Songs that Jon can't sing anymore - Play them or not ??

Iceman · #21 04-26-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bounce442

But I see no problem (or rather, only little problems) with IBTFY or Bed of Roses.

IBTFY has the main riff which requires an open string, a lot of harmonics that will only work in regular tuning etc. Bed Of Roses has signature riffs that can be moved, but the solo would be pretty much impossible to play in any other position than the current or a few steps up.

Which, BTW, is the case with many solos, same with riffs.

Quote:

But it's the songs like Santa Fe, These Days, Love Song, or anything else off These Days (mostly possible besides HG or SFTP) that they don't play often because of vocals, that we really want... they'd have to learn them again anyway... Hey, I know it's tough... just being hopeful

My Guitar is very hard to transpose for example. Basically everything that's chord based without riffs is transposable, but anything with a riff or a signature solo is impossible.

Ice

bounce442 · #22 04-26-2013, 08:35 PM

Your best argument here is the harmonic issue... But there is a big difference between signature riffs like Wanted Dead Or Alive vs the solo to Bed of Roses.

Would you rather hear WLOL or These Days with a slightly different guitar arrangement?

I completely understand what guitar parts can be transposed and what guitar parts would need to be changed and I personally would rather hear my favorite songs, even if slightly different.

Iceman · #23 04-26-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bounce442

Your best argument here is the harmonic issue... But there is a big difference between signature riffs like Wanted Dead Or Alive vs the solo to Bed of Roses.

There are a lot more issues as well. The sound of the chords would be very different. Am sounds very different from, let's say Fm no matter where you play it on the neck. And to me at least, the solo is the best part of BOR.

Quote:

Would you rather hear WLOL or These Days with a slightly different guitar arrangement?

I'd rather see them call it quits. And I kinda like WLOL. But I hate when bands transpose songs, especially if they themselves wrote them. I can somehow accept the fact that coverbands do it, but even then I think it's cheating. If you can't pull it off, don't do it.

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I completely understand what guitar parts can be transposed and what guitar parts would need to be changed and I personally would rather hear my favorite songs, even if slightly different.

Wanted in A? No thanks. Santa Fe an octave down? No, doesn't work. Radio is one of the best Jovi songs, but the live version completely butchers it. Give me the originals or nothing. I'm not hung up on the band staying together. If they can't sing or play what they've written, they should disband and do something else. Don't **** up the legacy.

Ice

ezearis · #24 04-26-2013, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

Radio is one of the best Jovi songs, but the live version completely butchers it.

Agree, the live version of Radio is just... not right. I'd still love to hear it, though. I'd rather have a different version of a song rather than not hearing it at all, an example is "Santa Fe", I think that the acoustic version was great.

Supersonic · #25 04-27-2013, 02:06 PM

Aloha !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

If they can't sing or play what they've written, they should disband and do something else. Don't **** up the legacy.

Ice

I partially agree with this.

In Bon Jovi's case, the songs they transpose to a different key just sound a lot worse compared to the originals. It's the "We'll just play everything in a different key...yeah that'll work" attitude that kills it, as opposed to thinking "It doesn't work in this key, let's find one that does work for the entire band, as opposed to just for Jon".

In These Arms on the acoustic in D works just fine. However, when it's played in an arrangement meant for electric guitar it's lost so much of it's power it's just not that good anymore. Living In Sin, Radio, Santa Fe, not much is left of those once they've transposed them, and although Santa Fe was a nice surprise in Barcelona, it bored me and pretty much anyone else to death, and it had nothing to do with Santa Fe anymore up to the point that I'd rather have heard him sing something I heard before but actually like, as opposed to a rare song that just sounds shit.

It's their whole attitude of not changing anything but the key that ultimately kills the song. Not the transposing itself. Sure, when transposed it might not sound the same as the original, but it doesn't have to turn into a bad song.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

bounce442 · #26 04-27-2013, 08:45 PM

I think something we can all agree on, it just depends on the song. My thing is, it they continue to tour, I'd rather hear the songs that made me love the band, even if they are a little different, then hear LH again. But if they can't put the work into it, and make it work and good, then there's no point in it.

Any song where the chorus is dropped an octave is a waste of time for me. It takes all the power out of what is usually the most powerful part of their songs.

Santa Fe for instance has always been one of my favorites, but I didn't enjoy their acoustic version at all... because of the chorus. My version isn't great, but if they had dropped the key from G to E, and kept the chorus in place, I for one would have enjoyed it much more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=943yuh2jM80

Lampinen · #27 04-28-2013, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supersonic

Aloha !

I partially agree with this.

In Bon Jovi's case, the songs they transpose to a different key just sound a lot worse compared to the originals. It's the "We'll just play everything in a different key...yeah that'll work" attitude that kills it, as opposed to thinking "It doesn't work in this key, let's find one that does work for the entire band, as opposed to just for Jon".

In These Arms on the acoustic in D works just fine. However, when it's played in an arrangement meant for electric guitar it's lost so much of it's power it's just not that good anymore. Living In Sin, Radio, Santa Fe, not much is left of those once they've transposed them, and although Santa Fe was a nice surprise in Barcelona, it bored me and pretty much anyone else to death, and it had nothing to do with Santa Fe anymore up to the point that I'd rather have heard him sing something I heard before but actually like, as opposed to a rare song that just sounds shit.

It's their whole attitude of not changing anything but the key that ultimately kills the song. Not the transposing itself. Sure, when transposed it might not sound the same as the original, but it doesn't have to turn into a bad song.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

You're confusing two things. When Jon sings an octave lower in Radio and Santa Fe, it's not transposing (lowering the key). And this is exactly what I don't understand, since Radio, for instance, would've been easy to take down a step, Jon could've reached the chorus and it would've sounded better. No doubt about it, because it sounds ridiculous the way they play it now.

Staples like Prayer and Bad name could've been dropped to Dm and Bm to easen the strain on Jon, since they're played at every show. The list goes on. Don't get me wrong, this is useless now, 'cause Jon sounds terrible whenever he goes over E4, but I think it would've made a big difference had they figured this at the turn of the millenia.

TwinFan · #28 04-28-2013, 01:38 AM

Dropping Prayer to Dm would sound fine, I believe. I guess I think the most reasonable way to downtune these songs would be to just tune down the guitars another half-step. That said, they probably wouldn't want to tune the guitars farther down than a full step, unless they want to play telephone wires.

liljovi93 · #29 04-28-2013, 02:20 AM

Play it.

Jon should know when his voice is up for singing a song or not. Even I can tell when his voice is up for singing 'Always' or other vocally demanding songs. The only thing I can suggest Jon does is try not to shout and go with the flow. If he didn't concentrate on making sure he hits the notes, he might actually sound a bit better. You can tell in his face when he knows a high note is coming up and his body movement and it seems to make him sound worse. If he was a bit more relaxed, then maybe he could sing it better. I suppose it is just down to confidence now, though.

I was listening to 'Amen' before on that Katie show with the girlfriend and even she commented on how badly it looked like he was struggling on the high notes. I think he is just used to doing that face now even if it's not that difficult.

I still think Jon should play the songs that are demanding, though. I want to hear rare songs and if they sound bad on the night, fair enough. At least he went for it. I just wish he had better back up songs. If he can't play Always one night, have a rare song as back up that is less vocally demanding.

The only problem is, most of the songs Jon sings, he can't sing them well anyway.

bchris964 · #30 04-30-2013, 08:41 AM

most of people post their views about Jon's selecting song decisions.No doubt, he does not sing all songs but he knows well about his singing power and ability. Then he decide what does he do?

View Poll Results: Play it or drop it ???
Play it	31	64.58%
Drop it	10	20.83%
I don't care, what a stupid poll	7	14.58%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

Songs that Jon can't sing anymore - Play them or not ??

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