Possible Roger Waters "Bad Singing" Controversy?

[thefallofman]

I suppose I've always been a bigger fan of David's singing as well, but for many people, Roger's show may be the closest they'll get to the real thing. Sadly, I haven't even seen Roger yet. I think despite the small use of pre recorded vocals, I'd still gladly go to see him any day. It seems the lip synching thing has been looked into very extensively and I'm pretty sure he is doing this at times. At Rog's age it isn't exactly unusual for a person's voice to go downhill. In all honesty, I'd rather hear him do the pre-recorded vocals in "tough parts" than hear him struggle and miss the notes night after night.

[amused2death]

Roger has been using backing vocals dating back to the pros and cons of hitchhiking concerts. He says that he uses them so that his voice can be strengthend to sound closer to that of the album. Many singers use tactics like this too, Rush's Geddy Lee uses backing vocals so his voice sounds closer to that of the record. But age has definately taken its tole on Roger's voice, you can tell simply by listening to old pink floyd material and his new material. He can thank his voice now to all those performances of Careful With That Axe, Euguene lol.

[thefallofman]

Hahaha, yeah, guess they really should've shelved that one when Ummagumma came out like they had planned.

[pink_syd]

It looks like he's pinching of his throad and pushing the words through it, and that has too do something with the P.A. backup system. there's no balance between the vocals and the instruments. I played in a band and know that, if you don't hear yourself above the rest, you will try to sing harder, what makes you sound like shit at the end. Next to it, what did he do in the song before? a fast song or running down the stage will do no good to your voice.

Anyhow ridiculous if you have too pay so much money to see somebody singing so horrible.

Btw i like Roger's guitarist, he comes nearly to Dave's sound and style.

[Weco]

I think that Roger haven't ever quite been at the level of Dave. I love Roger's voice, but he's not as talented as Gilmour.

BTW. Gilmour still sounds just like 35 years ago.

[wburke121]

Good point Weco. Dave has a great "manly" voice but can also sing the high "falsetto" notes. Roger may be the genius behind the Floyd, but Dave is the superior performer. Other artists don't ask Roger to perform with them, while dozens (McCartney, Manzenara, Pete Townsend, even country singers, etc) have asked Dave to perform on their albums and live. He definately adds to the show.

[davyjones]

He can sing pretty good, but not for songs like Comfortably Numb. thats something for David.
Respect for Roger for bringin' Pink Floyd songs back to us!

[wburke121]

Gotta agree with that Davy. Roger is keeping it alive, and I don't mind if he pre-records some stuff, since his singing is not the highlight of the performance. Put it this way, if I went to see Barbara strisand and she pre-recorded, THEN I would be pissed, because singing is all she's got! But for Roger, its about so much more ... the singing is a very small part.

[AmusedToDeath]

I prefer Roger to Dave singing. Roger puts much more heart into it. I'll take emotion and heart over natural singing ability any day.

Anyways, he's not fit to sing songs like money or wish you were here, that's why he didn't do them in the first place. He's always had that strained voice which only works on some songs.

He lip synchs some on his concerts(I've seen him three times, as close as row 2). But it's not that often, it's really only on the really tough songs.