The point was not that anyone who enjoyed the show should go home and watch the recording day after so they can feel bad about having a good time.
The point is that with this much of the same criticism of the tour - and quite honestly this is as much as I've ever seen on this forum - if a person is essentially saying there isn't much of an issue at all and this person is a self proclaimed fan-girl, then maybe her perception is distorted.
Wow. My perception is distorted because I am a fan and a girl. Some seemed to miss where I said that I am also a classically trained pianist. Frankly, I thought James sang more out of tune when he was young.
I'm seeing a trend here too, my friend. As a fan who is a girl and a classically trained singer, IDK what to say about this, but it's a little unsettling. Guys, can't we all agree to disagree, as regardless of gender or anything else that is truly irrelevant,
we all love this band???If given the opportunity, would you tell JLB the criticisms you have about his voice? Would you use the same exact language you are using in this thread?
Exactly my thoughts! Would any of the authors of these criticisms say the exact same words to his face at the next meet and greet?!
I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and while I don't believe all criticisms are in the spirit of "bashing", I'm starting to wonder whether those who have been seeing them since the 1990's aren't just taking them for granted? I am a relatively new fan, since 2016, and I still feel very privileged to witness their live shows. I missed so much, I wasn't there in the 90's, I missed seeing Score live, I've missed practically everything. So I take
nothing for granted. And when I had the utmost privilege of meeting James in person, I literally told him to his face that I was a classically trained singer and I appreciated his amazing technique. It's why he's my favorite singer, he has the voice of an angel. After meeting him all I could say was
"Omg, I just met my angel of music". Call me a fangirl, it just may be true.
Does that mean he can do no wrong by default? No. I don't agree with many of his present stylistic choices...
I do not like the way he sang "Our deeds will travel far" during the Distant Memories tour
Case in point. (But like the OP, I was also very happy to hear him sing this song).
But I also hear, because of my background and training, what the problems are and know he can fix them. I've studied with teachers and coaches who were also vocal therapists and those who have sung at La Scala. This does not make me an authority, but from the knowledge imparted to me I do know what I'm hearing and that it's not hopeless.
And to the question of whether he actually sang better in the early 90's, mind you I am going from recordings here but no, I disagree. Maybe what he did back then was bombastic, but I actually prefer his vocals in the early 2000's up to the mid-2010's. That's when his tone was the most beautiful, most polished, most
unearthly gorgeous like no other singer I've heard outside of the classical genre. And with my list of favorite singers in his and related genres, he's got some formidable competition.