What is Wrong With Jon's Voice?

He does the nasal voice because it helps him with the "high" notes. It's easier to sing higher notes if you "push" them into you nose. Easier to control. It will affect the tone, which we've all heard.

And why "high"? Because Jon doesn't sing high notes anymore. At all. He used to be able to sing something like Santa Fe with high B's, sometimes even high D's without a problem. Now, if he goes near a G, he's at his limit.

And you guys do know that they've dropped most songs down at least (!) half a step?

Ice

Oh, and do any onf you guys actually sing? Has any of you had a singing lesson? Sang with a tecaher?

It seems to me, there's a lot of second-hand information here, fan-analysis, if you will, but very little actual facts...

For example, yes, your vocal chords are a muscle, but singing the same songs vs. "mixed" songs makes no difference.

Ice

Yes they do... but just for conversation sake, Always is still being played in E flat (E tuned down 1/2 step)... and if it was recorded 1/2 step down (like most studio songs are), then it is still being played in it's original key.

Most songs aren't recorded in E-flat, most are recorded in standard pitch, but played live a half-step down.

As to Always, yes, it's only a half-step down live, but then again, Jon can't hit the notes. Esp. the part "forever and a day" is horrible. If they dropped it a full step or a step and a half, I think he probably could get pretty close.

Ice

Saying "most studio songs" is being generous. Granted over the last decade the number increased but by and large most Bon Jovi songs are recorded in Standard.

A lot of songs are recorded 1/2 step down but I did go back and check and Always was not... so my point is invalid. Always live is 1/2 step down from its original recording. I stand corrected

Been doing that since the New Jersey tour

I think he's in a fairly decent place as far as salvaging some voice that he can do something with goes. And as much as I love high, hard rock singing, you can make a great rock album without needing to scream high Bs. Good writing, good lyrics and good melodies is what he needs.

Let's take the track Nice Day as an example. Sure, the lyrics are dopey and Richie barely gets his trousers off but it's halfway there to being a decent bit of pop-rock and his voice sells it good enough.

I don't agree that writing within his comfortable range is the problem, it's just bad writing that's the problem. The same old cliched lyrics with forgettable melodies, no great guitar solos, a lack of band masked with production. There have been slightly more positive signs with things like Love's The Only Rule but still not really great writing.

Your comment about These Days is interesting: would it really be a different album? He'd have to sing most things a lot lower and he wouldn't be able to do the screams in Something To Believe In or My Guitar which is a big deal. But in general, I think you're exaggerating the need for a big range in order to sell rock music. Jagger has never had a great range or rasp or particularly powerful voice and he's arguably not even technically a great singer, but **** me if Streets of Love from Bigger Bang isn't a better rock ballad than anything Jon has sung since 1995. Jagger's ad-libbed outro is breathtaking and it's nothing to do with straining for high Bs and Cs.

Yes, but they didn't transpose songs back then, they just tuned down. Like In These Arms, which is in Db nowadays, one and a half step lower than it was recorded.

Many bands tune down to give a little extra for the low end and to make it easier for the singer. But Bon Jovi have either tuned down AND transposed the songs lower, or Jon just sings them an octave lower. Like Santa Fe (at O2) or Radio Saved My Life.

Ice

Okay, prepare yourself...

I agree.



Just listen to the chorus of WWBTF live, compared to the album version to see how he cheats his way out of singing it properly. I remember hearing that the first time and thinking 'he's got a bit of the growl back,' but live, he just lightly whispers it, removing the tiniest hint of testicle from an already boring-arse tune.

Now, the defence.

I sing a fair bit and have done for around 18 years. It's not easy and being in my late 30's it's getting tougher. I quit smoking a year ago and really started to take the time to warm up and look after my voice and although it's not my living, the band does well and I live in fear of colds or infections that could screw with my chords. When I imagine what this must be like, full-time, it SHOULD pre-occupy any singer the way it does Myles Kennedy, who doesn't even speak during the day on tour (he's not a CEO on calls all day though, to be fair).

My point is... I do give Jon a break on this. He still reaches some tough notes and as someone mentioned earlier, it's his tone that has suffered more than anything but this is where he is no longer singing from his throat and the reason why he is no longer getting that same growl.

Singing isn't easy. In the shower is one thing but listening to half of the 'Every Road' videos shows how tough it is!