Pride (in the name of love)

Joshua

I want to talk to someone about this performance for anyone willing I want to break this song down.

I feel like he's not singing correctly and that he's throwing all the sound to the front of the cord and gets through it mostly because of his age. He's splatting during the distorted parts, but it actually sounds cool in a way that seems only Bono can do. I use distortion too and actually I feel fine on that part, it's the cleaner part where I feel more vulnerable. I'm curious what all of you are hearing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHcP4MWABGY studio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49ND7S3F9Ps live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtUI-C-Turc isolated vocal
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JvCQONg48_FtyvgKybG7ymjVYbFqF1nU/view?usp=drive_link my version from back in Jan. I'm going to do a new version after I get some feedback and feel like I have some information to apply.

I'm specifically focusing on the chorus. The chorus money note is B5 I think. Well within my range, but when I sing it I always feel like I'm just paring it down so small that I don't compete, but opening it up doesn't really make that much difference, or at least I don't feel like it does.

What I want to focus on is the right way to sing this and the various difficulties one might encounter with this song and melody. I'm looking for some perspective.

Terence

Joshua said:

I'm specifically focusing on the chorus. The chorus money note is B5 I think. Well within my range, but when I sing it I always feel like I'm just paring it down so small that I don't compete, but opening it up doesn't really make that much difference, or at least I don't feel like it does.

What I want to focus on is the right way to sing this and the various difficulties one might encounter with this song and melody. I'm looking for some perspective.

You definitely have the chops for this gig, @joshua so really dialing it in should be fun since you've got the range to spare. I listened many times to all three of Bono's versions, then many to yours. Here's some things noticed:

1. Bono has a lower voice than you which may be why he splats sometimes in this B5 area (tough for a high-bari.) You don't need to push so much and the vowel your using seems safe and it does not sound thin. Bono's sometimes sounds like he's got the shape of an EE on "name.", which is unexpected but works.
2. Bono yodels on the first "of' in the choruses. Doing that would be a good way to cover this line.
3. In the isolated version you can hear he adds lots of sibilant sounds, breaths, and emphasizes consonants in Broadway style. Choosing where to sprinkle some of these things in, safely, might work well.
4. I like your distortion on "name" and you could probably add more to match the original, if you prefer. You sound safe on it to my ears.
5. Be sure to remain on the syncopated beat on "what more" as it's become an iconic phrase people expect to hear.

All very subtle observations, really. You're already there and I hope they are of some use.

Joshua

@Terence thank you. I did this again and realized that in my version I'm actually pinching every so slightly and that's what I think is leading to the "small" sound to my ears. When I used the headvoice lessons to apply to this, the 'ah' sound really came through as I formulated the resonance at the top using "name".

I'm going to review your comments and listen again with them in mind. Thank you for the help.

Joshua

@Terence ohhhh THAT's what a yodel is! OK! Is that dangerous? Because that's super easy to throw in there.