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Post by Diegoville on Oct 19, 2017 18:12:49 GMT -5
So, new tour just started and I as already said in another thread I believe this project is really interesting and yet something I've already seen other artists do, for example Björk during her Vespertine tour (and Vulnicura too) along Florence + The Machine. Those two singers really showed off in that setting and I was excited to see Amy perform given that she would focus on her vocals mainly but I think that on the LA Show she had a hard time with some of the higher notes in NGB, MHIB and EOTD. I don't know anything about singing at all but I felt like her voice was straining and cracking (not in a purposeful way like Sia or Björk) anyway she sounded really exhausted and that was only the second show they had done. I sort of agree with you (keeping in mind that I also slightly critisized her vocals after the first show), but I would point out that the 3rd show in Phoenix was already on a higher level when it comes to vocal performance. I have noticed also previously that when they start a new tour, after the first show I'm a bit 'meh', but it takes 2-3 shows for her until she really "gets it". And that is very understandable of course. Additionally, if you listen to any clips from soundchecks, she always(?) sounds better than in the actual show. As said, I still don't disagree with you completely - there definitely are areas in her range that should be worked on, and I don't enjoy that struggling/straining either. We all know Amy is not a fan of vocal coaching, but I just hope she would give it a chance. Going from really good to perfect would be totally doable for her. Yes! I saw videos this morning and she was great. And it is interesting what people have said about her sounding better at soundchecks :/
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blueberry
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Post by blueberry on Oct 21, 2017 5:01:43 GMT -5
I have mixed feelings on her voice. First off, the first time I saw Ev live was in 2012 and it blew me away how much more beautiful Amy sounded than any videos that had been posted. Watching the Synthesis tour videos, I did have some thoughts on her vocals. Thinking about it, she was in her very early 20’s when Fallen was recorded and the first time anyone was exposed to their live shows. I watched a bunch of videos that I had already seen before, but paying attention, it’s clear she was able to sing in a higher octave with little difficulty, but sounded strained in a lower register. Flash forward to 14-15 years later (more if you’re familiar with pre Fallen work) Amy is almost 36, and EVERYONE’S voices get deeper as they get older. So she can still hit those high notes amazingly. But singing the entire time in that higher pitch doesn’t come as easy. But, especially in Good Enough, her deeper tones can melt a heart. I personally think Amy feels the need to constantly challenge herself, and is far less concerned about whether or not it sounds platinumly perfect every night. That’s what the studio versions are for.
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Post by Andromeda - Evanescent-Killjoy on Nov 4, 2017 6:42:12 GMT -5
I'd love to hear her answer the same question again this many years on.
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Post by dutchevfan on Nov 9, 2017 4:43:29 GMT -5
Ugh, I've been typing replies to this topic and deleting them because I keep changing my mind... Watching that old interview triggered me again to say something anyway (even though my comment may be incomplete) I think Amy does know how to sing right, from a classical point of view, but that does not necessarily serve her in what she's doing with Evanescence. I used to be in a classical choir, and I felt that way of singing did not bring out my own uniqueness and feelings. I started experimenting with other ways of using my voice, and in the process sometimes did things with my voice that hurt me. I actually did take singing lessons (non-classical) to learn how to use my voice my own way without hurting it. The thing is, even though you take lessons, you still have to do the work yourself, and find what tricks in singing actually feel right for you, and in the process, you're bound to make mistakes and end up hurting your voice sometimes. You can learn to work around that, and get better, but it takes time, and every muscle in your body needs to cooperate. Sickness, hormonal changes, lack of sleep can all sabotage the strength and sound of your voice (apart from technique). So (at least for me), what works for your voice one day, can completely fail you the next. It's not like playing any other instrument. I think people forget that sometimes (or don't even realize it). The thing live is, that you HAVE to deliver, no matter what. And if, for whatever reason your voice does not cooperate the way you need it to, you still need to deliver. I think Amy does that brilliantly most of the time. You can tell she's in it, with all her heart and soul, in pretty much every note. And yes, sometimes she does strain her voice I think, but if her technique was totally off, her voice would not live through the tour. Apart from actually straining, there is also a proper way of singing that sounds kind of 'strained', but is not actually hurtful to your voice, which I think Amy possibly uses as well. (just like you can for instance scream and grunt without hurting your voice, but if done wrong it's very hurtful to your voice, and will, in the long run, kill your voice.) Ah well, that's it for my thoughts on this topic right now
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Post by Rarkphoenix on Nov 9, 2017 6:27:48 GMT -5
That was actually really insightful. I guess it's not all that different to other instruments (albeit more risk involved). I'm frequently told I play the guitar 'wrong', but I get a decent sound out of it. So what? What works, works, and her voice doesn't seem to be suffering. As much as I realise the importance of protecting one's voice. As a self taught musician I find the elitism of some properly trained musicians tiresome at times "you don't understand theory" or "you haven't passed 'x' grade in an instrument therefore your art is inferior to my art". I feel like vocals are probably the area where proper technique and training are the most useful, but I'm of the opinion that any training should give the vocalist the freedom to develop their own unique style. There are more than enough 'perfect sopranos' out there to keep that market saturated.
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Post by turdyturderson on Nov 9, 2017 7:22:32 GMT -5
That was actually really insightful. I guess it's not all that different to other instruments (albeit more risk involved). I'm frequently told I play the guitar 'wrong', but I get a decent sound out of it. So what? What works, works, and her voice doesn't seem to be suffering. As much as I realise the importance of protecting one's voice. As a self taught musician I find the elitism of some properly trained musicians tiresome at times "you don't understand theory" or "you haven't passed 'x' grade in an instrument therefore your art is inferior to my art". I feel like vocals are probably the area where proper technique and training are the most useful, but I'm of the opinion that any training should give the vocalist the freedom to develop their own unique style. There are more than enough 'perfect sopranos' out there to keep that market saturated. That’s funny people are telling you you play the guitar wrong. Jimi Hendrix played the guitar with his teeth! And Jimmy Page used a bow on his sometimes! Lol. Keep doing what you’re doing but just listen to your body. If it hurts, adjust what you are doing. I think what gives Amy her unique sound is that she is welding an opera sound in a pop technique. Not even those european metal singers can do that. But I get everyone’s concern about her voca cords getting busted. If that was the case she would sound more and more hoarse as the tour continues. In reality though, it jist keeps getting stronger.
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Post by dutchevfan on Nov 9, 2017 7:37:43 GMT -5
I'm a self taught 'piano player', and I get that all the time - 'Ah, you're doing this wrong' (and I'm like; 'well, you thought it sounded good before you saw how I played it' ) It's in the way I write music too. When I started out I didn't even know what chords I was playing, I just did whatever sounded right to me. I did take some piano- and writinglessons when I started to get more serious about songwriting, when I felt like my lack of knowledge was holding me back. As far as vocal training goes, I have had a classical vocal trainer, she said that there was only one way to sing right - whatever she tried to teach me didn't stick with me. I've had a vocal trainer who tried to teach me to sing like (what she felt was a true) rock singer ('cause of my love for rock and metal music). Everything I did and every sound I made, came with a name, which resulted in more insecurity on my part, 'cause I was constantly trying to categorize what I was doing, and totally NOT feeling it - although she said I was doing great. I seriously considered giving up on vocal training, 'cause I felt it was restricting me (and that is why I think Amy refuses to take singing lessons, and I totally get that!) Luckily for me, I got a new vocal teacher, who never tried to make me sound like someone I'm not, which has given me so much freedom! She appreciates the fact that I have a certain way of singing that feels good, and only goes into techniques when necessary (or when I ask) - when it actually helps me sing better and helps me sound more like me. I feel like there are very few vocal teachers (or music teachers in general), who get how to do that. I think it is much overlooked that music is about conveying a feeling, and that technique and training are in service to that, not the other way around. And... in music there is always something more to learn I think. I'd much rather hear imperfect singing (from Amy, or anyone), than perfect singing and not feeling it. That aside I often think the cracks and audible 'pain' in Amy's voice, is what makes the songs perfect. I keep thinking it is so interesting that people seem to either totally love, or kind of hate Amy's performances, there doesn't seem to be much in between.
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respawntime
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Post by respawntime on Nov 9, 2017 7:46:06 GMT -5
most of the people who hate her performances are fans of other similar bands, and not with a reason, just pure elitism also people who are still butthurt over ben moody (or seether)
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Post by FallenEvArmy on Nov 9, 2017 8:01:54 GMT -5
most of the people who hate her performances are fans of other similar bands, and not with a reason, just pure elitism also people who are still butthurt over ben moody (or seether) There was no need for that comment, it serves no purpose to the discussion other than to bait others.
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Post by Rarkphoenix on Nov 9, 2017 8:18:57 GMT -5
I think a lot of it is to do with what people want to get out of music too. I used to teach guitar informally, and predictably my style was very much "okay, here are some basic chords that may come in useful" followed by "okay, what do you want to learn?". For some people that worked great and some of my former students are now way better than me, and others it didn't work so well for and they needed the sort of guidance and 'syllabus structure' that I couldn't provide for them. I've alway been a bit of an extreme example of wanting to be completely self-sufficient and self taught in as much as I can because I always feel like I haven't made something my own if I haven't done most of the legwork (which is obviously rubbish, but I do have an almost hipsterish obsession with not treading the beaten path). I feel like Amy has this to a less extreme degree (her stories about going away and learning pieces by ear instead of spending time learning the notes definitely feels familiar to me). I feel like she has a better balance though. She does things her own way, but keeps an eye on how other people are doing things so she can better herself. It's not all about doing things differently for the sake of it.
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Post by Diegoville on Feb 3, 2018 18:28:42 GMT -5
Now that I've seen a lot of live videos I can definitely say that this is Amy's strongest/more consistent tour until now.
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TDS
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Post by TDS on Feb 4, 2018 9:23:12 GMT -5
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SparklingxGrey
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Post by SparklingxGrey on Feb 4, 2018 10:47:52 GMT -5
I love this interview so much.
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Post by dannycastillo on Feb 15, 2018 1:12:46 GMT -5
Now that I've seen a lot of live videos I can definitely say that this is Amy's strongest/more consistent tour until now. I honestly think it's because she's not running/jumping around, so she can proportion more of her breath to actually singing and not for delivering oxygen to her active body.
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hailie
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Post by hailie on Sept 22, 2018 5:15:38 GMT -5
So a vocal teacher reacted to Amy singing My Immortal - Synthesis. He said interesting things and pointed out what was wrong an why. And he didn't do it in a meaning way. He also said what she was doing right and maybe some distorsion that she might do on purpose the video :
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