Apparently, it's rsmurphy's birthday?

Happy Birthday Randy!

Sometimes when I listen to a live performance I get uneasy and paranoid over what I'm actually hearing. When you're used to hearing very processed and stylized voices, what does it sound like without all that, and can you even know? Especially in music where it's been so common with backing tracks etc. even in live environments.

There were some comments on this video saying it's tampered with, I think they're only haters 'cause I'm only hearing some added echo, but what made me uneasy was that I thought for a second, "could I even tell?".

I used to think the unplugged live set was a gimmick that never added much. But in a situation where the normal presentation is so artificialized there really is a point to occasionally clearing all that away, beyond the cliche of "contrast". Music fans often approach these live sets in a confrontative, "show me that you can really do it" manner. I don't like this either. And nothing bothers me about various things being less-than-real in a recording. But the mentioned uncertainty does, and this uncertainty clearly fuels the suspicion of those people too.

Either way, as I have noted that live instrumentation has gained a greater appreciation in recent years, we can hope too that in cases where we are presented with a stripped-down performance, it really goes all in on the strip-down. You can even argue there's a kind of moral obligation here. I think it's good and important to be reminded of what a natural voice sounds like, just like it's important and good to be reminded of what a natural face looks like.

jfv wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2024 2:20 pm Apparently, it's rsmurphy's birthday?

Happy Birthday Randy!

Aren't you a dear! Ty.

A couple of years ago I invested in a luxurious sheepskin bomber jacket and a pair of really nice winter boots comfort rated: -40°F. I feel fraudulent whilst wearing them. But posh. Also warm.

rsmurphy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 3:25 pmA couple of years ago I invested in a luxurious sheepskin bomber jacket and a pair of really nice winter boots comfort rated: -40°F. I feel fraudulent whilst wearing them. But posh. Also warm.

Winter clothing deserves full investment. There is a kind of satisfaction in knowing you're secure no matter how how bad the weather gets.

-40F is exactly -40C, apparently. If it ever got that cold here I would go insane. But at least I would know my feet are warm.

kokorodoko wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 4:28 pm Winter clothing deserves full investment.

Footwear in general, and at least one really nice pair of jeans.

-40F is exactly -40C, apparently. If it ever got that cold here I would go insane. But at least I would know my feet are warm.

I could feel my thighs freezing over the other day and awkwardly sprinted home. I need to invest in a nice pair of thermals.

rsmurphy wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 4:35 pmI could feel my thighs freezing over the other day and awkwardly sprinted home. I need to invest in a nice pair of thermals.

Lined jeans are also an option. I've never owned a pair that were not "Function..." as opposed to "Fashion...", but they get the job done once you are in "Less Than Ten Degrees..." territory.

Past that, happy birthday.

Brian Wilson often sounds like he's singing slightly off key to me. I know he's not, he's a very good singer. Just some warble in that falsetto seems weird. I like it, but it almost surprises me how much other people like it

losthighway wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:21 pm Brian Wilson often sounds like he's singing slightly off key to me. I know he's not, he's a very good singer. Just some warble in that falsetto seems weird. I like it, but it almost surprises me how much other people like it

This guy does 20 minutes on Brian's "unrivalled tonal consistancy".

zorg wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 11:49 am

losthighway wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:21 pm Brian Wilson often sounds like he's singing slightly off key to me. I know he's not, he's a very good singer. Just some warble in that falsetto seems weird. I like it, but it almost surprises me how much other people like it

This guy does 20 minutes on Brian's "unrivalled tonal consistancy".

Fascinating. Maybe he's just that good, like he's so good at it that it sounds weird because no one else sings falsetto that way. But am I crazy, or doesn't it sound kind of weird?

Like I've put in enough hours with The Beach Boys since childhood that my memory can play certain songs. I can just hear him going "Dooooon't worry baaaaabyyyyy" in my head right now, and it's a weird style of singing. Whether it's doo wop, or Neil Young, or the super noodley stuff that Jeff Buckley or Thom Yorke does in their falsetto, no one sounds like that. It's oddly unique.

losthighway wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 1:23 pm

zorg wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2024 11:49 am

losthighway wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:21 pm Brian Wilson often sounds like he's singing slightly off key to me. I know he's not, he's a very good singer. Just some warble in that falsetto seems weird. I like it, but it almost surprises me how much other people like it

This guy does 20 minutes on Brian's "unrivalled tonal consistancy".

Fascinating. Maybe he's just that good, like he's so good at it that it sounds weird because no one else sings falsetto that way. But am I crazy, or doesn't it sound kind of weird?

Like I've put in enough hours with The Beach Boys since childhood that my memory can play certain songs. I can just hear him going "Dooooon't worry baaaaabyyyyy" in my head right now, and it's a weird style of singing. Whether it's doo wop, or Neil Young, or the super noodley stuff that Jeff Buckley or Thom Yorke does in their falsetto, no one sounds like that. It's oddly unique.

Well the guy's point is that it's not a falsetto, but a "head voice" meaning high notes that are not falsetto or strained", but rather in a full, balanced voice.
I think Brian also just has a distinctive voice that people like even in these high registers.