Pet Shop Boys Community

psb-freak wrote:

Vince wrote:

psb-freak wrote:I have some kind of amateur recording of Neil singing Suburbia. Sounds quite amazing.

Yea, it does sound a bit strange.....

It´s funny when it turns to the recording and you can hear the difference.

I wonder what makes his voice sounds so different in the first acapella couplet and the second one.

Oh my God I never caught that...it sounds like Neil. LOL!!!!

Back to the topic, though. I've heard several live recordings of Neil singing. Some of them sound great and some of them sound terrible. Someone earlier mentioned that he was perhaps having a "bad day." I agree with this completely.

Funnily enough, last night I was having a conversation with my friend about artists and live performances. I think that for each song, Neil has to have a certain vocal "set" to sing. It's extremely difficult to alternate from one vocal style to the next at a concert. Think about it, there are MANY different vocal styles Neil uses in his songs, to switch between all of them at one concert is impossible. I also believe it's all about preparation.

The bottom line for me: Neil IS a good singer but he isn't a diva. He has his bad days, but he also has his good days. People focus too much on the bad. Neil's voice is unique and gorgeous on some songs, and equally unique and terrible on others. But this holds true for almost every other artists in the world too.

westendboy87 wrote:Oh my God I never caught that...it sounds like Neil. LOL!!!!

Back to the topic, though. I've heard several live recordings of Neil singing. Some of them sound great and some of them sound terrible. Someone earlier mentioned that he was perhaps having a "bad day." I agree with this completely.

Funnily enough, last night I was having a conversation with my friend about artists and live performances. I think that for each song, Neil has to have a certain vocal "set" to sing. It's extremely difficult to alternate from one vocal style to the next at a concert. Think about it, there are MANY different vocal styles Neil uses in his songs, to switch between all of them at one concert is impossible. I also believe it's all about preparation.

The bottom line for me: Neil IS a good singer but he isn't a diva. He has his bad days, but he also has his good days. People focus too much on the bad. Neil's voice is unique and gorgeous on some songs, and equally unique and terrible on others. But this holds true for almost every other artists in the world too.

I agree. I was just thinking the other day that his voice sounds different on different songs when most of other artists, divas etc. sing always fabulously but always in the same style. It really makes them boring and Neil changes his voice in each song and most of his attempts succeed in sounding fab.

I remember some years back Neil being interviewed on TFI Friday by Chris Evans and he sang a song or two as he sat across the table opposite Evans....as far as I remember without music. He DID have a microphone and he sound good enough. I think he even forgot some of the words at the beginning of the first song

Vince wrote:BTW, on the topic of Neil's voice, could someone listen carefully to "Domino Dancing [Alternative Version]"

and tell me if its Neil grunting/coughing at 00:23 (i.e., 23 seconds into the song)?

(i know it sounds crazy, but just wanted to get it confirmed....)

I know what you mean Vince. It sounds like he's clearing his throat.

Trixiemix wrote:I remember some years back Neil being interviewed on TFI Friday by Chris Evans and he sang a song or two as he sat across the table opposite Evans....as far as I remember without music. He DID have a microphone and he sound good enough. I think he even forgot some of the words at the beginning of the first song

yeah, he did. But there was some guy who played the guitar beside Neil. Wonder if Neil fancied him.

the first thing i notice about any group is the singer's voice and with PSB it was neil's voice that made them so special, the same happened with DM...
both neil tennant and dave gahan have unique voices that no one can imitate.
makes me proud

what i don't understand is why people say that neil isn't a good singer etc. if being a "trained" singer means bleeting like celine dion or christina aguilera, then give me neil over them anyday!

I have on purpose not played any PSB music in the Car for 2 years I have now started to revalue early songs and the way they are crafted by Neil and Chris..

Neil's vocals on the early songs is quite magical..

I would recognize Neil's voice in a million voices.... it's truly unique

Neil has always said that´s how people recognize them. They hear his voice.

I feel his vocals got really good starting with bilingual. sometimes I cringe when I listen to some of the early stuff. such as "later tonite" or "violence".

Those early demos make me laugh. Like Oh Dear and Budadabadabadabadum.