Bono's voice was amazing back in rattle and hum...and I love when he sings Cant help falling inb love with U tonight in ZOOtv....very high and beautifull....
but...I think pop was not so good...Bono has told that he didnt have voice...it disappeared
For me it has to be Joshua Treet/Lovetown. When bon screams "I m wide awake" during Bad in those tours it's something else! It's sad to hear his voice these days, because he did have a strong voice one time!
Sort of off topic, but I am listening to 12-30-89, and Bono's speaking voice has certainly changed. During the talking between songs, he sounds so Irish. Not that way anymore. He's been Americanized, for sure.
I thought that COBL and Red Hill had some great vocals of all U2 time. I don't really enjoy the earlier albums where his voice wasn't as mature but more raw. Just a personal opinion of course.
To keep this topic still alive (since it's the best topic about Bono's voice) I wanted to add my recent thoughts on his voice.
Does anyone else notice that Bono seems to have more energy in his voice in the last few years since probably Lovetown? Ok bit of a dumb question really since we know bono's voice has improved. However this tour he seems to be giving it his all on a lot of songs very much like he did during Lovetown. Sure some songs like WOWY are sounding lacking in several departments but I think this is an issue of boredom from the band rather than a vocal problem.
I think Bono's at his best with fresh material or at least with song material he hasn't touched in a good few years - that's why I think Beautiful Day doesn't sound as fresh as it did on the Elevation Tour because it's been played to death a bit now. But without question, Bono's vocal delivery of a lot of songs these days is I think far from what anyone would have predicted at the end of the Popmart and Elevation tours.
I think (I hope) that now Bono has rested his voice when they go back touring we may hear something pretty damn special like Vertigo 2006 (hopefully Bono cuts back on the smokes though).
My favorite vocal moments from Bono on the 360° Tour are...
-"You bury your treasure" in Ultraviolet..it just shoots out of nowhere
-The "Oh oh, oh!" chant during the intro of Magnificent
But I really think that even though there's no restraint, and it's total, pure emotion coming through him when he sings this....sometimes I think that when he starts off MOS with that raspy "I tied myself with wire", he sounds a little bit just like he's drunkenly yelling
Bono's voice is an uniqueness for a rockstar ! But I think his voice is changing , just like everybody's. He looks the best for his age and he's got a different voice stamp. I couldn't say he is better or worse, he's just as he should be after years of depletion, not only on stage . When you're very young, you don't think you'll feel the changes, but who could be "forever young" ?! Can you imagine Bono singing as he does today, in 5-6 years time ?
