Attempting Guns N' Roses again. Vocal ANALYSIS of "November Rain"

I admit, when I heard "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses for the very first time, I was not a fan of Axl Rose's voice. Granted, it was a live performance and I was instructed to listen to a studio version for the next analysis - and I'm glad I did. This performance was a bit more moving, a lot more impressive and has me intrigued to hear a little more of GNR.
Join professional opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff, as she listens to Guns N' Roses performing "November Rain" for the first time.
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Written and Performed by Guns N' Roses
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I definitely recommend watching the original video without interruptions. Here's the link: • Guns N' Roses - Novemb...
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Elizabeth Zharoff is an international opera singer and voice coach, with 3 degrees in voice, opera, and music production. She's performed in 18 languages throughout major venues in Europe, America, and Asia. Currently based somewhere between Los Angeles and Tucson, Arizona, Elizabeth spends her days researching voice, singing, teaching, writing music, and recording TONS. She also plays Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons.
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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#gunsnroses #Reaction #TheCharismaticVoice
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[@dylanw6]

You have to check out “ESTRANGED”. It is probably the most complete song by them in my opinion. It’s like a movie. Different sections, parts, and layers in the song. Axl sounds good, Slash kills it, the piano is amazing! Just PERFECT Edit: The music video is a must!! We all look forward to seeing your reaction!

[@eltinto]

100%

[@vanyadolly]

Yes! It would be really cool to hear her take on a song from the same album where his voice sounds much softer. Also Estranged is just the best song ever.

[@nathanlandry1016]

When she mentioned slash’s guitar tone I instantly thought of this song. The way he uses is rhythm pickup with the tone turned down is one of the most interesting sounds I’ve ever heard. But the piano is just phenomenal

[@dylanw6]

@@nathanlandry1016 my favorite part is towards the end when Slash make the guitar sound like it’s crying. Gives me chills every time 🤘🏼

[@Mr54M1]

My default choice for name only 1 song to have with you on deserted island

[@ProsperoFinch]

That “synth” sound that gave you the chills was Axl’s screech/whine/cry. It’s a thing he does. You can hear him do something similar in “Welcome to the Jungle”

[@doublerw6732]

And the ending of the garden he does a very long one

[@hatch7482]

Yup. Just Axl’s voice. No synth. She said, “They brought Axl’s voice back in.” His was the one anchoring that whole layering of voices the whole time.

[@ayayayayaya4758]

And a lot in Knockin on heaven door !

[@TimedRevolver]

He did it at the end of 'You Could Be Mine' too.

[@davebrowne8252]

Yep, Axl all the way there. Not a synth.

[@justcallmesando]

About a year ago Guns played in Mexico City. I live literally a street away from the stadium they played on. It´s a smaller venue than those they used to play on in their heydays but still is a kind of big place. Around noon they started soundcheck and suddenly I started to listen to this familiar guitar tone coming through my window and I just had to go out and stand next to the place for a while and record. It was Slash himself playing just a street away from my living room in the middle of an ordinary day and it was absolutely surreal.

[@amyfeigt6715]

It broke my heart a little when she was talking about how optimistic & sweet it was. I wanted to give her a hug when she realized it was the bride's funeral 😭

[@martinroosjen]

Yep, not only just die, but the mirror in the chest sugests the other half of her face is Brown away (you can ses it here at 37:55) The build up was so fun to watch, about there must come a breakup, and the reaction did not disapoint 😂

[@croccifixiooneill475]

@@martinroosjen - You do realize that most female self eternal sleeps dont use guns or brown away faces as you put it. Females general obviously there are exceptions or whatever but the bulk do things sleeping aids or cant give examples YT but most use methods that dont visible ruin the body or no mess. I've know several women who loved guns & the 2nd amendment couple who depressed went for eternal rests neither used their 2nd amendment. 1 took a roman bath & the other sleeping pills downed with alcohol. I always just saw it as the rest of the video of internal struggle of good & evil happy sad confident & sure of something other times insecure second guessing even depressed. Part of you in the light while part is always in the shadows. but then again like 99.99999% of the world i wasn't there didnt write it or come up with video or wasn't in the media when planning the video or what it meant.

[@Ghheeeee]

She has a very strong empathetic pull its hard not to feel her emotion

[@lowlifehighroad]

same 😭😭i was like “ohhh noooooo”

[@lowlifehighroad]

@@croccifixiooneill475*women. we’re called women.

[@JeffOfTheMountains]

The complexity of this song just amazes me. It's 9 minutes of musical odyssey, and Axl Rose really went above and beyond for this piece.

[@vinniedixon1140]

Coma is better as he sings in 6 or 7 different vocal tones.

[@problemadarisolvere]

​@@vinniedixon1140can't wait for her reaction to Coma (Chicago or Studio? Mmh, that's tough!)

[@kerenolivero7097]

@@problemadarisolvere, Coma is such a tough song, even for Axl in his prime, that I would have to say that if she chooses to analyze Coma, it would be best for her to use the album version, but that is just my opinion. Coma is one of my fav. songs (although it does not top November Rain, for me).

[@problemadarisolvere]

@@kerenolivero7097 for a first reaction, yeah, the studio version would be the right choice, you're right. I think one dedicated to the live version is totally needed, because that performance is just a must.

[@kerenolivero7097]

@@problemadarisolvere, I agree. I am a huge GnR fan, and I love the album versions, as well as the live versions (there is something special about live performances. for an older fan like me, the live performances are the best!), but I would never try to lure a non-fan into enjoying/ appreciating/ loving GnR by throwing them into the deep end of the pool (ie, live performances, which can be a bit rough, at times, lol) to begin with :)

[@dalehammers4425]

Watching Elizabeth fall in love with Slash's playing is glorious. There is a reason he's one of the most beloved guitarists of all time. God knows he's my all-time favorite, and its not a close race.

[@TheBalintKosa]

One of the most beloved guitarists of all time is such an eloquent way to put it. I like that a lot.

[@obud3777]

He's one of the most overrated guitar players of all times!

[@dalehammers4425]

@@obud3777 You are welcome to that opinion, as long as you understand thats simply an opinion.

[@grantego553]

Same here. He's not the most technically proficient when compared to the likes of Rhodes or Petrucci or Van Halen, but he's got such a melodic feel that pulls at your strings. He inspired me to start playing.

[@aTofuJunkie]

Honestly I preferred BUCKETHEAD with his short stint with GNR. Something new and different sound for GNR.

[@JayZFranks83181]

When Slash plays, you know its Slash. NOBODY CAN MAKE A GUITAR SING SWEETER THAN SLASH!❤😊

[@That1GuyUShouldKnow]

Neal Schon. You're wrong sir

[@melaniemitchell9419]

It's a tossup between him and Eddie Van Halen

[@Vampire102]

@@melaniemitchell9419 poor eddie😂

[@brianmcginley7215]

You are probably the most facially animated and expressive voice analyst I've yet seen on youtube. -- It's almost compulsive viewing to watch you react the way you do to these vocal performances. And that, in itself, is a big plus point for your content on this channel.

[@stephenblake1694]

These trio of songs make up the full story. "Don't Cry" was the initial breakup...."November Rain" was a dream of what could have been if she didn't commit suicide...and "Estranged" is him dealing with the emotions afterwards. Long time Guns fan here... Hope this helps. Estranged is my favorite, you should check out the whole story!

[@alorthman]

Came here to say this. Thank you for beating me to it!

[@AmberNicoleB1004]

Same!@@alorthman

[@adammoney2610]

Long time fan and didn’t know it was a trio knew don’t cry was the first but didn’t know that estranged was the conclusion thank you for that I learned something new today

[@MarkoMakela-kk7qf]

Both albums are great and both verions of certain songs... maybe the best 90's rock album...

[@82angelfan]

This. Add Coma to that story as well. 14 Years is also about this. I think the real love story in all these songs is not Axl and Stephanie but Axl, Duff, and Slash.

[@langdalepaul]

Believe your ears, not your eyes. That was Slash! This was their masterpiece. The zenith of their creative talent.

[@Branfaol1]

Definitely Slash

[@curio2369]

right up there with Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven...

[@allanhegney3835]

Estranged imo

[@mayoite160]

Estranged

[@scorpiusbalthazar4327]

@@mayoite160 Coma.

[@bekindandrewind1422]

37:02 -- What most don't realize, is they use that mirrored coffin to give the deceased the illusion of having both parts of their face...

[@phoebejune4506]

Axl's voice is beautiful and devastating to me. There is no other voice like his, and his writing is awesome. The aging of his voice is sad to an extent but he blasted those vocals and gave it 3000 percent. His voice now is still beautiful and when I hear it I am devastated wrecked overwhelmed with emotion. His broken voice to me is angelic and beautiful. Thank you Axl! You are a rock God and irreplaceable! His November Rain at Lisa Marie Presley"s funeral is touching haunting and fills my heart so much that emotions pour out.

[@kerenolivero7097]

I agree :)

[@melaniemitchell9419]

I think you can hear the age of his voice a lot more in songs where he has to like scream more, like I watched a video of his voice aging up to 2022 while singing Sweet Child O' Mine, and it certainly was different, but a couple years ago when he performed November Rain at Lisa Marie Presley's funeral it was beautiful, and not so far off from 1992 live imo

[@andrewwest8334]

"I like the way that guitar solo made me feel" - exactly what makes Slash one of the all-time greats.

[@mariusanasta8197]

In fact, Slash is one of the worst guitarists... There is no a single solo, even in the record, witch was done corectly...

[@therunawaykid6523]

@@mariusanasta8197are you insane??

[@mariusanasta8197]

@@therunawaykid6523 Are you def?

[@beltenebrosgr1904]

@@mariusanasta8197 Who really cares about "correctly" when his solos makes you feel the way we feel...

[@therunawaykid6523]

@@mariusanasta8197 no I’m not, slash is one of the greatest guitarists of all time

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

Fun fact, the guitar Slash is playing in the video belonged to Aerosmith's Joe Perry, who sold it after leaving the band in '79. For a while after finding out Slash had acquired it, Joe kept trying to buy it back, which strained their friendship a bit. Eventually, Slash returned it as a birthday present on Joe's 50th.

[@braca977]

Great story !

[@NegG1919]

Another fun fact: If I remember correctly, this was the most expensive music video ever produced at the time. I could be wrong, so don't quote me but think that's right.

[@braca977]

Michael Jackson and Madonna did the most expensive ones i think. Even GNR- Estranged topped Novembar rain a year later!

[@MrTumbark]

Listen to that iconic solo more than 1k times 😁

[@Britton_Thompson]

Didn't he originally sell it to Izzy Stradlin to pay for heroin since Izzy was his LA dealer in the mid 80s?

[@celestialexis]

November Rain is, hands down, my favorite Guns 'n Roses song. It's just soooooo well done. Your analysis of it was spot on!

[@truderstaller]

Axl strained the hell out of his voice and had to undergo surgery to have his vocal polyps removed. There is a HUGE noticeable difference between his voice from Appetite for Destruction and their next album, Lies, which was released only a year later. His live performances were sometimes absolutely terrible, and I recall on one occasion the fans booed him and through stuff at him because his voice was breaking up so much. In spite of the surgery (possible multiple surgeries) his voice never really recovered.

[@hgbugalou]

Seeing this video 1000 times as a teenager when it came out, at the point when Elizabeth said "this sounds a little more hopeful" and "I'm a sucker for optimistic music"... Oh man, I knew she was in for a shock in just a few more seconds into the song.

[@hopsonkim4952]

Man you really could not watch MTV or VH1 for 10 mins without seeing it

[@genghisgalahad8465]

The calm before the storm, that unexpected crashing of thunder right at the warmest moment. Couldn't have asked for a better reaction!

[@HariSeldon913]

Every time she says his voice has aged a lot, I want to tell her, "It's not the years, it's the mileage." But she's definitely resistant to understanding that it's a sad song.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

@@HariSeldon913 that's what aging means....

[@supahfly2106]

Civil war is another great GNR song lyrically as an anti-war song. Also the progression musically is amazing on that track.

[@Mattlock52]

My fav gnr song

[@henry247]

Agreed

[@aTofuJunkie]

Their cover of Bob Dylan's, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, would be my favorite song.

[@_Shadoh_]

My favourite song too. Hope she'll react to it.

[@vanishPK]

👍👍

[@RedstormHunter74]

Slash's guitar solos have always felt like his guitar strings where bolted directly to my spine is the best way I can describe it.

[@overthehilldill3626]

Spot on. Exactly how I feel.

[@amouellette81]

About 35 minutes into the video I got really excited to see your reaction of what was about to happen!

[@martyb5807]

Patience is a great example of his singing without all the gravel. He has several "voices" and in a couple songs he uses every one of them

[@troystaunton254]

That or there was a time.

[@zaradragonia9863]

So true😅

[@seanbeckett4019]

@@troystaunton254 I've been gaining a new appreciation for Chinese Democracy lately, and yes, There Was A Time is an otherworldly vocal performance by Axl. One of my favorite songs from that often overlooked album.

[@shindama]

Patience and civil war

[@mattjimf]

Patience is a great alternate to Sweet Child of Mine for time frame.

[@WiLDRAGE777]

That last solo, with the buildup, is by far one of my favourite musical moments of any song. If a guitar could cry, that's the sound it would make when mourning.

[@Dreyno]

Are you a Gary Moore fan? If ever a man could make a guitar cry……

[@gen077]

Makes me break in tears every time. Add the lyrics to that... my heart breaks.

[@wyldhowl2821]

Definitely the best part of the song.

[@Mr.Ekshin]

Yup... pretty sure Liz shares my appraisal of GnR. Very nice of her to remark "I love the tone... of the guitar". That's pretty much sums up my view. I thought Axl sounded cool when GnR first hit the scene back in the 1980's. Then I saw them live. Total train wreck.

[@mattolear8769]

To each his own.

[@sydneysdaddy2007]

Your description of vocal source, is insanely perfect. I can feel the "brassy" when I do it. I can feel the throat, the cycle through my ears. So perfect in your description.

[@willgriff]

This is the first time I ever clicked on the video of yours and so I feel like I just met you and so a minute 40 and you said my knowledge of Guns & Roses, one song and that thought put a pain in my chest.I have not felt in a long time.I feel for you..... It's like a sickness that you have to recover from... Sweet child of mine is the greatest song ever composed

[@curtziggler5865]

Elizabeth.. “Patience” is a acoustic song by Guns and Roses and I think His voice sounds it’s absolute best! It’s sounds natural and not strained at all.. You would be surprised to hear Him using that Lower Vocal Tone!

[@ostlandr]

My first girlfriend and I. "Patience" was our song. Ironically, one of the big reasons we broke up was that she wasn't willing to wait until I had a permanent job with health insurance before she got a ring. I got that about two years after we broke up.

[@curtziggler5865]

@@ostlandr Yea Bro! Patience is a virtue! As they say.. But it wasn’t meant to be! In our youthful years.. We all lack patience.. But truly a wonderful song!

[@MM_in_Havasu]

@@ostlandr sounds like you may have dodged a bullet with your situation in the long run. Life goes on, man!

[@dialecticalmonist3405]

She ain't going further with GnR. She hates the guys voice (I don't blame her). She is trying to be polite about it. GnR is a great band, and Axl was perfect for it, but he was never a brilliant singer. Just a differnet singer. To a highly trained opera singer, a singer like Axl sounds like constant sibilant distortion in the background. To her, it's like watching a basketball game played with a football. I don't think she can take any more. Lol.

[@curtziggler5865]

@@dialecticalmonist3405 No doubt.. She is the real deal.. Opera Singers are the best.. But She does Like Ronnie Jame Dio and appreciates His Vocal abilities!

[@Flmmkr7]

The video is based on a short story from a friend of the band named Del James. The story is called Without You. The video is part of a three video trilogy starting with Don’t Cry, November Rain and finishing in Estranged - the two songs additionally mentioned would be worth your time to analyze!

[@giancarlocapogrosso]

This how you experience true guns n' roses!!!!

[@TheHammersmashdave]

estranged is their absolute greatest work in my opinion, and one of my favorite songs by anybody ever. Masterpiece.

[@kelly_smets2390]

👏👏👏👏

[@zerofoxarmy]

@@TheHammersmashdave100%

[@magusreaver]

@@TheHammersmashdave All 4 versions of the trilogy. Don't Cry, November Rain, Estranged.. Don't Cry (alt) acting as a coda.

[@TheChristianNomad]

You got to love that when Axl said "Slash, so how about two amazing guitars solos in this one?" Slash smiled and said "How about three? And the last will be one of the most epic I've ever played!" 😂

[@myL0STleftS0CK]

Every time you said "ok this feels a little more hopeful" I CACKLED 😂 the knowing grin I had waiting for the funeral lmaooo

[@nachogames6562]

The the end, the synth sound is just Axel’s voice. And every layered voice is also his. He’s wild, man.

[@randomrat6421]

I'm so surprised she didn't realize that. He's even in frame singing mid way thru that sound.

[@LeoAtlantideo]

@@randomrat6421 she didn't even notice that it's not a live version, it's the same as the studio record

[@hardstyle8184]

TOTALLY.... TERMINATOR2 soundtrack don't forget. John Conor lol

[@jodiehudak4851]

Came here to find this. Glad someone said it. I yelled out (to just myself)...That's HIS VOICE! 🫢

[@garibaldiburymore6721]

'Estranged' by GNR..still gives me the feels

[@klake12]

For me Estranged hits in a way that no other song does, its amazing

[@CraigKostelecky]

Estranged is Axl’s opus.

[@dylanw6]

I said the same thing!

[@lexluthorpm]

I believe that, next to November Rain, it´s the most beautiful GNR song.

[@bvierasan]

Yes! It's one of my favorite by GNR and so, so epic.

[@Rogue0257]

The shift in tone and the final guitar solo makes me cry every time.

[@mikesk2]

I love how you “get” the tone of the guitar, and the solo itself, it’s an iconic tone and solo

[@omardcastrod]

The sound that gives you goosebumps is Axl’s voice too.

[@cmatte82]

Came here to say this. Just got to that part of her reaction.

[@dialecticalmonist3405]

She thought she was hearing a "creepy synth". She didn't know that was Axl.

[@roxannchambers312]

Hahaha yup. That's an Axl scream

[@douglassnyder214]

That's Axl's anguished wail.

[@firstclaw1]

​@@douglassnyder214 Indeed, he really puts deep anguish and pain into this scream, which is distinct but also seems to drown in the music at the same time.

[@gilesm5716]

The song "Estranged" really shows the maturity of Axl's writing and voice and is just as epic as this song, although not as iconic, but 100% worth checking out. More crazy Slash solo's also

[@itsameyoshio]

My favorite GnR song.

[@seanmurphy6034]

Yeah estranged AND coma shouldve been singles imo.

[@Miwna]

Estranged from the album "Live Era '87-'93" is simply stunning. Much of the vocals were re-recorded by Axl, but it was all for the better.

[@MrChologno]

@@Miwna that is the best GnR performance of that song, the best of GnR

[@zoso9243]

Maybe my favorite G'n'R song

[@mattmarcotte5476]

This is the best video of all time… super fun watching someone watch the first time.

[@Diego0200]

Me encantó esta reacción sin dudas es la mejor que he visto de November Rain, disfrute cada segundo y tienes una energía super especial!!!

[@Sosu217]

Ah, just to say, the 'synth jet sound' was actually Axl, as were all the layered voices, right down to the very low baritone. He used to have an amazing range!

[@62SG]

Just wait until she discovers the police siren in Welcome to the Jungle!

[@foothpath9966]

wanted to say the same, but u got me with a couple of hrs ;)

[@curtziggler5865]

Yep.. They all were His Voice Multi Tracked..

[@Mattlock52]

5 octave

[@matthewgoodA1206]

Yup, one of his extended vocal lines; both those albums really show the broad range he had.

[@seandan7873]

That chilling 'synth' sound, it's Axl's voice.

[@guggie]

100% accurate!!

[@dialecticalmonist3405]

I don't think she has ever heard a sibilant sound of that magnitude come from a human being before. Lol. I love GnR, but please don't subject a trained opera singer to more of that voice. It's like torture for her to hear it.

[@magdalenahernandez6840]

Yes almost like a very deep guttural scream.

[@CulturePROVOCATEUR]

Axl’s despondent wail.

[@vanyadolly]

It's one of the best parts of the song! 🤣

[@DouglasSnodgrass]

you are so enthusiastic. that is y i love your channel and your free advice on vocals. thank you!

[@dannyrangel2431]

Another great reaction, watching someone hear something for the first time , for me, is like I'm hearing it for the first time, obviously, through someone else's perspective . The way she can pick out certain nuances is amazing. Though schooled to do so still amazes me , her facial expressions are honest those of us who know this song and, let's say " Don't cry," are probably the same reasons we listened to the songs over and over because we were either just blown away or linked it to a relationship. Either way what a great way for us to relive these songs for the first time . I just stumbled across this channel and yesterday my wife and I watched several of her reactions to different songs mostly 80s rock . Well at 52 and 53 that was are music. My wife being in the school chorus understood a lot of the techniques and terms she described. For me just pure joy watching someone's face light up to Def Leppard , Guns and Roses, and the Bangles . Just brought back so many memories for us . Thank you !!!!!!

[@TheStacanova]

Axl is a baritone naturally, going by his speaking voice. Songs like “It’s so Easy” or “Mr. Brownstone” showcases that range. The song “Patience” is a good example of Axl’s clean mellow vocals.

[@maiadion557]

You WILL LOVE Estranged seriously november rain was on my top 3 until ive heard Estranged..on the same double album..one have November rain..the other Estranged.so...

[@maiadion557]

Stéphanie Seymore. Supermodel

[@maiadion557]

On the radio version they would stop the sound before SLASH stands on the piano..the best part but i understand that song is too long for radio..just dont put it goddamit

[@maiadion557]

Patiene Welcome to the jungle video if you want more of the baby new voice before he went overboard

[@agelospapagiannakopoulos4934]

true

[@treatcheri]

I was at the video recording as part of the crowd. We were there from 7 to 4am reacting to them play this song over and over and I can tell you the orchestra was live and it was a surreal experience being part of this video. It was so loud the paint was peeling from the ceiling snowing down on us while they played. The end result sounds exactly like the studio version.

[@mikgus]

Can you find yourself in the video?

[@treatcheri]

@@mikgus yeah a few times. In her video she pauses on me at 12:30ish...blonde in the middle of the screen.

[@TejasChauhan0]

Wow

[@sjlooker]

If I remember correctly, the bride "unalived" herself. That's why there is a mirror in the coffin, making one side of her face. It was, as I was told at the time, an old mortician trick to conceal self-inflicted injuries.

[@candicemorrison304]

Very cool 😎

[@jamesjones8482]

Good reaction! One of my favorite Guns N' Roses songs.

[@tkmjees]

Grew up in the early 90s but never really liked the band. This song, however, is a masterpiece and I get back to it regularly. Great reaction!

[@narr0wm1nd49]

Its great when Elizabeth notices this song isn't about love its a song about lost. The change in her face is perfect.

[@susannahschenk2994]

"Patience" is an absolutely gorgeous acoustic song by GNR that is so very different vocally for Axl, and his lower range comes out there. Their cover of "Sympathy for the Devil" is a lot of fun, too!

[@NovemberRain-1975]

My now passed ex husband and I named our little girl patience best thing that ever happened to us….

[@Kyrieeleison70x7]

"Patience" is a beautiful song. So heartfelt, with such impressive vocals from Axl, I remember the first time I ever heard it, when it first came out on the radio, I couldn't believe it was really him singing.

[@olivevillanelle3524]

OMG. I just love your reactions. "Is that Slash without a top hat? No. That can't be Slash. Wait. is it? I think that was slashed." Lol. You're awesome. And yes, it was Slash. :-)

[@Gotterdamerung]

"This feels a little more hopeful... It just feels inspiring and happy now, that makes me happy..." Oh sweet summer child o' mine.

[@coryhuff8083]

Love the slash solo reaction. He’s truly sings with that guitar and just has a style all his own.

[@singinreyn]

For real! I was transported back to my youth when I was first falling in love with Slash. It's fun to experience that vicariously through someone else!

[@krackergrit]

This is my favorite gnr song and the slash solo is amazing

[@willrun4fun]

The way Slash makes his Les Paul sound has always been one of my favorites

[@HankChinaski27]

I listened to this song a lot after my fiance committed suicide. It knew my heart ache. I'll never be over it fully because I really loved her, but music has always been the vessel for my pain. She's was a pretty special lady and songs like this got me through.

[@Whateva67]

Oh wow,that’s heartbreaking

[@alvatrous]

If you need a good cry about that song, terrible things by Mayday Parade

[@HankChinaski27]

@@Whateva67 it is but I'm in a much better place now. Time heals all wounds.

[@michaelanthonyortegaherrer348]

I enjoy how you break down the songs you explain whats goin on your awesome

[@ImReally29]

I love when you do live versions, because then we get your comments and thoughts on their techniques that you can see from seeing them sing - the tongue and mouth positions, etc.

[@unclelou8636]

So unless I am mistaken, that "synth" sound that you heard in the outro solo is actually Axl singing a very raspy, drawn out "eeeoowwww" but it is fairly deep in the mix and harder to pick out. This song is so epic; trying to learn Slash's solos is insane

[@SirHackwrench]

Indeed. If I'm not mistaken, the thing he was going for was "anguished scream", which fits with the plot (Rockerboy has a happy-ish wedding with his love, but she dies tragically young)

[@ilpoheikkila4773]

Yes it is.

[@sharonspiller7427]

I laughed out loud when she said that. It is definitely Axl’s voice. It really doesn’t resonate with her…yet 😊

[@Widgerber]

It sounds like he's using a talk box to distort his voice further. That'd be hard to distinguish from synch if you don't know what to listen for.

[@keithdean9149]

It's like he's screaming in pain for his loss.

[@Afridge2far]

No one does ballads like GnR. November rain, Estranged, Coma, Don’t cry… they still hold me captive and were revolutionary in my musical taste as a teenager.

[@harveybernstein9203]

Don’t forget “Patience”.

[@alexandremaireno-ni4ec]

Coma is not a ballad

[@Onikage55]

I'm sorry but does no one remember this was a Video Trilogy? Don't Cry, then November Rain then Estranged. First two line up together really well, but the 3rd video is...eh

[@poluzka2724]

don't forget the end to Rocket Queen in their early days

[@adamlee9071]

Coma is far from a ballad,its their best song though

[@mattprior219]

The red wine metaphor of her spilling her blood, and to me the whole video was about her being trapped and forced into a marriage she didn't want to be in. The lyrics start to back ut up if you take it all in together. And the spine tingling wails at the end, as Elizabeth said... spine tingling!

[@georged7627]

You don’t have to be the best singer to know what heaven sounds like 🤘🏽

[@I-USELINUX]

Slash guitar solos ALWAYS give shivers. No matter how many times you listen to it...

[@ScaryPoppins]

Same!

[@No-yv5ix]

As soon as this song started, I got chills all over my whole body. Keep in mind, I bought this CD in 1991 when I was 12 years old and I still get chills

[@garrickhanson]

Yep... My brothers and I waited in line at the Wherehouse and got both albums at midnight on the day they were released. Good times. They need to convince Izzy to come back and start releasing some new music.

[@suzetteemberton4368]

Same. I was 14, and this is taking me back

[@francoisfortin5826]

Me too

[@bigfellasydney6970]

Yes!! I have the picture cd.. with the guys picture on rhe cd

[@IcyTorment]

I was watching a KZbin video with GnR's "This I Love" and saw a comment from a woman who said "I just wish someone loved me this much." Axl's vocals on that one are the most emotional I've ever heard from him.

[@user-it8on1qp9m]

Kudos for the vocal coach/expert being polite and trying to take up for the "performance."

[@hammer11235]

I've always loved how Stephanie Seymour throws white flowers, which turn red, kind of symbolizing blood and death. As they lie on the casket, at the end, in the November Rain, they turn white again, gaining their purity back. To me, it's always symbolized healing after tragedy.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Or the blood draining and washed away by the rain that caused the character's demise in the first place...

[@catw6998]

@@genghisgalahad8465What so supposedly happened to her?

[@jaydefibaugh6673]

​@@catw6998in the del James short story "without you" which the song is based on she commits suicide by shooting herself in the head that's why she has a mirrored shroud so no one sees the wound

[@smillstill]

Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain....

[@genghisgalahad8465]

​@@catw6998 Well, with the mirrors over half her body in this scenario, I imagine she was struck by lightning on the entire left half of her body?

[@MartijnVos]

After 30 years, this song still never fails to give me chills. The video too is full of symbolism. It's true you don't see the bride die, but there's tons of symbolism of death. When the guy jumps through the cake, the bride and groom figures fall. The wine spilling like blood. I don't think there's any need to pretend Axl knows anything about good or healthy vocal technique. I've always understood that he had a very destructive vocal technique. I recall G'n'R having to cancel concerts because he ruined his voice again. I'm not at all surprised you think his voice aged a lot in a short time. They were a band that burned bright, and then burned out. Axl did, at least. The rest of the band tried to pick up the pieces without him at some point, but they could never become what they once were. And yes, Slash without his top hat is still Slash. Even if you can see his face! Just treasure that rare moment. But his brilliant guitar sound is unmistakably him.

[@martinkasper197]

and the flowers that turn red after the bride throwing them and landing on her coffin...🤓

[@CineSoar]

Sadly, their real life relationship didn't have a happy ending either. Axle and Stephanie dated for about two years, were reportedly engaged. It all ended in lawsuits and allegations of theft and abuse.

[@billylangley1462]

That song was based on a book. You stopped it before it showed it

[@henrythegreatamerican8136]

She died from COVID in November. The November Rain came from the droplets that landed on her from a stranger in a store sneezing. Moral of the video? Wear a mask in November!!!!!!

[@atyoursix5520]

I think the extent of Axl's vocal health and technique involved a fifth of Jack Daniels before the show......

[@wendersonbarros1900]

To this day, that's my favorite guitar solo. It's so beautiful!!!

[@TyrionCypher]

Dammit, I love your enthusiasm for all music ❤ The voices in the sad part, it’s all Axl. The guy has an incredible low range, as well.

[@BertZedic]

I would love to see Elizabeth add an extra to the end of this review once she finds out the wail that gave her shivers and all of the layering vocals were all actually done by Axl himself. His range when he was in his prime and the sounds he could create with his voice were truly astonishing. You really pick them up when listening to these songs through headphones like most of us did back in the 80's. It's such a shame his vocal chords eventually got damaged and he is not the same now...

[@dokb1942]

I laughed each time she went back to look for it and cringed right past seeing him on the mic. lol.

[@Drewzer154]

There were 9 others that provided backing vocals on that track besides just Axl.

[@meganega123]

You would think a vocal coach noticed it

[@mrfahrenheit677]

@@meganega123 Why? It's not like that stuff is normally taught. And also she's not familiar with GNR. Have you actually seen this lady sing? She's incredibly talented so I don't think her expertise is something to question here

[@cherylhurst7093]

​@@meganega123She is a classically trained opera singer. She stops and starts this a lot because she is just learning GNR. she is also very detailed.

[@bbinkc]

This song and video came out about the same time that my fiance at the time died suddenly. Both this and "Don't Cry" have always felt so personal to me. The music, the wedding & funeral images, all of just spoke straight to me. Interesting how much she disliked the screaming sound Axl was making (she said chills, but not good chills), because that moment in the song was so cathartic for me - it sounded exactly like what I felt at that time. Listening and watching it so many years later, still brings up those emotions.

[@gerritvanderkrift2164]

One song that will give you a different side to Axl’s voice you dont hear too often is the album version of Patience. A true classic imo

[@justjac123]

That sound at the beginning of the outro that gave you the shivers was actually axl! Hard to believe I know but thats what a 5 octave vocal range gets ya!!

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

Axl made the string orchestration in 17 different synthesizers. It took him more than a half year. There is a new version out now with real orchestration.

[@LyricalDJ]

I assume you mean samples? Never heard he put over half a year into it. Impressive!

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

@@LyricalDJ No no. Axl made it somehow. My brother used to do it to on an old Roland U20 (if I remember correctly) synthesizer. You can not sample something like this. I read it in Slash's autobiography.

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

@@browncoat13 No. Read my comment above.

[@browncoat13]

@@Morten_Nielsen1979 I looked it up and you are correct. I never realized that it was all samples so I deleted my original statement.

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

​@@browncoat13Okay. 👍

[@PatrickCordaneReeves]

First, that's absolutely Slash. This is probably his most iconic solo with regards to the music videos. This solo is indeed sweet, mellow, romantic, and that's for good reason. This section, very much suggested by Slash's stance while playing, is to invoke feelings of making love slowly, passionately. This song is sad, nostalgic even, and those are feelings intermixed with the love-making. Those of us who have endured troubled and ended relationships relate to such mixed, complicated feelings - feelings that are often impossible to articulate. Slash did so with a guitar.

[@michaelhuwer1596]

Hey man....greetings from Germany...This is the BEST comment i ever read on KZbin......Thank you...!

[@christinepearson9449]

The songs are Don’t Cry, November Rain and Estranged in that order of music videos that tell a story. EPIC ❤

[@RusBuffet]

Brilliant as always.

[@michaeltabor4176]

This is actually part of a trilogy of songs (Estranged and Don't Cry are the other two parts). The lyrics and the videos of the trilogy are based on a short story by Del James called "Without You". Basically the story is about a band called Suicide Solution and their vocalist, Mayne Mann, who is of course supposed to be Axl Rose. Mayne has a girlfriend or wife, Elizabeth. So SS are on tour, and it's the last stop. A tour's last stop most often means one or both of two trends - first, that they end (and start) in their hometown; second, that it's the best show of the tour. Mayne wants to celebrate after the show with Elizabeth, but she's called out of town on business. Mayne's mad, so he picks up a groupie after the show, and they're hooking up in his hotel room. Matter of fact I think there are two girls, they're having a threesome. The drummer comes by, and Mayne offers him a girl; he turns him down. Then it turns out Elizabeth's trip was cancelled at the last moment. She finds out what room he's in, and goes there to surprise him. Mayne hears a knock, thinks his drummer is back, so he answers the door nude with a girl on each arm, nude as well. He's looking right at his wife, and she takes off. He gets dressed and gives chase. She loses him, gets home, and when he finds her, she's shot herself in the head. That is why only half of her face is shown during the funeral.

[@wyldhowl2821]

I had no idea about this, but then I was never a GnR fan. I thought in this story, she got sick and died unexpectedly of pneumonia or something, so their life together was basically cut short.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

That is some Friends meets GnR Illusion era fanfic right there!

[@fernandaargolo]

OMG! 😮

[@uzi978]

Nobody can make a Gibson Les Paul sound like Slash... you're right, the tone he gets is like no other, he's such a great player... always sounds effortless, but impossible to replicate. To me, he's my favorite guitarist to hear do a solo. This one, and what he does in Estranged is just perfect.

[@geronimoperez2139]

Slash es la genialidad de lo simple. Pocos llegan a eso.

[@thomasmulloy6424]

I will admit the MTV Video Award version with Sir Elton John give me chills. Especially once Slash is up on both pianos.

[@nathanlandry1016]

“Everybody needs somebody. You’re not the only one” always hits me.

[@carolinehaf21]

The change in song tone just due to Slash's 2nd guitar solo/riff is incredible. I love the first solo, but its the second one after the military drum part to lead into "don't you know that you need someone" is one of the most PERFECT transitions in a song EVER.

[@TimMaddux]

The outro solo is actually the third; there’s a second solo one or two phrases after the first.

[@Cajungrills]

The twist in the feeling of this song is so often so easy to miss. It comes down to a couple very small words. "Nothing lasts forever in the cold November rain". "Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain". The song comes full circle in the end. Also, that "synth sound" is called Axls voice! And its supposed to make you shiver!

[@LiveFreeOrDieDH]

Yup, Axl wailing out in despair. Executed perfectly.

[@KraljOsovina]

Except the lyrics never go "Nothing lasts forever in the cold November rain", anywhere in the song.

[@eriklarson9137]

@@KraljOsovina Correct. Those lyrics are not in the song. Swing and a miss there.

[@thomasmarti5856]

There are 2 points in the video that portray her death. The first was the spilled wine at the wedding and the 2nd(obviously ) the color running from the Rose on her casket. Slash's solos were so on point.still touches me to this day.

[@dcihacek]

This song is part of a larger story arc. November Rain, Don't Cry (Use Your Illusions Vol 1), and Estranged. They are based on a short story by Del James.

[@srhatfield]

24:55 Slash has one of the best ears in rock. His ability to bend a string to exactly the right pitch and elicit the perfect feeling of longing or release or tension is absolutely top notch. There are better, more technical guitarists out there, sure, but they can't write a song and make you *feel* a certain way like he can... and what's amazing is that he was always able to do this! There is a documentary where Duff was talking about the very first time he heard Slash when he was in his teens and he said it was like listening to an old soul who had been playing guitar for decades.

[@travisstafford397]

Slash always plays so perfectly he knows the notes not played are just as important.

[@srhatfield]

@@travisstafford397 100% agreed!

[@leilanimccloskey3463]

I don’t know anything technical about guitar, or who is good or bad technically, but I know how it makes me feel, and man, I can just feel the emotion coming from his guitar. When his guitar first comes in in Estranged, my gosh, it just feels like my heart’s about to break

[@stuartbryden4452]

Slash is one of the best rock guitarist out there worth listening to his solo stuff very talented player/ song writer.

[@Cadinho93]

Fun Fact: You will never, EVER be cooler than Slash standing outside of a church in the middle of the desert playing a guitar solo… Also, this song is a masterpiece and it absolutely holds up today. Songwriting, composition, performance and "November Rain" is a part of a trilogy of videos, combined with "Don't Cry" and "Estranged". They're one of the most expensive music videos ever made in history.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

I'd always thought Estranged was the sequel and Coma was the Coda!

[@themanwhosoldtheworld5350]

Unless you are slash emerging from the ocean playing a solo under the setting sun after a drowning Axl is rescued by dolphins

[@kkeegan369]

I LOVED that Slash solo in front of the church!

[@aTofuJunkie]

How about Buckethead who just stands there with a KFC Bucket on his head? 😂

[@ahuggie]

Slash outside an abandoned church is an ICONIC rock image.

[@colbyjones3799]

The song and video are symbolizing the band breaking up. The scene where slash leaves the wedding and “goes out on his own” is to symbolize just that. Separating himself from the band. They weren’t getting along anymore and knew this would be the last album together. That was indeed slash playing without a top hat lol again to distinguish himself from this persona he’d created for Guns N’ Roses. It’s really all sad, but beautiful as well.

[@Donsdoom]

So interesting to hear an expert break down the intricacies of Axels vocals. I never once out of a hundred times hearing this song thought about any of this. All I knew was what I was hearing made me feel a certain way and I liked the experience.

[@blarno]

This is the first time in 25 years that I have been able to listen to/watch this without crying. We buried my brother to this song, he was a massive Guns fan and the lyrics at the beginning kind of reflect his decline near the end: " We've been through this such a long long time just trying to ease the pain"

[@switch2472]

The whole time, I was waiting for her to realize this song was about loss of a spouse-she kept getting happier and happier about the song and I got more and more anxious knowing that the drop was waiting there at the end.

[@EricRoberts2112]

Yeah...I'm like...oh yeah, you are going get ninja punched when you hit the end...you definitely won't see it coming

[@michaelhansen3970]

Waiting for her reaction too. She was so happy and I was like.... well you are not prepared for this ;)

[@ZeroAtTheBone]

This video is part of a trilogy. "November Rain", "Don't Cry" and "Estranged". Together, they tell the story called "Without You" written by Axl's close friend.

[@tyostroff4259]

Broke up with my longtime GF in Highschool in 1992. This song tore my heart out. Still has meaning so many decades later. Life changes whether you want it to or not.

[@SenorMojo64]

This song is part of a trilogy, it starts with Don't Cry then into November Rain and Ends with Estranged. All amazing songs.

[@Skulllywag]

It was SUPPOSED to be FOUR parts, but the record company didn't want to shell out another million for a 'Coma" video.

[@RafitoOoO]

@@Skulllywag which was total BS. Both albums debuted number 1 and 2 on billboard. They could've released it for sure.

[@Skulllywag]

@@RafitoOoO They could have. I would have loved to seen it...Coma is my favorite GnR song. But I DO see the label's point...back then, GnR was the only band putting out million dollar videos, and they did front 3. At the time, I think most bands were only spending a few grand for each video.

[@LuckyOlivia44]

@@Skulllywagthat’s really disappointing 😢

[@chop54321]

@@SkulllywagThat’s because Coma is 9 hours long lol

[@triciasanders2455]

His tone is absolutely appealing and uniquely Slash. When he plays, you know it's him. No matter who he's playing with, you can always tell it's Slash. Not all guitarist can say that.

[@lindaw4988]

Agrree! There is no one like him!!

[@EdwardVGrimm]

Agree, but I wouldn't say that he's the only one. Eddie Van Halen has that same affect. The MOMENT you hear it you know who it is.

[@lindaw4988]

Am not saying that at all. There are many I can recognize in an instant that no one else sounds like. Eddie is one of them. I love Eddie!@@EdwardVGrimm

[@metaltildeth6783]

Slash is a phenomenal player, but let’s give a hand to the 59’ Gibson he is playing here. Without it, we would not have been blessed with its sweet tone.

[@triciasanders2455]

@@EdwardVGrimm Yes, Eddie's definitely one of the few!

[@KipArmadillo]

This song came out when I was in high school. And it was just OK at the time. The older I get, the more I realize it's perhaps one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

[@brianlewis8722]

I'm a grown man...heard this song hundreds of times...how is it possible that it made me tear up hearing it while you heard it for the first time? Great analysis. Thank you!

[@KipArmadillo]

I'm 47 and I'm weeping.

[@bennysproductions3151]

If you want to hear Axl's total range and what I feel is his best vocal performance, the soundtrack song for the Terminator movie "You Could Be Mine" is the most powerful vocal performance in my opinion. His range is so high. The studio definitely captured his vocal range.

[@jculbert2221]

My favourite Gnr song. Amazing driving tune.

[@fefloria]

Come with me if you want to live

[@virtualsnake1994]

He doesn't sing low on that song though, does he? Maybe he does and i just need to listen to the entirity of it.

[@andrewgibbon7934]

I always thought Estranged and You Could be Mine went well together on the album. Both completely different energy and both great songs.

[@chassidyharris1954]

Yes ma’am, that is Slash. And the tone that you described as a jet flying over is actually Axel’s voice.

[@PraecoxZ]

It sounds so mature because it's closer to his speaking voice. This is the song of his life. That's why the tone is so mature.

[@Wolfman6743]

What you said about "giving it your all" in a vocal performance and the negative impacts on the voice from doing so really struck true with me. I've been the lead singer in a rock band for going on 13 years now, and quite often, even after a rehearsal, I'd find my vocal cords are exhausted. My issue was that I was always forcing myself to be louder so that I could hear myself through the monitors over the other instruments (two electric guitars, bass, drums). A couple of weeks ago I started using an in-ear vocal monitor, and almost immediately my bandmates pointed out that they heard a significant increase in my vocal tone and control. I'm no longer trying just to hear myself, so I can focus more on how the singing sounds and feels. My vocal cords have felt much better since then. Axl Rose was actually always my biggest inspiration, and I had a desire to sing like him since I was 14. I can proudly say that I can sing a great many of GNR's songs, and we do perform several of them regularly.

[@johnlongenecker7779]

And like David Gilmore's dual solos for Comfortably Numb, Slash's dual solos for this song are absolute perfection. Melodic and powerful in equal measure.

[@jonathangoldmacher8209]

There are three solos in this track. It’s indulgent, but it works!

[@pjstartv6798]

Fun fact about Guns N Roses. When they released their first album Appetite For Destruction with "Sweet Child O Mine", "Welcome To The Jungle", and "Paradise City" it was initially a flop. MTV had blacklisted them because they felt the music was "dangerous" and "violent". It was about a year later and the record label was about to give up on the album and have GnR move on to their second album when Al Coury, the GM of Geffen Records called in a favor at MTV to get them to play "Welcome To The Jungle." MTV played it one time on a Sunday night/early morning at 4am. The next day MTV was inundated with so many requests to play the song that they no longer could ignore it and Guns N Roses became a literal overnight success. Appetite For Destruction has since been listed on multiple Best/Greatest/Top Albums of all time lists.

[@eirikrdberg1161]

Welcome to the jungle was the first single released here in Europe in the summer of 87. I said to my friend this band is going to be huge. He laughed in my face and said yeah right. These guys are clowns and that song sucks.

[@MaximeDELRIEU]

If I'm not wrong Appetite For Destruction is still to this day the best first album in sales.

[@saintsword23]

Karens are the worst in any era. They ruin everything.

[@carmenbeene2113]

I was 16 when Appetite For Destruction came out. I begged and convinced my older brother to buy the cassette for me. He did and said "Don't tell dad" because it had a warning label on it. I was obsessed with the album and to this day its a special one for me, no matter what naysayers will say.

[@krogan3760]

I remember at the turn of the millennium MTV did a Top 100 songs in MTV history that was voted on by their viewers and the top 20 being mostly GnR and MJ with November Rain clinching the top spot ahead of Thriller.

[@willhum9162]

Love how she’s totally understanding and appreciating Slash

[@lucashicks13]

I watched them in concert. Freaking amazing.