His voice still sounds great to me for his age.. just a bit more forced..

[Edited 10/8/11 10:31am]

[Edited 10/9/15 19:07pm]

I was impressed with the continued quality of his voice during the keyboard section at SBE.

I was unsure - until I heard him sing at Koko. I don't think he's lost any singing ability.

He's getting old and we can listen it.

See one of the new shows. Come back.

It's certainly gotten worse. Hopefully he can improve on some of the vocals we've heard during the last year or so.

There was a period in the early-90s when his live vocals weren't that great either. (sometime around the name change). Like back then he tries to make up for it by sounding like he doesn't really care what he sounds like (he's trying to be "punky").

novabrkr said:

It's certainly gotten worse. Hopefully he can improve on some of the vocals we've heard during the last year or so.

There was a period in the early-90s when his live vocals weren't that great either. (sometime around the name change). Like back then he tries to make up for it by sounding like he doesn't really care what he sounds like (he's trying to be "punky").

Understood. (I'm referring to his falsetto which I know is vulnerable to ageing. His performance of 'Gotta Broken Heart Again' during 2002 showed his voice off extremely well and, although this sort of tour does not showcase that part of his range, the signs are still very encouraging).

He probably can't sing a song like 'Solo' as he did years ago.

But in general I think his voice is still up to par.

langebleu said:

novabrkr said:

It's certainly gotten worse. Hopefully he can improve on some of the vocals we've heard during the last year or so.

There was a period in the early-90s when his live vocals weren't that great either. (sometime around the name change). Like back then he tries to make up for it by sounding like he doesn't really care what he sounds like (he's trying to be "punky").

Understood. (I'm referring to his falsetto which I know is vulnerable to ageing. His performance of 'Gotta Broken Heart Again' during 2002 showed his voice off extremely well and, although this sort of tour does not showcase that part of his range, the signs are still very encouraging).

His falsetto during How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore was very impressive. I haven't been to any other Prince shows outside of his current tour, but comparing it to videos of concerts I've seen (and I've seen quite a lot) his vocals don't seem to have diminished. In many cases, they seem stronger.

don't get my wrong guys I still love it

[Edited 10/8/15 10:32am]

It's normal, MJ who was his age lost his ability to sing in a high range in age 32 or 33... Prince still hits the falsettos and he's 55! even with 2 or 3 keys down but it's still falsettos..

Prince is an independant vocalist.

[Edited 2/22/14 14:06pm]

I think u lose some of ur capacity 2 sing high with age. George Duke said he couldn't go as high as b4 in the 2000's, and Kate Bush' last records show her singing incredibly low by comparison 2 her early years. No big deal, it doesn't affect the capacity 2 sing well, u get don't go as high as u used 2. Also, from the boots I've heard I think he sings in a very neglected way when per4ming with 3EG and 2 me that's part of the concept, that dirty "garage" band sound he tries 2 get. He's such a technician when it comes 2 singing: I don't think someone of his level would lose their technic just like that, particularly since he never had a long break from singing.

dJJ said:

He probably can't sing a song like 'Solo' as he did years ago.

But in general I think his voice is still up to par.

Agreed. I will add his voice is still strong and didn't hear any issues in 2013. Although we are all human he could be suffering through a moderate cold which could affect his voice when you saw him last.

Ann Wilson (age 63) of Heart still has a great voice-I'm sure she's dropped the high end of her singing.

kewlschool said:

dJJ said:

He probably can't sing a song like 'Solo' as he did years ago.

But in general I think his voice is still up to par.

Agreed. I will add his voice is still strong and didn't hear any issues in 2013. Although we are all human he could be suffering through a moderate cold which could affect his voice when you saw him last.

Ann Wilson (age 63) of Heart still has a great voice-I'm sure she's dropped the high end of her singing.

Yeah, I have heard better and worse nights over the years. It's bound ot happen when you are on tour. He sounded great last time I saw him.

Plus, his voice has always been an odd duck. It's not entirely powerful in the middle range, and falsetto is very tricky to do night after night.

Anyone who was there on Saturday to witness How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore knows that his voice is stronger than ever. Prince has the technique DOWN, you can see in his face that it's effortless. The was a point in How Come You Don't Call where he hitting notes similar to the end of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World and it was just incredible. Trust me, he can still sing anything from his back catalogue.

dandan said:

Anyone who was there on Saturday to witness How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore knows that his voice is stronger than ever. Prince has the technique DOWN, you can see in his face that it's effortless. The was a point in How Come You Don't Call where he hitting notes similar to the end of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World and it was just incredible. Trust me, he can still sing anything from his back catalogue.

I thought the exact same thing when I heard How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore at Koko. His voice was perfect.

No.

I was amazed at some of his vocals over the last 2 nights at Manchester.

hw3004 said:

No.

I was amazed at some of his vocals over the last 2 nights at Manchester.

Indeed, those who were there know for sure: his vocals are in top form - the falsetto screams on How Come U Don't Call Me as tremendous as ever!

Ymaginatif said:

hw3004 said:

No.

I was amazed at some of his vocals over the last 2 nights at Manchester.

Indeed, those who were there know for sure: his vocals are in top form - the falsetto screams on How Come U Don't Call Me as tremendous as ever!

Exactly - Saturday night in Manchester his vocals were impeccable, he sounded as good as he ever has.

dandan said:

Anyone who was there on Saturday to witness How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore knows that his voice is stronger than ever. Prince has the technique DOWN, you can see in his face that it's effortless. The was a point in How Come You Don't Call where he hitting notes similar to the end of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World and it was just incredible. Trust me, he can still sing anything from his back catalogue.

I'm glad that he proved I was wrong. His falsetto is indeed impressive.

In my opinion it's 100% down to what he's singing and who he's singing with. It's meant to be rough and dirty with 3EG, that's purposeful.

Anyone who doesn't agree need look no further than some of the recent shows. Hard edgy punk sound on the rock numbers and pitch perfect, soulful and powerful on tracks like 'the love we make'. He NAILED that at KoKo. Perfection!

nursev said:

hell yeah...his voice doesnt sound the same to me. I think he has these other folks singing at his concerts to save his voice.

I thought the same when I saw videos on the Mohegan Sun gigs. It really seemed as if he was saving his voice. But seeming him changed my opinion completely.

just checked out the new LGC performance on his 3rdeyegirl channel and his voice sounds

a lot rougher that it used to be on that performance

[Edited 2/27/14 7:41am]

nursev said:

hell yeah...his voice doesnt sound the same to me. I think he has these other folks singing at his concerts to save his voice.

a lot of artists do that even Stevie Wonder

[Edited 10/8/15 10:32am]

purpleshadow said:

just checked out the new LGC performance on his 3rdeyegirl channel and his voice sounds

a lot rougher that it used to be on that performance

[Edited 2/27/14 7:41am]

But he's only been singing that version for a year? I assume the grit in his voice is deliberate. 3rd Eye Girl have that sort of sound. He's proven he can still sing astoundingly well - as many have mentioned - during his piano sets.

I really wish he'd upload a video of him singing How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore, or Adore.

thisisreece said:

purpleshadow said:

just checked out the new LGC performance on his 3rdeyegirl channel and his voice sounds

a lot rougher that it used to be on that performance

[Edited 2/27/14 7:41am]

But he's only been singing that version for a year? I assume the grit in his voice is deliberate. 3rd Eye Girl have that sort of sound. He's proven he can still sing astoundingly well - as many have mentioned - during his piano sets.

ya im aware the version is a year old but i was refering to the video he just posted to show how his voice sounds different now.