Singers whose voice has changed the most

[lvc]

Sounds most like a badly worn-out version of the same voice: Bono

Sounds like a completely different set of equipment: Bob Dylan

[oasisfan35]

Sounds most like a badly worn-out version of the same voice: Bono

I was initially going to say Raine Maida, he did change how he sang beginning with Gravity but now I'd say he falls into this category.

Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional might be the best example of someone who just let it go and destroyed their voice.
I tend to feel the vocals might be the most difficult instrument to maintain over time and with many some from of adaptation is inevitable.

I think Liam Gallagher had a bit of a wake-up call when Noel left and oasis ended, he (eventually) had to care about his voice and has sounded infinitely better than some eras of oasis. It is most prominent live but can easily be heard with in studio efforts.

[lvc]

Vocals are absolutely at a disadvantage because it's all soft tissue. Even arthritic fingers can still get good sounds out of a guitar or piano. Even carpal tunnel can still get through a drum track (if not a whole concert). But the voice is 100% vulnerable to human frailty.

[LoathedVermin72]

Cedric Bixler-Zavala. I don't know if he just destroyed his vocal chords over the years or what but he sounds totally different than he did 20 years ago.

[McParadigm]

Jesse Winchester spent a lot of time developing his upper register, so it’s not really the same thing, but the difference is always amazing to me.

Mississippi You’re On My Mind (1974):
https://youtu.be/pb7e-aj2ZAo?si=iKeb8jqbOk8o9Ih8

Sham a Ling Dong Ding (2009):
https://youtu.be/QQXcKEDNssE?si=u0gTS-AnPRCg4SVl

[Kevin Davis]

Man, "Sham-a-Ling Dong Ding" has gotta be one of the best songs ever. Have you ever seen his performance of it on Elvis Costello's Spectacle show? Neko Case sitting next to him in tears by the end.

[McParadigm]

That was my introduction to him.

[lvc]

Come to think of it, I would put Julian Casablancas on this list. He ditched that early growl for a lot more falsetto on the later records. But he's always struck me a such a self-conscious guy. I think he looked at people like Eddie Vedder who screamed themselves half to death and said, "maybe not sustainable?"

[oasisfan35]

Come to think of it, I would put Julian Casablancas on this list. He ditched that early growl for a lot more falsetto on the later records. But he's always struck me a such a self-conscious guy. I think he looked at people like Eddie Vedder who screamed themselves half to death and said, "maybe not sustainable?"

Dave Matthews' voice has definitely changed since the early 90s. There was a time when screaming was entering more of the sets in '05-'06 and it was definitely taking an audible toll. He quit smoking in '07, which was an almost overnight positive change, amidst a lot of band turmoil. The songs evolved to less screaming and he started working with a vocal coach, currently Robert “RAab” Stevenson. Had those decisions not been made to promote longevity I doubt they'd be touring nearly as much, really if at all.

[Jorge]

A lot of these are more "standard aging" sort of changes, not "sounds like a completely different person" kinds of changes

[VinylGuy]

in that case

Scott Weiland.

[dimejinky99]

bonos voice didnt change in that sense..he just sang in an awful affected english accent for the good albums, then dropped it for mid atlantic rockstar drawl on the shit albums..
and it was a concious choice.

[warehouse]

Come to think of it, I would put Julian Casablancas on this list. He ditched that early growl for a lot more falsetto on the later records. But he's always struck me a such a self-conscious guy. I think he looked at people like Eddie Vedder who screamed themselves half to death and said, "maybe not sustainable?"

Dave Matthews' voice has definitely changed since the early 90s. There was a time when screaming was entering more of the sets in '05-'06 and it was definitely taking an audible toll. He quit smoking in '07, which was an almost overnight positive change, amidst a lot of band turmoil. The songs evolved to less screaming and he started working with a vocal coach, currently Robert “RAab” Stevenson. Had those decisions not been made to promote longevity I doubt they'd be touring nearly as much, really if at all.

i met the vocal coach at a show a few years ago. he was wondering around the lawn in some official looking stuff so i asked who he was. he gave me a guitar pick, so i love this guy lol

dave has def lost a lot of that nasal-sound in his voice and sounds more like he's coming from his chest when he's loud.

[McParadigm]

Pink Floyd’s