Did Paul's Voice Really Change?
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Still pretty amazing that he gives us a 3 hour show with no intermission and he even talks in between numbers.
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Yes, his voice has changed, generally not for the better -- but hey, he's about to turn 72, what do you expect? Meanwhile, here is a really interesting chart that's been all over the intertubes today comparing the vocal ranges of great singers, current, recent and not-so recent. Paul makes the top 10 in terms of range: http://www.concerthotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges
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It's definitely changed a lot, but I think he uses it to his advantage on the New album. I remember reading a review that said the album makes good use of the change in his vocal range, and I really agree with that.
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Nancy R:
love2travel:
I get so mad that some people make such a big deal about Paul's voice. It's still Paul, I have grown up loving his music and his voice. My voice has also changed as I get older, as does my aunts and uncles and it will happen to everyone!! To me I still love them the same because that's who they are now. I would never dream of judging them because of their voice... how silly that thought is to me.
I don't know about the others here, but I am not "judging" Paul because of his voice and there is no need for you to get mad. I was merely surprised that anyone would not think his voice and/or singing has changed over the years. I still love the guy, love the entire NEW album, and I continue to spend way too much money to see him in concert.
I totally agree with you Nancy!
Bruce M.:
Meanwhile, here is a really interesting chart that's been all over the intertubes today comparing the vocal ranges of great singers, current, recent and not-so recent. Paul makes the top 10 in terms of range: http://www.concerthotels.com/worlds-greatest-vocal-ranges
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Hope he still sounds great after he recovers from this virus.
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Paul has the most beautiful tone voice in the world, while being the most versatile voice in the world. Anyone know of one that's superior to him, let me know.
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To my ears, his voice kind of changed in several steps - during the 80's (and especially leading up to the 'Flowers in the Dirt' album and tour), his less strained voice seemed pretty much preserved, but his screaming voice changed...not so much for the better or worse or weaker...but just a different texture to it...that status remained throughout the next decade and into early 2000's (to me, he was still pretty much right there during the 'Back in the US/Driving Rain' tour)...2005 was the first tour where I found his voice to be decidedly deeper with some texture changes as well...but still held his own very well...I'd say that today, it's more of the latter, except more extensive at this point
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I agree with everyone who says he has a wonderful voice. It stands out even in the Beatles songs, I always heard Paul's voice.
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love2travel:
I agree with everyone who says he has a wonderful voice. It stands out even in the Beatles songs, I always heard Paul's voice.
Yep I like your comment a lot. Doesn't matter to me whether or not his voice has changed...I like it just the way it is. He has such a gentle loving singing voice. I bet Paul is the best singer for anybody at his age. I'd say he sings pretty well for being what 71 years old right?
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maccasfangirl30:
love2travel:
I agree with everyone who says he has a wonderful voice. It stands out even in the Beatles songs, I always heard Paul's voice.
Yep I like your comment a lot. Doesn't matter to me whether or not his voice has changed...I like it just the way it is. He has such a gentle loving singing voice. I bet Paul is the best singer for anybody at his age. I'd say he sings pretty well for being what 71 years old right?
Paul seems ageless, really. The saying that age is just a number, really applies to Paul...in my opinion. He is truly an amazing person and it was really nice to see the wonderful comments that people were writing about him recently. Sometimes it takes someone that we all love and care about, to get sick, before we can voice our true feelings. So many deeply heartfelt sentiments... I really like the description, gentle loving singing voice....well, and then theres the rockers like Helter Skelter ! that's a great voice as well!!
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I remember Paul saying a few years back that he'd probably will be touring up even when he is 93 years old. I can certainly see that happening. If he does get to that age we'll still probably go see him in concert right?
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Puh-leeze. Age may be just a number, but bodies, minds and voices age. There are things I can't do at 58 that I could at 18, or that take much more effort. Let's not delude ourselves into thinking Paul is immune to natural processes. He's not.
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Well, he IS immune, at least has been so far. At 72 he's doing things that i cant do at half his age. Way to go Paul!
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Junk:
Well, he IS immune, at least has been so far. At 72 he's doing things that i cant do at half his age. Way to go Paul!
I agree with you there. Paul still seems strong and his voice still sounds great to me! Let's pray that he will keep up good health in the incoming years ahead.
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Pauls voice has sounded markedly better in the last 18 months than it did in 2012. I wonder if he has had nodules removed from his vocal chords. His voice seems to have had a new lease of life since the Olympics when he did sound a little tired admittedly. At the heart festival, the Graham Norton show, and the Tokyo gig, his voice has sounded consistently superb - with " New" being a superb example on each occasion. Queenie eye at the grammies was also spot on.
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PMcC has many voices. Compare 'Lady Madonna' and 'Hey Jude' in the same year and while you're at it check the 'live sound' of the various takes of the 'Hey Jude' video from then against the record. This also shows that his inconsistency is nothing new. I don't check out a lot of his live stuff in the present but every now and then one of his gigs puts itself in front of me. More often than not, he's performing patchily throughout a set, sometimes there are songs where his singing really is dire but equally there are performances of the same songs which are suddenly 'Why can't he do it like THAT every time?' The answer of course is that Paul has always been a little superstitious about interfering with what comes naturally so although he could benefit from vocal coaching to achieve consistency, I doubt he's ever taken it up for fear that he will lose something as well as gaining. I think his speaking voice has changed but then again I'm not sure...it could well be he gets hoarse on occasion from singing three hours a night and, probably, a lot more than we ever see!
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michaelk:
PMcC has many voices. Compare 'Lady Madonna' and 'Hey Jude' in the same year and while you're at it check the 'live sound' of the various takes of the 'Hey Jude' video from then against the record. This also shows that his inconsistency is nothing new. I don't check out a lot of his live stuff in the present but every now and then one of his gigs puts itself in front of me. More often than not, he's performing patchily throughout a set, sometimes there are songs where his singing really is dire but equally there are performances of the same songs which are suddenly 'Why can't he do it like THAT every time?' The answer of course is that Paul has always been a little superstitious about interfering with what comes naturally so although he could benefit from vocal coaching to achieve consistency, I doubt he's ever taken it up for fear that he will lose something as well as gaining. I think his speaking voice has changed but then again I'm not sure...it could well be he gets hoarse on occasion from singing three hours a night and, probably, a lot more than we ever see!
That Paul has had many voices is one of his great strengths, and there are much starker examples than the one you cite -- compare, for instance, Why Don't We Do It in the Road to I Will. But that's an entirely different question than the issue of age related deterioration. On a good day today he can belt out Helter Skelter and sound just fine, but on his best day now he can't come close to the ethereal, liquid purity of his original vocals on I Will or Here There and Everywhere. That, sadly, is age, and even Paul can't stop time. Believe me, I wish he could.
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It's gone deeper but he still pulls off some good to great vocals. I think his voice already was changing a bit in the 90s; I noticed it on 'Off the Ground' (my second favourite Macca album btw, so it's not meant as a criticism). Cheers.
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okay so everyone here pretty much agrees that Paul's voice has indeed changed over the years, what year do you think he did the best singing? With the Beatles, Wings, or Solo?
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Live, his best was '75, '79, but Paul has the greatest singing voice in the world. Who's better? Post here.