Flying Colors covers Repentance. (Mike Portnoy vocals)

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Yeah, I don't dig MP's vocals at all in here. Sorry, not bitching or anything. Like I said in the other thread, it's maybe the timbre of his voice I don't like.

[Ben_Jamin]

Honesty I could barely hear him, I just hear the audience.

[kirksnosehair]

I couldn't really hear the lead vocals enough to critique them.  Musically it sounded pretty good to me, except for that wretched guitar solo

[?]

Not a bad version but I prefer JP's solo by far and it's clear that MP isn't a great lead singer.

[FlashCE]

"Don't want to talk about the singer again
And all notes that he missed
'Cause he always sings the wrong ones"



-Marc.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Honesty I could barely hear him, I just hear the audience.

Come on, you definitely hear the audience but MP's voice IS there. It's not that hidden.

[Ben_Jamin]

Honesty I could barely hear him, I just hear the audience.

Come on, you definitely hear the audience but MP's voice IS there. It's not that hidden.

Guess it blended with the audience.

[andri_ab]

Oh Mike.. u regret it a lot..

-andri-

[Zook]

I didn't think his vocals were OMG TERRIBLE like so many others, but that guitar solo.. I turned it off a little after that started.

[rumborak]

What's everybody's beef with the solo? I thought it was pretty decent for an improvised solo. Keep in mind that JP always played the album solo, for which he had a lot of time to work on.

[Ben_Jamin]

What's everybody's beef with the solo? I thought it was pretty decent for an improvised solo. Keep in mind that JP always played the album solo, for which he had a lot of time to work on.

I thought so too. It probably would've sounded better if the songs tempo wasn't a bit fast, but still I don't see what's wrong with it.

[Adami]

What's everybody's beef with the solo? I thought it was pretty decent for an improvised solo. Keep in mind that JP always played the album solo, for which he had a lot of time to work on.

The solo isn't bad by any means, but JPs solo was just perfect. And when you're used to the perfect solo, then a not as perfect solo just doesn't get you all excited.

[rumborak]

On a related note, Steve Morse's picking technique is weeeeird. Couldn't stop staring at it.

[BlobVanDam]

What's everybody's beef with the solo? I thought it was pretty decent for an improvised solo. Keep in mind that JP always played the album solo, for which he had a lot of time to work on.

Yeah, I'm not seeing the problem either. It's not as crafted as JP's original solo for obvious reason, but it still fit the song well, and sounded pretty good for on the spot.

[slycordinator]

I think the beef with the solo comes from the tone sounding off, which isn't so much a problem of Morse but the camera microphone. Though this is a guess, though.

[bosk1]

What's everybody's beef with the solo? I thought it was pretty decent for an improvised solo. Keep in mind that JP always played the album solo, for which he had a lot of time to work on.

The solo isn't bad by any means, but JPs solo was just perfect. And when you're used to the perfect solo, then a not as perfect solo just doesn't get you all excited.

I get that, but most of the fan reaction I've been seeing goes far beyond just not being excited.  JP's solo is incredibly well done.  But I forced myself to put it out of my head and just listen to this version for what it is, and I actually really enjoyed Morse's solo. 

One thing I don't understand, but maybe I missed it if this was actually said somewhere:  Why do people keep saying Morse's solo was "improvised."  I don't know that it was.  I would assume they rehearsed the song, and that he practiced it on his own a bit and worked up a solo he felt comfortable with.  Maybe I'm wrong about that, but that's what I would expect under the circumstances.  Why are people saying it was improvised?  Did he say that somewhere?

[slycordinator]

Even if he crafted a solo through rehearsals, Morse tends to improvise parts of his solos. Even "classic" DP solos are varied a bit from show to show.

[Mike Portnoy]

Man, lighten up kids!
It's not always about technique and perfection...
It's sometimes also about emotion and character.

I've never claimed to have a great voice, but a lot of times I've sang songs because they mean something to me (like Repentance or the demo of TBOT that I played for my dad on his death bed)

Does Roger Waters have a great voice? How bout Wayne Coyne? Jeez, what about Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Kurt Cobain for that matter...?

For us artists and musicians, music is our art and form of creative expression...and as far as I'm concerned, emotion and character carry as much weight and importance as technique and "perfection"....

Neal Morse is the person that asked me to sing "Fool In My Heart" in the studio and Casey McPherson suggested I sing "Repentance" live...I have the UTMOST respect for BOTH of them artistically, so if my voice is good enough for THEM, then that's enough for me...

MP

[bobs23]

^   

[Mladen]

Great points all around, Mike. I liked this version, and I also adore Fool in my heart as well as your singing in Transatlantic. You're doing a fine job vocally as far as I'm concerned. 

[bosk1]

It's not always about technique and perfection...
It's sometimes also about emotion and character.

As someone who does most of the lead vox in my band and who is also incredibly insecure about my own voice, I completely get that.  And I agree that emotion and character are so very important.  You do add a lot of personal emotion and soul to the performance by singing it yourself. 

But that being said, that doesn't always necessarily translate into a performance the listener can connect with.  Aside from the pitchiness, I think some people just don't connect with the timbre of your voice.  I was actually thinking about this earlier this morning, and I liken it a lot to Chris DeGarmo in Queensryche.  Besides being great at his primary instrument, the guy added so much to the band with his backup vocals.  He complimented and blended with Geoff Tate incredibly well.  However, when he finally recorded a song with himself doing all the leads on All I Want from Hear In The Now Frontier, a lot of fans REALLY became very vocal (see what I did there?  ) about the performance.  Although I actually like the song, I can't really disagree.  It highlighted that, while Chris has a nice range and sounds amazing harmonizing with Geoff, the tone and timbre of his voice just don't sound great when he is out in front singing lead rather than a harmony.

I think your voice is similar in many respects.  You have a very unique voice.  To me as a fan, your voice sounds great as a compliment to a lead vocal.  You blend very well and really bring something to the table with your harmonies.  But for a lot of people, your voice just isn't suited for a lead role.  I pretty much feel the same.  There are a few places that are the exception--for example, I LOVE the short leads you take on The Whirlwind.  But your voice just doens't work for me in most other lead situations, despite being awesome as a backing harmony.

/opinion

[Perpetual Change]

I've just gotta say: I hate Kurt Cobian!

Otherwise, what bosk said. To add: the thing about those other guys you mentioned, like Dylan and Springsteen, is that those guys are pretty much reciting poetry. And they sing in a way that makes those lyrics connect and sticks with the listener forever. Only one person in the world sounds like Bob Dylan, and can delivery lines poetically the way he does. Same with the boss.

I feel like MP has that sort-of "average Joe" sort of voice. It's not bad, but it's not unique or memorable, either. It's good for back-up, but I'm not sure it can "stick" with a lot of people.

And, please don't take that as an insult. It's still way better than what I could do!

[bosk1]

I've just gotta say: I hate Kurt Cobian!

Same here.  And I don't care for Waters, Dylan, or Springsteen either.  *braces for impact*

[theseoafs]

I don't care for Waters

WTF

Neal Morse is the person that asked me to sing "Fool In My Heart" in the studio and Casey McPherson suggested I sing "Repentance" live...I have the UTMOST respect for BOTH of them artistically, so if my voice is good enough for THEM, then that's enough for me...

[Rattlehead]

I've just gotta say: I hate Kurt Cobian!

Same here.  And I don't care for Waters, Dylan, or Springsteen either.  *braces for impact*

Not a fan of Dylan or Springsteen at all either... but I do like Waters and Cobain.

As for Repentance with MP's vocals, I got a chance to check out one of the videos on youtube and found it to be pretty decent. I still think it's pretty awesome that MP is performing this live with his new band. I am actually going to see them tomorrow in Paris and Repentance is still one of the songs I'm looking forward to seeing them play the most.

[Perpetual Change]

Wouldn't be surprised if most of this community has little love for Dylan or Springsteen. I've tried to start Dylan threads before, but no-one ever would bite. I guess a prog-metal forum isn't the place to find folkies 

Likewise, very few people who listen to bands starring Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse, and Dave LaRue are looking for vocals that lack technique. I'd imagine that most fans of progressive music simply value pristine and technically dazzling vocals over those of a guy who's going to slur his poetry over the music, like Dylan or Springsteen. That's why Marillion's Steve Hogarth is such a controversial character.

[rumborak]

I think it's somewhat disingenuous to compare oneself to Roger Waters or Bob Dylan just because their vocals suck too. With that argument everybody who picks up a microphone is great.

[Dacling]

Wouldn't be surprised if most of this community has little love for Dylan or Springsteen. I've tried to start Dylan threads before, but no-one ever would bite. I guess a prog-metal forum isn't the place to find folkies 

Likewise, very few people who listen to bands starring Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse, and Dave LaRue are looking for vocals that lack technique. I'd imagine that most fans of progressive music simply value pristine and technically dazzling vocals over those of a guy who's going to slur his poetry over the music, like Dylan or Springsteen. That's why Marillion's Steve Hogarth is such a controversial character.

Personally I love Springsteen. Not much of a Dylan fan at all but I grew up listening to the Boss because of my dad and oddly enough he is the one who showed me Rush, Yes, Dream Theater and Transatlantic (Though my cousin showed him those first). Portnoy is iffy. Sometimes he fits perfectly like he does on Fool in My Heart or parts of transatlantic songs and he sounds really good in context. Sure he isn't technically skilled in that department but on those few songs he really does fit I think he adds a lot.

[Ben_Jamin]

Haha once again MP comes.

[MoraWintersoul]

Haha once again MP comes.

What's so funny about that?

[rumborak]

I'll try to put a bit more substance into my opinion:

I don't think it's the timbre that people object to, or at least I don't. Hell, Phil Collins has a rather grating timbre, not to mention Geddy Lee!
The issue is, Mike, you're sliding into pitches, and at the end of the note you slide back down. It's a crucial skill for any singer to be on pitch from the onset of the note, and keep that pitch til the end.
I'm btw in no way questioning that Neal and Casey asked you to sing those songs. What I can't wrap my head around is that someone who has spent countless hours practicing his main instrument would take such a kackadaisical approach to another. Especially the early DT DVDs with backing vox were almost comical in that the music was executed with exquisite precision (including of course your marvelous drumming) but had Karaoke-level vocals behind it.

[Adami]

I'll try to put a bit more substance into my opinion:

I don't think it's the timbre that people object to, or at least I don't. Hell, Phil Collins has a rather grating timbre, not to mention Geddy Lee!
The issue is, Mike, you're sliding into pitches, and at the end of the note you slide back down. It's a crucial skill for any singer to be on pitch from the onset of the note, and keep that pitch til the end.
I'm btw in no way questioning that Neal and Casey asked you to sing those songs. What I can't wrap my head around is that someone who has spent countless hours practicing his main instrument would take such a kackadaisical approach to another. Especially the early DT DVDs with backing vox were almost comical in that the music was executed with exquisite precision (including of course your marvelous drumming) but had Karaoke-level vocals behind it.

Yes, but Bob Dylan.

[rumborak]

[Dimitrius]

 

[Ben_Jamin]

Haha once again MP comes.

What's so funny about that?

I don't know, its just funny to me. But cool none the less