Better - Better as a studio song opposed to being performed live

[codenameninja]

Just downloaded Better as performed at Hammersmith/UK (one of their better perfomances of the song, so they say).

Robin's guitar solo just over half way though makes the song what it is. I find the drumming is alittle on the plain side and while the lyrics are good i have mixed views towards Axl's singing. The section halfway though where Axl belts out/screams some words makes me cringe/feel uncomfortable. Better works better as a studio track, opposed to being sung live 

I also had the same views towards Don't Cry (Slash's guitar work was great, Axl singing Don't Cry live always sounded wrong) 

[Sillything]

In my opinion it rocks live! God! best moment of the year to rock out to this song live this summer! Go see a show is my suggestion, downloading mp3 livebootlegs doesn't do any song justice what so ever

[codenameninja]

I think Gn'R have a 3rd gig lined up at Wembly/UK. It could be their finnal UK gig in quite sometime, so may have to be there. From past history, Gn'R normally known to put on a great finnal show.
 

[Olorin]

I also had the same views towards Don't Cry (Slash's guitar work was great, Axl singing Don't Cry live always sounded wrong)?

Dude!! How in the hell can this be wrong?

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=F48C28F4745D2B68

[codenameninja]

I also had the same views towards Don't Cry (Slash's guitar work was great, Axl singing Don't Cry live always sounded wrong) 

Dude!! How in the hell can this be wrong?

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=F48C28F4745D2B68

Don't Cry - Ritz'87 - this will be interesting to hear (just downloading now), i didn't know they performed Don't Cry back in '87. My opinion is based on  the UYI tour Tokyo show...

[codenameninja]

I also had the same views towards Don't Cry (Slash's guitar work was great, Axl singing Don't Cry live always sounded wrong) 

Dude!! How in the hell can this be wrong?

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=F48C28F4745D2B68

Heh, you cheated. That's some slow '87 version 

i'm talking about the full on UYI version of Don't Cry performed live. In a way you just proved my point. When Axl sings some songs (Better or the UYI version of Don't Cry) they don't work well (from a vocal perspective) as the studio versions.

where as other songs (November Rain or The Blues) sound just great performed live 

[ppbebe]

I love the view of axl tommy robin or the whole band bouncing on the song.

[Slashead]

The demo version sounds way better than the live version. The latter sounds a bit blurred.

[ShotgunBlues1978]

It's a hard song to do live.  There is so much going on musically and the vocals are verses are difficult to sing with the way the lyrics are constructed.  It's just one of those songs that will always sound better in the studio

[mr_yoshimaroka]

The good thing about the live version is the chorus(at least the Download Festival performance). It has more bounce to it

[Crashdiet]

Well I completly disagree. I think it sounds great live. Listen to a few more of the bootlegs. I heard one of the nights from finland and it was fantastic.

[Olorin]

I also had the same views towards Don't Cry (Slash's guitar work was great, Axl singing Don't Cry live always sounded wrong)?

Dude!! How in the hell can this be wrong?

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=F48C28F4745D2B68

Heh, you cheated. That's some slow '87 version?

i'm talking about the full on UYI version of Don't Cry performed live. In a way you just proved my point. When Axl sings some songs (Better or the UYI version of Don't Cry) they don't work well (from a vocal perspective) as the studio versions.

where as other songs (November Rain or The Blues) sound just great performed live?

Well Axls voice was in a bad way for most songs on much of the Illusion Tour so thats why dont cry didnt sound so good.

But with regards to Better, its not that bad but I think he could do with more support from the other guys when singing the chorus.
But comparing him singing live to a studio recording is a bit harsh. He sounds fucking great when your there and the arena is pounding out the music, that experience blows any studio recording out of the water.

Live music sounds great when you are there watching it unfold - but it never sounds quite the same when you hear the recording.

I don't particuarly like Better, but I tell you, I do like the live version Its a great pace for jumping and bopping!

[give_it_a_rest]

I think better is a great song, and I don't know how someone can say that the studio version is better than the live version, I don't think any of us have heard the definitive studio version, so it's just guessing. I've heard the song live in holland in july and it was fucking great, the mp3's i've heard from this tour are not a benchmark or something!!!. they aren't mixed and sometimes they give a wrong impression of the band. So don't judge to fast 

[supaplex]

olorin is right about comparing the studio with the live performance, but i think that the song rocks live. it really makes you wanna jump and sing along but the demo is just that: a demo. hope the final mix will have that rockin' feeling

[ppbebe]

But with regards to Better, its not that bad but I think he could do with more support from the other guys when singing the chorus.

 
On my first listen to the audio from Hammerstein live the fact axl was singing it through amazed me.  There is little gap between the most verses and the chorus. it's like changing from tenor to alto in one breath.

[codenameninja]

olorin is right about comparing the studio with the live performance, but i think that the song rocks live. it really makes you wanna jump and sing along but the demo is just that: a demo. hope the final mix will have that rockin' feeling

The studio demo has grown on me alot. I like the looping hardcore sound of the drum machine, i like the way the song sounds like sections of sound cut n'pasted together to form a single track. The demo sounds more industrial than rockin, and i like that. Who knows, maybe when CD is released and we get to hear the fully polished/finished studio version, i just may prefer the old leak 

[Communist China]

The demo studio version seemed like it could become new GN'R's trademark song and a big hit. Live, it sounds more like Rhiyadh than a radio-rock hit. No offense to Rhiyadh, but Better seems to have much more potential as a studio track, and live it's just not that amazing.

[nesquick]

I prefer IRS. The live version is so powerfull, amazing.

[ppbebe]

The demo studio version seemed like it could become new GN'R's trademark song and a big hit. Live, it sounds more like Rhiyadh than a radio-rock hit. No offense to Rhiyadh, but Better seems to have much more potential as a studio track, and live it's just not that amazing.

If so,  that might be true of Riyadh, don't you think? We haven't heard any studio recording of the song.

[destroier]

It sucks live. Axl's natural singing voice just doesn't suit the song.