Difference in Stevie's voice ?

[Fleetwoodmark]

I was just noticing the apparent difference in Stevie's voice between 2006 & 2007. For example, Check her out singing with (Tom Petty Live at Gatorville 06) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUIVJ6eb8tk

And then you see her here (Live in Chicago 07) where her voice seems to have became more shrill and older if you know what I mean. No offence meant, I still think she sounds fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcFYW9FcgaU&feature=fvw

One thing is I've noticed is that her voice from the recording of TISL is not as strong as when she sung for SYW two years later, but still her voice is much better in the Tom Petty clip than in the Live in Boston concert.

M

[Matthew]

Well, I have to say that I like her singing on TISL very very much, also on new DVD Live in Chicago and that performance with Tom Petty is also great. But on the other hand I´m not a big fan of her voice on Say You Will album (very different to TISL). But live, she sang great on SYW tour... I don´t know... it´s just my feeling.

[louielouie2000]

I think a lot of it depends on who Stevie's with, and what the circumstances are. She seems to draw a huge amount of energy from performing on stage with her peers such as Tom Petty, Don Henley, and others. She knows she can't give anything other than a choice vocal performance.

I will be the first to say it's time for her to retire Rhiannon, though. She no longer has the range or power that song demands. It has lost it's magic. It's downright painful to listen to.

That being said... the aging of her voice has benefited her for other types of songs. Her performance of Sara on Soundstage is really fantastic in my eyes. I think her performance of How Still My Love is better than ever too. Her voice has developed a kind of patina with age that really works for some songs (admittedly, not all). Go back and listen to live performances from Tusk-Wild Heart. Sometimes she just squeaks and/or overdoes the billy goat thing. When her voice is in good form these days... it's very rich, warm, and buttery. Not cold and squeaky like it had the propensity to do in the past.

[GypsyBlueEyes]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I think a lot of it depends on who Stevie's with, and what the circumstances are. She seems to draw a huge amount of energy from performing on stage with her peers such as Tom Petty, Don Henley, and others

I'm so happy you said this because it was exactly what I was thinking...but I didn't know if who she was performing with having an effect on her voice would make sense to anyone other than me. I think its just because, when she is performing with people like Don & Tom, she is so much more relaxed than when she is up there alone or with FM. I don't think its so much that she tries harder for them...its that she really enjoys what she is doing and you can see it in her face, in the way she moves...she genuinely looks like she is happy and having a good time. When she is feeling like that, she sings better.

When she is performing alone, she's still amazing but you can tell she knows the whole show is on her and I think she tenses up a bit.

With FM, its like she's a different person. I still enjoy her performances but you can tell she's a lot more tense and that does affect how well she sings.

[Jondalar]

I was not impressed this year when I saw her in concert. She sounded sorta like she did with Taylor Swift. Her voice has been deep for years, but now it's just becoming bad and uninteresting.

[Musicman408]

I've got to say that she looks so adorable and bubbly in that video with Tom Petty!!! Why can't she be like that all the time????

[Fleetwoodmark]

I thought her voice was very shrill for TISL but got better for SYW, however that tour she sounded a bit nasal.

Got to admit, see how loose she is on the Tom Petty clip compared with her FM performances.

[Sleepless-Child]

You just can't compare those songs, I think. "Rhiannon" is THE emblematic Stevie Nicks song, her signature song. I believe Mick said that when Stevie sang "Rhiannon", 30 years ago, she actually WAS Rhiannon on stage, the Goddess. And it's just painful to listen to now, because it was SO great in the past. Now, those Petty songs are awesome too, but not that much, and it doesn't require as much emotions as Rhiannon does.
I think that the difference isn't about her voice, but about the situations, right, and about the song choices.

[HejiraNYC]

Not a fair comparison. For the Petty shows, she was clearly trying to earn her keep on the road, whereas when it's her show, she doesn't have to impress anyone in the band- it's the other way around! Also, it's one thing to come out and duet on a few songs vs. pacing yourself for a 100-minute show. So for those few songs, she can definitely let loose without having to worry about dying by the end of the show.

The interesting thing about Stevie is that her voice changes a little bit from year to year, and sometimes even from show to show. It's a fragile, delicate instrument. But when she's on, she's way on. And when she's not on...

[jedw]

Hmm, interesting thread, I think it rather depends on the song - some just don't suit her so well anymore.

I agree with anyone who doesn't care for her "Say you will" voice I think she sounded better on the Unleashed tour - 6 years later.

"I need to know" from that Tom Petty video is great - as much for her enthusiasm as her voice

[Matthew]

Originally Posted by Fleetwoodmark

I thought her voice was very shrill for TISL but got better for SYW, however that tour she sounded a bit nasal.

Yes, and that´s why I like it (the SYW tour, not that album). Maybe it´s not good think for a singer generally, but I like it.