Faith No More: The Best Evidence

This is one of the sublime Mike Patton’s best vocal performances. Since he is Vintage Vinyl News’ nominated greatest singer of all time, due to his extraordinary and unique 6 and a ½ note vocal range, and his extreme versatility, see post “Mike Patton – Extreme Vocals”, for me it’s a song really worth adding to the playlist. The lyrics have the symbolism and edginess Patton brings to all his work with FNM co-writers. It would mean different things to different listeners, but I think it refers to emotional isolation finding it’s expression in some kind of infidelity. (In the video he and the band are separated from their audience by a plate glass window.) It’s rocky terrain, which makes it a heroic place to go. And the silky sexiness of Patton’s timbre and delivery means you are quite happy to go there with him. I just love it!

If you’re interested, here is the Range Place’s list of best Patton performances:

‘The Best’ Vocal Performances
1. Il Cupo Dolore
2. Mayday
3. Infinito
4. Litany IV
5. Delìrivm Còrdia
6. Der Golem
7. Evidence
8. Vanity Fair
9. 9 X 9
10. Just a Man

Live:
1. Moonchild (Milan ’06)
2. Air-Conditioned Nightmare (Mr. Bungle live at Bizarrofest)
3. Happy Birthday (Live ’06)
4. Just a Man (Soundwave, Brisbane 2010)
5. Deep, Deep Down (Live in Amsterdam)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lvMNLhJrb0

Faith No More’s Mike Patton: Extreme Vocals

Mike’s onstage acrobatics

Ultimate Guitar (Music News @ Ultimate-Guitar.com, 12/06/14) has reported on Vintage Vinyl News’ update of the recent greatest singers of all time list. The original list was confined to Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, and, as expected, named Axl Rose number one. VVN’s list has now been expanded to include the Range Place findings and Billboard awards. Based on their collective research, it’s not Rose. It’s Mike Patton with a staggering…wait for it…6 octaves and a 1/2 note vocal range. Until now Patton has been seriously underrated. A further 5 singers, including the Gunners front man, have more than 5, but alt-metal band Faith No More’s Patton is forever unique in this accomplishment in rock music (the world record holder, Christian singer Tim Storms, has spanned 10 octaves and according to Wikipedia also holds the record for the lowest sound produced by a human G(−7), or 0.189 Hz, eight octaves below the lowest G on the piano, or just over seven octaves below the piano – LOL, freaky!). Here’s the Range Place’s assessment of Mike Patton:

Baritone (Eb1 to E7) – 6 octaves, 1/2 note

This clip, “Midlife Crisis”, traverses 3 octaves. I’ve added a live concert clip from the ’97 Phoenix Festival to the studio version; both are extraordinary. The low notes are especially masterful; these are the most difficult to realize in a rock music context. Soundgarden’s multi-octave front man Chris Cornell does them very well too, but Patton’s vocal is effortless and powerful. He hits those notes assuredly and he’s barely out of his comfort zone, spanning from a significant low note B1 to high note B4. His technical prowess is impressive, crazy smooth register transitions, and his voice has a fine timbre. He infuses his soul into everything he sings, and is one of the most versatile singers on the planet. Wikipedia notes Patton is across: “crooning, falsetto, screaming, opera, death growls, rapping, mouth music, beat-boxing, and scatting” among others. All round, a darn cool front man, and a vocal genius.

I’ll be posting some more about Patton and FNM at some stage; there’s gold there.

Midlife Crisis – studio version with concert footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzXtxqMRd8g

Midlife Crisis – live at the Phoenix Festival ’97