a REQUEST!"
EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
10/25/13 Hartford
Cornell credits his revived vocals to quitting smoking. I can almost guarentee that is the major factor in whether Ed has a good night or not. The age and # of shows theory gets blown away with performances like the second leg of 2008 tour and Wrigley . Have you heard Wrigley ????? Holy god !
Yeah, his age has nothing to do with cracking (deepening maybe). But # of shows is only relevant when considering how long their show are, which is relevant to ALL singers (and is why most of them don't do long shows). Wrigley sounded amazing because they weren't doing a tour. They'd done one other show a few nights before, and then Wrigley. That's it. Whole other story when they are on tour, doing shows every other night, and all of them are over 3 hours long. With concerts that long, any singer's voice would be cracking a bit (and a lot of singers would actually lose their voices all together! Non-smokers included!). I'm amazing Eddie sounds as good as he does when on tour given how long he busts it out each night.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I think Ed's Voice sounds better then it has done in say the Last *Five* Years...I mean on the 2009 Tour and a couple of Years after He seriously sounded like He was "Losing" His Voice :-S
His voice has changed several times over the years. Sometimes it takes him a tour or two to figure out how to "use" his new voice. I think on this latest tour he figured out how to appropriately use his new voice, compared to 2008-2012. I'm not saying anything bad about those tours as I saw some amazing shows, but it is what it is.
Kind of like how in 96 he figured out how to use his 95 tour "I can't scream anymore, and my voice is shot, but I'll try" voice. And then he became a great "singer" in 98-00. Then I thought his voice sounded a little tired in 2002/2003 (sometimes, not all the time), but then he figured out how to use that voice in 2004-2006.
Now he seems to, for some reason, do this stop-start thing with some words...like he adds a syllable to words for whatever reason. I found it a little distracting at first...as in "Release me-heeeeeee" or "I could control my-hiiiii-self", but now he seems to have controlled it and it's less noticeable.
the man is essentially 50. He will never sound like he did at 28. The band just finished a tour in which a short show was 2 1/2 hours and 29 songs. That's ridiculous. I love these guys as much as ever.
yes his double syllable words for single syllable words! Notice that a lot
Class = Clah- has
this thread was in no way a complaint I love his stuff on LB, just noticed it in the newer boots, wondering if I was juh-ust imagining it or it has been happening a lot more than I thought
You can't help age, but the other two are preventable ESPECIALLY the smoking. No human being who makes their living singing should smoke EVER much less regularly or in the solo of Even Flow. Keep doing it, you won't be able to sing at all at some point.
I think Ed actually LIKES when he makes his voice crack sometimes. Like on All Night on Fallon a couple years ago. Think he feels like it's the punk rock thing to not make your voice sound good. I don't get it.
About him liking his voice crack. I've read a post by you before, where you mentioned this. You made me laugh because I though you may well be right. You thought it might appeal to his punk rock fancy. I had an image where you caught him off guard and said busted. Sorry for the weird way my mind sometimes works, but the point is I think you have a point.
On the other hand I don't think he should stop drinking and smoking just to please us, so we may enjoy his voice a little longer. If it would take that I reckon it would kill the fun for him and that would have a worse result than a squiky voice. On yet another hand ,he said that being a musician was not a slacker job so who knows perhaps he'll take your advice and stop.
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
Cornell credits his revived vocals to quitting smoking. I can almost guarentee that is the major factor in whether Ed has a good night or not. The age and # of shows theory gets blown away with performances like the second leg of 2008 tour and Wrigley . Have you heard Wrigley ????? Holy god !
Yeah, his age has nothing to do with cracking (deepening maybe). B
The older he gets the longer he has smoked.
But you are probable right. I noticed it myself, my voice and breath don't benifite from smoking. X_X
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
Yeah he totally sounds good. I actually don't give a fuck if his voice cracks once in the while. It doesn't reduce my personal enjoyment of the shows one tiny little bit!
Yeah he totally sounds good. I actually don't give a fuck if his voice cracks once in the while. It doesn't reduce my personal enjoyment of the shows one tiny little bit!
Not of the show, I probable won't even notice. But of the song on bootleg? I'm always looking for an even better version of this or that song, so a cracking voice doesn't help me in that regard. However I still enjoy the 2013 boots. And some songs from the 2013 tour do fit the bill of best I have.
Nothing as it seems Spokane scores pretty high. Immortality Hartford is a gem. Can't keep Vancouver is amazing.
And there are quite a few more
It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.
You can't help age, but the other two are preventable ESPECIALLY the smoking. No human being who makes their living singing should smoke EVER much less regularly or in the solo of Even Flow. Keep doing it, you won't be able to sing at all at some point.
I think Ed actually LIKES when he makes his voice crack sometimes. Like on All Night on Fallon a couple years ago. Think he feels like it's the punk rock thing to not make your voice sound good. I don't get it.
About him liking his voice crack. I've read a post by you before, where you mentioned this. You made me laugh because I though you may well be right. You thought it might appeal to his punk rock fancy. I had an image where you caught him off guard and said busted. Sorry for the weird way my mind sometimes works, but the point is I think you have a point.
On the other hand I don't think he should stop drinking and smoking just to please us, so we may enjoy his voice a little longer. If it would take that I reckon it would kill the fun for him and that would have a worse result than a squiky voice. On yet another hand ,he said that being a musician was not a slacker job so who knows perhaps he'll take your advice and stop.
Well, thanks.
See this is the problem--when people say "he can do whatever he wants, don't quit smoking just cause we like the way he sings so well." There will come a time when he CAN'T sing so well, and I don't really have an interest in seeing shitty musicians play (as a musician myself). Sure, he can do what he wants, but WHY would he NOT want to keep his vocals up, when he makes his money and his entire life revolves around his singing? I know he can never sing another day in his life and be set for life financially... but does Ed like touring the world, doing what he loves, singing for an audience who loves him, MORE than smoking cigarettes? If he does, then he should quit. If smoking is more important, then I guess keep smoking because eventually his talents will disappear. This isn't an opinion, it's a fact of what smoking does to vocalists.
I have been very critical of his vocals the last few years, and I really DO think his vocals have IMPROVED this past tour. I haven't heard every bootleg or any of the bootlegs after LA like people are talking about, but I was at Wrigley and songs that I "knew" what his recent vocal patterns were like (even Release, Nothingman, etc) it was almost like, wow, is he LIP SYNCING, it sounds so different! (even though I knew he was NOT lip syncing, it was just that good). Phoenix was also good and youtube stuff I've seen, just a big improvement over past years. Keep it up Ed.
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I also think WHY they play their classic songs so fast now is that the tempo covers up a lot of the vocals. Slowed down, Ed's voice is more of the focal point.
I think that's why they need to slow down. He doesn't have a chance to breath, so all the power is coming from his vocal cords. I'm not a pro singer, but it's much easier to sing when you can breath properly, and more damaging when you don't.
Of course he's gonna age, but some other singers from the early 90s have hung on pretty good compared to EV. I will say he's done a pretty good job if rolling with the changes through the years, he just makes a lot more strained faces these days.
I think you both are right. Especially the point Eddie being able to breath properly is spot one. I think this is the reason why he can't get Mind your manners to really work.
Not sure though if it is the reason why he can't hit the high notes. That's probable just age, smoking and the wine. Although like others said he did seem to be sick during the tour.
It's hit or miss but I'm cool with it. There are a few spots here and there that are cringe-worthy. A good example is Oceans in Brooklyn. Wow...have you heard that? It's unlistenable. And MYM has always been terrible live. They play it too fast and Ed seems to think that screeching thing he does at the end is somehow necessary but I wish he'd give that up.
However, I'm a singer and if I tried what he did I'd probably blow my voice out after one song. Forget an entire show or tour. After 4 shows in a row in '06 I had to go to the doctor because my vocal chords were bleeding and I couldn't make a sound (not even a whisper). I was just a fan singing along...Dude is a monster.
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Ed solo sounds fantastic! I do think they'll get to the point where many songs aren't or are rarely played. If they stay together for years to come, I can also see them slowing down.
I also think WHY they play their classic songs so fast now is that the tempo covers up a lot of the vocals. Slowed down, Ed's voice is more of the focal point.
2010 (Boston!) and then Europe in 2012 was alot better.
Only listened to Philadelphia 2013, but yeah - its a bit more harsch than earlier years. Animal is one example of this (even though I was at the show and it was rocking!)
He is a champ.
Period
Mostly phenomenal performances until after LA 2..
Then his vocals are a wreck
Brooklyn 1 and 2 are amazing
So is Hartford IMO
New Orleans is another that people overlook
That show is stellar and a festival no less
EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
10/25/13 Hartford
EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
10/25/13 Hartford
Of course he's gonna age, but some other singers from the early 90s have hung on pretty good compared to EV. I will say he's done a pretty good job if rolling with the changes through the years, he just makes a lot more strained faces these days.
Especially the point Eddie being able to breath properly is spot one.
I think this is the reason why he can't get Mind your manners to really work.
Not sure though if it is the reason why he can't hit the high notes.
That's probable just age, smoking and the wine.
Although like others said he did seem to be sick during the tour.
2006 Arnhem 2007 Werchter 2009 Rotterdam 2010 Nijmegen 2010 Werchter
2012 Amsterdam 1 2012 Amsterdam 2 2014 Amsterdam 1 2014 Amsterdam 2
2014 Berlijn
I think Ed actually LIKES when he makes his voice crack sometimes. Like on All Night on Fallon a couple years ago. Think he feels like it's the punk rock thing to not make your voice sound good. I don't get it.
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Also heard him hit plenty of high notes.
I think his main issue is doing such long shows. If they didn't do that, then his voice would be in consistently better shape (although honestly, what are we talking about here? I heard his voice crack maybe three times in 3 1/2 hours).
No one does!
People change over time because they are encased in bodies that age.
Ed uses the voice he has now very well. Let's be happy he's still out there sharing it with us since we (his fans) love his voice so much!!
Holy god !
EV intro to Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns
10/25/13 Hartford
I think Ed's Voice sounds better then it has done in say the Last *Five* Years...I mean on the 2009 Tour and a couple of Years after He seriously sounded like He was "Losing" His Voice :-S
yes I agree he does sound better
Class = Clah- has
this thread was in no way a complaint I love his stuff on LB, just noticed it in the newer boots, wondering if I was juh-ust imagining it or it has been happening a lot more than I thought
You made me laugh because I though you may well be right. You thought it might appeal to his punk rock fancy.
I had an image where you caught him off guard and said busted.
Sorry for the weird way my mind sometimes works, but the point is I think you have a point.
On the other hand I don't think he should stop drinking and smoking just to please us, so we may enjoy his voice a little longer.
If it would take that I reckon it would kill the fun for him and that would have a worse result than a squiky voice.
On yet another hand
2006 Arnhem 2007 Werchter 2009 Rotterdam 2010 Nijmegen 2010 Werchter
2012 Amsterdam 1 2012 Amsterdam 2 2014 Amsterdam 1 2014 Amsterdam 2
2014 Berlijn
But you are probable right. I noticed it myself, my voice and breath don't benifite from smoking. X_X
2006 Arnhem 2007 Werchter 2009 Rotterdam 2010 Nijmegen 2010 Werchter
2012 Amsterdam 1 2012 Amsterdam 2 2014 Amsterdam 1 2014 Amsterdam 2
2014 Berlijn
But of the song on bootleg? I'm always looking for an even better version of this or that song, so a cracking voice doesn't help me in that regard. However I still enjoy the 2013 boots. And some songs from the 2013 tour do fit the bill of best I have.
Nothing as it seems Spokane scores pretty high.
Immortality Hartford is a gem.
Can't keep Vancouver is amazing.
And there are quite a few more
2006 Arnhem 2007 Werchter 2009 Rotterdam 2010 Nijmegen 2010 Werchter
2012 Amsterdam 1 2012 Amsterdam 2 2014 Amsterdam 1 2014 Amsterdam 2
2014 Berlijn
See this is the problem--when people say "he can do whatever he wants, don't quit smoking just cause we like the way he sings so well." There will come a time when he CAN'T sing so well, and I don't really have an interest in seeing shitty musicians play (as a musician myself). Sure, he can do what he wants, but WHY would he NOT want to keep his vocals up, when he makes his money and his entire life revolves around his singing? I know he can never sing another day in his life and be set for life financially... but does Ed like touring the world, doing what he loves, singing for an audience who loves him, MORE than smoking cigarettes? If he does, then he should quit. If smoking is more important, then I guess keep smoking because eventually his talents will disappear. This isn't an opinion, it's a fact of what smoking does to vocalists.
I have been very critical of his vocals the last few years, and I really DO think his vocals have IMPROVED this past tour. I haven't heard every bootleg or any of the bootlegs after LA like people are talking about, but I was at Wrigley and songs that I "knew" what his recent vocal patterns were like (even Release, Nothingman, etc) it was almost like, wow, is he LIP SYNCING, it sounds so different! (even though I knew he was NOT lip syncing, it was just that good). Phoenix was also good and youtube stuff I've seen, just a big improvement over past years. Keep it up Ed.
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However, I'm a singer and if I tried what he did I'd probably blow my voice out after one song. Forget an entire show or tour. After 4 shows in a row in '06 I had to go to the doctor because my vocal chords were bleeding and I couldn't make a sound (not even a whisper). I was just a fan singing along...Dude is a monster.