Ginger's vocals?

[WiredOut]

Prompted by other posts in other topics, how do you rate Ginger as a vocalist?

I must say I like his vocals on studio records but I don't really listen to much WH live stuff as his voice can frankly often sound like a bit of a hollow yowl live, to my ears. Not all the time, like, but, well, a fair amount of it.

On the other hand, I think his vocals are great on Great White Monkey.

What do you think?

[shadow]

to be honest i feel that this new album could be a landmark in gingers career---i really think its that good----yet unfortunately it may not get the recognition it deserves until maybe his career is over? ---this through lack of exposure----and i personally think the vocals on this album are perfectly suited to the music---however that said everything prior to this now seems somewhat inferior-----so are we allowed to judge the vocals from this point in time ---i would like to think this is the new standard?

[Andwah]

Gingers vocals generally sound cool, they tend to suit the mood.
Has Ginger not said in the past though, that he would prefer to have a seperate singer in the wildhearts but they never seem to get the vibe for the vocals that he wants?

[Ross]

He's alright y'know... No Chris Cornell or Mike Patton, but he sings the songs well. Can be out of tune... Sings flat a lot of the time, but hey it's rock n roll!

[Sarc]

Sings flat a lot of the time, but hey it's rock n roll!

Thats no problem the guitars are tuned flat to

[Mattie]

Gingers vocals generally sound cool, they tend to suit the mood.
Has Ginger not said in the past though, that he would prefer to have a seperate singer in the wildhearts but they never seem to get the vibe for the vocals that he wants?

Exactly what the Ginger albums (well, MH and Yoni) have allowed him to do a few times - take a back seat to other people singing what he's written.

See also the mooted upcoming WH album with everyone taking a turn at lead vocals

[WiredOut]

He's alright y'know... No Chris Cornell or Mike Patton, but he sings the songs well. Can be out of tune... Sings flat a lot of the time, but hey it's rock n roll!

There's the rub. He can sing well and I don't think they are the easiest songs to sing. However, I can't truly enjoy listening to live stuff a lot of the time when I'm cringing over flattened/mangled notes or mildly apprehensive about whether he's gonna manage the next difficult bit.

Flat or buried backing vocals don't seem to help much of the time either. For example, CJ has a fine voice which can really help carry Ginger's own, so why is he barely audible on the Scarborough Castle DVD for much of the time?

As I've stated elsewhere, I'm probably here for the melodies and lyrics more than the metal so maybe don't get the most out of great instrument work with less accomplished vocals smeared over the top. That's listening to live stuff on record or DVD, mind you. It usually ends up mattering less when pogoing pissed at the actual gigs.

[vanrad]

I agree with most of what's been said. It's a tough poll really because when I think of great vocalists I wouldn't name Ginger (although better than many frontmen). However great tunes, great words, great anthems, entertaining on stage I would score Ginger highly on this. Ginger is a guitar player / singer songwriter first and foremost, isn't that enough the talented bugger!

In a bizzarre twist to this message that's what makes him even better - I wouldn't want him to have a huge vocal range - it wouldn't work with his songs! Which makes him a great vocalist.

This question is a headfuck. ARRGGGHHHH!

[shadow]

ginger can change his vocal style in the extreme-----howlin willie --hes absolutely superb for the mood of the album----MH i think his performance is flawless yet its a million miles away from the aforementioned-----live he aint spot on all the time----but its rock n roll not the 3 tenors----for me the guys spot on

[Mountweazel]

Ginger's an ok vocalist. On record he delivers with enough balls to get the message across and his voice does have personality (he's not just a copycat singer like Snake was, imo) and makes a pleasant sound, but I wouldn't say he's technically particularly great - the range he employs and the main melody lines he writes aren't that much of a stretch to sing, particularly if you're naturally a tenor (though on range alone I'd say Ginger's a light baritone).

Live he usually sounds like he's trying not to stress himself, which is perfectly reasonable and besides which, playing guitar and singing (and remembering the bloody words) isn't trivial so it's no surprise his tuning isn't always spot on live, and that's not even adding in that sometimes it's difficult to hear yourself on stage.

[Ross]

What Mountweazel said /\

My favourite Ginger vocal performances are Geordie in Wonderland and The Drunken Lord of Everything. He's singing naturally in his own accent and he sounds like he's enjoying himself... There's a bit of Tom Waits about him when he does the gruff Geordie accent stuff...

MH sounds like a lot of work was done getting his vocals right, and that's something that really stands out to me...

S'all good, I listen for the songs, for the guitars, for the lyrics, and the songs stand up enough... Generally live stuff doesn't work when listened to in the cold light of day, but listening to the 40th Birthday gig this morning, his vocals work extremely well when a stronger singer is "propping them up" Willie in this case, but CJ in the WH case...

[inglorious1]

I used to be hung up on how good the vocals were in a band. Then The Wildhearts came along, and Ginger himself was stating (along the lines of...) how his favourite vocalists were not always the ones with the best voices, but those that expressed themselves/the songs with more honesty/feeling/expression, etc. That always made sense to me, and now it's how I determine if I like the vocals in any music I listen to.

As regards Ginger's vocals, I never agreed with his self-criticism. One of the reasons The Wildhearts always worked for me was the combination of Ginger & CJs vocals. Sure, on the early stuff, Ginger's vocals were perhaps quite gruff, but it worked. There have been some ropey moments live too - but as has been said, it's all rock n roll and adds to the whole thing - a flawless performance can be boring! And in recent years, I reckon Ginger's vocals have come a very long way...and I never had a problem with his voice in the first place.

So as far as answering the poll goes, I don't know how to respond. What makes one vocalist 'fantastic', and another 'very good'? The voice itself? The expression/feeling? Or getting the best rfrom it despite it's natural limitations??

I wouldn't want to hear anyone else singing established Ginger tunes. Even someone that might be considered an amazing vocalist (Chris Cornell has been mentioned) would not sound the same.

So as a cop out, I'd say Ginger's the best 'Ginger-style' vocalist I know!

Batesy

[spoon_of_grimbo]

why do people keep citing chris cornell as an amazing vocalist? when he sings low he just mumbles and when he sings high, he sounds like tina turner. i mean, i love soundgarden, but he's not a great singer.

as for ginger, i've yet to hear a song of his where the vocals have sounded out of place, and his way with a good melody is legendary!

still, my favourite vocalist ever has to be mike patton. how about a ginger/patton project!!!??

[geordierussell]

why do people keep citing chris cornell as an amazing vocalist?

Cornell in the studio is one of the best ever vocalists/singers, he is up there with Glenn Hughes. A soulful voice carrying a hard rockin' track

[spoon_of_grimbo]

why do people keep citing chris cornell as an amazing vocalist?

Cornell in the studio is one of the best ever vocalists/singers, he is up there with Glenn Hughes. A soulful voice carrying a hard rockin' track

the guy's not a patch on mike patton. i know technically, cornell's a good singer, but his voice just grates on me after a while.

check out "just a man" by faith no more (possibly their most underrated track).