Other power singers around Geddy's age can still sing like when they were younger. Why can't Geddy?

[fonzbear2000]

For example, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Just listen to the some of the old songs from the 80's on Maiden's recent live albums.

 

A few others include:

Justin Hayward(Moody Blues): 66

My dad and I saw the Moodies a few years band and he sounded incredible!

 

Ronnie James Dio(Dio,Black Sabbath): 67

He is greatly missed, but my God could he sing amazing at his age!

 

Klaus Meine(Scorpions): 64

Just like Bruce, I think he's very close to how great he sounded in the 80's as well.

 

So, I wonder why Geddy can't sing like he did in the 70's. Is it because of his vocal style? Would he damage his vocals if he tried to sing like that now? I would like to get your thoughts and opinions on this.

[Rod in Toronto]

I think it's mostly genetics. Look at Gillan and Glenn Hughes for example- neither of them had formal vocal training, and both abused their health with alcohol, drugs, cigarettes etc. And yet, Gillan's voice is shot, while Hughes is still amazing.

[umoveme]

because

[Maverick]

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff508/blackcc/Smilies%20GIFs/io.gif

[Thunder Bay Rush]

I think the main reason is simply because the vast majority of Geddy's 1970s vocals were recorded at such an almost unheard of high range. I don't know a lot of about Maiden, or the other bands you mentioned, but I don't think any of those songs were written and sang at such a high range.

 

Geddy's voice is super clear today... and I think he is a FAR better singer than ever. But, when people age, they change, including their voice.

[Rod in Toronto]

And for the record, Bruce has changed the way he sings from the 80's to now. I doubt he'd be able ti sing Total Eclipse nowadays.

[Weakly Criminal]

For example, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Just listen to the some of the old songs from the 80's on Maiden's recent live albums.

 

A few others include:

Justin Hayward(Moody Blues): 66

My dad and I saw the Moodies a few years band and he sounded incredible!

 

Ronnie James Dio(Dio,Black Sabbath): 67

He is greatly missed, but my God could he sing amazing at his age!

 

Klaus Meine(Scorpions): 64

Just like Bruce, I think he's very close to how great he sounded in the 80's as well.

 

So, I wonder why Geddy can't sing like he did in the 70's. Is it because of his vocal style? Would he damage his vocals if he tried to sing like that now? I would like to get your thoughts and opinions on this.

 

Justin Hayward is not an apt comparison. Ged regularly sang an octave and a half higher, and with amazing projection and strength.

 

Never got to see Dickenson live so I wont comment. But he never sang as high as Ged.

 

I saw RJD in I think 2006 and he skipped a couple of his most popular songs. They were the most difficult ones. I have to assume he just couldn't do it live anymore. He sounded great though. Again, VERY strong voice, but never approached the range of Ged.

 

Take Robert Plant; the best rock vocalist ever IMO. He never could repoduce live what he did in the studio. Ged could back in the day. Did you hear the LZ reunion? He didn't even try to do the high-strong stuff.

 

Keep in mind that live albums are recorded under optimum conditions.

Edited February 16, 2013 by Weakly Criminal

[Lerxster]

So, I wonder why Geddy can't sing like he did in the 70's.

 

Your answer lies within your question, grasshopper.

 

http://youtu.be/fULNUr0rvEc

[Lerxster]

Keep in mind that live albums are recorded under optimum conditions.

 

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but.. 'TIME MACHINE 2011: Live In Cleveland'.

[vitalsigns318]

Geddy can still sing, maybe not like he used to in the seventies, but so what, Rush is still a working touring band 38 years after their inception. Geddy still has the energy and presence of a teenager, and it is an amazing quality. They work the songs for Geddy voice now and they still sound amazing. Vocal chords change over time but the energy of Rush has not.

[Thunder Bay Rush]

Good post... I agree with all of it, especially, the comment about Robert Plante.

 

Yes, he is (probably) the best rock vocalist ever, or let's say, he "was" the best rock vocaslist ever. Same thing live - he could never hit those high notes. In the studio he obviously was able to because back in the early 70s they didn't have the technology or trickery that is available in today's synthetic studio environment.

 

"The Song Remains the Same" (I think that's title of LZs concert movie from the early 70s recorded at MSG in New York) is painful to watch if you ask me. The opening song is "Rock 'n Roll" and Robert sounds awful, basically, just talking his way through it. Same thing with "Black Dog." Awful.

 

Geddy is in my opinion one of the bravest vocalists in rock. Back when he was 23, 24, 25... he wrote (along with his bandsmates) some music that was VERY difficult to play live, let alone just sing the goddam stuff! Hemispheres, for example, wouldn't be quite so tough to play live if there was a fourth member who was the vocalist, but to sing AND play bass AND play keyboards AND play Taurus pedals (bass pedals, foot operated) AND play double-neck guitar (six string rhythm guitar and bass) all during the same song was and still is EFFING INSANE.

 

No-one else has ever done it...

 

So, back to the original question,,, I guess if either Alex or Tony Geranios, (Ged's keyboard tech) would volunteer to squeeze Geddy's onions while he tries to hit the REALLY high notes, we'll have to appreciate "our band" the way he (and they) play the songs live in today's live venue.

 

:geddy:

[GeddysMullet]

Geddy Lee is a wonderful singer whose vocals move me in all the right ways, regardless of how he did or didn't sing when he was younger, regardless of how his peers can or can't sing now.

[EagleMoon]

When people age, everything gets lower. Boobs to behinds to voice. :) You can hear Geddy's speaking voice has gotten lower pitch over the years as well.

[Thunder Bay Rush]

When people age, everything gets lower. Boobs to behinds to voice. :) You can hear Geddy's speaking voice has gotten lower pitch over the years as well.

 

 

Holy shit, so THAT'S why I trip over my testicles every now and then... (Not EVERY GODDAM DAY just every now and then.)

 

:P

[Lorraine]

A few others include:

Justin Hayward(Moody Blues): 66

My dad and I saw the Moodies a few years band and he sounded incredible!

 

Justin Hayward said in an interview a few years ago that he could no longer hit some of the notes in Tuesday Afternoon. What that means for Justin Hayward, and not being a singer myself, I have no idea.

[Lorraine]

Geddy Lee is a wonderful singer whose vocals move me in all the right ways, regardless of how he did or didn't sing when he was younger, regardless of how his peers can or can't sing now.

 

I agree. I think he sings better today than he did when he was younger.

[eshine]

Ged will always be identified by his impossibly high vocal style of the seventees, but in retrospect - he really only sang like that for a short period of time in his youth.

 

His wise decison to change up his style with Permanent Waves is the reason he sounds so good today. His voice would be entirley shot had he continued shredding like that and I doubt they would have been able to carry on for as long as they have.

 

I think he has proven to be a remarkably deft singer over the years. He can sing an emotional, melodic vocal like The Garden and elicit just as many goosebumps from me as the old days.

[ucsteve667]

Plant is awful live

[Cygnus 2112]

Keep in mind that live albums are recorded under optimum conditions.

 

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but.. 'TIME MACHINE 2011: Live In Cleveland'.

 

How about Rush In Rio

[Ancient Ways]

Everyone is different. As far as live albums being recorded under optimum conditions, no. Too many things out of their control. Rush needs to record earlier in the tour in my opinion when geddys voice is less strained.

[calirush]

Plant is awful live

 

I saw Plant and Page in 1995 and he was great then.

[Mika]

I'm glad to hear there's a lot support for Geddy around here!

 

Yes, his singing is different from what it used to be, but as others have pointed out, he'd been in an astronomically high range, and I wouldn't think this would be sustainable for decades. Someone also mentioned (too lazy to use that quote button!) that Geddy's live singing voice has always done justice to his studio-recorded voice, and I think this is a big deal - there are lots of 'singers' that sound great in a controlled studio, but really don't meet par when in a live setting. I think a mark of a great singer is being able to sound fantastic live, and I am going to say that he is a very darn good singer.

 

I have more thoughts, but my mind is falling asleep on me, so I'll have to cut this short for a change! :)

[Weakly Criminal]

When people age, everything gets lower. Boobs to behinds to voice. :) You can hear Geddy's speaking voice has gotten lower pitch over the years as well.

 

 

Holy shit, so THAT'S why I trip over my testicles every now and then... (Not EVERY GODDAM DAY just every now and then.)

 

:P

 

Just try not to sit on them. :laughing guy:

[Thunder Bay Rush]

When people age, everything gets lower. Boobs to behinds to voice. :) You can hear Geddy's speaking voice has gotten lower pitch over the years as well.

 

 

Holy shit, so THAT'S why I trip over my testicles every now and then... (Not EVERY GODDAM DAY just every now and then.)

 

:P

 

Just try not to sit on them. :laughing guy:

 

 

I've never sat on "them" but I did sit on the edge of just one of them once... and I got up really fast.

[Rod in Toronto]

When people age, everything gets lower. Boobs to behinds to voice. :) You can hear Geddy's speaking voice has gotten lower pitch over the years as well.

 

 

Holy shit, so THAT'S why I trip over my testicles every now and then... (Not EVERY GODDAM DAY just every now and then.)

 

:P

 

Just try not to sit on them. :laughing guy:

 

 

I've never sat on "them" but I did sit on the edge of just one of them once... and I got up really fast.

 

Didn't you screeeeech when that happened? Hey, maybe that's what Geddy needs! Think about it...''spinning, whirling, still descending (sits on saggy balls) LIKE A SPIRAL SEA UNENDING!!!!''.