People who say Neil's vocals have no 'soul' - Your thoughts?

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Jareth · #1 Post by **Jareth** » Tue 30 May 2006, 1:20 am

I've noticed a lot of critics say Neil's vocals have no soul, or that they're too cold. Do you feel there's any truth to this?

I always find his vocals incredibly sincere and unique myself, especially in the slower songs like Kings Cross, Love Comes Quickly and I Get Along. I think the fact that he sings everything so clearly instead of doing the whole 'vocal acrobatics' thing makes the songs sound more genuine and real as well.

Anyway, I've never felt 'soul' is very necessary in pop music in the first place. After all Madonna sounds incredibly cold and detached from the music on her most recent album and everyone says it's a fantastic return to form. Kylie certainly has no soul and I'm not convinced she means a thing she sings!

To be honest, I think it's mainly Erasure fans who say this as they seem to think Andy Bell sings a bit like a black soul singer.

glennjridge · #2 Post by **glennjridge** » Tue 30 May 2006, 2:10 am

soul isnt neils forte.

and IMO any electronic music worth its salt would have no soulful elements in it.
I love electronic sounding music with detached, glossy, produced to death vocals sounding vocals.

imagine joe cocker singing "I'm with stupid". no thanks.

retrofuturist · #3 Post by **retrofuturist** » Tue 30 May 2006, 3:52 am

Soul sucks

Debussy · #4 Post by **Debussy** » Tue 30 May 2006, 4:11 am

I love PSB to death but I also love soul music which, dare I say, is black music.
I wouldnt call PSB or Neils voice soulful, no, but he does have the ability to convey some real emotion in songs.

gomorrah · #5 Post by **gomorrah** » Tue 30 May 2006, 5:05 am

I'd have to agree with Neil -- I think he once said his voice has a plaintive quality.

I think it IS soulful in the true meaning of the word, but it's not that of a soul/blues singer.

his voice has an angelic sweetness and finesse, and the clarity of his diction adds to it. when I listen to the achingly sung To face the truth or It always comes as a surprise, or even songs like Jealousy, I'm at times driven to tears; he can really convey emotion with his voice.

Rent · #6 Post by **Rent** » Tue 30 May 2006, 10:28 am

People need to have their ears checked then.

Neil has got one of the, if not the, most moving voices I've ever heard. Period.

raggatwin · #7 Post by **raggatwin** » Tue 30 May 2006, 10:40 am

Debussy wrote:I love PSB to death but I also love soul music which, dare I say, is black music.
I wouldnt call PSB or Neils voice soulful, no, but he does have the ability to convey some real emotion in songs.

Alot of traditional european - as oppossed to pop - music is very soulful. Portuguese Fado for example.

Integralist · #8 Post by **Integralist** » Tue 30 May 2006, 11:28 am

Neil's vocals are tecnically cold and emotionless in sound, but for me, it's a definite case of "less is more". He never oversings anything and as such, I find it even more affecting. It's not all about oversinging and belting out notes like some R&B diva.

Butters · #9 Post by **Butters** » Tue 30 May 2006, 12:17 pm

I think Neil and say Martin Gore have more "soul" than for example Mariah Carey or Whitney H.

Padster · #10 Post by **Padster** » Tue 30 May 2006, 1:01 pm

Neil's voice is one of the most striking and recognizable in the industry, hence the reason artists love working with him. Neils voice combined with the power of Sylvia Mason James was just a combination made in heaven for my liking. I wish the PSBs had produced and album with Sylvia - it would have been top!

psb-freak · #11 Post by **psb-freak** » Tue 30 May 2006, 1:14 pm

Sylvia ?

She can stay as their backing singer but nothing more.
I love Neil´s voice. He can make it very emotional if he wants. Like on the live version of LIAC.

MarcoS · #12 Post by **MarcoS** » Tue 30 May 2006, 2:10 pm

How can people say his voice has no "soul"? This is ridiculous, it is indeed charged with tons of emotions.

Those critics got the wrong job, I'm afraid...

stew · #13 Post by **stew** » Tue 30 May 2006, 4:14 pm

i really appreciate neils voice it is very emotional(and great double tracked)

patrick · #14 Post by **patrick** » Tue 30 May 2006, 4:17 pm

Padster wrote:Neils voice combined with the power of Sylvia Mason James was just a combination made in heaven for my liking.

I prefer Tessa Niles. Did they only turn to Sylvia because she'll tour?

Padster · #15 Post by **Padster** » Tue 30 May 2006, 4:19 pm

I completely forgot about Tessa. She's wicked as well.