Incubus - Drive - THEN & NOW - What happened to his voice 20 yrs on? Vocal Coach Analysis
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Incubus was literally my favourite band when I was in high school. I blasted this song for hours at a time on my portable CD player. What has happened to his voice and what is going on?
Why is it important to learn solid vocal technique, and why we sometimes can't replicate the sounds our favourite artists make safely.
NEW analysis! updated for 2023 • Incubus - Drive 2001 v...
Original Video 2001 - • Incubus - Drive live a...
Original video 2019 - • Incubus Performs 'Driv...
EDIT!!!!! I have since watch a lot more of their newer videos, and it seems as though he may have had a cold during this performance. • Video shows a much clearer sound. Still definitely not as "full" as the 2001 version, but still much more solid in the pitching.
* DISCLAIMER: This is not a critique of Brandon's voice or his success. I think Incubus are fabulous and what an amazing story they have. The goal of this video is to educate, and I categorically disagree with criticising someone else's performance or voice. I am all about good, healthy long-lasting vocal technique. It is a subjective opinion about the sound he is creating in one moment in time and not the span of his career. This is meant for educational purposes. I respect and cherish the work incubus does. *
🆓 FREEBIES 🆓
► FREE Singing Lesson:
zoestibivocalc...
---------------------------------------------
📚🎓🧠 Want to learn more? Join my Vocal Academy for the latest technical exercises and live trainings to ensure you make progress in your singing. Join this motivated community of singers today!
► www.skool.com/...
---------------------------------------------
🎤 1-1 COACHING WITH ME 🎤
Join my Vocal Academy: I am currently only offering lessons to students who are already enrolled in the academy. Join me for 1-1 private lessons, as well as weekly live trainings where you can ask all the burning questions about improving your voice.
► www.skool.com/...
---------------------------------------------
👋 Kia Ora! I'M ZOE YOUR VOCAL COACH. 👩
I have a Bachelor of Music (Auckland Uni) and a Masters in Singing (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) as well as being a Certified Estill Master Teacher. I am 100% committed to delivering vocal technique in a way that you can actually use it.
More info on my background: zoestibi.com/z...
---------------------------------------------
🔗 LETS CONNECT 🔗
Website ► www.zoestibi.com
Facebook ► / zoestibivocach
Instagram ► / zoestibivocoach
Sounds like he hasn't been choosing water over wine for the past 20 years.
hahahahhaa I love it!
Ahahahah give this man a beer!
Hes not a drinker, but he smoked lots of weed throughout the years
Bro 😂
It kinda sucks they’re known for Drive cos the rest of their catalogue is killer.
Particularly Make Yourself.
Exactly! They are a killer band! Drive wasn't even the best one!
yeah, but Drive is from Make Yourself...
100%
Dig is my favorite one, I’m seeing them in concert in August this year in Paso Robles California! Can’t wait
Absolutely, I agree
Diehard Incubus fan here & loved this video! I’ve watched tons of interviews over the years & Brandon opens up a bit more each time when addressing his vocals. He’s admitted to being more angst when it comes to one take live late night performances & it’s noticeable. Had deviated septum surgery round 2012ish after accidentally getting hit in the nose by Mikey’s guitar a few years prior. And more recently further strained his voice when recording “8” back in 2017 with Dave Sardy, whom apparently pushed Boyd to (past?) his limits. I’ve also read he’s never had a vocal coach. All of that & aging has clearly taken its toll on Boyd. However I will say whenever I see them live he seems to be on point. I was a bit worried prior to seeing them live for 20 years of MYS, but was left amazed as to how well Brandon was able to sound close to vintage even during rawer jams like MYS, Clean, & Out from Under. Look forward to seeing them in spring of 22!!!
Thank you Joe! I really appreciate it! I need to do some more digging into his vocal history. He is an amazing person though, I have watched some of his interviews and he donates pretty much all his money to community outreach. What a superstar in my book.
Honestly, being a singer/songwriter with a terrible voice, I’d take 10-15 years of amazingness over being horrible forever 😅. Brandon will always be great to me no matter! Great lesson and vid!!
Thanks Lewis! I am sure you sound much better than you think! What an awesome way to view it though, better to have had it and then lost it than never at all. .... have I heard that somewhere before?
As a lifelong Incubus fan I’ve come to terms that Brandon may never go back to the way he once sounded. Maybe if he was doing more to manage his voice throughout the years he could of saved some of his high ends, but they’ve had a treacherous touring schedule so I’m sure it was hard for him. Great video!
Brandon Boyd had always been perfect live until a horrible throat infection in 2011, it's never been the same ever since.
@@rockboy360 definitely, watch their performance from Kaboo 2018…absolutely treacherous
Yeh. My fav singer/songwriter. On the if not now when album, 'Isadore' was the perfect vocal. Also,' the original' and the title track. Obviously over the years some of those earlier songs were yelling on pitch, but he was a great natural singer, who could have done better with learning technique to preserve his voice a lot more. In saying that, his new solo stuff is brilliant, he's working with what he's got now and making some amazing different songs.
@@rockboy360 excuses. the guy lost his voice the same way bon jovi does.
The story I heard is when he was young, he had just enough money for one voice lesson. They are my favorite forever. And Brandon has such a deep, genuine soul, that is where he sings from. His energy and vibe at his core are what fans connect with. Even if technically his voice has changed, it's still all good. And his 2 new solo songs "Pocket Knife" and "Petrichor" are just escapist and other wordly. I think he opened my 3rd eye up.
Living in Calabasas I dont think that may be the case lol
@G I completely agree
excuses. brandon is a fraud
I'm really surprised incubus hasn't dropped half or a whole step to accommodate Brandon's vocals. I'm glad they are still playing older songs instead of just keeping them off the set list. Incubus will always be my favorite band and Brandon will always be a favorite singer and songwriter.
Hands down my favorite band and Brandon has been the biggest inspiration in regards to singing/songwriting for me. I know he had laryngitis which must have had some effect on his voice. I think the biggest issue was the punishment to his vocals that recording the album ‘8’ did. That smooth baritone resonance and vocal agility he had up until his 30’s is amazing and the way he could transition into his falsetto and back to chest voice still amazes me. Thanks for this video! I always enjoy listening to a professional give their input on these things. The voice is so fickle. Didn’t sleep well last night? Voice is going to let everyone know. Sorry for the novel and thanks again for the video!
Hey Brett! Thank you for your super detailed comment. I really appreciate it!
If he had laryngitis I 100% think that is what caused the cracked notes. He does tend to push but as you said the voice is very fickle. If you are tired, haven't drunk enough water or there is too much dust in the air you can sound off. 🙄
I saw him live in the January 2013. In my opinion his voice was is in peak form then. He was hitting notes that he wouldn't hit live in 2004. It was an amazing night.
During the 2011 tour with Linkin Park, Brandon had Laryngitis and his voice was forever changed after.
Really? I didn't know that. I will have to take a look. But it could be just that his voice was tired. He really sounds sick here though.
Singing really is a rough thing.
Brett scallions of fuel had to get fired in because he completely lost his ability to sing for 10+ years.
And dream theater's James labrie had a hot sauce incident on tour in the mid 90's than screwed up his falsetto for a long time .
Singing is rough
Between laryngitis and just aging in general his voice definitely has changed. Brandon is my favorite vocalist/song writer and sucks to hear him changing, but I'm so glad he's starting to make it work. He sings old songs with a new approach and seems to be more comfortable in the lower register. As an avid fan I'm glad he's still singing the fan favorites instead of just dropping them off the set list. He sounded amazing on the 20 years of make yourself tour.
Wish he had had you 25 years ago as his vocal coach :( Still, Brandon has been extremely inspiring to all of us and has made some absolutely amazing music.
Johnny, I think I would have given my pinky finger to coach this dude! He is amazing!
He has been there for me through all the times with his music. Incubus was a huge part of my teens. ;)
He actually addressed this. Maybe not this specific performance but he did explain his general change in sound. He mentioned he made an entire career singing only out of one nostril due to a deviated septum. As he got older the deviation became more pronounced to the point he couldn’t really sing. So he finally decided to have the surgery to fix his septum, but he basically had to re-learn how to sing after he was able to fully breathe through his nostrils. I don’t know if this accounts for everything here but it at least addresses part of it.
Really enjoyed your analysis! You were fair and honest, but not mean-spirited. My two favorite parts of the newer version was the falsetto run Brandon substituted for the original shout-sung one, and their brief interpolation of "Drive" by The Cars. In other words, when they got creative instead of trying to reproduce old sounds, they sounded better, IMO.
I would much rather hear bands change up the arrangement than hear a singer struggle to hit notes they hit 20 years ago.
Thank you Kyle. I really appreciate it. Definitely never want to be mean spirited so I am glad that came across.
Agree with you 100% bands should change the key fo sho on their old music.
They shouldn’t perform if they can’t hit the notes. Seeing Incubus at this point is not as good as it would have been. Saw them in 2004 and they were still in their prime. One of my favorite shows.
@@GetAsCloseAsYouCan if bands stopped performing because singers lost notes then there'd be no artists/bands touring lmao
@@Dr_Footbrake that part lol . Gotta get creative with arrangement I’d still go to their concert lol
On their album 8, the producer Dave Sardy pushed him beyond the vocal brink. I thought this contributed greatly to the state of his voice. I’m always going to be a Brandon fan but it hurts to hear the change.
I hope psychologically & emotionally he feels reconciled and at peace with it.
As a long time incubus fan - finally this video was made. Many fans think the voice is still perfect but age changes many things.
I agree. I neex to do an updated video though to take a deeper look at them. ;)
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach the best thing to do is recently they did a morning view anniversary livestream where they play the album in its entirety. You could watch that with performances from 20 years ago and have useful footage. Cheers!
It's notorius that Brandon lost his old voice, but that particular performace at Colbert 2019 was a tough one for him cause he performed sick. I don't remember if he had a cold, but it was something like that
Yeah I just watched a video of them performing this same song from about 3 months ago and he sounded great.
New video coming out, he had surgery on his nose!!!
Thank you for this video. After reading the comments i didn’t know he had laryngitis. I thought it was the amount of screaming he had done live all of these years. He’s generally taken care of himself and there is a difference in his voice but when he pushes himself you can hear the cracks. I’ve been an Incubus fan since I was a kid. I loved when they brought Ben Kenney into the band. He has really good vocals on his solo work. I feel like they could use both singers efficiently. It could help highlight the bass players talent and help give Brandon a break when it’s needed. But newer songs are just putting more strain on his voice and it’s not beneficial.
I last saw them in 2012, it wasn’t as noticeable then but if you watch his Kaboo festival performance from 2018 you can definitely notice a change. Sad but at least we have the red rocks performance to go back on!
Saw them live a few weeks ago and he's got back his voice. He definitely struggled a few years after the album '8' came out. He nailed everything at the concert i went to, although he sounded a bit more nasally on several songs.
My favorite drive performance though is the live remix in milan. It's amazing
That is so awesome to hear that he is back on top!
Of course when he wrote and sang and recorded this song at 26 he wasnt thinking hed still be having to sing it at 47 years old but i think he still sounds good for his age
brandon boyd was obssessed with his vocal health since a very young age. He used to avoid places where OTHER people would be smoking just for the sake of his voice. It breaks my heart to see him struggling with because I know it must be really hard for him and definitely a pathological matter instead of just natural aging or being reckless about his vocal chords.
So I hear! I decided to revisit this performance after his surgery, the difference is huge. Sounds like it was largely Pathalogical here.
Brilliant video you make a lot of great points. Brandon is one of my biggest influences musically and personally so it breaks my heart to see him like this, the use of twang as a crutch is a big one that I've noticed for years now as is the yelling on pitch thing, he's just not supporting the sound and so it's very throaty and constricted as a result. Surprising as he's worked with Ron Anderson who is quite the prolific vocal coach, but the demands placed on touring singers may not allow for the time required to really fix technical problems. I'd also heard that he recently had surgery to correct a deviated septum so that probably didn't help either. It's sad that we don't prioritise vocal longevity in this industry, because it really destroys so many beautiful voices.
He and his voice have aged. He’s still Brandon Boyd to me.
I agree. But age and technique are two different things 😊
I saw them 3 months ago in Berlin.. He sounded very close to what he used be 20 years ago.. He is amazing
New video coming out on Tuesday. He is sounding very different now!
I still think he sounds great incubus will forever go down as a legendary band❤
If i remember correctly, by the time they released the last album ‘8’, Brandon had i think notes or nodes that’s why his voice really sounded strained. He still sounds great live a few years later
Ahhhh ok. Did he have them removed?
I remember being let down a bit when I saw him on late night a few years ago. He keeps very good care of himself in general and has been very busy singing ever since the 90s. A veteran rock band singing one song on TV is a rough way to make any sort of determination on point at hand. I can tell your a very smart music gal and enjoyed many parts of this very much. I feel very strongly that you may owe it to him to find a live concert in the past few years and pass public judgment on his voice. It saddens me thinking there will be people that pass on listening to their new albums ....
Hey Corey, 100% agree. I will certainly have a look at more of their performances. I think 1 performance is very hard to make a diagnosis honestly in general. I will do another part 2 to this video taking a greater look at their performances when things open up a bit more again for musicians. Thank you btw for taking the time to comment. 😀
Karma, karma come back! (Trust fall side-b 2020) If you haven't heard this yet, you should check it out. It's a great example of how he changed the way his voice impacts the tempo. He goes from really melodic to heavy. If you find this live video please let me know!
Totally agree Corey.
It's unfair you've picked a bad one off for your teaching. You've even said in the comments you've seen other proformance where he can sing it
Finnaly the explanation I've been waiting for years
Oh wow thabk you so much Fernando, I am glad it is helpful!
Brandon's singing voice had uncommon range, accurate pitch and a beautiful style and tone to boot. It has been amazing that he would compose these complicated, sometimes energetically intense and always challenging songs knowing he would have to sing them over and over on the road for years and years to come. Even with the absolute best technique and health routines no voice can withstand the rigors of touring in a rock band for years. "Touring rock band" is synonymous with unhealthy vocals. The environment encourages intensity. When younger he would concentrate further back in his throat. Now his vocal cords are like a worn sock and to hit the notes he is relying more on mouth shape and getting the sound from a different area of his head which drastically alters the sound of his voice. You can clearly see it is a struggle for him. He used to close his eyes and sing like a songbird. Now he makes dramatic facial expressions and his eyes look like a cat caught in headlights.
It breaks my heart but I still love Brandon. Seeing them on Tuesday. If that man uses sign language to sing I’ll pay him whatever he wants ❤️
I forgot how great this album was!! Thank you for reminding me, I'm gonna go listen to it now!
It is bloody good right? I LOVE them! I had to play it all evening after uploading this ;)
Wrong choice on the recent performance of Drive. During this live they had just finished working on their last album "8". During promotion of new album 8, Brandon Boyd said his voice was pushed too hard by their new producer cause he wants a kinda raspy tone from Brandon's voice. So I think that really strained his voice and it showed during this live performance when promoting 8.
Agree with you on that one. I want to hear more of their new stuff without the crack. He sounds quite sick here though.
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach Oh no! My bad I'm so sorry this was not during the album 8 promotion. This is more recent. You're right iirc someone also said from the comments that he is sick that time. But I think it's still related to that 8 incident 3yrs ago. I feel like his voice didn't recovered well from that.
@@moonvader22 could be. However it could just be age catching up to him. I hear they have been doing more charity work than playing in the last few years.... could be a reason. bit rusty ?
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach The band has taken a lot of hiatuses throughout the years, and more and more frequently as time goes on. Partially because the guitar player, Mike Einziger, had to have surgery for carpal tunnel in 2007, and has to take breaks to not further aggravate the injury. I can imagine it being easy during those breaks to get a little lazy on the vocal care. That being said, I still think this particular performance simply wasn't Brandon at his best -- and honestly, thought I LOVE Drive as a song, it isn't a great vocal comparatively to much of their other music, in my opinion. Brandon's voice *is* definitely aging, but I also feel he's has had plenty of great vocal performances in recent years.
I’m watching this a couple months after seeing they’re live performance of the anniversary of morning view. He sounded phenomenal, as if the strain that we’ve been hearing from 2017 on has greatly reduced. Maybe he’s been slowly working on it (Hopefully they release it for sale soon) He did sound different, much different than the “crow left of the murder” era (in my opinion where his vocals were strongest) but nevertheless, great band, great performance, I hope they keep goin! :)
Hey Manny thank you for this insightful comment. I am definitely going to take a look at them now! Thank you!
th-cam.com/video/DuOGok-y2LM/w-d-xo.html
2022 update, he’s sounding amazing!
Like the analysis. When they did their last album(titled 8)in 2017 the producer made Brandon change his way of singing which was one o the hardest things he has ever done.
They've had performances after this where Brandon's vocal was its regular self. Perhaps his voice is not that consistent anymore, but it's not this bad. So I'm calling it, this one's a fluke. I'm more worried about how he does with Dig though. Now that's a much harder song to sing.
Hi Kevin, I agree, I watched a couple more and he nailed it with his singing. I think he really wasn't well in that performance. It is really yelly though still, I think the inconsistency is apparent in the performances too. STILL I LOVE INCUBUS ;)
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach I have to agree with Kevin, just looked at a live 2020 video and it sounded fantastic. I think Brandon was feeling well here.
But you're also right, my fiancee tries to help me with this song all the time. It's tough.
Yes, I agree, I follow this band very closely and that was probably one of his worst off days performance-wise to choose to watch as a modern example, I've seen him knock it out of the park recently, his voice has certainly changed, no doubt.
Trust Fall side B is the correct name for their latest EP.
I also feel he started changing his singing technique after albums like Light Grenades.
I’m looking forward to his new solo album coming out later this year though... that will suit his vocals really well, I think.
i would like to see a video like this about silverchair..
Yes! Silverchair is my favorite
Pleasssse
I love this content!!! I love Brandon but watching this makes me question all of my life choices
I did a new version of the video. He has apparently undergone surgery to repair his nose. Was unfair of me to do the video without proper analysis of the situation
Didn't know Keanu Reeves was their new lead singer 🤣
Jokes aside, Make Yourself was a wicked album. Stellar and Pardon Me were staples in my high school playlists. Also their song Warning is one of my all time favourites(from that era). It's too bad he can't sing like he used to..
lol love it! He does have fabulously long hair now. I do think he had a strong cold though in this video, it sounded super pressed.
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach being sick never helps haha
Speaking of taking a song down a key to suit your voice, if you haven't heard Puddle Of Mudd covering About a Girl(Nirvana song), it is probably the best example of "don't sing outside of your comfort zone". He's a good singer, but this was the worst thing he could have done. He's pushing it so hard that you can hear him doing damage. Link: th-cam.com/video/GTiibb34Pwo/w-d-xo.html no need for a reaction, just check it out on your own time(unless you want to make a video of what not to do lol)
Hope you get around to Unleash The Archers - Tonight We Ride soon. I am excited for this reaction. No pressure/rush. I just geek out when it comes to this band 🤓
@@Z_TPI Amazing, I will get to them I promise. Probably next week latest. I am a bit slammed with work at the moment going on and offline it takes up far too much time rescheduling students so I have been a bit tardy on the old recording.
I will take a look at Puddle of mud too. ;)
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach no worries. I'm not trying to rush you either lol. Life doesn't revolve around my TH-cam reaction request, although it should.. jk 🤣
A friendly warning, seeing as you're a vocal coach, be prepared for your soul to shudder in agony with that Puddle Of Mudd video lol it is honestly mind boggling that he made the decision to stick with the original key. They must have rehearsed beforehand, and I'm sure it wasn't any better than the live recording, and being professional musicians, not only him(the singer) but his band mates as well should have made the decision in rehearsal to drop the key down. I'm speculating, but they(whole band) are all to blame for this. Someone should have spoken up. The singer caught a lot of flak for this on social media, but his band mates are just as much at fault IMO..
Thank you for this and explaining the twang he’s developed. I didn’t know how to describe it. I thought it was just a tone change. It’s really unfortunate how his voice has changed. Do you think it can be improved if he works with a vocal coach or are voice changes mostly permanent?
I know right? It is quite common though for that time. I need to listen to more of his current work to get an idea. But yes of course most things are healable (I know that isn't a word ;) ) but you can regenerate most parts of the body so why not the voice. ;) I think he was sick too for this performance sadly.
I just discovered them a few months ago. I know, veryyyyyyyyy late to the incubus party. I wish i had a time machine. I would go back and see so many bands live. Who needs a career lol. Seeing them in Boston 2024. I'm so excited
They should tune down a half step or full step like the guys in Zep did for Robert Plant in the '07 reunion.
Agree with you. Would have made it much more listenable
I saw them live and..I'll take both versions.saw them shoreline 2015...Incubus ..October
If you had to choose between water or wine you have to go with what is the best option for you! So if you’re going to cast negative energy on another’s personal preference of what they have chosen. The righteous person is the one who does not judge another’s decisions of what makes that person happy!
There is nothing about being richeous, it is about educating. Many singers are told that alcohol is good to get the voice moving, which is just rubbish. Singers who drink in their younger years definitely give it up as they get older when you start to notice the toll it takes. Any negative energy is percieved here, not intended.
I remember when I was in high school I couldn't get enough of their music. Sang at least an entire album of theirs everyday for like 2 years (obviously not well). I talked to my school music teacher who had vocal coaching experience and I remember her saying "Incubus is great. He has so much integrity. But he doesn't have greeeeat technique, so just be careful emulating his vocals." That put a little caution on my radar. Shortly after that, I remember seeing a one-off concert of theirs (like 2008, at the end of their Light Grenades tour) and he was asking the audience for help because his voice was shot. Around this time I started exploring my voice more and realizing that you can kind of fake your way to higher notes with twang, and sneak down lower with whispers. That's also when they released If Not Now, When? and he was doing that all throughout that album. Like really abusing that technique to sing crazy beautiful melodies, way up in his register. I kinda knew his voice was on its way out. Shortly after that he did that album with Brendan O'brien and it sealed the deal. He effed up his voice. If you listen to their albums, his range gets higher and higher on every single album. He just kept having fun. Almost like, "Holy sh*t! I can sing this high?!" without thinking about long term. Eventually it just caught up. Bums me out that he straight up can't maintain a steady airstream across his vocal cords anymore, but my goodness am I glad they made the music they did. There is no other band like them. Made my childhood.
I think it is hard when you have one massive hit that just shoots your career so high without the slow build of having time to work on your vocals. He is amazing, and actually his voice is doing much better, but yes we can't just rely on the old suck it and see technique
Brandon is a crazy good singer whose inspired many. Hearing him sing rogues in a crow left of the murder is something a lot of singers cant hit or be able to sing through an hour long show on tour. He didnt sound great for a year that this is highlighting and had vocal issues but came back great this doesnt show. Itd be more appropriate to highlight what the daily touring grind does that well never know
Rogues is on light grenades
If you have t heard the live version of this song live 2004 red rock, you can hear he gives a lot more then. 🖤
Have you got a link for me Ren?
What a massive difference, Brandon is still an extremely talented vocalist but now he is clearly working hard to manage his vocals when before it was silky smooth...
Hi Artur, I think it is purely down to that there wasn't any technique at all and he just "sang". But as we get older we need our technique to keep it up. Age catches up with us otherwise
Argh, now I got it stuck in my head... Thank you Zoe :)
Lol, I HAD to then play it for over an hour on the guitar. LOVE this song!
Honestly the change seemed to happen in the years after he got laryngitis in 2011. It seems like he might’ve had a chronic case of it. Probably that mixed with their relentless touring approach for 25+ years now. I’m stoked that he continues to push thru it tho, they’re my favorite band of all time. And grateful to have seen them a bunch, they still kill it live after all these years!
Amazing Barry! I would love to see them live !
He also had surgery to correct a deviated septum from when he broke his nose as a kid and it gradually got worse to the point that he could only breath out of one nostril. He did an interview recently and told the whole story.
lol brandon fraud
You should listen incubus at live morning view session.
I am hopefully going to them live so will definitely review things.
What an interesting, engaging video. I loved your commentary and your analysis. I love the song “Drive” and definitely agree that the older version is the better of the two. Thanks for the video! I’ve subscribed to your channel :)
Thanks Fiona! I really appreciate it. 🙏 I think it shines a light on people wanting to sound like these artists but not knowing how they create their sounds.
Not a cold, he had surgery to repair his deviated septum septum and has only recently recovered to 100%. The live shows in late 2022 and 2023 are so much better. Brandon is back!!!!!!
So I hear he is way better now!
I dunno, this is one version of a song they have performed so many times I find it hard to imagine they really give it their all
I've seen them live in 2019 and again a few weeks ago, and he sounds significantly better than he did here.
He definitely sounds much better now! I am coming out with a new vid on Tuesday, I had to have another look at it.
I saw an interview with Brandon recently and he talked about how he had issues with a deviated septum from when he was young and had surgery for it in the last couple of years and had to re learn how to sing...
Wow! Yeah it would effect the way the air flows. I will definitely have to take another look at this though
BTW, small list of their hit songs besides Drive: Stellar, Pardon Me, Wish you were here, Are you in, Dig, and Promises Promises (from 2011). If you listen to Promises, he was still a pretty amazing singer, but then again, that was a decade ago already. Not being able to tour for a couple of years might be the best thing that could have happened, and it will be interesting to see if his voice is any better, because it's clearly damaged at least in the form it was in 2018.
I think it had a lot to do with his nose, after surgery he has said he couldn't sing properly for 7 years!! crazy!
Would love to hear him do the tune a step, step and a half lower.
Really interesting video! I dont know the exact year, but I remember hearing in an interview from him that he got a vocal coach in the late 2000's (right around the Monuments and Melodies album release around 2009) and learned he "had been singing wrong" his whole life.
This was when his voice was the best imo; powerful and very clear. It sounded way different from their earlier stuff- check out If Not Now When.
He was even going to be on Broadway as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar before it got cancelled.
I am sure he started to get coaching, but the difference is quite huge with today. He is really back in the saddle with his voice.
What a perfect analysis. 🥰
Thank you!
I agree with your analysis - I watched the Morning View anniversary video and Brandon's voice sounds dry. I also agree with you, I remain a fan of Incubus and follow their path where ever they keep on going. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for sharing! I need to update this. Wow 2019 though was still 4 years ago. Time flies!
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach Hello! What could someone like Brandon in his current condition do to heal / recover their voice capacity? Axl Rose, I believe, has get to a similar condition, where he can't sing high notes anymore. Thanks for your reply!
Does he? I didn't know that. I think Brandon had issues due to his nose, but it seems to be quite good now. I am updating this video again. ;) coming out next week!
@@kawamach
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach That is good to hear about Brandon :) Based on the videos I watched on TH-cam, Axl seems to do good with his low deep voice, but with the high pitch seems to struggle. Thanks for the conversation! Looking forward for your update :)
Could you do a video comparing young Joe Elliott to current Joe Elliott of Def Leppard🎸🐆
I was at the original performance in Sydney, Australia & he totally rocked on that day. Judging by Brandon's unkept appearance i doubt he's taken care of himself which is a shame. But the star that burns the brightest doesn't burn the longest. At least he burned brighter than most.
Wow how cool! I need to watch them again now, he apparently has changed quite a bit
This is way late but Brandon has talked about having a super devaited septum so he had to "learn to sing using one nostril" per his alleged words. I'd attribute at least the nasally aspect to that but clearly there's a lot going on. Still one of my favorite singers in his heyday
Yes so it was! I did a second analysis after his surgery and I agree he has gotten much much better!
9 more days and i will hear how he sounds now 😊
on album 8 he kinda blasted what was remaining of his vocals...also as i remember he had some illness which impacted his voice in 2011
Yeah so I have heard, I couldn't find any articles or interviews though where he talked about it could you?
I always thought Corey Taylor was going to lose his voice first than Boyd because of the screaming and the raw singing, but look at them now, Boyd blew his voice first, huge fan of both of 'em.
As a tenor (at least in my youth), I can't imagine what it must have been like to tour and sing as much has he has. It's literally thousands of hours of shows, for months at a time during their tours, night after night. I don't believe the human voice is designed for that sort of abuse. If you go back to the original recording, some of the "breathiness" was already there at the end of each phrases. The fact that he can still get into High tenor and hit those notes fairly reliably is pretty amazing. He's 46 years old by the way. With that said, I understand your point -- some things are just bad practice, and he's done plenty of that over the years no doubt. More than anything, a man who sings in as high a range as many of the Incubus songs were written in, is a quality that just doesn't last, and if you can point out a vocalist who can prove me wrong, I'm happy to be corrected. To perform songs over decades, bands just have to pitch the songs down if the singer has any chance of continuing to perform them, which also tends to change the qualities of the vocal. Drive also involves harmony with his bandmate Mike Einziger.
Mick Hucknall - simply red. Not only has he still got it as he got older, he got better
I think it has a lot to do with the styles as well and the technique needed for those styles. Classical music is all about a flexibile larynx, whereas pop and rock is so much more about straight tone and thick vocal folds (to many). We need to however keep everything flexible. I think it is in some part aging, some part just bad technique, and some part the nose surgery he ended up getting. We shall never really know ;) I don't even think he really knows 100%
@zoestibivocalcoach I sent you a PM about a year ago asking for your advice on my singing voice post thyroid operation. I’d love your advice on technique as I sing multiple times a week still and am a pro singer
Hi! Did you? sorry if I missed it! Ifind it really hard to keep up with all the PM's to be honest 🙈send me an email info@zoestibi.com and I will answer this time. 🙂@@MrAvilla333
In 2023 Brandon Boyd recover his voice ❤
I have to listen to them!
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach th-cam.com/video/A1YZQL-xKiY/w-d-xo.html
Really like your video and I am not any sort of a vocal expert. I kind of like the 20 year later version and I will say way. I like that one can see how the band and sound evolved. To an extent at least. I mean not if the evolution is due to lack of keeping up form. Another group that I actually like being able to see the evolution of the vocals is Rush and Geddy Lee (fan or not lol). But with Rush I can find certain eras in which I like the tone of Geddys voice better than others. It also keeps some super old Rush songs sounding fresh-er because there is a slightly different sound of an old song. However, Rush has an almost 50 year evolution- not certain if Incubus will. :)
Does it matter that the two performances you selected differ between acoustic setup and full band performance? As a fairly long time fan of Incubus I have noticed that he takes different approaches contingent upon the instrumentation of the song. This is a lot more apparent in a song like "Pardon Me" which has two versions versus Drive which is still predominantly acoustic - the reason I mention this is because my guess is that Drive even with a full band might require more a strenuous approach to stay above the instrumentation...? I am not a vocal coach, I was just curious if this mattered?
Hey Josef, that is a really fantastic observation. Honestly, I should have really done more homework on this one. I had a singer who was asking about his technique, and I found his ability waned as he got older.
It could be but I Honestly think he was probably sick or just unwell in this version. It was really to highlight the difference between the singers and how vocal technique would have saved him from straining so much.
I shall take a look at other performances though and get back to you about that one! ;)
Thanks ❤️🔥
I believe that his technique has improved, but instead of losing high notes he has lost low notes due to aging. I don't know if it is possible to analyze this song before and after:
th-cam.com/video/3THQQ-wsijM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OKRqk5OrWaVh6mjD
Hmmm… most of Incubus’ concerts are 90-120 minutes x over 200 performances per year over 30 years. Pretty sure no one, especially a coach, could prevent some decline.
Of course they can, Broadway performers do 8 shows a week for years on end. There is no need for the voice to just decline. Look at Tom Jones, nearly 80 and still absolutely smashing it vocally. It is all about the technique.
Your voice is a reflection of your physiology...--- Darryl Hall (NPR Interview 2022).
Theory: He never really slipped up into head voice ever....He had a tremendous control of nasal resonance....touring even with a head voice which would help preserve the voice doesnt always work either (re: Steve Perry toured so much even his voice also blew out).
I think he never found that thining, I would agree with you. I think he ended up just pushing so much chest voice and mass higher, it doesn't help you at all to sing high and loud.
Not sure but he used to do growls as well in their fungus amongus and science albums. Could have affected longevity of his voice
He’s struggling to reach to that note 😢 on this performance but checkout recent one of this year he has vindicated.
I need to look at the newer stuff too!
. . . also, let's note how intense and brave those vocals are, perhaps unsustainably . Like they're so featured and carried out and loud, a challenge to perform, it was always a risky proposition to try and maintain a voice able to deliver THOSE vocals. Great songs! Compared to say, Beck. Not everyone is Thom York. Like in sports a player can be a pitcher or offensive lineman for many years as the body changes a bit. But to play center field or running back more athleticism and rare ability is necessary, so the career ends sooner for most mortals. When a Mick Jagger, Ricky Henderson, or Walter Payton come around, appreciate the longevity. Don't feel sorry for their peers that have a more typical aging journey.
I think he was most probably sick, but the vocals were very yelly in general. I'll do another one, I think!
I am a huge fan of Brandon and Incubus and it makes me so sad that I didn't see them live back in the early 2000s when I really started to follow them. I lived in a part of the country where there was no decent live music and I never travelled to gigs 🙈 Huge regret of mine. I did finally see them in 2018 and will continue to watch them live (if they ever come back to the UK 😆) Moral of the story is just go to the damn gig 🤣
I agree with you there Jennifer! We should all just go to the damn gig right? I feel the same way about MJ when he was in NZ. Now I will never have the chance to see him 😔
Always loved incubus since 'Science' and 'Morning View' was the soundtrack to my early 20's. Seen them twice, amazing live. Come across the morning view anniverssary performance and was SHOCKED at how he sounds know. All nasally. His voice up to a couple years prior, was as good, if not better than ever, so I dont think its an age thing. Seems like the result of an illness or condition of the larynx.
Hi Nelson yeah we can never really know what the causes without talking to the singer themselves. However this is quite standard when someone does not have good vocal technique to begin with and tekhan whereas we get older and when we are sick or tired
He is definitely a baritone for sure.
Probably, this is a stupid question, but did you check other videos to verify that he wasn't just having a bad day? I also listened to Incubus a lot back in the day but not a lot recently. Anyways, I love the message of taking care of your voice.
Hi Manuel! Actually I have to admit I did not... but! Hear me out. I made the video because I had a number of male singers at the time singing this song (seems like most men in their mid 30's aspire to sing this song because we all learned it in Guitar lessons back then) and I was trying to get across the importance of building up to those high belts. You can clearly see he is struggling, cold or no cold and with proper vocal technique he should have been able to sing that no matter what. I think it is a sad reflection on our entertainment industry had he had laryngitis that he was forced to perform below his incredible standard. The key should have been changed to accommodate his voice not the other way around. I respect him beyond belief but I wanted to highlight that voice care is soooo important that you learn to sing so you can get through even the heaviest of colds and manage your voice. The yelling only gets you so far. I need to do another more fair look at his voice I agree!
Brandon Boyd is one of the greatest vocalists of on time. During his prime, he's Gènial... I totally agree with Zoe about taking care of the voice. 🎶🎤🎶
*all
@@LeanThe3rd thank you. He is amazing, I need to do another video I think.....
Yeah, I did not perceive any negativity in the analysis. I think mostly I was curious and concerned about his career (He's fairly young for a performer, isn't he?). But the message was clear, learn your craft, take care of your instrument and you will be able to have more fun for a longer period of time.
I hate reactors who have their voice very much louder than the clips. But this one's the opposite sometimes: lower than the clips at times, but sometimes just right.
Lol I am glad I sometimes get it right. I do check levels every time to make it equal but I am happy to "sometimes" hit the mark. 😉
Unfortunately age comes for everyone
Agree with you, but he isn't that old! 😉
He was a teenager when he sang those songs. His voice changed as he matured. He already kept his vocals in shape because they never stopped singing and touring. He just sang too much.
More guitars and that in the second one
He also doesn’t use the earbuds to hear himself….
I disagree with this assessment. I've seen Incubus maybe 20 times over the last 20 years and Brandon's voice has been amazing most every time, they had one concert where I would say his voice was tired. But then the next year he and the band rocked it. The video you picked for the live performance was obviously on off night for him. Probably coming off of a tour, there are numerous live videos within the last few years where he is every bit as strong as he was in his twenties.
I just can't believe they haven't brought it down a half step. I had to double check to confirm. It's exactly the same. It's just silly at this point.
I would have in all honesty.
Only twp people that sound the same and better older are David Gilmour and Brendan Perry
pantera cemetery gates music video please!!!!
I'm definitely a huge fan of brandon boyd and incubus... I'm a singer and i copied every single way (the way) he sings. I was at the age of 20's when Morning View album released. I'm an Indonesian for your information. On 2018, incubus came to indonesia for Incubus 8 tour. I watched the show, Brandon sounds very good. No flaws at all. In my opinion, on Son Of The Sea brandon in his peak performance. he sounds different (better in live) a little bit much high notes... Is it because he is forcing his voice, or false singing techniques? I don't know. All i know..he sounds different in a bad way in latest shows..All I try to say is, i hope his voice is back to normal, and he can sing without hurting his throat
I think He lost his voice. He cant sing the old songs with the same vocal range as he did even 10 years ago. Check the most recent live videos. It's sad but true. That's the mortality of us all. We all get older and fatter and slower and that's life. Love you Brandon. P.s. seen them live once back in the day during the crow left of the murder days and They sounded just like the album. Amazing.
Hand gestures are not her strong point. Hard to watch those flying hands during the early part of this vid. Otherwise, very informative.
its a damn shame that Brandon's voice has degraded so bad over the years. one of my all time fav bands seen them live more times than i can count and they always brought it 100% now it seems like he cant hold a note. its honestly a tragedy. wish him all the best, hopefully he doesn't have polyps...
Actually I re looked at it and this was due to a long battle with his nasal passages. After surgery is was all good! Take a look in the description I posted video 2 updated ;)
Honestly Make Yourself was the only Incubus album I used to listen to for some time, there was a song called "When it comes" which really has the greatest vocal melody I've ever heard by this guy. Overall I never liked his way of singing cause he is doing the same thing all the time not so playful with tone colors and speaking of range meeeh. And just because Kate Bush , Mike Patton and Jeff Buckley are my biggest influences in what I do vocally , I can understand many things he's doing wrong, or at least not so well approached.
I think what happens in a lot of these situations is you get a group of people who write a good song and they are catapulted to stardom in a very short space of time. Then they are asked to go from singing maybe 30 to 40 minutes a day or practising as a band with lots of breaks to flying all over the world's and performing regularly 4234 hours of the time with a lot of practice.
I think it's really about a matter of sustainability, he was probably more than able to sustain that sound at a younger age however as he got older it got more difficult for the muscles and with the natural ageing process we then need to rely more on technique than pure luck that was possible when we were younger.
@@ZoeStibiVocalCoach I totally agree . Whenever you find the time , give a listen to Alter Bridge's latest single Silver Tongue, Myles Kennedy is 52 years old and he's exactly what you said , a singer who relies on technique .
Love your channel keep it up 🤘🎶
This is also not anywhere near his best performance as far as close to present day performances. Either way he still sounds better than she does. I can't stand people that go on and on about perfect technique and criticizing the technique of other singers as if they themselves have it. perfect technique doesn't mean much if you still have a voice that doesn't sound good or interesting.
Fair enough Cameron. Personal taste. It isn't about being perfect but about being aware of what the voice is doing. It is an instrument like the guitar and you can get injured if you play it incorrectly. You also end up being limited by your ability. He is an awesome singer, I just think it was a bit forced
Older sound. I feel like he's over-pronouncing the lyrics in the newer one.
Yeah could be. I re did this video a few weeks back, just trying to edit it. Ended up being waaaay more in depth / longer!
You can definitely hear the gruffness in his voice now and for some reason it almost sounds like he's using an accent
I shall take another look. It is a tricky one.
Older sound obviously
Little tiny woman cussing out Incubus
Seems to me you people can't see shit he's got good health asked gracefully and interviews seem right on so stop the negatively and remember what grandma used to say get more with sugar and honey. Lol Be well guys DJ