Is Dave a Better Vocalist Now Because...?

[Nickdfresh]

After listening to just a few songs on the boot from the first gig in Charlotte, NC, it's occurred to me that not only does Dave sound good (like I expected he would actually), but is singing his ass off in far more disciplined way than he ever has before, and he actually sounds better than he ever has...

So, is the fact that Michael Anthony is not there to cover for Dave's lazy flubs mean that he's now actually a better singer than he ever was?

[Dave's PA Rental]

Nick

I've always contended that there is an unspoken competition between Dave and Eddie when they are on stage. Dave has alot to prove to his critics, and EVH was one of them...I think now he performs sober as opposed to the 70's and early 80's, he's trained for this for months...

[chi-town324]

yep a clear mind does wonders

[Hummarstra]

How anyone thinks Dave sounds better "than he ever has" is beyond me. I just don't get it. But, to each his own.

[FORD]

Ironic as it is, I think Dave's short lived radio career might have actually helped him.

He was required to use his voice for 3 hours straight (minus commercials) every morning. Vocal cords are like any other muscles. The more they're used, the easier it is to keep them in shape. Plus he's been touring pretty much every summer this decade.

Contrast this with the point at which he last entered the studio with Van Halen in 1996. His voice was out of shape and the recordings were rushed.

It's always possible that he also might have quit smoking, which would also strengthen his lung capacity and vocal cords.

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by Hummarstra
How anyone thinks Dave sounds better "than he ever has" is beyond me. I just don't get it. But, to each his own.

Probably because I own about 50 Van Halen boots where Dave flubs the singing half the time...

What tour did Dave 'sound better' on? What is your basis?

Did you even download the boot yet?

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by FORD
Ironic as it is, I think Dave's short lived radio career might have actually helped him.

He was required to use his voice for 3 hours straight (minus commercials) every morning. Vocal cords are like any other muscles. The more they're used, the easier it is to keep them in shape. Plus he's been touring pretty much every summer this decade.

Contrast this with the point at which he last entered the studio with Van Halen in 1996. His voice was out of shape and the recordings were rushed.

It's always possible that he also might have quit smoking, which would also strengthen his lung capacity and vocal cords.

I'm fairly certain he quit smoking. And Dave's been training alright. He doesn't talk about it much because it's not very rock and roll - but Dave's always ran and gone to the gym, no matter what he claims with the "ice cubes falling out of my glass" crap...

[Hummarstra]

Originally posted by Nickdfresh
I'm fairly certain he quit smoking.

Where did you hear this?

Also, to Nickdfresh, there is a difference between forgetting the words back in the 80's and then 25 years of smoking cigarettes afterward. Joni Mitchell, John Mellencamp and Robert Plant...all singers who smoked and who lost a tremendous amount of their range as years went by. It happens to any singer who smokes. Rob Halford is Dave's age and still has it. He doesn't smoke. Dave can work with what hes got and he's doing a good job at that. But, that is all.

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by Hummarstra
Where did you hear this?

I didn't hear it anywhere, it's an educated guess...

Also, to Nickdfresh, there is a difference between forgetting the words back in the 80's and then 25 years of smoking cigarettes afterward. Joni Mitchell, John Mellencamp and Robert Plant...all singers who smoked and who lost a tremendous amount of their range as years went by. It happens to any singer who smokes. Rob Halford is Dave's age and still has it. He doesn't smoke. Dave can work with what hes got and he's doing a good job at that. But, that is all.

Funny, but there's an article here that clearly states that Dave is hitting notes that "artists like Bon Jovi can't."

And dude, you really think Dave "forgot the fucking words" every concert? Did he "fuck your girlfriend, pal" too?

He didn't sing when he didn't care and was busy with the acrobatics...

[FORD]

Originally posted by Hummarstra
Where did you hear this?

Also, to Nickdfresh, there is a difference between forgetting the words back in the 80's and then 25 years of smoking cigarettes afterward. Joni Mitchell, John Mellencamp and Robert Plant...all singers who smoked and who lost a tremendous amount of their range as years went by. It happens to any singer who smokes. Rob Halford is Dave's age and still has it. He doesn't smoke. Dave can work with what hes got and he's doing a good job at that. But, that is all.

I don't think John Mellencamp has lost much range at all, but then his style of singing really didn't require much range . He might not have as much power behind his voice as he used to, but I think that's age and his heart condition as much as anything else. Granted the heart condition is also a result of smoking, but more indirectly than lungs or vocal cords.

As for Rob Halford, it's amazing how well his voice has held up. Same with Freddie Mercury when he was still around. Maybe being gay and possibly having some female hormones in the system worked in their favor. Or maybe the vocal cords getting an "internal massage"??

[jsadl]

Don't know about now, but when I saw Dave at the Indiana State Fairgrounds last August I could see him smoking off to the left side of the stage several times during the show.

I think it comes down to training and having a lot to prove. I also think he is just plain trying harder being back with VH in front of 18,000 people as apposed to a few hundred in the many small venues he's been in over the last several years.

[hain23x]

he's singing better the same reason Eddie is playing better.-competition

[Panamark]

I have to agree that he is singing better, although Im not convinced
its due to the Sambo's Boy's absence..

Everything I have heard from these first few weeks is
infinitely better than any boots I've heard from the past..
(Oakland stuff sounded good though, I concur)

I agree with Hain, he's back onstage with Eddie, and they
push each other to their limits.. All of us have been arguing
that point all along, great to see we were right.. AGAIN !


Fuck ! We have been right about everything so far, us "Rothtards !"

HAHAHHAHAH

Fuck off "Hagar Halve's" fanatics, its over dudes.. We won..
We knew we would ! Didnt you hear what we have been
saying all along, were you not listening ??

Shame on you for wasting our time !! :p

[jgdrag]

I do believe Dave is singing better, not sure I like the octive he is using though. A level higher than 1978-2006. There seams to be a rawness missing now? The huskiness in his voice is not present to me?

[BrownSound1]

The tone of Dave's voice has changed over the years...that comes with age, and probably wasn't helped by smoking and drinking. However, I also think he's also got a different approach going on nowdays. It sounds to me as though he is trying to be more controlled so that he will actually have a voice at the end of the tour. Compared to a few people that were mentioned above, he's actually doing pretty damn good. Hell he sings and I know exactly who it is. If anything it sounds like he's got more power than he used to....but his old tone was pretty damn cool when he sang. He would have been a great blues singer, and still could be.