Forever Delayed - The Independent Manics Forum  

Go Back   Forever Delayed - The Independent Manics Forum > Manic Street Preachers > Manic Street Preachers Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 24-06-2018, 07:54
Phil C Phil C is offline
I live to fall asleep
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 43
Posts: 4,096
In praise of Nick's vocals

I'm told that in the various 'survivor' threads, the tracks Nick sings are getting something of a kicking. To a degree I can understand this - James has a phenomenal voice after all - but I strongly disagree with it. Nick's voice might not be classically good but it has a vulnerability to it that James' doesn't and suits some songs better than James' would. Also, I think when the two of them sing together, it adds an extra dimension to the songs.

And on top of all that, most of the songs Nick sings are great.

So, the point of this thread is to talk about how much we enjoy the songs Nick sings. Personal favourites of mine;

Intravenous Agnostic - James might sing the lead, but Nick's singing it with him, which gives the vocal a bit of gravel in the mix, entirely fitting with the rough production - and on the final chorus Nick's voice is actually turned up higher in the mix than James'.

Ballad Of The Bangkok Novotel - the Manics go full-on punk. The seeds of the recent 'No Feelings' cover are here.

Dying Breeds - beautiful and haunting.

William's Last Words - especially the Underworld remix. Nick captures the vulnerability of the narrator perfectly.

The Future Has Been Here 4-Ever - who needs James? Nick's vocal and Sean's trumpet make this track a bit of a hidden gem that doesn't get the credit it deserves.

As Holy As The Soil (That Buries Your Skin) - did I mention trumpets? Who'd have thought that gospel piano, mariachi trumpets and a Nick vocal would go so perfectly together? A highlight of 'Rewind The Film'.

The Left Behind - easily one of the best songs on RIF, Wire's resigned vocal sums up many of the album's themes, but it's also the most conventionally good singing that he's ever done, suggesting either practice or age has matured and developed his voice.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24-06-2018, 08:24
roi roi is offline
Desire on its knees
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 830
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil C View Post
Also, I think when the two of them sing together, it adds an extra dimension to the songs.
He’s there on My Little Empire too, not that prominent, but that was probably the most vocals he had on a song at that point.

Quote:
The Future Has Been Here 4-Ever - who needs James? Nick's vocal and Sean's trumpet make this track a bit of a hidden gem that doesn't get the credit it deserves.
Yep, I really like this song.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 24-06-2018, 08:30
Suicide Aldi's Avatar
Suicide Aldi Suicide Aldi is offline
Knowlede Is Power
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,070
I really like it when you hear Nick singing a bit of the chorus on Tsunami ( live at the o2 version ). Theres just somthing about it that makes my hairs stand on end.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 24-06-2018, 10:37
Son of Stopped's Avatar
Son of Stopped Son of Stopped is offline
Builder of routine
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: The Wirral (Been saying it wrong, didn't realise there was a THE )
Age: 49
Posts: 16,640
He's clearly had lessons! Compare the vocals of Bangkok Novotel to The Left Behind and there's a huge improvement.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 24-06-2018, 11:19
Phil C Phil C is offline
I live to fall asleep
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 43
Posts: 4,096
Quote:
Originally Posted by Son of Stopped View Post
He's clearly had lessons! Compare the vocals of Bangkok Novotel to The Left Behind and there's a huge improvement.
I like his vocals on 'Ballad' - they're supposed to be rough and punky. A better comparison I think is with Wattsville Blues - mind you, he sings that better on Louder Than War than he does in the studio but you can definitely hear the improvement.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 24-06-2018, 13:05
PaulTMA PaulTMA is offline
I am purity, they call me perverted
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 441
I generally like his vocals later on but the initial stuff like Bangkok and Wattsville I thought was ill-advised, to be honest. He does a great job on The Left Behind and especially Williams Last Words. I do feel that perhaps he jumped the gun by singing before he really worked up to it much, although he does sound good on My Little Empire.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 24-06-2018, 21:20
Dac X Lee's Avatar
Dac X Lee Dac X Lee is offline
I live to fall asleep
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: I live in Seoul (S. Korea), but I'm from Umag (Croatia)
Posts: 3,026
Watsville would literally make no sense for anyone else to sing it. It's a very personal song of Nicky's.
I remember when I first heard it, yeah, my puberty/adolescent self preferred James, but I did like the change.

A few years ago, when Digital Ghost came out, I was in one of my sensitive moods, I was crying. This song felt kinda consoling. And that's how Nicky's voice sounds to me in general - like a warm hug of comfort (yep, even when he's swearing).
__________________
100 0100 110 0001 111 0010 110 1001 110 0001
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 25-06-2018, 06:08
junkymotown's Avatar
junkymotown junkymotown is offline
Knowlede Is Power
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Japan
Age: 39
Posts: 1,485
I really like Nicky singing on William's Last Words - it's quite understated, it never lifts off and goes anywhere, but it fits the words so perfectly, and the mood of the track.

I tend to skip Wattsville Blues more often than not
__________________
Manchester Apollo - 27 Feb 2001
Manchester MEN - 6 Dec 2002
Manchester MEN - 17 Dec 2004
Leeds Uni - 17 Apr 2005
Leeds Uni - 9 May 2007
London Brixton Academy - 12 Dec 2007
Forever Heavenly (London) - 12 Sep 2008
Camden Roundhouse - 30 May 2009
London O2 - 17 Dec 2011
Manchester Ritz - 27 Sep 2013
Manchester Albert Hall - 11 Dec 2014
Tokyo Studio Coast - 8 Nov 2016
Tokyo ZEPP Diver City - 26 Sep 2019
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 25-06-2018, 09:45
Dancing Kirby's Avatar
Dancing Kirby Dancing Kirby is offline
Doors slowly closing
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 8,893
Fran Healy of Travis was on Absolute yesterday after the Manics set. He said it’s difficult to sing along to Manics songs because of JDB’s voice.

I think this is why festival crowds generally don’t, just as they didn’t with ADFL yesterday.

Anyone can sing along with Nicky.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 25-06-2018, 10:49
UEF's Avatar
UEF UEF is offline
Doors slowly closing
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Posts: 9,102
Quote:
Originally Posted by Son of Stopped View Post
He's clearly had lessons! Compare the vocals of Bangkok Novotel to The Left Behind and there's a huge improvement.
The lesson of experience, I think.
__________________
V2002 • Move 2003 • V2006 • KoKo 2006 • Culture Show 2007 • Album Chart Show 2007 • XFM 2007 • V2007 • Glastonbury 2007 • Astoria 2007 • London Brixton 2007 • NME Awards 2008 • NME Big Gig 2008 • Forever Heavenly 2008 • Roundhouse 2009 • Forum 2009 • Concert for Care 2009 • XFM Winter Wonderland 2010 • Brixton Academy 2011 • Blackwood Miners Institute 2011 • Roundhouse 2011 • O2 2011 • Rough Trade East 2012 • Shepherds Bush 2013 • Brixton 2014 • Glastonbury 2014 • Rough Trade East 2014 • Acoustic Guitar Show 2014 • London Roundhouse 2014 • Cardiff Castle 2015 • London On Blackheath 2015 • London Royal Albert Hall 2016 • Swansea Liberty Stadium 2016 • Wembley Arena 2018 • Shepherds Bush 2019 • Kingston Pryzm 2021 x2 • Wembley Arena 2021 • Glastonbury 2023 • Alexandra Palace 2024 (40)
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 25-06-2018, 12:01
Borderliner's Avatar
Borderliner Borderliner is offline
I live to fall asleep
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Spacetime
Posts: 4,550
I like Nick's voice a lot. So unique and instantly recognizable. Sure, James's voice is stronger but I like them both XD

James/Nick duo is awesome in Futurology and Sex Power Love and Money. That 'Obsession Possession Confession Recession' moment is priceless!

Dying Breeds, Ballad Of The Bangkok Novotel, Concrete Fields and Lady Lazarus are all badass tracks. One can clearly hear that Wire 'feels' what he sings.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 25-06-2018, 12:05
Porco's Avatar
Porco Porco is offline
Doors slowly closing
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 9,778
He has got better and I enjoy some of his vocals. More the interjections and stuff than the full lead vocals on Manics tracks. I would love to have JDB versions of the Nicky-vocal songs though.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby View Post
Fran Healy of Travis was on Absolute yesterday after the Manics set. He said it’s difficult to sing [....]
... siiiii-iii-iing...sing ... sing sing sing...

(sorry)
__________________
'Those Manics are great mun ent'it!' | Miyazaki-San, Arigato | POPCORN!


| PorcoTunes: SC=fdporco YT=PorcoForever |
---“...but the pigs are getting into our garden, and just digging holes, looking for truffles or something…"---
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 25-06-2018, 13:10
UEF's Avatar
UEF UEF is offline
Doors slowly closing
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London
Posts: 9,102
Quote:
Originally Posted by Porco View Post
He has got better and I enjoy some of his vocals. More the interjections and stuff than the full lead vocals on Manics tracks. I would love to have JDB versions of the Nicky-vocal songs though.
Off the top off my head, Some Kind of Nothingness is the only time where he's taken a Nicky line himself.

The other way round, there is a clip of Nicky singing a bit of From Despair to Where, but I can't remember him doing any other MSP covers
__________________
V2002 • Move 2003 • V2006 • KoKo 2006 • Culture Show 2007 • Album Chart Show 2007 • XFM 2007 • V2007 • Glastonbury 2007 • Astoria 2007 • London Brixton 2007 • NME Awards 2008 • NME Big Gig 2008 • Forever Heavenly 2008 • Roundhouse 2009 • Forum 2009 • Concert for Care 2009 • XFM Winter Wonderland 2010 • Brixton Academy 2011 • Blackwood Miners Institute 2011 • Roundhouse 2011 • O2 2011 • Rough Trade East 2012 • Shepherds Bush 2013 • Brixton 2014 • Glastonbury 2014 • Rough Trade East 2014 • Acoustic Guitar Show 2014 • London Roundhouse 2014 • Cardiff Castle 2015 • London On Blackheath 2015 • London Royal Albert Hall 2016 • Swansea Liberty Stadium 2016 • Wembley Arena 2018 • Shepherds Bush 2019 • Kingston Pryzm 2021 x2 • Wembley Arena 2021 • Glastonbury 2023 • Alexandra Palace 2024 (40)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 25-06-2018, 15:06
hummingbird's Avatar
hummingbird hummingbird is offline
Builder of routine
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: in a quiet corner
Posts: 19,463
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby View Post
Fran Healy of Travis was on Absolute yesterday after the Manics set. He said it’s difficult to sing along to Manics songs because of JDB’s voice.

I think this is why festival crowds generally don’t, just as they didn’t with ADFL yesterday.

Anyone can sing along with Nicky.
Eh? I can't sing a note but I still sing along at gigs ... the band drowns me out. More likely festival crowds don't sing along cos they don't know the words
__________________
IS IT MANICS O'CLOCK YET?
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 25-06-2018, 17:26
centralscrutiniser's Avatar
centralscrutiniser centralscrutiniser is offline
I live to fall asleep
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Llareggub
Age: 38
Posts: 3,483
I dint generally sit there awaiting a new album thinking ‘man, I hope there’s a few Nicky tracks on here’ but I can’t imagine James singing his songs now, and they do feel more personal and meaningful for his singing them.

That said, anyone know why he chose not to sing Liverpool revisited?
__________________
I may have told you this before, I could have been the King of Wales
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 15:48.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.