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Geddy Lee's voice

#41
I saw "Beyond The Lighted Stage", and a lot of people in the music biz didn't take them seriously because of Geddy's voice. His voice has mellowed through the years, and he doesn't try to hit those highs like on the 1st album. "Yeah Oh Yeah ... Finding my way ...
 
#42
I have never understood why some people don't like his voice, and I'm not even much of a Rush fan.

A guy who sings like an androgynous elf is perfect for art rock. Just ask Yes... or Jane's Addiction. If anything, the world could use MORE androgynous elves.

The first time I heard Melissa Etheridge, I thought she was Geddy! I kid you not.
 
#46
MY FAVORITE BAND EVER!! Neil could write a song about his grocery list, throw in a drum solo, and make it kick a$$. I think they may be even better now than ever before. I have noticed that Geddy struggles to hit certain notes. I liked his voice better before, but it's still great. I think Alex would be the most fun to have a beer with. BEST ROCK TRIO AROUND!!!
 
#47
I really like their earliest stuff better. For those that do not like his voice would more than likely not care for Burke Shelley's singing on Budgie's tunes either. I've always said that the vocals ruin most songs wether it be crap lyrics or just a bad voice. I really see this in more harder heavier rock/metal whatever. But for bands like Rush, Primus, Jane's Addiction and Budgie they really fit the music so good.

Another bass player leading the charge!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=54H3EUAzpVg&app=m
 
#49
"Temples Of Syrinx" IS GEDDY TO ME.

As he lost his range and had to alter the melodies he wrote, I started to miss the early Geddy more and more.

I think some of this has to do with when you became aware of Rush, kind of a generational thing. I hear a lot of people say Moving Pictures is prime Geddy to them. I think he was in a vocal transition there, and I remember reading him say in an interview that he was tired of pushing his range so much and he made a conscious decision to write melodies that were more accessible.

But when you get used to hearing a guy sing balls to the wall like he did earlier, it's a difficult adjustment (for the listener) when they start singing in a more reasonable range.
 
#51
10cc said:
I really like their earliest stuff better. For those that do not like his voice would more than likely not care for Burke Shelley's singing on Budgie's tunes either. I've always said that the vocals ruin most songs wether it be crap lyrics or just a bad voice. I really see this in more harder heavier rock/metal whatever. But for bands like Rush, Primus, Jane's Addiction and Budgie they really fit the music so good.

Another bass player leading the charge!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=54H3EUAzpVg&app=m
Click to expand...

Yes, Burke Shelley is another one, Geddy's long lost twin seperated at birth LOL.

Budgie, and many other bands in the early 70s, had really high-pitched screamers for singers. I never understood why people pick on Geddy when so many other bands were doing the same thing.

In fact, when Working Man was first played on the radio in the US, people were calling the radio station asking about the "new Led Zeppelin" album they thought they were hearing.

Speaking of Burke Shelley, if you've heard his voice from more recent years he's also lost his upper range the same way Geddy has. I have a more recent re-recording of Breadfan and he's singing it like a more conventional rock singer these days, about an octave or so lower.
 
#52
I just dug this up on youtube and must say I know its hard to hit that high register from way back in 71, but I would rather hear him going for it with a blown out throat then sing it like this.
Like I said earlier - "I've always said that the vocals ruin most songs wether it be crap lyrics or just a bad voice. I really see this in more harder heavier rock/metal whatever."

At least they are still banging'em out!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nPMCDb7FOWI
 
#55
The first time I heard a Rush album (my cousin's new purchase of 2112) I immediately took it off the turntable when the singing started. But then I did the same with a Led Zeppelin album he had too. I couldn’t stand the high pitched vocals.

It was only when a high school buddy put on Cygnus X-1 after A Farewell To Kings came out that I read the lyrics and realized these guys are into Sci-Fi. After that I began appreciating the intelligent lyrics and the mind bending musicianship.

Now I can't imagine Rush's music without Geddy's voice. But I agree with some here, his early singing was amazing, once his voice mellowed in the 80's they didn't sound quite as unique to me anymore.

And I too have trouble watching the more current concerts where he is struggling. He now has several basses all tuned differently as he can't hit certain notes with his voice anymore, so they've changed the tuning to bring the range down a bit.
 

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