• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Is my lead singer that bad?

#161
Manuel101 said:
We had a rehearsal last night and he was pitchy, he said his voice was not warmed up yet. Then after we finished rehearsing he said can we try that song one more time my voice is warmed up. we took our instruments out and recorded the song he was still pitchy as hell. we try telling him that he needs to write parts that are not so high so that he doesnt sound so out of tune. he reply the he has been singing since he was 16 and that he was signed before blah blah blah and he can still sing those high extended notes. then i said bro you are not in the same predicament now, there are a few things different now that dont allow you to sing like you could before so write music that emphasizes your strengths and not your weakness. He would not consider what we were saying then he played back the last song we just played and he told us is sounded good and we were like NO that is out of tune he was like no i just bended the note. So we are probably just going to give him two more shows to pull it off or else.
Click to expand...

Look, you guys have done all you can and pointed out the major flaw..Him. He sounds like he knows it all and can't see any flaw's in his voice although others do. If his Ego wont let him change you need to make a change for yourself (leave) or the band (him leave)
Being signed and past experiences means nothing and voices change with time and age. Why doesn't he change the key of the songs? He can't write in those keys if he can't sing in them. But if he thinks he can it is a hopeless case if he feels he is right.

I asked are you getting gigs and paid like the band is now? Are you getting rebooked? Are people enjoying the band? If Yes, maybe leave it alone if not then you have a problem. This singer's ego is it and if he will not change you or the band need to make a change and you know what it is.
 
#162
Manuel101 said:
he reply the he has been singing since he was 16 and that he was signed before blah blah blah and he can still sing those high extended notes. then i said bro you are not in the same predicament now, there are a few things different now that dont allow you to sing like you could before so write music that emphasizes your strengths and not your weakness. He would not consider what we were saying
Click to expand...

And within this lies all your answers. You don't need any of our opinions anymore.
 
#164
Manuel101 said:
That's the thing in a controlled environment where he can take breaks (like rehearsal and at the studio) he does fine but during shows he strains his voice way too much and towards the end of the set he cant hold the pitch.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like improper technique is harping on his endurance. Get him a vocal coach and within a couple of weeks he'll probably sound dramatically better (if he puts in the work and practice).
 
#165
I can see that you guys are trying to work with him but with an attitude such as his, I'm not seeing much of a justification to keep him. If he doesn't want to be open about improvement and doesn't show up for band meetings, what's left ? A kick in the teeth ?
 
#166
electracoyote said:
Or they could grit their teeth and bear it through the next couple of gigs while simultaneously doing it the old fashioned way: Beginning a round of auditions for someone who has put in the work and preparing to axe the guy who hasn't.
Click to expand...

That's my personal take on this guy (post #77). In Manuel's shoes, I'd have long ago been looking for an actual singer.

electracoyote said:
And lead singer could be tempted to use it as a crutch for the rest of his singing career...
Click to expand...

He could. Or he could use it as part of training himself to hear pitch and harmony. In a case like this (that is, a band reluctant to get rid of a bad singer who can't hear his own pitchiness), I'd see pitch correction not as a solution, but as a temporary crutch--something to lean on while getting stronger.
 
#167
Yes, he's not very good. Even singers need to learn to play their instrument. It's pretty obvious he's never learned anything.

Could he do it? It's pretty amazing what even a month of lessons can do. If he works at it, there's a possibility. I don't want to say "potential" as he'd have to put in a lot of work just to have potential. Jus' sayin'.
 
#169
Manuel101 said:
Also guys could you please go to our videos and write down what you think? Dont be brutal though just write some of the things you wrote here so that we can show him what people think about us. again please dont write things like you guys suck or that singer is horrible but say it in a polite way that he needs to step it up. Maybe if he sees what other people think he might see the light. I figure he probably thinks he sings well and it's just us not knowing what we are talking about.
Click to expand...

Is it your YouTube account, or the band's. Does anyone have access to it other than you?

The reason I ask is that YouTube has analytics for site traffic that can tell you where people came to the video from. From those analytics you may be able to see that alot of traffic came from TB and trace it to this thread.
 
#170
Manuel101 said:
We had a rehearsal last night and he was pitchy, he said his voice was not warmed up yet. Then after we finished rehearsing he said can we try that song one more time my voice is warmed up. we took our instruments out and recorded the song he was still pitchy as hell. we try telling him that he needs to write parts that are not so high so that he doesnt sound so out of tune. he reply the he has been singing since he was 16 and that he was signed before blah blah blah and he can still sing those high extended notes. then i said bro you are not in the same predicament now, there are a few things different now that dont allow you to sing like you could before so write music that emphasizes your strengths and not your weakness. He would not consider what we were saying then he played back the last song we just played and he told us is sounded good and we were like NO that is out of tune he was like no i just bended the note. So we are probably just going to give him two more shows to pull it off or else.
Click to expand...

Well it's either ear or ego. Problem, neither is one of those things that corrected by the next show. Working with someone who can't hear if they are out of tune is like working with a blind photographer or a chef with no sense of smell. Working with someone whose ego won't let them see their shortcomings will deteriorate a team atmosphere and halt progress.

The thing is the guy doesn't have bad timbre, but he needs to work on pitch. It's like having a bass with killer tone, but always plays a 1/2 step flat from the rest of the band. You can never tell how good the bass sounds because it is out of tune.
 
#171
I suggest you call a band meeting and ask the vocalist to sing (along with a karaoke type track )a well know pop song or even solo something like the Star Spangled Banner (where he can't "blend" notes-whatever that means?!), record it and then have everyone give a listen.

Either he can sing in tune or he can't.
 
#172
JimmyM said:
Hate to break it to you guys, but I have heard singers who sound awesome on their multi-million selling recordings sound out of tune and shaky in front of thousands live.
Click to expand...

Well.. that is because a lot of times you didn't hear singers who sound awesome on their multi-million selling recordings - you heard studio tricks to make guys who couldn't sing sound awesome on their multi-million selling recordings.

When you heard Anthony Keidis sound bad in front of thousands? THAT is how he really sounds.
 
#175
derrico1 said:
Yeah, it would be better if Manuel's boy had spent the last couple years woodshedding, but that's not really on the table at this point for pulling the next gigs out of the fire. If he wants to get his singer to hear the problem, this is one tool to get there. Pragmatism vs. idealism; but in the situation, all idealism leaves Manuel101 is the the dump-him-already option. (JimmyM: weren't you just railing against this?)
Click to expand...
Yes I was, until Manuel said he was bringing up how he was in some sort of "signed" band and he sounded great and didn't need any work. Now I'm in the "fire him" camp with all the other vultures. I always believe in giving people a chance before firing, and they gave him one and he blew it.
 
#177
jive1 said:
Is it your YouTube account, or the band's. Does anyone have access to it other than you?

The reason I ask is that YouTube has analytics for site traffic that can tell you where people came to the video from. From those analytics you may be able to see that alot of traffic came from TB and trace it to this thread.
Click to expand...

It's our band's page but I am the administrator
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back