When did Barney start singing like "Barney"

What i'm talking about is instead of his low toned Ian Curtis style on Movement, his traditional blue eyed soul voice that graced such songs like "Confusion", "Bizare Love Traingle" and just about everything else post 1983. I think "Temptation" showed him singing in his signature tone for the first time, but "Confusion" mastered it. Interestingly, I think Barney had a really wierd singing style on PCL which he never really did before or since. On that album he kind of sounded like Bono circa War or something. I think Confusion however is the song that marked the true beginning of Barney's famous singing voice as we know it today.

J

Technique- those singing lessons started to pay off.

To me it started in 1983 with a few bad attempts at higher notes at gigs and continued up to 1987. After that those professional singing lessons; that probably saved his voice but took some of the charm away from me. IMO, in the '00s he has sounded somewhat weak in most bootlegs, save for a few exceptions like Apollo last year.

And even those lessons couldn't save his voice completely in the long run; he sounds tired in some of the USA 1989 bootlegs. Probably another reason why he doesn't want to do long tours anymore.

to me the stuff like procession, egg and temptation sounds like classic new order. i would have to say though that it is really with PC&L that Barney really found his voice.

1986

but any recording is always him. Past 1985, 586, seemed to settle more naturally into 'his range. without trying to lower the note he'd hit stronger ranges seemingly easily. enjoying some of the live recordings.

After Movement - sure there are one or two songs I could imagine Ian singing from after that, but stuff like EGG, Temptation - just don't get that JD-vibe at all... I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I'd love to hear them redo Movement, cos the songs have so much promise, but the production and intent are (inevitably) a bit muddied and muddled...

Snorri xxx

On PCL Barney starts singing differently, but to me like I said in my first post he sings in a wierd voice that he hasn't used before or since. It is just on that album...It was a much more enthuseastic and lucid singing style than Movement, but he changed his singing style again after PCL to what it is today. He sounded so different on PCL, like a transitional voice. Anyways, do you all know what i mean?

J

Barney's pitch wavers on AOC just like it does on Temptation 7", but AOC and the rest of PCL marked Barney as a credible lead singer in terms of having a distinctive style and presence. Low-Life was a minor improvement again in terms of pitch, although there was nothing that equalled YSF. Brotherhood really represents the point where Barney had consistently decent to excellent pitch and was in-key. On Technique he finally mastered it and to me that's what helps make it the group's best album. But since then NO's songwriting hasn't been as consistent, and consequently his vocals seem a little more ordinary these days (although WFTSC is a really well-performed track as well as Turn).

I believe their are 3 milestones in his history of lead vocalist...the first was PCL, where he gave up trying to be Ian the 2nd....next, during the recording of "Shellshock" when John Robie suggested the band records in a key that better suits Barney's voice (i.e. some "black" keys would do just fine),...finally, his stint in Electronic, Neil Tennant's influence for Barney to get some professional lessons...

The question of preference of his vocals varies....his old voice is what makes tracks like Ceremony, all the Movement material, plus the EGG/Temptation/BM trifecta outstanding, while being able to emote on all the 1983-current era tunes really adds another perspective.

In short, its not often when a singer (over the course of 25+ years) can alter his singing style and successfully record many different types of songs....good on ya Barnster.

I couldn't have put it better myself!

Somewhere between 1983 and 1985, I guess.

Terrence Michael Mason wrote: I believe their are 3 milestones in his history of lead vocalist...the first was PCL, where he gave up trying to be Ian the 2nd....next, during the recording of "Shellshock" when John Robie suggested the band records in a key that better suits Barney's voice (i.e. some "black" keys would do just fine),...finally, his stint in Electronic, Neil Tennant's influence for Barney to get some professional lessons...

This is the right answer. It also explains why they won't play a lot of old stuff these days, as the songs simply don't suit his voice as it has become, and they can't be arsed to relearn them in a different key!

actually the question is slightly ambiguous. Barney has always sung like barney, as he is barney. :D

there's only one Barney.

Post Movement he found his own voice.

It was January 1963, when Barney came home with Kareoke He said he sung on it because he loves it, and he sings like Barney cos he is Barney too!

I agree with Terrence in the point about Electronic and Neil Tennant.

When I first heard the Electronic album (back then when it was released) I said to my friend: "It sounds like Barny Sumner noticed how Neil doesnt try to go too far out of his own limited range...and is doing the same himself." It just seemed like Barney finally found how to relax more into the vocals at hand, instead of straining.

For me, the most crucially pivotal moment of all with regard to the Barnster's vocal evolution was not so much as shaking off his watered down Ian Curtis-isms that were so prevalent on Movement and the first couple of singles, but the first time he started yelping and whooping on "Hurt:" - flipside to "Temptation".

THAT to me was a watershed moment well and truly.

Bernard Sumner definately found his voice on Temptation as Tony Wilson stated. You can hear him actually find it on the New York concert release on video!!