Conversation in another thread inspired this question...
Personally, it doesn't matter one way or another, I like both of their vocal styles, but I've noticed (not just on here), that people either prefer one vocal style over another, so...
Who do you prefer more in DCD, Lisa or Brendan's vocals?
I like both vocals.....I think they both work well with eachother and the music that was made for it....
I know easy way out...but I really do like both....
I like Lisa's vocals more, but I like Brendan's sensibilities better. Once they each made solo albums, I could definitely tell who brought what to the table. As much as I love Lisa's solo work, some of it can be horribly depressing, so I now can tell who contributed that darker side. That's not to say that I don't love all of it, but sometimes there are certain songs I just can't listen to.
I love them both...it depends more on what mood I'm in to choose between the two. Brendan's voice just makes me feel all "sexy" like have something velvety smooth travel along my body. Lisa's voice for when I'm celebrating my goddess within and doing my own spiral dance. She brings out the whirling dervish in me.
I really feel connected to Brendan's voice and how he makes the lyrics and his voice .... so inspirational I have been uplifted and taken off by his voice more.
But I love Lisa too. My uncle only likes Lisa's voice and my mom really just prefers Brendan.
I agree with Bklyn that "Brendan's voice just makes me feel all "sexy" like have something velvety smooth travel along my body. Lisa's voice for when I'm celebrating my goddess within and doing my own spiral dance. She brings out the whirling dervish in me. "
I think Brendan touches more on the lyric, thought provoking, moving my ego out, feeling loved, sexy and special.
And Lisa pulls more of the sublties of my soul out, better for premeditation, more pure body movement and aligning.
I DONT KNOW I CANT CHOOSE hehe
The live version of Cantara, turned full up makes me bow down and say Lisa.
One of my personal faves is 'Rakim' the first track on
'Towards the Within' where both of them are vocalizing
each complementing the other into a rhythmic bliss...
They're both great at what they do, period.
If you don't have 'Towards the within' (live) check it !!!
there is also the video vesion of the live performance
which, if you haven't seen, I highly recommend to say
the least.
L8.
Wed, March 17, 2004 - 5:16 PM
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I would have to say Lisa's voice. Sometimes her voice just sends shivers down my spine it is so haunting.
But maybe that is just the Goth in me...
Mil.
Thu, April 15, 2004 - 10:27 AM
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Brendan all the way. or at least both of them, but not Lisa alone.
Bart! oops, wrong tribe...
Lisa -- she's all over the place these days, too. is there a ridley scott movie that doesnt feature her in the soundtrack? and why is it that she's used to accompany death and loss in war (gladiators, black hawk down); and how does an irish girl get to evoke africa or ancient rome?
i'll take brendan's musicianship though.
brendan sometimes sounds like elmer fudd singing lounge music...he compliments lisa perfectly, but solo it makes me cringe...back in 93 they were in dallas, they were supberb, but i had to go out and smoke a cigarette when brendan started with "american dreaming"...*cringe*...i met them backstage and cried like a damn beatles fan, real stupid...lisa was so nice and etherial and goddess-like and serene...brendan was drinking a beer, laughing and having a great time...so i think i'd rather party with brendan and just worship lisa....
Heh, I always thought Brendan sounded a bit like Barry Manilow. Not that I don't like his songs, though, I do...but I think I prefer Lisa.
Frank Sinatra - definitely Frank.
I love them both - I love Brendans lyrics, I love Lisa's voice. Brendan seemed nicer in person though.
I've never actually met them so can't say, but I'll never forget what happened when they played at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley('93?--apparently when they still played in theatre-like settings with silence between the songs--very atmospheric).
Brendan was about to start one of his songs, and some idiot yelled out, "Freebird!" Brendan stopped and looked (understandably) very PO'ed, then Lisa came over and gently placed her hand on his shoulder, as if imparting some patience through her touch. It was very interesting to see this dynamic between them. :)
I was at that show...SpirtChaser Tour if I remember properly. Unfortunately that show was FILLED with idiots... by then they had achieved a new found popularity amoungst all kinds of people. People were screaming and yelling throughout the ENTIRE show.
There was an amazing dynamic between Lisa and Brendan back then. Just sheer energy differeces. She wore beautiful all white, almost sheath style dress while Brendan had on something in the genre of tye dye .. LOL...but that is what made them who they were.
I love Brendan Perry's voice... especially when he sings all melancholy. For some reason "Don't Fade Away" has always made me teary. He doesn't give a f*ck that he sounds like the swooner of dream rock. I feel an unexplicable kinship with him.
But, I agree with Erica, who posted above, that the live version of "Cantara" that's on Toward the Within makes me bow down to Lisa. The whole album makes me bow down to both Lisa and Brendan.
And Vikki, I don't care what you say :)... the live version of "American Dreaming" on Toward the Within (though a sappy song to some) has always given me goosebumps. I think Brendan's voice is beautiful.
For anyone here who DOES like Brendan Perry's voice, you should check out Stephan Micus if you haven't already... his music is amazing!
OH... forgot to specify my favorite Stephan Micus album is "To the Evening Child".
Oh yes, their solo work definitely showed their individual tendencies. I don't agree with Lisa'a work being "depressing" though, at least not for me. Melancholy and/or haunting, definetely.
I do wish Brendan would have had similar solo success as Lisa has. To date I have only found one release by Brendan, but Lisa has at least 8 solos/collaborations. She has even been sampled a bit by Paul Oakenfold, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.
I like both vocal styles, but Ive listend to lisa solo albums and Im very impressed with them. It is to bad that Brendans solo success hasn't taken off.
I never skip a track where Lisa is singing
I do it often when Brendan is ...
but it takes the two of them to do DCD
Brendan....but I love Lisa as well...and yeah, I know I'm in the minority, but oh well, who cares.
Bith Lisa and Brendan belong together in a divine union, such as it is their music. I have to say I love Brendan too. "Severance" is a blessing to my hear, I always get my eyes wet. He and Peter Murphy can sing it, none else would bring me to melt that way. Not only because of the lyrics.
Fri, August 6, 2004 - 9:50 AM
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I love them both, but Brendan's voice makes me swoon. I love his voice so much that I actually went through with seeing him perform live the day after my father died almost 5 years ago. I'd bought tickets for my friend's b-day and all of my previous attempts to see DCD perform live had been foiled, so I felt strongly about going even though I was still in shock. The concert was quite a surreal experience because of this, but still quite beautiful.
Tue, August 17, 2004 - 6:03 PM
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Wow, same thing happened in L.A. at Universal Amphitheater show.
Brendan snapped and threw some stuff around on stage.
They came back for th encore, and Lisa was doing the same thing....
I couldn't tell if Brendan was pissed at the crowd noise or at some minor delays loading new patches into synths between songs...
But it was unfortunate.
Tue, August 17, 2004 - 6:04 PM
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when I said Lisa was doign the same thing, I meant conforting Brendan...not throwing shit around on stage.
;-)
When they performed in Atlanta a while back, B's mic was turned WAY UP and L's was WAY DOWN. WTF? No, there's no excuse. Lots of people made a point to swish and strut up to the lobby during his numbers. I felt he was insanely egotistical, while she was engaging, angelic, and open. He was preaching, she was channeling.
Lisa, of course.
That said, his compositions perfectly frame her voice. He's an excellent composer for minimalist orchestra.
I do enjoy Brendan’s’ contribution, but this is a no brainer for me, it's all about Lisa, she is "The" Goddess whom I worship!
so i guess we can blame brendan's lack of solo work on all that...
or maybe not...
Definitely Love brendan's songs more. love all dcd songs, but relate more to brendan's work. feel like lisa and those who love only her are just too narcissistic for my taste... but thats ok... i myself go there at times
Thu, February 17, 2005 - 7:34 AM
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I have to say that I never heard of Lisa or Brendan (f.k.a. DCD) until a few years ago at which time it was not that long after they parted ways...I was so dissapointed to hear that because I would have loved to see a concert with them. I really favor Lisa's voice over brendan's...her voice makes me get goose bumps all over my body...I can just imagine hearing her live....WOW!....I am looking forward to their US tour coming up this year.....lisa is AWESOME!!!;)
Thu, February 17, 2005 - 2:07 PM
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Brendan for me. The sound of his voice and the words he uses. *melt*
Lisa Lisa? Who toured briefly with Prince? My preference: Apollonia.
JK. I like Brendan when he's soft, ala David Sylvian. When he yells the lyrics it cheeses out.
"Ya build me up then you break it down
ya play the fool while i play the clown
I keep time to the beat, of an old sleigh drum"
or however those lyrics go (excuse my bad parsing from memory) - i used to HATE that song (instant skip), but it's grown on me over the years. Now I sing along!
The Ubiquitous Mr. LoveGrove!!! I absolutely love this song - it's sexy, deep and melancholic all at the same time. Brendan sings this song beautifully.
here are the full lyrics for you, glad you've grown to appreciate the song's beauty:
The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove
I thought that you knew it all
Well you've seen it ten times before.
I thought that you had it down
With both your feet on the ground.
I love slow...slow but deep.
Feigned affections wash over me.
Dream on my dear
And renounce temporal obligations.
Dream on my dear
It's a sleep from which you may not awaken.
You build me up then you knock me down.
You play the fool while I play the clown.
We keep time to the beat of an old slave drum.
You raise my hopes then you raise the odds
You tell me that I dream too much
Now I'm serving time in disillusionment.
I don't believe you anymore...I don't believe you.
I thought that I knew it all
I'd seen all the signs before.
I thought that you were the one
In darkness my heart was won.
You build me up then you knock me down.
You play the fool while I play the clown.
We keep time to the beat of an old slave drum.
You raise my hopes then you raise the odds
You tell me that I dream too much
Now I'm serving time in a domestic graveyard.
I don't believe you anymore...I don't believe you.
Never let it be said I was untrue
I never found a home inside of you.
Never let it be said I was untrue
I gave you all my time.
ahh.... my theme song.
(been through it personally and all too recently)
anyway, i can't really say i prefer one above the other when it comes to the stylistic differences between Lisa and Brendan. They both have moments where i am just completely blown away by their work and they both have done stuff that i can take or leave depending on my mood
and like one of the earlier remarks here says "it takes both of them to make DCD"
I have echo all of the fans of DCD that Lisa is the better of the vocalist. When I first sampled the DCD cd I was turned off by his (Brendan) voice, that I did not listen nor buy any more of DCD cds. I did listen to the whole cd over and over and only like her voice. When I got back to DCD because of a friend and mainly heard Lisa's vocals I loved it and was happy I saw them in concert. But everytime Brendan sang I am thinking along these lines:
I want to shout and say, " stick to your stroking with your hands (writing and playing) and shut your yap - let the girl sing."
This is a nicer way of putting it.
Maybe if Brendan really wants to sing he can humm the words.
Cause he is such a turn off for me (and obviously from other post that there is not a whole lot of people according to his solo record release to demand for more) when he opens his... but a turn on when he writes and plays music.
Am I the only one that likes Brendan's solo record? That's a shame. I agree with everyone that they are better together. I enjoy Lisa on her own but if I have to pick one it is Brendan. I really love his vocal style and the dark, masculine energy in his lyrics and in the presentation. There I said it.
By the way......I think it is awful that anyone would or could disrespect them in concert like that! (In reference to that previous post). People can be such jerks! They should have been thrown out. Why would you pay for a ticket if you don't care to be there? Man that really pisses me off! That happened recently at a show I was at and I took it upon myself to say something to them. It went kind of like this..........."Could you kindly shut the f*** up as others are trying to enjoy the show." Ok I feel better now! :0/
I think Eye of the Hunter has some very good songs, particularly "Voyage of Bran" and "Death Will Be My Bride". His vocal timbre is warm and strong, and the songwriting is dreamy and desolate. Vocally, Lisa does more for me on Within the Realm of a Dying Sun and Aeon, but I think Brendan's voice has grown richer over time. Lisa added great intensity to the works. They definitely made their best music ** together **, in my opinion. He laid out impeccable frameworks and she embellished them in her terrific, exotic way. Brendan would be it if an absolute decision were mine to make.
How fortunate the man with none.
In response to your post, I in no way showed I did not care to be there, at the concert. It really "pisses me off" that people who misread and negatively projects some icky thoughts ...You misread, please reread..
I apologize for offending you. I guess my negative experiences with people that really do not want to be at the show but are just there to piss people off formed my opinion. See this is why I tend to keep to myself on tribes. The one time I decide to express myself in a post, I offend someone. Ok.....lesson learned! :0)
I do agree that if people who are outloud obnoxious, rude... to the extent where it impedes others who are trying to enjoy a show,concert, etc... they should have the decency to be somewhere else. Apology accepted. It was stated that Brendan excels in his many other musical talents....
John or Paul?
Roger or David?
Some bands are just not the same without all the members TOGETHER. It's a bit of sonic alchemy. Only together can they truly rise to full potential.
stick to your stroking with your hands (writing and playing) and shut your yap - let the girl sing."
>>>>>>>>>>
Thank God he never listened to people like you when learning his talents. The world would be a colder place for it.
Desired to voice this same opion ,,,DCD would not at all be the same if only one of the two were on stage . this thread seems almost jaded .Im shure thats me reading into it .,and not at all the case . But I like the amalgam of B&L singing ,writing,performing together ,
To pick one over the other ,just seems picky to me .
....the die has been cast (or album)...thus there is so much of a demand for his vocals....
ok fans, thanks so much for supporting DCD. This is my last response to this thread. They are good together, his playing/ composing, her singing.
Hahaha I love the way you wish to control the conversation with your attempts at a final conclusion. The man has a beautiful and rich voice that countless people the world over enjoy. Together they are more then two. They are one.
Remember those who can not do, criticize.
Their voices compliment each other to no end. I have always been partial to Lisa's voice, her moods, and the unique stylization she brings to DCD. Brendan's voice and style are less unusual than Lisa's, so she stands out more, but his voice is equally as hauntingly somber. It's funny because when her first solo album came out, I surprised myself by how much I missed Brendan's presence. I saw them on three of their tours, including at Radio City Music Hall in November 2005 where Brendan really stood out and gave a great performance. Lisa is probably having more solo success because she is working at it harder than he, and because her voice is more unique and expressive and therefore more suited to soundtrack work. So both :)
apples and oranges people......... I love thier singing for equal yet different reasons and when they sing together in one piece,it's brilliant !
Sat, April 14, 2007 - 11:55 PM
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Gotta say Lisa. She just has such an amazing vocal quality, you just can't compare her to others. Brendans voice can be really cool at the right moment, but it's easy to make comparisons with. I've always thought he sounded like Jim Morrison myself. I really appreciate innovators, artists who take the time to bring out ther own unique thing. Lisa does that for me.
"ahh.... my theme song.
(been through it personally and all too recently) "
Me too. Quite recently. But I loved this tune even before it had personal resonance. I'm not always a big fan of his voice (sometimes reminds me of Sinatra) but his delivery here is spot on. And the arrangement/instrumentation is stunning as always. The two of them are meticulous arrangers, each in their own way, even though, yes, Lisa is the star vocalist.
I agree!
They are both great, but when they mesh together properly, it is sublime!
SMS
"I've always thought he sounded like Jim Morrison myself"
Yay! I'm not crazy!!!! The moment I first heard him I thought he sounded like what Jim might be doing today if he hadn't gone down a different path. So much so that if Brendan was signifigantly younger I would have thought that Jim'd come back to us.
Oh, and I like 'em both, but Brendan makes me melt. Especially "American Dreaming" I find the line, "We've been too long American dreaming, and I think we've all lost the way/heart" I find it especially poinient these days of the "haves and have mores"
namaste,
E
I have only recently gotten into Dead Can Dance, and started with Aion on a friend's recommendation.I enjoyed the album,but the song "Fortune presents gifts not according to the book" really turned me off. I remember thinking at one point,"WTF is this bland shit?"
So I rather liked Lisa but despised Brendan until I heard Black Sun. It was then some sort of insane, obsessive mental yearning began for something less smooth..something more rock styled..
And then I found their first album - it was like i'd landed in heaven. I have some moderate quibbles with it but overall it's one of the coolest things ive ever heard. I FAR FAR prefer Brendan when he's doing something more abrasive music and not that blandish crap he started singing in his later years.
I can't really express how much I wish he'd go back to the rock/world influenced new wave formulae of the first album.
I think Lisa did very well with her development, but he just went totally awry. For me it was like finding paradise and being rudely kicked out!
Sure, it was a sparse guitar style and sometimes he meandered , but I honestly think it held far more potential.
Yes, Brendan DOES also remind me of "Riders of the Storm" esque Morrison, and I could swear there's something about the smoothness of his voice, delivery and vocals that also reminds me a bit of David Gilmour. I think this was more present in very early Brendan, and I wish like hell I could get more of it.
He's weird like that though - he cant dress, had a sloppy beard and a horrid haircut for years.I saw him as a young man all cleaned up with some decent attire and he was very, very handsome. I know this doesn't matter when it comes to artistic integity, but I think it says a bit about the man's taste and style :))
Then again I cringe thinking about someone in their late 40s getting back into rock after a bland land ride..I wonder what it would be like..
Lisa. Definately. Although I have a strong preference for either of them doing more "sounds" or singing in a language other than English. To me, that way it shows off the tonal quality of their voices. I know, I'm odd...
Lisa has the purest contralto voice I have ever heard.
Brendan's voice, though pleasant, is fungible with that of Neil Diamond and other Vegas lizards. Sorry.
"Brendan's voice, though pleasant, is fungible with that of Neil Diamond and other Vegas lizards. Sorry. "
When I lived in SF there was a guy playing open mics (I first saw him at the Owl & Monkey on 9th Ave. doing straight Neil covers, with no irony) who went on to do the whole Surreal Neal/Super Diamond thing (www.superdiamond.com/randy.html), and I thought, what the fuck is the point? Is this just another Gen X uncritical worship of cheesy icons from the past? What's next? Billy Joel tributes?
So, sure, it was off-putting to hear that same vocal delivery - and actually, the first analogy *I* thought of was Sinatra. (Also not a compliment in my book.) Nevertheless, I've gotten used to it over the years and two of my favorite DCD tunes are his "Spirit" and The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove. His voice inhabits those quite well, I think.
I agree . It's dead can dance ~!~ Could not imagine what the group would be without one or the other.
I have to agree that Brendan's solo effort was good and should have had a better reception. It is good and I wish he would do something more, whether alone or collaboratively.
But many DCD fans are only interested in ethereal warbling (which I happen to love) and not interested in Lyrics With Content in a Ballad Style (which I also love).
I cannot choose one over the other and never wish to.
And I am sorry for anyone who had to be at a show where some complete jerk would be so rude (even if the faceless one was not such a person). Every show I ever attended the audience was never anything less than completely in awe and appreciative. So much so that when a song would end, the erupting applause was thunderous and as soon as the first note of another song sounded, everyone shut up immediately and went back to silent, open mouthed reverence. I have heard about shows where it was otherwise and I thank creation I was never at one.
And don't worry about offending people. Writing is different from speaking. Many things do not translate well directly and need to be re-worded. Try being humorous or sarcastic and you'll easily see what I mean. Let your voice be heard! Assuming you have something to say.
"But many DCD fans are only interested in ethereal warbling (which I happen to love) and not interested in Lyrics With Content in a Ballad Style (which I also love). "
I'm going to agree with Dancing Tree on this one. I liked the yin-yang effect they created as DCD, and increasingly I miss Brendans counterbalance whenever I watch gladiator (if I'm forced to) or listen to Lisa's solo works. On that later note, I think a lot of Lisa's solo success can be attributed to movie soundtracks and not any sort of superiority as a musician. Brendan just needs his own Hans Zimmerman. =)
I was contently sitting quiet, until ~J~'s post. I'm also of the DCD takes the two school, although I lean towards LIsa rather than Brendan. That's just a preference. But to assume something about the musical talent of either based on the channels they chose to pursue, or whether they chose to pursue anything, just doesn't make sense.
And as far as Brendan needing his own Hans Zimmerman, no. There is only one Hans Zimmerman. =)
