Thread: Davey Johnstone
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Old December 8th, 2006, 05:23 AM   #8 (permalink)
Tim Bowen
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Age: 48
Posts: 3,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by TG
He's done some good stuff over the years with Elton John. I just wish he'd never done any of that falsetto backing vocal crap. It always makes my skin crawl when the backing vocals start on Elton John tracks.
Which tracks? Elton's range during his heyday was pretty impressive. Can't call myself a great vocalist, but I cut my teeth learning to sing harmony parts to Elton's records. Even before I reached puberty, I had to falsetto some of that upper register stuff, can't even get some of it anymore. When I think of falsetto vocals that bug me, I guess I'd cite the modern R&B breathy sounding thing. I sorta lost count after Blue Moves, but the vocal arrangements, timbres, and mixes up to this point were/are (to me) - at the risk of being redundant - borderline perfect. I seriously doubt that most grown men could sing a third or fifth above Elton John in his prime without going to falsetto. Man, I only wish I could suck that hard as a backing vocalist. Or to suck with conviction like Don Rich with Buck Owens, I'd be ecstatic with that ability at my avail. It's sorta like ragging on Steve Howe as a backing vocalist with Yes; Gad, think of the range he was/is singing above, and think of the parts that he was/is simultaneously playing. You don't have to dig it, but it's tough for me not to respect it.

Anyway, we're all entitled to our opinions, and I certainly respect yours.
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