Can Brian still do falsetto?

[Jim V.]

Honestly I like his voice from this era. But the should not have had him singing this song in this way. The only times Brian's voice has really gotten to me starts with some of BW88 (some of the vocals are good) and goes all the way to probably OCA or the Paley sessions. The only listenable vocals from the Paley sessions were "You're Still A Mystery" and "Gettin' In Over My Head". For the most part he was just SO whiney during this era. By Imagination he sounded great though, somehow.

I wonder why those vids from 81 aren't there anymore. I'm pretty sure there was also videos of Brian singing "Good Vibrations" and maybe "God Only Knows" too. Its crazy that they trusted Brian at this time to handle those pretty tough vocals.

[Wirestone]

Four basic parts to Brian's voice: Range, pitch, phrasing and tonal quality.

From 62-early 70s. All four in good shape, with range reduced slightly toward the end.

75-78. Range much less. Tonal quality shot, replaced with raspiness (MIU expcepted). Phrasing sometimes awkward.

79-82. We don't hear as much of Brian's voice on record, but it generally gets worse in all areas. For the first time, pitch is sometimes affected.

85-95. In general, Brian sounds very similar over this entire period. He has some of his range back. His pitch is generally okay, too. But his phrasing is quite poor, and his tonal quality can range from acceptable to shouty to piercing.

98-present. Again, he's sounded pretty similar in the last decade. His range is lessened, although some falsetto remains. His phrasing overall is much better, as is the tonal quality (that is, his voice just sounds smoother). But his pitch sense takes a turn for the worse.

I would say some of the recent changes have been due to vocal coaching -- Brian has learned to use what he has more effectively. That's definitely a problem in 75-78 era and 85-95 years, when you hear him trying to force his voice to do things it just can't anymore. When he's on, and his pitch sense is good, he sounds remarkably good for a 68-year-old. When he's off (tired, lazy, etc.), it can be painful. But it does mean his recorded vocal work -- which can be pitch-corrected -- sounds better in the 2000s than it did in the 80s. Phrasing and tone count for a lot (the demo of Midnight's Another Day, for example).

That being said, he's clearly never going to be the vocalist he was in the 1960s, or even in the 1970s. Too much water under the bridge. I'll be interested to hear the Gershwin, though.

[Stegibo]

BTW re: brian's falsetto: you can watch the promo-video for "GIOMH" and you'll hear him doing the "look so fine"-part from Rhonda. He hits the notes, but it doesn't sound really good.

Where can I watch this video?

[adamghost]

I think there's one factor to this it's easy to forget, and that's the physical effort of singing.  I'd bet that, given how Brian hits the notes, a lot of them are just physically painful to try to do.  Yes, he might be able to hit this or that note better, but is it really worth the effort?  I think that's a lot of what's in play here.  Can he hit the notes?  Sure, if he really wants to.  Can he hit them with the accuracy and physical ease that he did in his '20s?  Not even close.  

[TdHabib]

That's what I always think Adam. 67 year old men don't usually sing falsetto, and Brian also has a damaged voice and he's insecure and overweight. Many factors.

[adamghost]

Hell, there are nights I don't want to hit the notes myself, and I'm nowhere near 67.  If your sinuses and/or throat aren't where they need to be -- and I bet BW's aren't about 99% of the time -- yeah, you can hit 'em, but it ain't exactly pleasant.

[Shane]

Here's a rather interesting video of Brian singing his original part to "Surfer Girl", at a party in 1991.  Though a little rough, its really not that bad, and there are moments in there that sound just like the original recording.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE6xnns1lpw

Discuss   

[gsmile]

Can Brian still do falsetto?  Yes.  Does it always sound good? No.  Am I grateful that he even tries to sing falsetto from time to time?  Yes, always.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Here's a rather interesting video of Brian singing his original part to "Surfer Girl", at a party in 1991.  Though a little rough, its really not that bad, and there are moments in there that sound just like the original recording.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE6xnns1lpw

Discuss   

A little rough ? 

[Don_Zabu]

Here's a rather interesting video of Brian singing his original part to "Surfer Girl", at a party in 1991.  Though a little rough, its really not that bad, and there are moments in there that sound just like the original recording.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE6xnns1lpw

Discuss   

That was inspired.

[Jim V.]

I thought that was a pretty freakin awesome performance. And I'm one of those guys that don't think Brian is anywhere close to the singer he was pre 75.

[Wirestone]

That video is also nearly 20 years old.

Brian subsequently started smoking again and damaged his voice still further.

[Pretty Funky]

Well if this isn't timely. Listened to 'Vegetables' last night off BWPS and the very last 'name' on the verse 'name of your favorite...vegetables' is right up there IMO. Hadn't noticed before.

[slothrop]

Here's a rather interesting video of Brian singing his original part to "Surfer Girl", at a party in 1991.  Though a little rough, its really not that bad, and there are moments in there that sound just like the original recording.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE6xnns1lpw

Discuss   

The vocals don't bug me as much as the fact that the band seems lost for a while there. Thankfully Brian chimes in with a "speed it up". Thanks for the video.