Singing technique or general habit?

bonjovi90 · #1 01-02-2014, 09:33 PM

While I was watching the band's performance at the French TV show "Taratata" today it occured to me that Jon always seemed always bowed his head to the right side when he had to go for the higher, more demanding notes in a song.

Lie To Me:

Bon Jovi - Lie To Me (Taratata 1996) - YouTube

These Days:

Bon Jovi - These Days (Live France 1996)...

(btw arguably the best performance of this song!)

Also I noticed in the past that Jon especially did this kind of thing when being recorded - there he partly even leaned to the right side:

Always (Wembley '95):

Bon Jovi - Always (Live From London 1995) -...

Bed of Roses (Zurich 2000):

Bon Jovi - Bed Of Roses - The Crush Tour Live in...

As soon as those ballads reach the chorus Jon does this.

Maybe some are experienced enough to tell if it was some sort of singing technique Jon used to get to those demanding notes easier? Could he put more power to the vocals that way?
I'm really too unexperienced to make any logical guess, but maybe some know what's behind this. Or was it really just some sort of habit?

Nige · #2 01-02-2014, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonjovi90

While I was watching the band's performance at the French TV show "Taratata" today it occured to me that Jon always seemed always bowed his head to the right side when he had to go for the higher, more demanding notes in a song.

Lie To Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE2qToMOXD8
These Days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTpezEOti7k (btw arguably the best performance of this song!)

Also I noticed in the past that Jon especially did this kind of thing when being recorded - there he partly even leaned to the right side:

Always (Wembley '95):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiEUngkxqYg

Bed of Roses (Zurich 2000):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8M8dLg1WtE
As soon as those ballads reach the chorus Jon does this.

Maybe some are experienced enough to tell if it was some sort of singing technique Jon used to get to those demanding notes easier? Could he put more power to the vocals that way?
I'm really too unexperienced to make any logical guess, but maybe some know what's behind this. Or was it really just some sort of habit?

Bowing your head forward makes it easier to sign the higher notes but to which side doesn't make any difference.

Living_on_my_Hair · #3 01-03-2014, 03:27 PM

Another more recent technique I've seen him use is the ''fish mouth' thing - check out the 'let It Be' video from the Royal variety Show on youtube to see it in action. Looks daft, but seems to work - this was 2008 ish back when JBJ was actually trying to regain some of his voice, and he must have been seeing a vocal coach around then. I would be surprised if he was doing much, or any work on his voice on the most recent tour

golittleperson · #4 01-04-2014, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Living_on_my_Hair

Another more recent technique I've seen him use is the ''fish mouth' thing - check out the 'let It Be' video from the Royal variety Show on youtube to see it in action. Looks daft, but seems to work - this was 2008 ish back when JBJ was actually trying to regain some of his voice, and he must have been seeing a vocal coach around then. I would be surprised if he was doing much, or any work on his voice on the most recent tour

I have often wondered - they carry nutritionist, physical therapist, and others on the road - why not a voice coach?

Rdkopper · #5 01-04-2014, 04:29 AM

The sad thing about the whole vocal issue is, Jon's guitar player still has one of the best voices in Rock and Roll. Richies performance with Stevie Wonder was flawless. Sure it's not like it once was during the 90s but it degressed in a way I had figured it would looking ahead when I was a younger. However, I never visioned this Jon we have today.

People use Steven Tyler as the number 1 vocal example but a 54 year old Richie Sambora voice is still a thing of beauty.

Does anyone remember an interview around 07 where Richie praises Jon's voice? WTF was he thinking? I think it was when Jon did the entire LH album live and wanted to do more albums like that. That was obviously a bunch of shit too.

WildBilly · #6 01-04-2014, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonjovi90

While I was watching the band's performance at the French TV show "Taratata" today it occured to me that Jon always seemed always bowed his head to the right side when he had to go for the higher, more demanding notes in a song.

Lie To Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE2qToMOXD8
These Days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTpezEOti7k (btw arguably the best performance of this song!)

Also I noticed in the past that Jon especially did this kind of thing when being recorded - there he partly even leaned to the right side:

Always (Wembley '95):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiEUngkxqYg

Bed of Roses (Zurich 2000):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8M8dLg1WtE
As soon as those ballads reach the chorus Jon does this.

Maybe some are experienced enough to tell if it was some sort of singing technique Jon used to get to those demanding notes easier? Could he put more power to the vocals that way?
I'm really too unexperienced to make any logical guess, but maybe some know what's behind this. Or was it really just some sort of habit?

Slightly off topic but... '95/'96... what a period of time to be in Joviland. The coolest band!

Rdkopper · #7 01-04-2014, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBilly

Slightly off topic but... '95/'96... what a period of time to be in Joviland. The coolest band!

I think about it in a technology way. How cool would it be if we had today's technology during the late 80s and 90s? Not just with Bon Jovi but with all those great bands. Think of all the amazing shows we'd have in better quality. Both quantity and quality... Both audio and video...

But then again, you risk the over exposure issue we have today.

WildBilly · #8 01-04-2014, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdkopper

I think about it in a technology way. How cool would it be if we had today's technology during the late 80s and 90s? Not just with Bon Jovi but with all those great bands. Think of all the amazing shows we'd have in better quality. Both quantity and quality... Both audio and video...

But then again, you risk the over exposure issue we have today.

I think that's just it! No social media for people to put their opinions on you, no YouTube to ruin the excitement of seeing 'your show' that tour, you had to trade bootlegs to get that experience - it felt like you'd earned it. Catching them on a TV performance, as above, it was exciting to see the band appearing on TV - these were the days when bands were still encouraged to play live on TV to promote their stuff and Bon Jovi were still hot enough to be doing the best shows!

But there was still that 'us against the world' thing going on with Bon Jovi in the 90s that made them so cool. I know that Jon is still incredibly hard working and do be still doing as well as they do in the current musical climate is down to his dedication but at the same time there seems to be that opinion in the JBJ camp that they own the right to be considered the greatest.

Rdkopper · #9 01-04-2014, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBilly

I think that's just it! No social media for people to put their opinions on you, no YouTube to ruin the excitement of seeing 'your show' that tour, you had to trade bootlegs to get that experience - it felt like you'd earned it. Catching them on a TV performance, as above, it was exciting to see the band appearing on TV - these were the days when bands were still encouraged to play live on TV to promote their stuff and Bon Jovi were still hot enough to be doing the best shows!

But there was still that 'us against the world' thing going on with Bon Jovi in the 90s that made them so cool. I know that Jon is still incredibly hard working and do be still doing as well as they do in the current musical climate is down to his dedication but at the same time there seems to be that opinion in the JBJ camp that they own the right to be considered the greatest.

Totally agree...

Jon works hard at touring and puts on the best "safe" show he is capable of doing. He is afraid to go outside the box like he once did which shows the lack of passion. I think this is all due to the lack of confidence in his voice. This voice issue that he has is irreversible and the best thing he could do is preserve what he has left.

Jon wants to tour until he's 70 but knows that he will never get there vocally.

Everyone says he needs a vocal coach on tour but how do you all know there isn't? And what would a vocal coach teach him anyway, that he doesn't already know?

Living_on_my_Hair · #10 01-04-2014, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdkopper

And what would a vocal coach teach him anyway, that he doesn't already know?

Alot possibly, sometimes you just need that discipline. I know how to keep fit for example, but do I stay in tiptop shape the same way than If i hired a Personal trainer to put me through my paces once or twice a week? Not even close, I get lazy and cut corners. It's only natural. Anyway, you would be surprised what big stars still use vocal coaches.

Andi

Singing technique or general habit?

General BJ Discussion