THIS is WHY old songs just sound 'BETTER'!

[@dbuck5350]

The Wings of Pegasus channel should be a mandatory watching requirement for the entire music industry today.

[@glamgal7106]

Amen to that!

[@OrangeNash]

Why? They don't seem to be struggling to make money? One thing with music - Once somethings been done, it's been done. So musicians (well, the good ones) should be looking for something new and different. Lots of listeners don't like new and different. They want old and pretty much the same.

[@danielbrosky]

I wholeheartedly agree!!

[@elizabethmiller7291]

INDEED!!!

[@sunnibird]

Not really. He's quite clueless really. It's a lot of tripe.

[@nerys5104]

I'm a fan of Tears For Fears and so I know this song very well. One thing about it is that when Curt and Roland sing together you can hear them individually because they have such different voices, and that adds depth to the sound. Listening to the pitch corrected version, I can't hear that any more. They sound the same. And it ruins the song.

[@progmeup]

Yes, I noticed that as well. I was like, where is Roland? Barely noticeable. The whole point of having two people sing in unison is that their voices are slightly different, which gives it a thicker quality. I shudder at the thought of an auto-tuned choir.

[@FrancardNoir]

Exactly, pitch tuned makes it impossible to naturally match notes.

[@Floodland-bn3ol]

Good point. It kills their vocal sound. Also, I don't think Orzabal needs it and if Curt is a little off once in a blue moon I don't mind, it adds to the vibe.

[@MrPanetela]

I have fond memories of singing along with The Beatles albums, developing a keen ear to pick up overdubs and harmonies. This skill led to opportunities to perform with bands, where the ability to sing harmonically without overpowering the lead singer was essential. Though not auto-tuned perfect, the harmonies between Paul, John, and George were still enjoyable to listen to decades later. progmeup said it; thicken up the sound when 2 or more folks sing together, even on the same pitch! totally agree.

[@lewisticknor]

Was scanning the comments during the beginning of the video. Read your comment during the first few opening notes. Thanks for saving me, not going to watch it now. Seems like a cool channel though, so off to a recommendation in the sidebar....Boston! More than a feeling!

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

Everybody Wants to Tune the World.

[@danielbrosky]

Too sad and true. Though, there are a few exceptions out there.

[@catebligh]

This parody cover needs to happen

[@jimshorts6751]

​@@cateblighDo the whole Cher autotune, Waring blender treatment.

[@catebligh]

@@jimshorts6751 haha yes, and it would be a big hit! Because the melody and lyrics are so good, even destroyed it would probably chart haha

[@kelsal133]

well said... erm sung?

[@tammydoolittle6054]

I love the natural voice of the singer, you can hear the cries in their voices, and hear their feelings and emotions. With pitch correction, you dont hear any of that. Thank you Fil for another awesome analysis! Rock!

[@maybedrinkin3241]

I've heard great singers described as 'opening the wound'.

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

They were & are "supernatural".

[@jimshorts6751]

Elvis 1977. "Unchained Melody" done like never before. He was overweight, addicted to opiates, heart rhythm issues, no sleep, and just 2 months from death. How that man pulled that rabbit out I'll never know, but it was glorious !

[@angelspawn1401]

@@jimshorts6751 a lifetime of training 😀

[@thesussexbunion]

Steve Perry with Journey, 81 Houston concert "Mother, Father." Wow. Just wow.

[@gumbycat5226]

When you listen to the isolated vocal it just sounds like a machine. So sad.

[@nickwallette6201]

I'm a little torn on which is worse: The fact that tuning removes all trace of humanity, or that the tuning algorithms are still (and probably never will be) entirely perfect at generating realistic voice timbre on-pitch, and so we're stuck with digital manipulations that slice up sound and subtly shift the speed, sometimes in the time domain AND the frequency domain, leaving processing artifacts that don't sound very nice at all.

[@californiak2891]

Curt's voice is like butter. He sings like everything's a lullaby. I'm sorry to hear the corrections applied.

[@pablohrrg8677]

Curt's voice is like butter... now they have made it margarine.

[@dathorndike4908]

I'm so depressed. What a travesty. Curt deserves better.

[@centrasseptyni8277]

WTF I hate butter

[@MrAnthony872]

I can't believe it's not butter.

[@StormyDay]

@@dathorndike4908I think he probably wants it that way.

[@yaggs8941]

Just thought of this comparison... Natural voice is like a signature while corrected voice is like a typewriter. Sharing my random thought of the night. Keep up the great work!

[@MrAdopado]

replace "this comparison" with "an analogy" ... I agree.

[@flufwix]

Agree. Perfect analogy

[@ilangayouthdanceco.3621]

Excellent analogy!!

[@universalassociates6857]

I'm quite all right with a little bit of imperfection in a live performance. I prefer it that way!

[@dragonbutt1218]

It's not really an imperfection thing. It's humans making music for humans to hear and feel.

[@AtomizedSound]

That’s the human aspect of it.

[@danielblaise156]

Same, saw David Gilmour back in 2016 and I could hear a mistake in the guitar and he was straining his voice a little, but that honestly made it pretty special.

[@robw.6402]

"People want to hear the person's voice, warts & all." Yes & amen. Best synopsis full stop.

[@dannyholloway2007]

Great video man, guys like you and Ric Beato might just save the music industry.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@johnlandacre767]

Seems that the music industry is on life support, and barely surviving. I believe there is very little real music left on the pop scene any longer. I’ve been listening to music since late 50s, and have seen and heard a lot. Nothing left that interests me in 2024, except the old songs, now “oldies.”

[@phil7033]

What an amazing skill you have: "I had to re-calibrate the software to 430 Hz", but then at 14:50 "he's clearly sharp of the C4 and flat of the A#3" { casually adjusts his brain to 430 Hz and demonstrates a slightly sharp C4 followed by a slightly flat A#3 }. Most of all I love how you carry your own talent so lightly.

[@andersjjensen]

Yeah, that one blew my mind. I mean, not that he can mentally adjust for it, but rather that his voice's muscle memory doesn't just override what his brain is demanding from it.

[@princepugh7683]

It's 'relative pitch' he was using intuitively.

[@BethMannPresents]

We’ll put re carrying “talent so lightly.”

[@lak1294]

MASSIVE difference between the 2 performances, tonally and emotionally. Our ears can hear and the pitch correction shows it so clearly. The original doesn't sound one bit like a robot - you can hear breathiness that is entirely missing from the Xirius version.

[@sudelaine8653]

Fil: I've learned a great deal from all the discussions of pitch correction/autotune and totally agree that it's an unpleasant, if not outright deceptive practice. I find that I"m not watching your channel as often, though, since that has been the exclusive focus for some time now. I know you get a lot of requests for you to analyze specific releases in this regard. So possibly I'm in the minority, but I'd love to hear you add back some of the analysis/critiques of performances you used to do. Personally, I'd be happy to have you stick to older performances from the pre-autotune days. I'm always SO impressed by your knowledge, your "ear", your ability to explain, and your enthusiasm for your topics, so I will continue to watch regardless. Thanks, Fil!

[@mkrd2000]

Totally agree. When Fil explained a while back the skill of Sinatra’s technique of swooping into and out of notes, it deepened my appreciation of his music. More of that!

[@hopeisthething4046]

I agree also

[@poordropo1]

Couldn’t agree more

[@dennis2966]

I also agree with you. I don't enjoy listening to songs that have used pitch correction and/or autotune. So why would I enjoy having to listen to them being dissected?

[@billmiller2524]

It seems like more of these 'reactors' are putting out more and more junk that has nothing to reacting to a singer or song. I've unsubscribed from quite a few of them.

[@markboyce2477]

Great video! I saw Queen live many times back in the day and one of the most memorable and thrilling aspect of Freddie's vocals was when he played around with the melody, never always pitch perfect but just fabulous. I wouldn't want to hear Freddie any other way.

[@Lilah1754]

Me either!!

[@aaronwalderslade]

Freddie was often way way off, but that very stretch made you sense his emotions almost running away with the pitch. And that was the whole point of how he sang.

[@fastica]

⁠@@aaronwaldersladeKeep in mind in ear monitors wasn’t a thing back then.

[@lizmurphy5994]

Spot on Fil (as usual). I 'bonded' emotionally with this song years ago. The original vocal is so crisp, clear and original. It cuts through your day, making an impact, lifting your spirits and creating the moment. The human voice is magical. Overcorrect it, and the humanity and bond are lost.

[@edgarlee2802]

Accuracy at the expense of soul.

[@robinblankenship117]

My words while I watched this exactly! Heart & soul removed.... Dead music.

[@susanmurray7654]

If I went to see live, I want live Sigh..

[@nickimontie]

Excellent description of this abomination called pitch correction.

[@pixie3760]

Yes!!

[@slartibartfast1268]

And the irony is it costs money to do the pitch correction. (Even if automatically done, someone had to write the software and someone had to pay for it.)

[@WoefulMinion]

I'm starting to realize that the pitch correction is not just producers striving for perfection or to make editing easier, but also a part of the disparagement of vocalists in the recording industry. Top-notch instrumentalists are more reliable and efficient.

[@olga138]

I loved this song and it sounds so flat in that "live" recording! Thanks for playing the original---it cleaned my palate.

[@Vinnie-cv5qv]

Songs From the Big Chair, I love that album. I still have it and play it at least once a week. It was such a unique sounding duo back in the late 80s.

[@DM-he1ug]

Absolute classic!...

[@constancemerwin8171]

I bought that album in the 80s too, during my divorce! It helped me escape for a bit.

[@DM-he1ug]

@@constancemerwin8171 Probably a good job you didn't buy The Hurting at the time. Some great songs, but might have tipped you over the edge (Start of the Breakdown, Memories Fade).

[@DM-he1ug]

@@constancemerwin8171 Good job you didn't buy The Hurting😉. Great album, but might have tipped you over the edge (Start of the Breakdown, Memories Fade)...

[@ftlauderdaleborn1098]

This is one of your best posts yet! I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think humans need to have that emotional connection with the "unaided" voices/songs. It speaks to our souls ❤️🎸🙂

[@paulmackenzie1850]

Your explanation of this could not have been any better. This gives me a greater appreciation for singers without pitch correction. I really like Curt's natural voice as well as this song and Tears for Fears. Thank you Fil for sharing this video and helping us to appreciate the artists natural voices.

[@williamrunner6718]

I agree, I will take the original voices over those that have been tampered with all day long! It's them and we like them the way they are naturally!

[@williamrunner6718]

@pisceananomaly That's not what we are talking about. We're talking about pitch correction specifically.

[@juliahuff6035]

One of my favorite bands and songs. They don’t need help!!

[@slepagienia248]

Especially Roland 😉 I love TFF too

[@JeffMTX]

They don’t! So why?

[@irhonda31]

Thanks again, Fil. Another great video! I feel lucky to have grown up with the ‘60s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s music.

[@liederantje3569]

So do I 😃🎶

[@Mo_Ketchups]

My elderly mom was a jazz singer in Chicago (& Al Jarreau actually opened for her once way back, then reunited at a dry cleaners in LA decades later 👀😄🤷‍♂️). Say that to say this … I had her watch Fil on Ronstadt first and she flipped out over him! 😅 She’s prolly his oldest fan, and it just shows how a personality as humble, earnest, & welcoming as our man here is ageless. And I love that because it’s nigh impossible today. Good ON ya, Fil! Thanks for makin my ol’ Ma smile so often. 🤟

[@Tmanaz480]

I was in my prime of youth when this song hit. This autotuned version sounds like a photocopy of a photocopy . I've worked in the business and many younger mixers mix with their eyes -- obsessing over pitch graphs and waveform displays. Digital recording and mixing tools have added superfluous and distracting visual dashboards to a process that should be done by ear. We are at the point where they aren't even doing it for artistic purposes, it's just a knee jerk response from mixers who think that's their job. You should do an episode on the rhythmic parallel of this issue: click tracks and tempo quantizing. A metronome-perfect tempo removes all the subtleties from the groove of a song in the same way pitch correction kills the vocals.

[@Sforeczka]

When I left the US Army after nearly 6 years of service,, this song was on heavy radio rotation. It became my anthem as I moved from the Army to college. I hear the song and am instantly back to to days of transition and hope.

[@avioncamper]

One of my favs from 1985.

[@mnntropy5615]

This shows a concept that I have been going by for a long time. The written music is not how you play or sing the music (unless your are in a classical orchestra), it's how you learn how to play or sing the music. There is artistic interpretation for any musical piece or performance. This is even true with classical music where the musicians really do generally try to play the music exactly as written.

[@heckster8017]

It's like Pringles compared to real potato chips.

[@l.rongardner2150]

It's like teleprompter-addicted Joe Biden compared to a President who can talk extemporaneously.

[@williamberven-ph5ig]

Excellent analogy.

[@andersjjensen]

"Shots fired! I repeat, shots fired!" :P

[@Blackadder75]

I call that compressed saw dust

[@Physics072]

Pringles are good.

[@bcruz4164]

Best moment ...driving on rt 9 from San Jose to Santa Cruz with my buds..and this song ruled the world !

[@nickimontie]

Takes me back to a convertible, driving through the mountains down south. My last carefree year before graduation.

[@StormyDay]

There’s definitely something magical about this song. The whole production of it is perfection. These guys were one of the greatest bands since the Beatles, with regard to songwriting, production and overall sound. It screams 1980s for me, takes me right back, everything is fresh and new. Every album of theirs is highly listenable today, more of an overall feel of the music here that’s important, all the new electronic instrumentation. The bass and drums in this song were electronic, they definitely carved a niche for themselves that few after them did as well.

[@pentachronic]

That’s illegal BTW. You are not allowed to wear any devices that impede your hearing whilst driving a car in CA. Be warned.

[@marylreddick]

Sounds like a lovely memory

[@davidcritchley3509]

I love to watch Phil's knowledge and passion for the subject.

[@Angelfeather100]

I am a 68yo lady who experienced in full the “Garden of Eden” of what music, artists and creation was back in the days. Some years ago I stumbled on this channel and was gobsmacked by Fil’s explanations. This is precious stuff. I still check his posts and well, this one really shocked me, in a very good way shall I say! I knew that nowadays music is “bleached” by autotuning, but I didn’t really know what that meant. And now I am gutted. I wonder what Rembrandt would say if still alive and painting, if some sort of software would go over his brushe strokes and correct them! Art stands out throughout exactly the individuality of the artist… why do this to music?! Thank you Fil for explaning so well what we “buy” when listening to nowadays… 😢

[@bttrflygal]

I definitely like no pitch correction more

[@nina1963dec]

Not me. I like pitch correction

[@bttrflygal]

@@nina1963dec to each their own

[@nina1963dec]

@@bttrflygal It was a joke, of course I hate it!

[@bttrflygal]

@@nina1963dec didn't know :)

[@nettycoleman6675]

I grew up with Tears for Fears and still love their sound today but I could tell that there was something off with the video fairly early on, even with my older ears. I love that I grew up in a time when you really felt the personality and emotions of the singers in their music. It's a connection that doesn't fade with time.

[@redflag4781]

"Old"!? Now I really feel old...😂😂😂

[@wingsofpegasus]

😂 Pre 1997 to be more precise!

[@redflag4781]

@@wingsofpegasus 1997 being 4 yrs after I left Uni....urghh

[@Yesica1993]

I KNOW! I just made basically the same comment, LOL!

[@Yesica1993]

VERY "pre". LOL! You are too kind, Fil!@@wingsofpegasus

[@karinkrenn]

😂

[@Necropheliac]

This is definitely their most iconic song, but “The Seeds of Love” is the Crown Jewel of their catalog and I would so much rather see them perform those songs live. Also, when you said they’re “hitting lines quite regularly” I lost it 😂. Wasn’t thinking pitch correction.

[@ANPC-pi9vu]

I disagree. There's three songs towards the end of that album that seem to tell a story, and Advice for the Young at Heart from early in the album... the rest of that album I do not like at all. Woman in Chains and the title track are downright obnoxious and cheesy.

[@quicktastic]

When you look at them singing, it looks like they were trying hard to get it right. I have a feeling the unadulterated vocal probably sounds pretty darn good. Sadly, some techno-nerd in post processing thought it would be best though to run it through the correction software to make them sound like robots.

[@JeffMTX]

They had to have agreed to it. Breaks my heart. Tom petty would wag his head and slowly walk away.

[@margaritas3085]

​@@JeffMTXasumo que sabes que en los 80s era normal que en los programas de TV "los obligaran" a usar playback sin importar lo magníficas que fueran las voces, el de nuestros tiempos es que igual loes condicionan , o avuerdan con sus c estas correcciones a oesar fe que sus voces cantan!!

[@StormyDay]

I love the sharp last guitar note. It’s intentional.

[@Des420]

There used to be much discussion about musicians sounding totally different live than on the recording… And the sign of a great musician was them sounding just like the album, live.

[@LillyMarz777]

Bee Gees were great at that.😊

[@ryanluchuck8445]

Keep up the great work. You're speaking what many of us in the industry have thought for decades now.

[@deborahmccartney5694]

I just love the Original! Fil, you are the master! So much respect!!! 💜

[@dianecourtney2724]

Thanks Fil I can’t imagine anyone liking the pasteurized artificial sound of songs that are pitch corrected. imperfection is part of humanity … you mentioned PERSONALITY … That’s it in a nutshell 😂✌🏼

[@mimi-3212]

Another great analysis, thanks! I guess "live" doesn't mean what it used to, unfortunately.

[@dcallan812]

Missing the line is human, thats where we get the feeling - mood for the song from. The original recording was great why spoil it. It takes me back to mime on TOTPs. great video 👍

[@DianeAvila-bv4fc]

My daughter took my granddaughter to see them when she was 16 and she was so impressed at how good they were live. At 17 she took her to see Adele. Of course she couldn’t believe how good she was live. She is now 18 and their next concert is Madonna (not my cup of tea) but i wonder what that experience will be like. The three of us also saw Fleetwood Mac together and what a relief to me she liked that one also

[@cindyharrington5958]

I read that Adele refused to let them autotune her music. Although I think it's done unknowing without the artist consent sometimes.

[@LillyMarz777]

Waste of money.

[@frandavis7727]

I think this is why I enjoy our local blues festival so much. It’s honest live music, just good musicians and singers with no alterations. The way it used to be for all music. I miss that. Great analysis Phil !

[@deanuehara1728]

Thank you Fil. I also am learning a lot about why I like the singers and performances that I do and why some don't sound quite normal.

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

Just as I can hear compression of dynamics, thanks to your video I can now hear the synthesizer-like sound of pitch correction. I'm not sure whether to be thankful for that or not. ;-) (Seriously, THANK YOU.)

[@chthoniapodcast]

Love this song! The isolated vocal does sound mechanical in the Sirius XM performance. I'd wonder if it was because they are older and their voices may have changed over time, but they are doing this everywhere, so probably not the reason.

[@RandomJane104]

Heard them live on tour last summer. Absolutely every bit as good as they ever were...maybe even better?

[@robertacolarette1594]

They sound so good I could cry. This song has always been a favorite of mine.

[@DonnaGisellaTranchel]

There is a very good cover by Brothertiger!💙💙💙💙💙🦩

[@robertacolarette1594]

@@DonnaGisellaTranchel I agree.

[@dcallan812]

reminds me of some may things that were going on in my life when it came out.

[@DonnaGisellaTranchel]

@@dcallan812 Through Spotify I have lists of music from all my life... Listening is like travelling in time... Fascinating..! The Brain Works in Mysterious Ways! 💙💙💙💙💙🦩🦩🦩

[@corilia9529]

If you like instrumental stuff . Kent nishimura does a fabulous finger pick guitar version of ths song

[@dennis2966]

Tears for Fears is one of my all time favorites of any era. The main reason for that, besides their wonderful, intelligent lyrics, is the passion and emotion they put into their songs. I'm very disappointed to see that very essence that I love so much now being removed from their songs.

[@mjohncole77]

That’s the best song of the 80s IMO and the video is great. They didn’t need to alter it. Thanks, Fil. I thoroughly enjoyed this analysis.

[@crazyhorsejohnny1974]

Great song but there’s so many better songs from the 80s. In my opinion of course.

[@thelmaviaduct]

Where the streets have no name

[@debbier938]

Hi Fil, This is a great song. Very classic 80s. Right up there with Sweet Dreams by the Eurhymics. Interesting comparison from the “live” version to the original record. Awesome analysis and so nice to revisit these cool songs from the 80s. You Are Awesome! Debbie ☮️

[@walterfechter8080]

I've always felt that Brian Ferry had such a distinctive and soulful voice. You couldn't mistake Brian's vocals for anyone else's. Likewise, for Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull). Thanks, FIL.

[@tomiday66]

Who ARE these people that are doing this to our music? Why are they doing this to our music? Is it because that is what they have taught us to expect, like red tasteless tomatoes? Phil, it would be very entertaining for you to interview an engineer that is responsible for this practice. I would love to know why.....really, why?

[@drea4195]

I want to hear the genuine, un-"corrected" voices of the artists! Thank you Fil for analyzing this. Is this done while they are singing live, or edited in later?

[@windellmcspindell3652]

My sixteen year old granddaughter and my fifteen year old grandson agreed to pick ten songs from any decade and we agreed to listen to them together. Their pick was from 2022, mine was 1972. After nearly 45 minuets of listening to their ten songs (which sounded to me like one long song), they listened to: A Horse With no Name, The First Time Ever I saw Your Face, Nights In White Satin, Alone Again Naturally, Layla, Schools Out, Doctor My Eyes, Rocket Man, Last Night I Didn't Get To Sleep At All, Never Been To Spain, and Anticipation. They downloaded everyone of those songs and are now 70's fans.

[@julzy3]

Old song! Time flies. 😆 My young ears experienced love at first listen when I first heard them sing & Shout. Sowing the Seeds of Love is my favorite, I think.🌻

[@lelleithmurray235]

I used to love singing along to 'Shout' in my working days,but my favorite song by far is"Woman in Chains".

[@filibertkraxner305]

What a great observation, and I think it's spot on! Just bought this Tears for Fears record on vinyl last week, because I still love it so much.

[@paulmcnally26]

Amazing comparison Fil. Couldn't agree with you more about the pitch correction. I can't listen to that digitised, over-compressed Dalek-style vocal timbre on most modern recordings. It hurts my ears, as well as my sensibilities. To me it sounds like the vocal is being delivered through some kind of digital squawk box rather than emitting from human vocal chords. The studio version is head & shoulders superior to the over post-produced "live" performance. Hadn't even realised that pitch correction was a thing in live shows these days.

[@suszy5712]

Absolutely love this song! Thanks for covering it Fil.

[@katherinea.rodgers8366]

Thank you, Fil for this analysis. I saw them live back in the day. I love this song. It never gets old .You have taught me to listen. Again, I don't see why pitch correction even exists.

[@estherhendrix9697]

This was so interesting. Fil, love your smile of delight at the real live original production. Love to hear the personality in the song . Love your comparisons. Keep on keeping on!

[@Team-Sylvia]

Emotions do sound way better then pitch correction songs. Thank you for sharing. 😎

[@JKFlaker]

Your example of a pitch corrected voice at 4:56 was spot on.

[@lesleekahler6514]

Thanks for doing this great old song I still sing along to it on the oldies channel

[@lieslwindjulie3230]

It never gets old. LOVE them. Thank YOU, Fil 🖤🤘🏽

[@Acceleronics]

Count me among those that can now tell that something is "wrong" with some live vocals because of your analysis videos. I don't know whether to thank you for educating me, or yell at you for educating me! 🙂 One thing is for sure - I'm soooo glad that I discovered music in the 60s, when it was pure.

[@JCridford]

Curt's vocal on the original is just so fantastic. You shouldn't ever mess with that.

[@breesco]

Well analyzed! Very informative, and now its one of those "I can't unhear" things. I *think* that's a good thing :-)

[@Pooter-it4yg]

Seriously underrated band - Orzabal was an extremely accomplished songwriter and their production was really intricate (Crescent in Bath incidentally, great studio). I remember when The Hurting album released and there was nothing else like it. I also remember seeing them as supports for Ultravox at the old Hammersmith place - they played in a little tent in the middle of the stage and almost outshone the headliners. Of course, the reason this track is so well known is that it was slightly retooled as Everybody Wants to Run the World for the Geldof/Ure led Ethiopian famine charity drive that later became became Band Aid. Just about everyone did the fun runs in most UK cities. We did it while drinking beer throughout - it was so crowded you could barely jog for most of it so we thought we'd just have a moving party. I also think it's perfectly acceptable for live performances by older vocalists to be "helped" a bit. Sorry youngsters but no matter how good we are we all get wobblier as we get older and the wobble can outweigh the charm. This particularly affects higher tenors like Smith and it's also why most operatic tenors drop to bari when they're older.

[@RandomJane104]

I've seen them live several times recently and they sounded amazing. Not sure why someone felt the need to pitch correct like this.

[@abigguitar]

One thing to keep in mind about vocals recorded prior to autotune is that there were still plenty of studio tricks being used to help tune vocals. One of the biggest tricks is multiple takes. By having the vocalist record the vocal track multiple times, the mix engineer can pick whatever segments sound the best and string it all together into what sounds like a seamless single take. This has been done going back into the 60s, possibly even earlier. Other tricks include double tracking or having the vocalist sing the track twice, then layering both vocals together. This trick tends to hide the vocal flaws on any one track. Even more tricks include speeding up or slowing down the vocal at key spots to get the pitch up or down respectively if they were too far off. These studio tricks were common and in use within studios up until digital pitch correction came into being. It's not like the music industry has suddenly begun playing tricks with vocals. They've been doing it all along to create highly polished, radio ready tracks. It's just that autotune is the newest trick that's been added to a producer's arsenal of tricks to help make an artist's music sound better. Some vocalists are naturally gifted. Some are not. Those who are not may need a little vocal help from a studio engineer's bag of tricks.

[@olibertosoto5470]

I started revisiting my generation's music 3 years ago and, looking at some vids of 70s concerts, noticed that something was not quite right with music and voices I was very used to hearing. Now I know it's not my ears - you've burst my music ballon. But, being a cynical old coot, I don't mind - I'm becoming an autotune hunter and I like it.

[@jeremyedwards3388]

Thank you so much Fil! I appreciate you explaining these things so well with passion. The natural human voice is the most beautiful instrument

[@EJSmith-dk3yg]

The OLD songs sounded better ... BECAUSE THEY WERE BETTER !

[@kdcats4092]

Anyone who would be interested could go to the Ted Yoder page here on you tube to see a version of this song played on a hammered dulcimer with live vocals from Curt Smith from 7 years ago . It is a very straightforward, no corrections performance where, at times, the music is louder than the vocals and was videotaped in Ted Yoder's yard.

[@Yesica1993]

* read title * "old songs" * realizes I am GenX and am... officially old. LOL! I look forward to watching this one when I'm done with work stuff!

[@seanandben]

It's a great song Fil, and the production is excellent. I worked with an engineer who worked with Tears For Fears and as a guitarist I'm sure you'll appreciate this. We were talking about the guitar solo, and I said it was very clever and unusual playing - as in how he moves very quickly between the low and high lines. He told me the solo was a series of edits!

[@1SeanBond]

A Fantastic view Fil! Appreciate you & the work you do immensely. Lol always a blast Bro! "except when we had Cofu @ the same time!"😊 Cheers to continued success friend, Luv&Peace,💛✌🏼🤘🏼💫

[@AtomizedSound]

This IS a classic as we all know and the guy can still hit his notes like he did in the 80’s. Doesn’t need to be corrected at all but the people who demand perfection from vocalists say otherwise. You have to have the soul and imperfections in order for it to truly shine as a human singing a song. Of course the original studio recording was sped up and it adjusted the pitch a tad so if you play along with a 440hz instrument you will hear some “rubbing” of notes. Thankfully there’s a 440 pitch corrected version on YT that helps.

[@DawnLenn]

Yeah, that performance sounds like a watered down version vocally. That's a bummer. It really is a great song. I feel so much nostalgia hearing the original. I still have Tears for Fears Greatest Hits on cassette tape 😊.

[@nclibrarian8766]

Perfection is boring and especially in music we need that inperfection or emotion in the singer’s voice to make us feel. Meaningful song lyrics sung with soul touch you so much more deeply. Imagine pitch correcting Janis Joplin😢

[@lindadescafano3749]

Great song and analysis and appreciate both vocals on screen for comparison. 🙂🎸🎵

[@jaymo4ever]

Old music sounds better, because the singers (leads & background) were truly talented and taught to sing on key. The second reason why old music sounds better is because of the musicianship, instrumentation and arrangements. Today’s computerized “music”by producers with limited talent and absolutely no music training think they can get by using repetitive drumbeats. No, they really can’t. That’s why people who were raised on music produced before the 1980s can’t listen to it my brother used to call modern music “unlistenable crap.”

[@sgg6927]

70s and 80s were arguably the golden age of music. A ton of interesting and creative music came out during that time. It seems most modern music is formulaic.

[@jungatheart6359]

I very much have to agree with you. If I listen to my favourite bands from my favourite era when I was most into music, there was absolutely no mistaking Howard Devoto, Julian Cope, Ian Curtis, Siouxsie Sioux, Ian McCulloch - a single note would do it. None of them were Pavarotti, but boy did they have personality.

[@philstrachan]

A friend of mine ran a bar in Bath when they were starting out and gave them their first gig! Love them 👍

[@Beckikaylene]

I would like to add a request that you react to Ren and Chinchilla singing Chalk Outline live!

[@Caseyd1966]

Yes! One of my favourite performances ever!

[@susanmurray7654]

1985 driving in a VW Cabriolet, cassette! Too down. Good times.

[@chaggyquebec]

OMG Fil I went to see Tears For Fears in 1989 here in le Colisée de Québec they were a brand new band back then and I saw the announce in the journal and wondered if it was worth to go and see them heck it was one of the great show I saw in my life I am so happy you took TFF for analysing it and as usual I still learnt something new as I never thought it was auto tuned in 1989 and the auto tune was created in 1998 I love your way to analyse I just search a new manner to exprss my feeling but I begin to be out of vocabulary lol Thank you so much again for the great work you do with much love I say much love to you and \m/ Even Roland Orzabald thought me 1 french word laque pour cheveux in English Breal Cream lol

[@BB-yh5rd]

I loved this song when I was 15 when it came out. My 6 year old plays I think Minecraft and watches some youtube, not sure which one he heard this on, but he absolutely adores this song. He's a pretty gifted little dude and for his birthday wanted a microphone. We do a family reunion in Sun Valley Idaho every summer and they have this cool open ampitheater designed for outdoor concerts and they really don't care if you hang out. He's memorized this song and wants to do it in front of my mom and my siblings and his cousins. Sings it really well, glad he's into music like I am as his dad.

[@EvaderGuy]

“Conveyor belt” belt music is spot on. Will there, one ay, be nothing but AI created vocals? It seems we are headed that way. I share your disdain for this trend and is why, at my age (66) I have not goteen much past the 90s music. It all sounds o corporate and contrived. I’ll take a garage band any day over this over produced noise anyday. Thank you for your hard work.

[@kadiummusic]

Real songwriting, real melodies and lyrics, real musicianship, real production values, real originality. The human input into a simple pop song in the 80's was probably 90% more than anything put out in the last 15 years. 🤔

[@mudwiser1391]

It’s an incredible piece of music. In my estimation it takes its rightful place among just a handful of perfect songs. This song is one of a few that literally stops me in my tracks everything I hear it.

[@mgrogan4126]

Another great reaction, Fil. Thank you

[@bethbodee]

Thx Fil for this breakdown. Everyone looked & sounded different back then & that was the point!

[@bloqk16]

This is a marvelous lesson about pitch correction and auto-tune. as it goes into the subtle details about it. It makes me wonder if the world nowadays, due to audio processing technology, will _never_ hear a 21st century singer express themselves vocally as what Elvis Presley gave to the world.

[@paulboucher806]

Pisses me off

[@rolanddunk5054]

Hi Fil, I could quite happily listen to a pure instrumental version of this song…it has such feeling and very well played.A great analyst.cheers,Roly🇬🇧.

[@warriyorcat]

There is an instrumental version on Spotify. It's on the Super Deluxe version of the album.

[@scrappylifter8318]

Thanks, Fil! I love this song. I think pitch correction/autotune strips all the flavor out of voice. How sad.