Robben Ford Discussion

edpesco · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:16 am Post subject: Singer Robben Ford

Everybody talks about Robben's marvellous playing and guitar sound so I want to talk about his qualities as a singer.
First of all: I like his voice, this is always a matter of taste but I like it. It's a very caractaristic voice which he controls perfectly. Only drawback: he doesn't have a sick, rotten voice from centuries of smoking tons of black cigars and drinking lakes of whiskey, his voice is clean and healthy, bet his larynx looks like a picture from 12 year old boy in an anatomy book.
His technical skills are excellent, he hits every note of hard to sing tunes in every live situation. Everybody who ever tried to sing his tunes will say yourerighteddy. Exclamation

PierreL · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:58 am Post subject:

damnrightyouareteddy

Leftbender · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:44 am Post subject:

I don't really find Robben a typical blues singer, and sometimes I miss that a little in his classic blues songs. But on the other hand if he wasn't that allround he couldn't sing all the other fantastic songs! So yourerighteddy!! And don't forget he has improved over the years!!!
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marinblues · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 9:26 am Post subject:

All I can say that he has improved tremendously over the years. He has become a fine singer.

He is unfortunate that people expect his singing to match his guitar playing abilities.

Only Benson comes close to something like that.

Marin

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juspasinby2003 · Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 255

telefunk1 · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:58 am Post subject:

Good point, Ed, as usual. As I recall, in more than one interview Robben says he has focused more in recent years on his vocal development than guitar playing. And I think it shows - he is a better singer than he used to be. Good reminder than he is much more than just another hot picker.

edpesco · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Singer Robben Ford

juspasinby2003 · Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 255

jconstant · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

Aeolian · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 9:23 am Post subject:

I have a friend who's basic attraction to Robben is his singing, although she enjoys the guitar playing as well. He favorite song is "Start It Up" from awhile back. It is the phrasing and feel that does it. Although Robben's voice has gotten rounder in the upper registers as he works on it, he always had the emotional content.
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BlueRunner · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:26 am Post subject:

With each CD release over the past four or five years Robben's voice has seemed to get stronger, more dynamic and (quite frankly) more interesting. So it wasn't a big surprise when he mentioned at this past October's clinic that he's been working with an operatic vocal coach down in L.A.
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marinblues · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:41 pm Post subject:

mudboneblue · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject:

I too find that Robbens voice has improved with age in terms of pitch, strength, emotion, feeling, he's got the whole nine yards covered! Can you imagine being able to sing, and play, guitar like Robben at the same time. My God!! I could entertain myself all year long. From his love songs to his ass kicking blues tunes, he is simply "captivating" . In my view, Robben is one of most talented musicians I have ever come across in my life. In my opinion, he is a much better singer and guitar player than, say in 1988. His voice, fingers, and song writing abilites have aged and matured like a fine bottle of Glenlivet!!!

elizabeth · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 9:38 pm Post subject: Uh-oh

...never had Glenlivet! I think I need to get out more often!

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iamthewalrus · Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2004 12:40 am Post subject: Robben's Voice

No doubt Robben's vocals have improved significantly over the years. I think I mentioned this in another post but here it is again: when I took my son-in-law to see Robben for his first time last year (at the Coach House in SJC) he came away completely enchanted by Robben's voice. That's the best adjective I can use since he's a hardcore SRV fan and guitar freak and was completely dismissive of Robben until that evening; he was totally knocked over by Robben's vocals. That evening taught me an imortant lesson.

Cheers,
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