Depeche Mode - Gore & Gahan: Vocals, past and present

[@marshallpotter818]

Martin’s vibrato has gotten uncontrollable in his older age. He was able to control it when he was in his 30’s. But over the last 10 years it’s really gotten out of control. Almost a warble now. Dave’s voice had little to no depth (rasp or dramatics) until 1993. Dave made a conscious effort to get more “rock” after Violator. And I think he wanted to add more color to his vocals. Personally, I love Dave’s voice more now, and I loved Martin’s voice in the 1980’s.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Marshall Potter great observation there Marshall!! V😎👍

[@Ssunnsshinee]

I preferred Martin’s clear notes when he was younger, but I still love Martin’s vocals even with the heavy vibrato, and I love how much more confident he is now. I really like how Dave’s voice has aged... a bit of raspiness and growl to it, and showing a lot more emotion. Like what is referred to @ 35:25 - 36:30 with the voice breaking a bit over some of the words. It adds a lot of depth. I don’t care so much for the more nasal sounds he’s picked up though. (Never been overly fond of nasal voices in any singer, sounds like they have allergies 🤪 )

[@burns46824]

Martin does that exaggerated vibrato on purpose…

[@tudoracid1812]

One thing I liked about Violator was the blurring between Dave and Martin's vocals

[@VaughnGeorge]

You're right!! V:-)

[@littlewing2023]

As a female, I love Dave's sexy voice. "Only when I lose myself" is by far my favorite, Dave sounds lusty like he wants me(hehehe, I wish!) 😍. And I cry like a baby when Martin sings "a question of lust" I hear the opening melody, and my eyes start to water😭.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Sister of night thank you and I am always happy to get a females perspective as it seems that 80% of my subscribers are male . V:-)

[@R---66---R]

And as a die-hard DM'r and as a 'man' (!), I try to sing a long in a loud voice, with most of these -most of the time 'fragile' DM's artistic outings and sometimes must stop doing so, caus of these emotional peaks in between, caus of these sincere recorded words and phrases... So, take my word for it: men 'do' cry too whilst listening to these magnificent DM-voices and the emotion grabs ya by the throat/all proven to be universal...real art goes for the heart!

[@tee331]

@@R---66---R so true

[@rosfow]

@@VaughnGeorge I agree. Dave's voice is sexy af.

[@ValeryBoikov]

Well, it's natural that guys in their 50's will not sound the same as in their youth. But they both are still really good singers that complement each other. Martin's always seemed more "sensual" to me, kinda more melodic, and Dave's voice seems more powerful, he can really pull of a rock song. When they sing together, it works really well, with Dave providing strong basis and Martin singing a beautiful melody over it. Martin is still capable of giving emotional performance, the kind that gives you watery eyes. What really surprised me on later records, is that even though Dave now has more blues/rock sounding voice, he can pull off pretty high notes on songs like Goodnight Lovers, Peace and Should Be Higher. And in general I think Delta Machine was his the most bluesy performance. Kinda makes me think that DM should have done more songs like Death's Door...

[@VaughnGeorge]

Valery hi!! Yes both singer are leaning quite heavily into blues these days !! I enjoyed reading this detail and well written post !! Thank you !! V:-)

[@pacificbuildingcare]

Excellent analyzing between Dave Gahan and Martin Gore how they're different but both unique in their voices. I'm glad they still have their voices after all these years they still have so much spark in them they're going to play for many years to come.

[@Elena-jf5xu]

The most perfect voice imitation that I have ever heard so far

[@VaughnGeorge]

Elena thank you!! V:-) xx

[@rubaidaallen2764]

Gore has always been a magnificent singer. My favorite eras vocal wise for Gore and Gahan are Black Celebration, Music for the Masses, Violator and SOFAD. Gore showcases his vocal range beautifully on those albums. Gahan is a very good and unique singer who knows how to convey the emotion of Gore's songs. They're both fantastic in my opinion.

[@thebeardedseeker5633]

this not only gives me a new appreciation of DM's music but also insight into the complexities involved in crafting a song together. great video. thanks.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Cheers Richard!! V:-)

[@ninawildr4207]

Dave voice =sex Martin=angels descending from the heavens...

[@LiquidxAngel]

This is a perfect comparison.

[@chrisbean]

Yup. True that.

[@katycanino1566]

I agree, oofff!

[@lune78]

I'd say that's about right.

[@shallowwaters6690]

Nailed it!

[@joseitsme]

I love both singers, but Dave gives that Depeche Mode vibe to the songs. It's sexiness and the tone fits for what Dave sings. Songs like Strangelove, Policy of truth, Black Celebration; ect.

[@BvirtuallY]

Four years ago...see, my daughter, husband and I are seeing DM on Halloween 2023.

[@nicolas1400]

I was expecting you to mention that in "Behind the Wheel" Martin sings almost the entire song in a higher octave, except for the "watch me move" and "you behind the wheel" phrases, where he cleverly moves from the higher octave to a lower line to harmonize in thirds with Dave, creating a different vibe just for a few seconds of the song. This is so subtle that is maybe hard to notice at first listen, but it's just another example of the genius Martin is.

[@oceane_chin]

Good observation

[@sarahdmgirl5743]

I wonder if Martin's on stage solo performances gained in confidence after he had his teeth fixed? He used to have very wonky teeth and it could be that he was self-conscious about them. Now he's not afraid to flash his pearly whites!

[@vlad161092]

Yeah, also wondered on this matter

[@MonoLith2049]

back in the early 80s many of the synth pop bands weren't very animated. kind of like Kraftwerk. that's how it was back then. DM, Yazoo, Soft Cell even Sparks the musicians would remain mostly emotionless & motionless while whoever was up the front singing would be flailing their arms about

[@spencerholmes1047]

Good point. He kept that wonky teeth for some time. Now its Californication

[@Kickingit06]

Possible, but I tend to doubt it. I think he didn't fix the teeth for the long time for two reasons: 1. It's the British thing to do. 2. He worried that it would adversely affect his voice.

[@spencerholmes1047]

@@Kickingit06 this is an interesting thought. Im sure he was told many times about his teeth. It was real weird. One tooth growing through another…Eek

[@Hauntedevil432]

This was just amazing. I've said for a long time that Dave's voice hasn't quite been the same since the 98 singles tour. Still love his voice though. Cheers for another brilliant video. X

[@VaughnGeorge]

Helo Stu !! You're welcome and thank you !! V:-)

[@kikirsty66]

Have you incorporated in your videos when they had the background ladies singing. Oh i thought that was sooooo unfitting back then.

[@OscarPerez-kb2od]

Although I really dig some of their earlier stuff I have to agree with another commentor that they never sounded better than during Songs of Faith and Devotion.In your room..doesnt get any better than that.Great vid my friend!! You have found your niche.All the luck with your channel.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hello Oscar again and thank you my friend!! V:-)

[@Hairyfoot_Studio]

Hi Vaughn, interesting video. I agree with the changing voices of both men, Gahan especially. I think of 4 phases of Gahans voice. Prior to some Great Reward he had what I call his teenager voice (that was literally true for Speak and Spell), and he had the callowness of youth and was really quite unrefined. Listen to My secret Garden of a Broken frame and its all over the place. From Some Great Reward through to Violator he perfected what we can now call his 'Classic Mode' delivery. Songs of faith and Devotion almost stands on its own as a vocal masterpiece; soulful, expressive and powerful. I saw an interview where Dave said he felt like a real singer after his performance of Condemnation. But the Devotional Tour and his drug use damaged his voice in my opinion. Listen to the live versions of Barrel of a gun from the Ultra period and you can hear the toll it has taken on the voice. But what he lost in terms of clarity he gained in raw soulful emotion. I like all periods of his voice, from naive youth to experienced troubadour its interseting to see a person grow and through adversity change.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Brilliant perspective which I'd like to reference in the Dave Gahan video coming soon!! V:-)

[@vlad161092]

Remember the Condemnation 2001 live version when Dave seemed to be about to break and tear his own throat taking most emotional high pitch notes

[@Audiorial]

very true

[@kkkriv7407]

Amen! First post i truly agree with all the way to the end. And same with Martin as well. Both sing with much more SOUL, emotion as they age... And grow up. ;) In fact, lest we forget, many criticized that the guys in early days, thru 'Masses,' sang far too 'rehearsed" (Dave especially), even robotic, live. I loved every tour regardless , but the beautiful soul, sweat & grit is worth mentioning....!

[@Nephilim-81]

Always have loved ‘Photograph.’ I feel it’s quite underrated. My favourite off their first album. 😀

[@thodeus]

I think you mean *_Photographic._* same here. I love the old stuff.

[@Nephilim-81]

Thodeus. I do. Thank you for the correction. 😌

[@VaughnGeorge]

I've always loved "Photographic!!" V:-)

[@VaughnGeorge]

Stuart Maxwell 😂👍V

[@MartinidM]

When we talk about Martin’s voice the cornerstone is a time when he fixed his teeth after he moved to the USA. His voice changed a lot. The shape of mouth has changed with the massive impact the way he sings. He started using vibrato, which I don't like. I call it geriatric singing. I don't know if you noticed that you mentioned only songs from Alan era. Nothing after 1993 when it comes to Martin's voice. His last good song after 1993 is Home. Everything he records with his voice after Ultra is really hard to remember and to sing. In my opinion, Martin's voice after he fixed his teeth went worse. Dave is a different story. His voice developed a lot. Devotional Tour is a fantastic example of how drugs and vodka can influence the way you sing ;-) I'm not kidding. Find bootleg - soundboard recording of San Francisco from 1994. You can hear how Dave's voice is worn-out and deep in parallel. In 1990 he didn't sing like this. Of course, this kind of living forced his voice a lot. He used a lot of steroids during 94 Tour. He had to take voice lessons around 1996-97 to renovate remaining of his voice. That's why I don't put that hight Dave's singing on Ultra. You mentioned Sister Of Night, but please mind that props should go to the producer of Ultra, not to Dave. Actually, Dave didn't sing a full line on this song. The final version is a mix of hundreds takes during the infamous 1996 session. This is one of the reasons why Dave never sang this song live. Not his level. For me, the top class of singing is on a studio album - Exciter. Fantastic voice production by Mark Bell. Clean warm singing. From low to high notes. Dave did it only on Exciter. Only Mark Bell knew how to lead Dave to archive the levels. I don't like Exciter as an album, but I can admire Dave's voice. When you compare how Dave treated his voice on The Exciter Tour this is complete contra to studio production. Dave has a deep voice which developed in a fantastic way over the years. I think he didn't sing the last word. Love what he did with Heroes on the last tour.

[@VaughnGeorge]

A great analysis there my friend !! I also often wondered if Martin's new teeth altered his voice slightly!! V:-)

[@Red_Ford]

It is true. It's all about teeth. I remember an interview with Freddy Mercury. Someone asked him for correction of occlusion. Freddy said he was thinking about it, but there were serious concerns about changing his voice after such surgery. So I think that Martin L. Gore is a perfect example of what can happened when you interfere in dentition in such a drastic way.

[@stopbunsen]

Yeah it's interesting. I remember Freddy saying the same. Stevie Nicks was also talking in an interview about how her voice changed, because she burned a hole in her nose due to rampant cocaine use. Someone said she could have surgery to fix it, but she was worried that that would change her voice even more, so she wouldn't do it.

[@greckendale]

Aside from your thoughts on Martin’s vibrato, his actual Tone, vocal maturity, and command is far superior now. From One Night In Paris to present day. That’s why he belts out songs like But Not Tonight and Shake The Disease so damn well.

[@ianwilson7637]

I have to agree that after Alan's departure, Martin's singing developed a heavy vibrato to it. It is so heavy at times that it detracts from the song and is rather irritating, so I have to agree with Martini dM on this. Martin's vibrato can get into warble territory and for me, it it cuts through the mix in a bad and very annoying way. I can barely concentrate on anything else in the song because it's like someone chewing loudly - drives me bonkers :). This has definitely gone through the roof after Ultra. For me it is a great pity because his voice is very pleasing otherwise. Interesting theory regarding the teeth though.

[@robmiranda7120]

I just can’t get enough of your Depeche Mode videos !

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you Sir!! VG:-)

[@tjed1071]

Woww you really are obsessed with Depeche Mode.

[@danillumjrgensen3865]

Totally normal thing if I may ad!

[@mumzycat1969]

You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing. If there is a cure for DM obsession I don’t want it.

[@spendingtimetogether8428]

... and the problem is...?😄

[@7222487]

Shouldn't everyone be?

[@ewaadamska8857]

😆

[@BvirtuallY]

Loved, too, your saying Martin's voice has layers of timbre and color! That was an ideal emotional describing, and I used to tutor for writing and humanities. Have you yet seen the video in which only Alan Wilder's vocals may be heard? Says everything, even coming as a bit of a surprise to me...go see what I mean (I noticed you, too, are A BROKEN FRAME (& ALL-Depeche-Mode-records fan! Finally, what is your favorite one or two favorite DM songs? Might SUN AND THE RAINFALL, PHOTOGRAPHIC and SHAKE THE DISEASE be some? ❤❤❤

[@mumzycat1969]

Vaughn, I didn’t think I could love you more, then I saw that adorable fluffy cat. Any man that loves cats is tops in my book.

[@nataliaromero9932]

I'm feeling it and flowing with it! This is the kind of conversation/videos only fans crave for. Btw please make a video about Pimf. 🤗

[@VaughnGeorge]

Pimpf!! Will do!!

[@ash23neuro]

@@VaughnGeorge Pimpf is my 3 year old son's fav DM track ;)

[@nataliaromero9932]

Yes! Btw you droped the "f" last time and I'm droping the "p" now. Funny. That song is working as a muse these days since I'm starting to work on my thesis on environmental issues. So whenever you have a chance please upload a vid about PIMPF: an instrumental masterpiece. ❤

[@VaughnGeorge]

Natalia Romeri a masterpiece indeed !!

[@chrisbean]

Dave's voice is so sexy. I like tenor singers a lot but Dave's baritone voice particularly is the kind of voice that is missing these days.

[@ianwilson7637]

"There is a part of me that wishes I could hear music as I did before I became a musician …" Wiser words have not been said! It is difficult to appreciate the "music" as opposed to the "sounds" when your brain has become attuned to analyzing every nuance. I now have to get past the analysis before I can get to the enjoyment of the whole, and even then I'm still not sure I'm hearing it the way I "should" be.

[@diogobastos9940]

My favourite Martin vocal is actually a song originally sung by Dave that Martin sings live - Sister Of Night. I think Martin's mouth surgery probably changed the way he sings more than his own will but he is still a heck of a vocalist.

[@patee101]

What mouth surgery?

[@augmentedkeys5971]

I can't think of any bands that have such as perfect contrast in vocal tone and such colorful, harmoniously dynamic.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Cheers David, good to hear from you agin Sir. Appreciate the comments. V:-)

[@TheFilminators]

You can actually sing my friend, I'm impressed with the analysis and vocal examples

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you my friend !! I appreciate that !! VG :-)

[@marguskiis7711]

Ian Curtis of Joy Division (massively influential band) invented the modern low baritone rock vocals (old school is Elvis and others) but ironically he himself used to speak much higher than sang (usually it is vica versa). Dave has pretty natural chest voice, he is singing and speaking both pretty low. But he has imitated Ian quite a lot, like Ian he has sang higher in some songs ("See You" f.e) too like Ian did sometimes ("Heart and Soul").

[@VaughnGeorge]

I will discuss Joy Division !! V:-)

[@nicklewis615]

I love this video - brilliantly explained, for a non-musician like myself. Personally, I don't like the way Dave sings live these days. He tends to shout/ bellow, losing the subtlety of the studio versions (new material as well as old). As a Roxy Music fan as well, I'd love it if you did a similar video on how Bryan Ferry's voice has changed over the years. Thanks again for a great video.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Nick hi!! Thank you for your kind words and I am happy you like it here on this channel!! V :-)

[@strychnyne3530]

I love when Dave and Martin sing together. I think Ben Hillier thought the same.

[@nicholask388]

Ben Hillier single handedly destroyed Depeche Mode I’m sorry but it’s the truth. He made them sound like a common synth pop band with no layers and atmosphere with retro bass. Ugh 3 horrible albums 🤮

[@strychnyne3530]

@@nicholask388 Delta Machine was horrible. The other 2 were good.

[@kimble02]

Nicholas K me and my buds have been saying the same for years. So glad they finally moved away from them. There were high pints in their first album together, but woah... it went south so quickly.

[@_PURAVIDA]

To their credit both Dave and Martin’s voices have EVOLVED....how many others from 40 years ago still hold you captive?

[@patrikberglund5717]

Your channel is one of the best!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Patrik , thank you so much !! V:-)

[@anyak1446]

Depeche mode is my favorite band EVER.... and I like a lot of rock, from pink floyd to nirvana.... Still, DM takes me to a place the other bands can't.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Anya I totally agree with you!! Please do join the Vaughn George Facebook group if you haven't already!! Its a great place for like minded great people like you !! Cheers, V:-)

[@leisareid2806]

I agree that Martin's voice is quite angelic with many colours. As he has matured and become more confident, he has become more physically expressive. Dave's voice is much more straight ahead with some serious sex appeal! I find that Dave's voice, when he first started out as a fresh-faced youth, was much more haunting and smooth than it is today. I noticed in a couple of more recent interviews that he is also a smoker, so that coupled with past drug use as well as age and maturity definitely affected his voice. Much more rough and raw nowadays. We do also have to take into consideration that when DM first came on the music scene, they were barely out of their teenage years. We can't expect grown men in their 50's to sound exactly the same way as they did as youngsters. We got to be reasonable! Regardless, their voices still blend well and I still love Depeche Mode!

[@VaughnGeorge]

A very good analysis there Leisa !! Thank you !! V:-)

[@littlewing2023]

I saw DM, in 2017, Dave sounded great! So did Martin. I hope they do another tour😖

[@SiSi-xg1hk]

I saw them during the Spirit Tour last year, & they rocked! My husband even learned to love them during the show. They perform their songs a lot harder now, like almost on par with AC/DC, especially "A Pain That I'm Used to" & "Useless"

[@leisareid2806]

Yes ladies, I went to see DM during the Spirit Tour in 2017 and the show was amazing! More of a Rock show than Electronic, with the musical instruments as opposed to exclusively keyboards and synthesizers from back in the day. I admit, I do miss their industrial, crunchier sound of the past sometimes but love them still! Dave still running around on stage and shaking his groove thing!

[@MisAnnThorpe]

It probably ought to be mentioned that many singers believe that smoking gives their voice an indefinable something. Perhaps you could call it, a certain "smokiness".

[@Lofote]

I think the greatest song they sing together was Insight.. even though I am not the biggest fan of that album, that is really an outstanding song with them two together singing.

[@VaughnGeorge]

You're right !! The harmonies on this were amazing !! V:-)

[@djfelifel420]

Your impression of Dave's "growl" Is hilarious. 😂 but you're right Dave's voice has changed - especially noticeable live. You definitely notice Martin uses a lot of vibrato while singing live also. Great video! Keep up the great work. Feels like a casual chat with a friend about depeche mode.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Felicia thank you for your kind words and yes I do want these vides to feel like we are indeed two friends chatting in a room !! See you on the next video!! V:-)

[@Red_Ford]

This is the reason why I avoid DM live performances. At the moment I think that they are good only in the studio. Sad but true.

[@igorkruszona4538]

I actually really like when you sing Martin's parts! It's really good

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you Lil !! V:-)

[@liyanaa6563]

Another good example of present-day Dave's voice would be Angel off Delta Machine. Its polar opposite would be Fools off Construction Time Again. I think his growling style started to come out during live shows from Violator era, because if he sings with his 'head voice', it doesn't project well in arena-sized events (just my observation). Plus with all the on-stage prancing and spinning, it's not easy to go back to a muffled, in-studio voice. Also, note that present-day Dave's voice has that 'sniffle' effect (you can hear it on the words that end with an 's' like 'countries' and 'junkies' on Where's The Revolution).

[@VaughnGeorge]

Brilliant analysis!! Thank you !! V:-)

[@stevecollinson6850]

Dave and Martin have sometimes exchanged lead vocal on some tracks. Condemnation is a good example. Gives the song a different effect. Great video as usual.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you Steve, I'm glad you enjoyed it!!

[@chrisnorton2837]

Interesting video. Thank you. I think there were great ideas in the video and great discussion in the comments. I feel for the most part you guys are on point. I found it fascinating though, that people apparently don't like Exciter very much. Personally, it's one of my favorites in their catalogue. I've listened to it more often than most of their albums. I mean, sure, I have heard other albums more times, but I have owned those much longer. 😊 I love Dream On. Fantastic song. Amongst their more recent albums, Exciter and Sounds of the Universe have gotten the most recent spins in my house. 👍

[@johndeev]

Man, you sing so great! You should be the fifth DM member. Obviously, you can play the keyboards well! 👍👏🤘

[@VaughnGeorge]

John thank you so much !! I really appreciate your support !! V:-)

[@marcchristopher4673]

Hi Vaughn, great dissection of two very different yet two brilliant performers . Ive attached a link of my personal Daves best live vocal track . What i have a great deal of respect for Dave is his admiration and always giving props , whether onstage or in interviews for Martin. I think people forget or lose sight of egos , especially the egos of front men. I feel like Dave has always kind of deflected the attention when given the chance towards Martin, possibly because of Martins shyness but its apparent to me at least that Dave has never lost his respect for DMs true backbone genius , creative contributing to success factor. Martins vocals have obviously more range and complexity than Daves, but I am equally as in awe of Dave's leading presence.. his Elvis/Mick Jagger/Dave Gahan character , his unique sex appeal and mostly his never unwavering commitment to excellence to his fans that is so clearly conveyed in his shows. No matter how high, or of serious health issues Dave gives everything to the people that adore DM . Its so clear of your fascination by and the effect youve felt by this band and your attention to every detail and its shared and appreciated , thank you again for contributions Vaughn. kzbin.info/www/bejne/enyxfIKDjNqhhNk to note, I also think Martins performance of Home in this concert is just as jaw dropping and able to give chills. Thank you for allowing me to share.

[@bennetsi]

Beautiful. Made me cry. Thanks for that link.

[@marcchristopher4673]

@@bennetsi your welcome , i forgot i even commented ...its crazy i was just watching a recent concert and kind of blown away by their appearance... i really have love for the band and i feel like i grew up with them and have nothing but respect ... but... i think maybe its time ... i didnt like seeing what i saw , maybe it was more about me and my own mortality or vanity , idk , but i just like to have them in mind as the progressive , original , vanguards that i could put a concert on with company who wasnt really familiar with the band and recruit or share them with , and the other night i just felt like company would be appalled like i turned on porn ... they (dave and martin) looked like a couple ederly women or men in drag , idk .. like i said , its probably just my vanity or mortality .... but im glad you were moved by that video , i dont know why they didnt do that song more live ...this one had an affect on me , it wasnt long before he died i think .... be good sweet lady :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/an6wlKKIgpuIkNE

[@Chewy1015]

Awesome video. I'm glad you very briefly mentioned how in the studio, Dave will sing in his head voice quite a bit, but live, nowadays mainly, he'll use his chest voice 100%. Really good example is to listen to the studio recording of "Freelove" from Exciter, and then listen to the live version of that song from the Exciter Tour, which I believe is a bonus track on a deluxe edition of Exciter (or you can find it on KZbin). I also loved how at the very end, when you mentioned the next planned video, you mentioned a big thing is nowadays, a lot of the songs are at a lower key. I have a feeling this may be more for Martin than it is for Dave. "It's No Good" was at a lower key on the recent Spirit Tour and I was just kinda like, "Ehhh?" Actually, the lower key thing even goes as far back as SOFAD. Listen to SOFAD Live (which is on Spotify) and notice both "I Feel You" and "Condemnation" are at a lower key, and those were from the Devotional Tour in 1993, right when that album came out.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Brilliant thank you for the observations!! V:-)

[@shadowfreak71972]

Came across a really good song to illustrate exactly what you're talking about: "Should Be Higher" is a phenomenal song in its own right and an excellent example of how Dave sounds a lot more "breathy" than say, on the Black Celebration Album while Martin is definitely carrying notes longer and using a lot more vibrato. The sound is still terrific and has found its own place among my favorites on its own merit-even sans "The Wild Man" ;)

[@АндрійОвчаренко-я2ц]

I'm also vocalist. When I started at 18, I was very influenced by Depeche Mode. At that time, I couldn't even identify in what song Gore sings - that's why I learned his lines and sang in a combination with Gahan's. I even thounght that "A question of lust" was sang by Gahan. From another side I got the advantage - increasing my vocal range! But some times later I became more experienced and felt the difference listening to more and more different music ))

[@dvidwayne1192]

Thank you for another great video Vaughn! Always enjoy! I'm really looking forward to seeing your album-by-album breakdown of DM.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Dave Williams hello again my friend and it’s good to hear form you again!! Thanks for your constant support !!👍😎V

[@charlotteryborg768]

Absolutely love Martin’s voice, Dave is also good, but more mainstream, but together they are magical. I have cried, dance and enjoyed just listing to DM and I still do.

[@mck7646]

Depeche Mode have so many classic and iconic songs. You know they're good when you can simply break them down to just vocals and keys and showcase the beautiful melodies.

[@VaughnGeorge]

That' exactly right John!! V:-)

[@chasingstars4]

38:40 you could even say we 'just can't get enough' ...

[@darrecotta]

Hello Mate, another fantastically described video. Being a massive DM fan, I understand how hard it is to put into words the difference in both Dave's and Martin's voices over the years in such a short video. I remember clearly seeing Martin perform Somebody in November 1984 at Hammersmith Odeon, he looked petrified walking out from behind his synths. Whereas the last gig I was Sounds of the Universe in London (Which Alan was at watching) and vocally he nailed Home. Also I love your demo's you do, keep up the awesome work! (I see your up to 3.6k subscribers...great work mate)

[@liyanaa6563]

😮 Alan was in the crowd? How sporting of him!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Darren hello again my friend and I am so grateful to you for you constant support!! V;-)

[@Cl4rendon]

Poor Fletch - I once watched them way back performing " Should`nt have done that" and he participated in the vocal choir - He permanently missed the notes and Gahan was continuously eye rolling him - I guess they dropped it quite early from the set list and no more mic for Andy. :D

[@VaughnGeorge]

hahahaha that is a brilliant story and I'd love to have seen that footage!! Cheers for your constant feedback my friend!! V:-)

[@shallowwaters6690]

Really enjoying your critique. I have always noticed their distinct voices and thought their harmonies brought so much of the multifaceted emotionality in their songs.

[@markwibrow9126]

Without doubt, both Martin Gores and Dave Gahans voices have both changed considerably over the years - personally speaking I adore the two albums that Dave Gahan made with Soulsavers. The richness and timbre of his vocals along with the production and orchestration (I feel) are better than anything DM have released since Songs of Faith and Devotion and would like to hear your view on these two albums. Thanks

[@JessTea]

This video was such a breath of fresh air for me. I talk to my camera but I don't have the equipment to really edit and have quality content. What you do inspires me so much. I thank you for your devotion to something bigger than most people realize. One thing I have to say is I love the way you articulate a good discussion about distinct differences in their singing. I love to talk about music history and how it's changed the face of electronic music . I live in a Depeche Mode house hold ! Your my favorite channel hands down!

[@marccartledge2752]

Another excellent vlog my friend! This is a massive subject and I agree with everything you said. For me personally I think the song with the best harmonics has to be Insight. They performed it when I saw them at Birmingham in 2017 and it blew me away. As far as Dave’s best vocals are concerned I love Dangerous, Only when I lose myself and Halo and just way to many to mention for Martin! Keep up the good work and I look forward to the next one

[@VaughnGeorge]

Marc Cartledge thank you for your kind comment and for sharing your thoughts!! I appreciate your support!! V😎👍

[@heloisearmes3924]

I really enjoy your videos. You put in a lot of effort and information into your videos.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Heloise Armes thank you and I am glad you appreciate the effort !! V👍😎

[@greckendale]

I’ve always thought that if Depeche was Dave’s Baritone and nothing else, they wouldn’t be as big as they are. The octave harmonies from Martin is what really give them their ‘Lift’!

[@andreymotorin7031]

That's what I love about Depeche Mode vocals. Thanks for the great analysis.

[@Kate-448]

Just discovered your channel. As a non-musician, i'm really enjoying your in-depth analysis. I've been revisiting old Depeche Mode tracks and concert footage and have noticed that Dave sings certain words differently in more recent years. For example, "I'm waiting for the night to fall" used to sound smoother and now the word "night" is drawn out and a little raspy. He's still a great singer IMO, but i prefer his vocals around the SOFAD era.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Welcome aboard Kate!! I am glad you found us!! VG :-)

[@jerome6495]

Excellent analysis, technical and careful ! Go ahead George !

[@VaughnGeorge]

Jérôme Kiwy thank you so much !!👍😎V

[@BvirtuallY]

Iyee want you now...ok ya got me singing now..

[@spencerholmes1047]

Great show. Thankyou. You dont need to change anything. I see you cover just about every element. Keep it up.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Spencer Holmes my friend !! Thank you for your constant support and contribution to the channel !!😎👍V

[@pacificbuildingcare]

I hope Dave Gahan listens to some of this advice because it's actually really quite good when you go into all the details about Dave Gahan voice is how he sings today versus how who sang in the 90s. I recognize his voice now it's a little grungy now versing when you know going back 10 to 15 years ago it was more clear. Second I also noticed that day was a smoker and I believe he quit but that also I think it impacted his voice too

[@visitor5451]

awesome video!! your ability to emulate Martin and Dave's voice is uncanny. As for the voices, I think their voices represent 2 different sides of the spectrum: if I was seeing a musical I would want to see Martin sing the lead...but if I went to a rock concert I would want to see Dave.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Yes Dave I store suited as a direct rock approach!! V:-)

[@GodmyX]

As a DM fan, this video was my wet dream! + You sing and play the DM songs incredibly...

[@VaughnGeorge]

Bless you !! VG :-) xx

[@GodmyX]

@@VaughnGeorge I was literally checking the old live versions as you spoke of the songs: Photographic from Hamburg 1984, Behind the WHeel from the 101 movie... and suddenly I heard what you described! I never realized that many of these known choruses were a blend of Gahan and Gore... especially NLMDA

[@carlavalladares1817]

Loved your cat 😍

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hahahaha thank you Carla!! V:-) xx

[@motr1912]

Am I the only one who thought it was a hat? Until it moved.

[@R---66---R]

It's white and stayed all night I heard the white cat meowing: 'I just can't get enough' Till, finally, he came out of the box Wanting to record these lines on Revox!

[@greckendale]

The theme music roles, the video length is 40:19, the butter coffee is prepared, all set..... and GO!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hahahaha Hello Shane !! Goos to hear form you bud!! Hope you enjoyed it!! V;-)

[@wujianjing6618]

Wonderful demonstrations, so to the point! Thank you!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hello Wu!! Thank you !! V:-)

[@AwesomePaws13]

For the longest time (as a younger fan) I thought I was just being a stick in the mud about Dave's vocal changes. Very interesting how you described them! I always thought of it was more nasally as time went on, but I can hear the growl as well. I'd still kill to see Depeche Mode live someday but when I was first getting into DM I wasn't as sure because I hadn't seen any (recent) live videos without the growl/nasality (the chorus Barrel Of A Gun is always the first example the comes to mind. I think my uncertainty was also purely because of how new I was to the band). Seeing videos like this though (and finding ones of live versions where Gahan is straining himself in those ways less (quite a few recent live versions of In Your Room are incredible)) reminds me that I absolutely NEED to see DM live in the future! Fantastic video! Also gave me an even stronger, newfound appreciation for Martins vocals, the combo of them both really do make Depeche Mode

[@squiremuldoon5462]

Wow i remember you had 80 subs, its like watching a good friend get famous. I live in LA and we were lucky enough to get a rendition of Things You Said when they performed in Anaheim last year, apparently they hadn't done that one since 101, i guess Martin has a thing for LA. It always a good day when you upload a video mate, Cheers!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hello again my friend and thank you !! V:-)

[@debraodonnell3439]

Thank u so much for this I'm a huge fan of Depeche mode for me Martin's voice is the best most heavenly voice I have heard and the emotion when he sings sends shivers down my spine

[@VaughnGeorge]

You are welcome Debra!! VG :-)

[@bonaire21]

Thank you for that in depth lesson, Vaughn - you put a lot of effort into it. As a fan of electronic music I appreciate your videos a lot, especially the DM stuff. Go ahead with it!

[@beatatomaszewska5009]

Not many people know that is their real name Depeche Mode is in two voices. This is the great their success, and for me many , many more ;)

[@vlad161092]

As for me, emotionally, the best vocals for Dave and Martin has been their SOFAD tour. It may seem controversial due to their drugs and alcohol addiction. But their voices delivered so much soul depth and sense. Aah, I can analyze each song on this subject.. - is the video too long? - no, it's too short for the subject 😊

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hahahahhaha hell Vlad my good friend !! It's always good to hear from you !! Thank you for your kind words and yes SOFAD was the best!! V:-)

[@vlad161092]

@@VaughnGeorge Vaughn, as usually glad to see you responding 😀 As to SOFAD it's seems to me the best not only in vocal part but also in the sound. For instance, behind the wheel's Martin's guitar is growling very tasty and so on... Maybe, of course, it was just perfectly recorded there to be released as SOFAD tour official video. I think that's gonna be a part of your upcoming episode 😉

[@thomasgary1219]

I love these videos. There are several voice combinations that blend extremely well together. Michael Stipe and Mike Mills , Rick Wright and David Gilmore, Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley, and Diana Ross and Flo Ballard all sound absolutely amazing together. The human voice is so amazing.

[@misterasterisco5217]

Just found your channel, is like flowers for us DM Fans bees!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Mister Asterisco thank you and welcome to the community my friend !! VG 😎👍🎹

[@tobizeta8583]

DM=Dave & Martin 🤔?

[@dadasha]

Wow...????!!!!! Very original!

[@claudiocruzat8777]

@@dadasha jajhaa..

[@mickadatwist1620]

ezt ne mond meg egyszer

[@Elena-jf5xu]

Ohh shit.... IT MAKES SENSE

[@kkkriv7407]

Lol. Cute

[@wheelerone]

Love your breakdowns! Keep up the great great videos Vaughn

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you !! V:-)

[@faridahmady7988]

One thing to say look at daves voice during the singles tour 98 ,it was very direct and poweful ,i really loved that period

[@MadAboutShelley]

Oh! I'm so glad to have found your video! I'm a big Depeche Mode fan, that's how I found your video, and as a literacy phonemic teacher, I've recently discovered how much of singing is concerned with phonemics (obvious to me now, ha, but it took a while to click). Anyway, I love your teaching and discussion here! Look forward to more!

[@VaughnGeorge]

MadAboutShelley I’m glad you found the channel and you are very welcome here!! VG🎹👍😎

[@sinusweb1015]

As a DM fan for 30+ years I can say that you made a very good analysation of their vocal development here. Dave's growling voice live may partly be due to having acoustic drums on stage. Having to sing along a pouding rock drummer can be difficult and needs high volume and expressiveness. Sometimes they also lower the key to make it easier for him to hold the highest notes, f.e. in I Feel you and Condemnation. I agree that the mixture of Dave's and Martin's vocal formants is one of the magic trademarks of Depeche Mode. My favourite examples for that are Waiting for the night and Halo. Martin singing in his lowest registers is not always doing him a big favor but may be just neccessary to be able to double a melody an octave higher without using falsetto. In Sweetest Perfection the lowest vocal line sounds a bit inharmonic, but considering the topic of the song and especially the insane sounding end I think it fits very well. It would be interesting to hear your opinion on Alans singing as well. Though I know its quite difficult to analyse because he's never sung a main vocal part.

[@jamessullenriot]

I may be in the minority but I think Exciter is one of my favorite albums. I think in context of the time, it is really good and has gotten better over time ... to me at least

[@leekenney9214]

You sir are a true fan! We all should know that Voices change with age... love DM! Fav albums are Construction Time and Black Celebration!! Violator was good too

[@VaughnGeorge]

Lee Kenney my friend !! Great to have fellow minded fans on this channel!! V😎👍

[@RedlineRacer]

Another great video, very easy to follow along. Thanks!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you and hell again!! V:-)

[@luismorales-guidos5159]

I'm so into your show! Watched it from about episode 2. Anyway... you're referring to chest voice and head voice... everything in between is sometimes referred to as mixed voice which is what is needed in order to bridge upward. I'd love to see an episode on Nick Rhodes btw! So influential to me! Thank you for what you do.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Luis hi and Nick Rhodes will be discussed!! V;-)

[@MonoLith2049]

I liked that, thanks! I know what you mean about not being able to just enjoy music without taking it to pieces! It's like x ray vision for the ears and you cant turn it off

[@glezpik]

There are 3 songs in a very different kind of style of Dave´s voice: The landscape is changing, Fools (which, by the way, I love it more than the A side, love in itself) & Sea of sin

[@VaughnGeorge]

Ver interesting and a good selection there mate!! V:-)

[@Cl4rendon]

Was`nt "The landscape is changing," sung by Alan Wilder?

[@VaughnGeorge]

@@Cl4rendon hello mate no it was A Wilder song but Gahan did the vocals !! He did sing it in a very subtle way though. More head than chest voice. V:-)

[@kimble02]

Cl4rendon Dave’s voice can be very deceptive. I used to think Alan sang Fools since he penned it. It’s a very different tone. But comparing it to other songs you can hear it’s a sneaky Dave. Alan’s only credits are for backing vocals on tracks.

[@spencerholmes1047]

on why Martin choses a lower register, this i believe relates to the Devotional Tour. And actually in some part the South African concerts that kicked off the 2nd leg of the tour. At the time Dave was refusing to sing Condemnation. Martin decided to give it a go. Being a far smaller isolated audience it was a perfect setting to experiment. If you were here you would have been treated to a rare performance of Martin on this track. In order to do that Martin had to drop his register. His recipe was like 4 ciggies a day to do this. Long story short. From that point on Martin was aiming for a lower register to tackle some of the Dave songs. I think this became his style. Only years later Dave tackled Condemnation again (a tall vocal ask for live), but you will notice they rearranged the song to be more comfortable to perform it well in a live situation.

[@stopbunsen]

Martin does seem much more expressive now. He has come out of his shell a bit on stage, which is great to see. His voice still sounds pretty good. You look back at earlier live performances and although he sounds good, he looked pretty flat and it did come out in his performance a bit. Especially during the Devotional tour when he was drinking. He didn't seem like a happy chappie. I remember Alan saying the difference between Martin then and now is really quite striking.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Tim I agree !! Thank you for your comment!! Martin has indeed come out of his shell!! V:-)

[@stopbunsen]

@@VaughnGeorge No prob! Looking forward to your vids on each DM album ;)

[@tioalexandru]

Saw that you posted a new video. Fastest click in my life.

[@srschirm]

You're not the only one! :D

[@ninawildr4207]

Yep

[@darrecotta]

Same, the kids went to bed early... 🤣🤣🤣

[@VaughnGeorge]

ahahahah thank you my friend!! Glad you're enjoying the channel!! V:-)

[@djfelifel420]

Also, not sure if you're a fan of new order but would love to see a video on them. As well as pet shop boys, tears for fears and other electronic artists from that era

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hi Felicia yes they will all be discussed on this channel!! V:-)

[@juliemay9796]

Loved this! Please do more Depeche Mode videos. I totally agree about Martin’s stage performance as well. I still think he is kind of static now compared to Dave but he is definitely much more animated now. I think Martin’s mannerisms have improved over the years.He seems more comfortable on stage and into it. It does seem like it’s more effort but I think overall it looks like more is going on. I love both Martin and Dave. Glad someone is talking about this. Please talk about Martin’s fashion haha! You are a really good singer and awesome on the keyboard. Keep making videos so much fun! 👍🏻

[@VaughnGeorge]

Julie May Sullivan good to hear from you again !! Thank you for your kind words as always !! Many more DM videos in the pipeline !! V👍😎xx

[@Red_Ford]

I think that he feels much confident because he fixed his teeth few years ago. That change his manerism while singing.

[@Ssunnsshinee]

I always notice in the live shows that Dave seems to really encourage and reward Martin for coming out of his shell...

[@BvirtuallY]

You have a lovely voice! How did you teach yourself? Please be as honest as possible, too.❤

[@kolezz]

Great analysis. I noticed that you not the first time mentioned that Dave lived in NYC during SOFAD. AFAIK Dave moved to LA after Violator and he moved to NYC only after his overdose and rehab. He calls that move the best thing he's done in his life (as he dropped drugs and found his wife). Just a small note.

[@kingcharlie4]

Awesome video! Went by really fast!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thanks Jimmy I am glad you enjoyed it!! V:-)

[@balicito]

No comments about the song heaven... Dave's most beautiful performance?

[@JackHekler]

You are speaking our language of DM! I like all the details in your videos, I feel like I am getting college credits, Well Done!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Jack thank you so much bro!! V:-)

[@spencerholmes1047]

on Dave's "i cant sing but ive got soul" comment. This was after Dave last his voice due to heroin. Ultra exposed his problems in the studio. Exciter they started touring again. And Dave had to work with a vocal coach to get back to the level again. At that point his vocal was compromised. Later, over years of training, Dave recovered his voice (IMO). So that comment was very contextual for its time... And also happens to be a quote from a U2 song (Elevation)

[@SkyeID]

I legit was singing the song "Sweetest Perfection" before Vaughn mentioned it! I was thinking about the way Dave's backup singing compliments Martin's voice so well, although I didn't notice Dave's voice until years later when I was listening to that song at a higher than usual volume because it was softly in the background.