Daves vocals on "Me Wise Magic" blow??
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  1. #1
    Eruption

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    10.27.05 @ 04:58 PM
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    I've heard alot of talk on the internet and elsewhere about how some people really think that DLRs' vocals on "Me Wise Magic" were sub-par. Alot of Dave fans blame this on the fact that Dave had not sung a note for 7-9 months prior to recording MWM. I've even heard mention of some kind of conspiracy between the brothers Van Halen.(Screw with the vocals in pre-production to make DLR sound bad). Alot of Sammy fans( and even a few hardcore Dave fans) just seem to flat out think Daves' performance on MWM sucked. To be honest, I'm bewildered by all of these comments as I really do think that Dave sounded great on this track! True, he's singing some sections in a higher octave than most of the songs he sang in classic VH,(as he did on much of YFLM) so I can see how some folks that didn't follow the latter half of DLRs' solo career may have been saying "what the hell??" upon their first listen. But seriously, I'm just not hearing anything wrong with the vocals on this track. I think all four of the guys were just smokin'!! Any opinions??

    [This message has been edited by AllSoupNoFish (edited August 18, 2000 at 09:46 AM).]

  2. #2
    Bullethead

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    No his vocals weren't like he was when he was in his twenties in early VH. The fact that he hadn't sung in so long had effect too. But I love Me Wise Magic! If a reunion makes tracks like MWM and CGTSNM, then I'm happy!

    This should probably get moved to the opinions discussion...

  3. #3
    Eruption

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    03.02.12 @ 08:44 AM
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    well i liked mwm. but roth sounded different. i cant listen to "cant get this stuff" cuz he absolutely is straining his voice. as far as a "conspiracy", i dont buy it, cuz roth sounded as bad on "dlr band". but it still rocked. "going places" was a good song for dlr. he didnt have to strain too much. but "relentless " it just is too much straining on the chorus.

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  4. #4
    Romeo Delight

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    12.31.69 @ 04:00 PM
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    I don`t buy a conspiracy either. First off, I think Dave`s voice was great in MWM and CGTSNM. I mean, obviously he`s straining a lot, but he still hit some pretty good notes. To me it just seems that on DLR Band Dave didn`t push himself as hard, so the result was songs that were comfortable to sing, but didn`t sound quite right.

    I think DLR still has a lot left in his voice. I would assume some of this reunion delay is Eddie and WB trying to get Roth`s voice in the best shape possible. Roth isn`t THAT old and should be able to sing fairly well.

  5. #5
    Eruption

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    11.09.05 @ 05:37 PM
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    Those who are familiar with my posts know that I'm more than willing to offer my opinions, whether solicited or not, so here goes:

    At some point between the Skyscraper album and the ALAE album, DLR's voice was damaged. I'm basing this assertion not on established fact, but on the sound of his voice on record. Since then, I believe that he has learned to adapt by adopting some 'proper' vocal techniques. So his effective range has actually increased I believe, and his diction has also improved substantially. All of this is a good thing, especially considering the fact that his lyrics have become far more intricate since the Skyscraper album.

    The only problem here, that I see, is that the 'timbre' and 'breadth' of his voice is not what it used to be. When he goes up into the upper ranges, his voice 'thins' out. This phenomenom is all over the YFLM album. Examples: In 'Big Train' the count he does in the background (1, 2, 3, 4) leading up to the first chorus, and the high notes in the second verse ("I know fast women..."). In 'Experience', the chorus ("Experience, I think I understand, Is it like doing ninety..."). There are other examples on the album.

    I think at this point, we need to accept the fact that a reunion album ain't gonna sound like the first six. Dave's voice has changed, as Ed and Alex both very uncharitably pointed out in the aftermath of the 1996 reunion fiasco. Of course, what the ego brothers forgot to point out is that they've changed too (neck, tongue, hip), although their instruments of choice aren't so directly effected by a physical muscle as a singer's is. But Dave is certainly a competent singer, and as long as the new material is wisely constructed to reflect all the changes of the people of the band (as it should), then it will kick ass. Dave doesn't sing like he did on 'Everybody Wants Some' anymore, EVH doesn't play guitar like he did on 'Romeo Delight' anymore, Alex doesn't play like he did on 'Hot For Teacher' anymore, and MA, well, quite frankly, I'm not even sure what his role is anymore (or if he even has one, as his once very distinguishable background vocals and bass playing were almost completely absent from VHIII).

    That'll teach you to ask for an opinion!!!



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  6. #6
    Sinner's Swing!

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    11.07.17 @ 04:10 PM
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    dave sounded good to me. the songs to me sounded like they were written in sammy's range.

  7. #7
    Romeo Delight

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    12.31.69 @ 04:00 PM
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    Good fucking post VHDOF...yep..your post was so good i had to swear !

  8. #8
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    It sounds like Dave is pushing himself.. like he's a bit strained.

    I agree with "1984".. they sound like more Sammy's range.

    BUT.. I PICKED UP A BOOTLEG OF DAVE IN DALLAS 1999.. HE SOUNDS A LOT BETTER NOW! I'M MORE OF A SAMMY-ERA FAN, BUT IF DAVE STILL HAS IT.. BRING IT ON!

  9. #9
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    Dave's voice has changed a bit over the years. Most people's voice does to. I think that it did sound a little flat but not having sung in awhile will do that. Overall, I did like his voice.


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  10. #10
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    I'm worried about Dave's voice. I have been for awhile. What's happened is that Dave developed a connection between his normal voice and another voice (that isn't his normal falsetto) somewhere inbetween the "Skyscraper" and "A Lil Ain't Enough" albums. This connection, I believe, Dave thinks is correct, but I don't. I don't, because many mp3s I've downloaded from his last tour proved to me that whenever he sings like that and tries to hit the ol' high notes. Like, say, the "letting go...." part in "So This Is Love", he cracks and his voice connects to the other area again. Sometimes, however, I think he is singing right. I'm in the middle of a vocal technique book and it's very interesting. You're supposed to find a way to train your voice so it doesn't break at all. Dave used to have that in the VH days, but he chose to sing in his regular voice so much that it eventually wore out a bit. Dave still connects his voice in a good way sometimes. On songs like "Relentless", though, I'm not sure if he's singing right. I don't think he is. Actually, a lot of the DLR Band album has Dave singing totally wrong. The upper voice he uses, I've found, can be deadly to your screaming and most importantly, your original upper voice...I've tried singing like that as an experiment and those are the problems I discovered. I have a feeling that that's the reason Dave can't scream anymore. In "Skyscraper," Dave screams fine, but starting in ALAE, he's starting to miss them. Coincidence? I think not. I think the reason Dave's voice was getting so good at the end of the '99 tour was because he was singing songs the way he used to. He had no songs in the lineup like "Slam Dunk," that sounded pretty bad in concert. I think if Dave has Templeman to work with his voice, we may hear almost the same voice we heard on the original VH albums. Dave knew how to sing correctly then...he just didn't choose to.

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  11. #11
    Eruption

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    Wow, these are some good points being posted here. This reflects back to a question I posted on the Army board a couple of weeks ago, asking why Dave doesn't use his trademark "shriek" anymore.(Made famous in songs like "On Fire" and RWTD) Dave states pretty clearly within the first couple of pages of his book that he hasn't lost anything he originally had(referring to his vocals) and to be honest, the absence of the "shriek" is about the only change I can detect. Yes, Dave sounds like he's straining a bit on his last few albums(and maybe a bit on MWM too) but to be honest I really dig hearing him reaching for that upper range.

  12. #12
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    12.31.69 @ 04:00 PM
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    Has Dave ever had any vocal training at all?

    I am curious because this is obviously how he's made his living and he takes care of his body with martail arts...what about his
    voice?


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  13. #13
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    Man I just don't get it, it has never been about Dave's voice. He could never sing great. doesn't matter, he is an entertainer and with VH he kicks more rock and roll ass then anything there has ever been or ever will be.

    MWM sounded like it could have come out in 85 or 95, it is just good old fashion kick ass music and it DOES NOT matter if he can hit that note or hit this note or sounds slightly strained. hurry up and get the fucker on stage were he belongs.

  14. #14
    Romeo Delight

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    I agree with Spanked 55, though I am a Roth era fan more than Van Hagar. IMO Dave's voice on the Dallas 99 bootleg sounds better than anything I have from the early years, ie. US Festival. I can't speak for studio recordings, but Live in Dallas he sounded great. But I'm not worried. Cause at least he will sound as good as the US Festival, and having all four of them on stage together is all I need to see.

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    [This message has been edited by MXRFLANGE (edited August 18, 2000 at 11:58 AM).]

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    If Eddie is still in "Sammy mode" than Dave is going to be straining, that's all there is to it. Gary pushed his voice into ranges he couldn't really handle, and it shows on VH3. "Me Wise Magic" is a great song, but Dave's voice is straining big time, a combination of being out of practice and having to sing what Eddie invisioned for the tune.

    Like others have said, if the band realizes this, they will make adjustments to the songs and the structures to offset this. Tuning back down 1/2 would help Dave, hell I remember reading something where Eddie said the band sometimes tuned down a whole step live to help Dave out.

    Dave's voice has aged, it's a simple as that. He never sang correctly, so it was bound to happen, and the years of straining his vocal chords to do his signature falsetto scream took their toll most certainly. If he has been working with a vocal coach, there's no reason why he couldn't get most of his tone and chops back to what they were 12 or 13 years ago. But it's just a fact that the human voice ages. He struggles in the high registers and the growling thing he is doing just doesn't sound that good frankly. But in all fairness, I still like his voice, to me he has always had one of the most interesting and unique vocal stylings in rock history, I could care less if he can't hit notes like Bruce Dickinson. Who wants to hear that from Dave?

    I think we should all stop worrying about Dave's voice, that's not going to be a problem.

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