The Best Bad Singer | Tom Waits - Chicago (Live) | Vocal Coach React

[@impossible7163]

"My father was an exhaust manifold and my mother was a tree." -- Tom Waits

[@urbangorilla33]

from Letterman, 1986. I remember it well. He also likened New York City to a big ship... and the water's on fire, and claimed his son was older than he was. Love it..

[@theghostofsmokeyjoe8792]

@mickor this made me laugh so hard

[@Irquiois]

“I was born in the back seat of a Yellow Cab in a hospital loading zone and with the meter still running. I emerged needing a shave and shouted ‘Time Square, and step on it!’”

[@SpoonJuggler]

Great singer, even better writer and composer. Tom is just my favorite.

[@BethRoars]

He's a talented man!

[@TheSpacemannspiff]

Good actor as well !

[@yesumactuallyno1026]

Great comment, and agreed. Step Right Up comes to mind, such a clever and unique song.

[@Missjunebugfreak]

I adore Tom.

[@uncle_thulhu]

@@BethRoars but how does he get that voice? 40-odd years of whiskey and cigarettes?

[@hannahmacdonald3804]

YES I need more Tom waits reactions in my life honestly

[@BethRoars]

Glad you like it 😁

[@NotCleverlyNamed]

It’s making me crazy that there are none of these for any of the tracks from Heart Attack and Vine.

[@Joe-wr1ui]

Tom is a legend. Glad to see him in your channel

[@BethRoars]

True! Glad you enjoyed 😊

[@RogerDidierM.]

Best movie dialogues ever: Tom Waits and Iggy Pop in "Coffee and Cigarettes" by Jim Jarmusch.

[@GCGrunewald]

Tom Waits and Robin Willians in The Fisher King

[@michaelthibault6106]

"So, ah, I don't see any of your songs on the jukebox." LOL

[@RogerDidierM.]

@@michaelthibault6106 He's not on here either..,

[@Bunke09]

I'm personal to "I scream, you scream, we all scream, for ice cream!" from Down By Law.

[@KyOlsen]

Favorite segment for sure!

[@jackwagon669]

“Reality is for people who can’t face drugs” -Tom Waits

[@caroldudgeon50s]

Love listening to Tom Waits.. uniquely talented.

[@stevenm.6886]

All if his songs have a “feeling”, he acts out the song. Sometimes sad, crazy, mournful, hopeful

[@BethRoars]

So true!

[@theyonlycomeoutwhenitsquiet]

Beth Roars have you ever listened to Clap Hands? Holy crap what a song

[@tensor4ever]

I was so unbelievably happy to see you analyze Tom, he is so unique and my favorite musician ever.

[@michaelluczak3019]

Once in a generation artist. Never will be another.

[@djsoulfilter]

Tom Waits is pure magic to listen to!!

[@gablen23]

"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

[@PortCharmers]

It's about the same thing, just the former works more slowly

[@gablen23]

@@PortCharmers haha

[@pickled_pigface5189]

I would like this comment, but as it currently sits at 69 likes I will just say, nice.

[@kitcarson57]

Superb line

[@GomerCon]

Someone once said to me Tom Waits' voice sounds like steel wool soaked in bourbon then hit by a truck and I don't think I've heard anything so accurate.

[@Zer0san]

I've heard his music makes you nostalgic for a memory you never had, and I don't think you're wrong, but I don't think they were wrong either

[@ThiagodMoraes]

Great video Beth..Tom Waits is a legends on his own league, amazing songwriter and great singer, love him!!Cheers

[@BethRoars]

Glad you enjoyed 😁

[@MrSanceran]

Tom Waits - I Don't Want To Grow Up, loved this song when i was young, and loved the music video for it.

[@Tredecimus]

It’s one great video. Him crammed in this tiny house with that tiny instrument

[@goddeluxe]

I adore this man!

[@davidgonzo228]

I was lucky enough to see him live in 2006, in back row seats and he blew me away. Was actually surprised at how much he could still sing. Truly a master of his unique instrument and one of my all time favorite singers. Thanks for the reaction, Beth!

[@Dimloep]

I saw him on that tour, too, in Akron. It was one of the best nights of my life.

[@colinreid7259]

Saw him on the real gone tour in london, was an amazing night

[@BethRoars]

Wow I bet it was a great experience to see him live!

[@colinreid7259]

@@BethRoars it was for me...it was his first appearance in Britain for 17yrs exactly (minus 1 day) and was in same place, Hammersmith Apollo...an experience I'll never forget. Different eras offer a different Tom and that's one of his great qualities...just shy of 50 yrs. The man is a legend

[@rogerwood5228]

I saw him on his Glitter and Doom tour in Atlanta.... hands down my favorite concert experience. Such an amazing moment when the crowd did a sing along for Innocent When You Dream....

[@kellyalves756]

My ex husband was getting annoyed when I was raving about Tom Waits one time, and he snapped at me, “ What is it about his voice that makes it sound good to you?” I thought for a minute and said,” Passion.” And thus we jointly identified what was missing in our marriage.

[@Monsterassassin3]

Ha!

[@gabrielharvey-savard2594]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the true power of Tom Waits: insight.

[@jaid2383]

Haha I wasn't expecting that ending! Although, knowing humans I shouldn't have been that surprised lol hope thinks are better for you now! 🙂

[@kellyalves756]

Gabriel Harvey-Savard Oh, believe it.😁

[@cramedaddy8402]

I'm still married. Want to run off together.

[@ryanguertin8028]

Best train ride I've ever taken. Look up Tom Waits on Letterman... it has all the interviews and performances... and you can watch him grow as a person, a writer, a storyteller, and of course that voice of his....

[@paucamposgalvez2054]

Tom is amazing and legend! Thank you Beth. Great video

[@cjbird7121]

Oh and my son has always loved when I play Tom. When he was 4 he thought it was Cookie Monster singing 😍

[@flavoredwallpaper]

You might appreciate this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2a7ZYFomt2Cqbc

[@cjbird7121]

flavoredwallpaper thats awesome! I’m surprised Tom has never been on Sesame Street. He & cookie can do a bit together PBS needs to get on that. I saw one of Prince on Sesame Street and it is fantastic

[@BethRoars]

Thats great 😂

[@freyamariano106]

Tom Waits and his music are part of me. Been in my life since I was 17. My favourite.

[@patrickscutella836]

He's the best been a fan for over 40 years

[@pointnemo72]

I think i remember reading somewhere, that he would scream into his pillow when he was younger. Scarred his vocals up. You can really hear it in his "Rain Dogs" song .

[@Lookinforrealmusic]

I love Tom Waits!!! Have every cd he ever put out!!

[@alfredvanravenswaay2799]

It's not a competition - I've only got 28

[@ptr_does_music7042]

Top notch performer and unique singer, I simply adore Tom Waits!

[@arthurking6846]

One of the best story tellers in the business. Not to mention that voice and his blues/jazz style.

[@BethRoars]

True!

[@rofyle]

Finally!!! A vocal coach covers the great Tom Waits. You are brave, Beth. Lol

[@BethRoars]

📖 Get your signed copy of my album Fable here: www.bethroars.com/shop ☀ Pre-save my first single "Power Of The Wolf" on Spotify (it really helps me out!): distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bethroars/power-of-the-wolf 🥁 Become a Patreon Supporter: www.patreon.com/bethroars

[@kestrelle5345]

My favorite of Tom's is Warm Beer and Cold Women (at the Last Ditch Attempt Saloon).

[@billnelson9413]

Perfect sound of the train pulling into the station at the end.

[@bryte87]

He actually has a very impressive range which most don’t appreciate But anyone who has given him any time to listen will definitely appreciate

[@martijndekok]

Thank you for shining a light on this absolute legend. I could definitely go for more Tom Waits reactions.

[@maxmacpherson1957]

Tom Waits is an amazing singer/songwriter.

[@BethRoars]

He's a very talented guy!

[@gabrielstevens41]

My own voice: a hippo mating call. But I am the singer in my band and Waits is one of the reasons for that.

[@MarkArandjus]

When talking about Tom Waits' voice it should be noted that whilst his grovely voice that would make a Death Metal vocalist jealous is his main voice... ...he also made songs like Had Me a Girl, Blue Valentines, Take Care Of All My Children, Chocolate Jesus, and Temptation. Each of those songs is sung differently. The man doesn't just have stylistic range, but also vocal range. He's incredible, to say the least.

[@bshaun]

Jesus Gonna Be Here, Shore Leave - especially the ending...

[@BethRoars]

Well said! 😊

[@kellyalves756]

Hungry Hungary Hungarian I was thinking of Jesus Gonna Be Here as a counterpoint to the video.

[@carnolasluggs5417]

I've always admired him as a singer in the way I admire film's greatest character-actors. Inhabiting the soul of uniquely separate individuals & giving Academy Award-level performances every single time. His lyrics are as well written as any songwriter who ever lived, but more than that his genius is how well he sells the emotional feelings the 'character' in the song is about. He's before admitted a certain cinematic sensibility with his music so I've always figured that's how he approaches it from a creative, internal standpoint. Which is why he goes with such uniquely different singing styles for so many songs. In a song like Going Out West he's 100% giving a fully committed dramatically acted performance just as much as he's simply singing. I think to an alternative extent Bob Dylan is doing something kind of similar. It's more about the sincerity of the emotion than it is generic "proper" singing. There are millions of "technically" adept singers who put out nothing but one dimensional, 'harmonically pleasing' forgettable garbage all the time. I'd much rather hear Joe Strummer, Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Son House, Karen Dalton, Joanna Newsom, Bob Dylan or Tom Waits belting out a tune instead.

[@jimr8956]

I love the line “all we need we carry with us”. Just poetry

[@ogrestamp]

Love love love Tom Waits. And that was one of his performances on The David Letterman Show (which is where I first saw him why back in the 80's). That little 'whoop' sound he does that you like, I called it the Bebop Whoop, because that is quite common in rockabilly singers.

[@chrisfarri8914]

Tom waits is everything

[@dereknelson7108]

It took me about a year to really get into tom waits, but during that time there was something that just drew me back to him, and now I love his music so much. He is a legend

[@benjaminmoloy7163]

it was so strange for me to listen to his first album where he actually sings, like "i hope i don't fall in love with you". if i didn't know that it's him, i wouldn't have guessed it.

[@28Pluto]

Guess what? Tom "actually sings" on all of his albums. Just because he sings *differently* now doesn't mean it doesn't take a lot of talent and practice to do it.

[@pettyeddie2000]

I've been a huge fan of Tom since I was a teenager and seeing him on the David Letterman show singing either "9th and Hennepin" or "Clap Hands" , I'm 51 now, so that should tell you how much I enjoy him. My other eclectic musicians were Dr. John and Leon Redbone, may they both Rest In Peace. Thanks for reacting to a wonderful storyteller.

[@grindmaster7433]

You should try some Captain Beefheart

[@BethRoars]

Im glad you enjoyed!

[@SmorgShow]

Thank you for covering Tom, Beth. One of the all-time greats and this performance of Chicago is simply brilliant.

[@hizbawiginbarginbarghinda3872]

Tom Waits! You can't describe him and neither can I. He is what he is Tom Waits. Very different, Unique and smart. That is Art.

[@iDEATH]

I love Tom Waits. Been a fan since I don't know when, since I think my mum was playing his albums in the house at least in the 80s. He's just always sounded so interesting to me, and that's one of the things that attracts me to an artist a lot of the time, just doing something interesting and a little unexpected. Waits voice always has that sort of character to it for me.

[@captspaulding8530]

Love Tom Waits, my dad got me into listening to him. Great storytelling, wonderful visualization, awesome wordplay. “I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things”. Many of his songs have been covered by other musicians from all over the genres.

[@duncanneal814]

Love that you included Tom Waits! He is one of my all time favorites.

[@BethRoars]

So good!

[@richardcleveland6091]

What always gets me about Waits’ voice is that when he sings more gently, it is so beautiful, like in ‘Hold On.’ Or a song like ‘Talking at the Same Time’ where he’s singing in what I think is his version of a falsetto, and it sounds great!

[@Poss1]

Great! Thanks for this choice! Such a surprise. "Nighthawks at the Diner" is one of my favorite albums for near 40 years.

[@BethRoars]

Good choice!

[@cbgbstew4072]

Same here!

[@zkeletonz001]

Saw him live years ago at a new years eve show. I'd never head of him before, but was thoroughly entertained.

[@cjbird7121]

I love Tom Waits, every thing I’ve ever heard from him. Franks Wild Years , Bone Machine, and Closing Time are 3 of my favorites. His music is pure art and full of integrity without being righteous or elitist. If I was stranded on a desert Island and could only have one source of music. It would be Tom Waits. He could make a thousand songs with a seashell and a coconut. Best voice nah, best songwriter maybe but definitely the best Tom.

[@katiekirschner6917]

"He could make a thousand songs with a seashell and a coconut." Haha, I love this.

[@Lookinforrealmusic]

I started to try to put down my favorites but just can't choose. There's so much to love.

[@peterschafer5642]

His voice, his style, his movements, his melodies, his lyrics, his instruments, his bands... Tom Waits is a total work of art - I love him 😍

[@martinkavanagh1442]

Excellent observations. Being authentic and true to yourself is only way. Thanks for this.

[@BethRoars]

Thank you for watching :)

[@ShadyCrackers]

I've listened to this version of this song innumerable times. I love everything about it. I love Tom Waits. And this was a very engaging presentation. Thanks!

[@BethRoars]

Thanks for listening

[@OniNoSweeney]

My favorite Tom Waits song is "I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You" where his voice actually sounds AMAZING!

[@kellyalves756]

“ Martha” makes me weep like a newborn.

[@rogerwood5228]

Had a girl fall for me with that song, particularly the solo guitar version.

[@chicken2jail]

That entire album is magic.

[@johnjohn37371]

I honestly feel like that acoustic guitar version is the single greatest bar song ever written while simultaneously being the single greatest love song ever written.

[@yourinsipidrecordcollection]

Perversely, that was 'our' song in one 'us' of which i was part for several years. :)

[@TommiBrem]

Tom said: At fifty, you have the face and the voice you deserve.

[@kellyalves756]

That rings a bell. I either heard him say that or read it in an interview.

[@Anthropomorphic]

His interviews are notoriously unreliable, but he says he used to spend about as much time with his friends' dads as his actual friends when he was little. He also walked with a cane for a while as a kid, purely as an affectation. He's wanted to be old since he was a child.

[@LisaMackey]

Thank you so much, Beth, I am saving and sharing this. Tommy is my all time favourite! Great channel, too, keep up the good work!!!

[@Nakna_ankaN]

I count Tom Waits as my favorite artist of all time. He has written so many great songs, I do have a weird relationship to "Hoist that rag" though, because I can't figure out WHY I like it so much. Tom Waits not so much sing the lyrics as he cry them out with this deep sense of despair and the drums and guitar almost drown out his voice. I know that by conventional standards it's not a great song, but that doesn't matter because it's like it's something more than that, it has this quality to it where it almost transcends what constitutes a song and is just something else. It's not so much a song as it is an experience, a piece of art.

[@bornwithawoodenleg]

And they ruined it in the remaster!

[@Nakna_ankaN]

Agreed, the original is by far the superior version.

[@billbabcock1833]

In the late 70s I was tending bar in a little dive that wasn't on the wrong side of the tracks but it was close enough throw a beer bottle across the tracks. It was the kind of place that Waits would be right at home in. What an education. It was also when I discovered Tom Waits through a friend.

[@webstercat]

His voice is perfect his music.

[@1957PLATO]

Tom.Waits is just an awesome giant.

[@mildroastnescafe2]

Tremendous artist with a close to unparalleled discography.

[@BethRoars]

So true!

[@mjeffn2]

Tom’ss lyrics are so unique and special. It would be such a treat to hear you, in your voice, cover a Tom Waits song.

[@philipjeffries3928]

Much more Tom Waits, please Beth!

[@MiyuMedia]

Yay!! TOM WAITS FINALLY! 😍🖤🔥

[@MrDiederikDuck]

Tom Waits' son on drums, David Hidalgo on the Gibson Les Paul

[@michaelthibault6106]

Tom Waits is an interesting case in finding your "voice". His first album was much more conventional, but obviously using his voice. it seems like it was produced to take the imperfections out... as much as possible. Then he went through his jazz phase and he found his voice and embraced the imperfections. Then he met his wife/collaborator Kathleen Brennan and he started to explore his voice as a tool box rather than a tool -- the imperfections were just things to be used, evocatively, to serve the songs. There's a big difference between Grapefruit Moon from his first album (kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZPTi52hn9Rmitk) to Anywhere I Lay My Head (kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaa4oZKkjMiDfq8) from Rain Dogs.

[@Anthropomorphic]

Basically, yeah. He was always into weird stuff, as evidenced by the fact that he hung around with Captain Beefheart and opened for Zappa back in the 70s. Kathleen convinced him to go all in on the weirdness, leading to 'Swordfishtrombones'.

[@chevacamaro68]

“I worry about a lot of things but I don’t worry about achievements. Primarily I worry wether there are nightclubs in heaven” Ladies and gentlemen, Tom Waits. The only singer who’s voice can be describe as a roadkill, marinated in whiskey and hung in a smokehouse for a week. He’s the best🥰

[@jak959]

I just started listening to Tom and gods away is my favorite.

[@DingbatToast]

Love Tom, and his band is always so lose and tight at the same time. Addictive brilliance

[@AndrewBouchier]

Awesome! Thanks, Beth!

[@johnr.8275]

"Here's a little something arranged for piano and fire extinguisher..." - Tom Waits, 1977

[@jaydee9262]

Man's an immense talent,pure talent.

[@mattarnaudon]

Anywhere I Lay My Head last track on Rain Dogs brings me to tears every damn time

[@spikeevans1488]

I saw Tom in concert back in the small change days, in Cambridge, MA. He puts on a whole stage show with street lamps, ash registers, etc. He also arrive like an hour and 1/2 late and we had to listen to Bad Company for that whole time. It was definitely worth waiting for.

[@midkingsteve]

Yay! Tom! I would LOVE to see you react to one of his more melodic tunes, like "come on up to the house" or "flowers grave". As crazy and fun as he can be he can also be so incredibly tender and moving.

[@Lookinforrealmusic]

Or maybe Hold On....that one gets me everytime

[@stucody]

Tim Waits is amazing singer and songwriter

[@BethRoars]

He is indeed! 😊

[@rickshaw60]

san Diego serenade and the piano has been drinking as close as I can come to calling a favorite tom waits song

[@Yu-Fei-Hung]

Great review, I always wanted to see one about Waits.

[@BethRoars]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@noellemarceau7349]

Hell Broke Luce, God’s Away On Business and Come On Up To The House will forever be in my top ten favorite songs of all time. Tom is a true legend.

[@robertlevasseur6843]

Great analysis, Beth. Tom Waits sings about the disenfranchised, the derailed, the discarded and the defeated. His is the perfect voice for those songs.

[@jld593]

I seem to remember Waits saying one of his kids describing his voice is a "cross between a circus clown and a cherry bomb". If so being a wordsmith runs in the family. Beth you and your channel are awesome. So positive and appreciative which is so refreshing.

[@BethRoars]

Thank you! Im glad you enjoyed the reaction! 😊

[@ALDM404]

Tom is the coolest cat for sure

[@a.s.129]

I love Tom. I got into Captain Beefheart a few years back and thought that they sounded pretty similar vocally.

[@johngeer4557]

your awesome for doing Tom Waits, thank you so much.

[@johngeer4557]

you finally got my sub, which i will admit i should have done even before this video, But doing tom when your a vocal reaction says a lot about you. :)

[@BethRoars]

Thank you for subscription! Im glad you're enjoying my videos!

[@johngeer4557]

@@BethRoars the reason i personally even watch you, is not so much you or the bands themselves. It's all about that look on your face when your blown away and you can see it in your eyes. I can plainly see your love for music and sound, and that is what makes me smile.

[@rogerwood5228]

My favorite singer songwriter of all time

[@stinkabella4218]

My favorite Tom Waits song has always been Foreign Affair. Always makes me tear up

[@josereyes3663]

Thank you so much to react to this amazing artist..

[@BethRoars]

Your Welcome

[@theyonlycomeoutwhenitsquiet]

My first introduction to Tom’s music was the album Alice. I found out later that this was one of his stranger albums of music. No regrets. His skill as a songwriter is deeper than most.

[@simonjerryncf1987]

I love him on Roy Orbison's Black & White Night especially the credits

[@LSDis4me]

Waits has been my #1 since 1984. His voice evolved into being full-on Howlin' Wolf.

[@BrianBiscione]

I love Tom Waits!!

[@samsmith4216]

"Nighthawks at the Diner" late 70's, his best period in my mind. His voice was beautiful. It's flattened out a bit for me since then.

[@adrock1011]

Finally!!!! Thanks beth! Great take on this legend

[@BethRoars]

Glad you liked it!

[@chutupfool]

Let us not forget that technique is a means to an end. You're supposed to learn the technique of a craft and then toss it and do your own thing with it. Find your own voice, so to speak. Tom not only did this to the ultimate degree, he absolutely mastered the art of expression with his style. He is a master. A literal Grand Wizard. The amount of heart and soul is immeasurable.

[@matthewfoley3929]

Listen to Martha or grapefruit moon, if you wanted to here Tom showing he has one of the most beautiful singing voices in history. Downtown train personal fav.

[@MasterOfKnowledge.]

It's gotten incredibly rougher since The Heart of Saturday Night, but I do agree that from 1971-1974/75, he had one of the smoothest and laid back voices out there. It was like an angel rolling in honey

[@brandonmichael7301]

Toms voice is what eating a carton of smokes sounds like

[@michaelturner4755]

Very interesting, thank you for doing Waits. One of my favourite singers

[@BethRoars]

Thank you for watching!

[@jaid2383]

The man who gave Heath Ledger the inspiration for his take on the Joker! 👍

[@stucody]

Tom's voice has changed so much over the years

[@TommiBrem]

He is one of the very few people who got rougher and rougher over the years.

[@HarryMudd]

He was more of a lounge-singer in his early years. Heart of Saturday night and Ol' 55 are perfect examples of that

[@stucody]

Harry Mudd To very good album’s.

[@SamuelWebster]

Some of the more modern Tom Waits stuff gets overlooked lyrically, because the earlier ballads were a little clearer but this song is a great example of how genius his writing can be... "The seeds are planted here, but they won't grow. We won't have to say goodbye, if we all go. Maybe things will be better in Chicago" "Well It's brave for us to stay, even braver to go. Wherever she goes I go. Maybe things will be better in Chicago." There's so much story and sentiment in simple lines here.