I missed this when it aired because I was at their show in Las Vegas that night. Their appearance on Jay was why they were late getting to the show. They had literally just flown into Vegas from LA and went straight to the show.
So glad this clip is still here. I have been so impressed at Liz's vocal creativity that I Iook at this performance as her improvising on the spot somewhat and also the nervousness of being on that show. She does look pretty humble and seems to gratefully respond to the J's hug. She can do no wrong in my book.
Just saw Robin perform live in D.C. last month - he delivered this amazing wall of beauteous sound that washed over my soul and cured me of any regret at being human.
some literally ignorant people post rubbish comments on you tube. If you got to this video, I would think that it would be because you are a fan of this obscure and highly unique band. I love all kinds of music and fell in love with this band in 1988....nobody else has even come close to their eclectic art. The vocalist has the vocal chords of a canary...an absolute instrument. I wish they were still around making albums...I wore the shit out of my box set.
I still love 4 calendar - but this is shit and so were they when I saw them live at the Victoria rooms in Bris. If this is the real Cocteaus then i was duped. Its a fuckin awful mess of nonsense. (and I don't mean that in a good way- it just sucks arse)
@funnygreat She's fiddling with her "in-ear monitor" or "IEM", which is a type of high-end earphone. It's how she is hearing the other musicians and herself. And for some reason it is not fitting well in her ear. Either that, or she is pulling it in and out of her ear, which a lot of performers do to change what they hear, mixing between the sound from the monitor and the sound from the rest of the band live.
This was early in the use of IEMs, and they came up with techniques that worked better
What's so cool about Liz Fraser and the Cocteau Twins is that they can get away with alot of things when it comes to radio airplay. I mean, if a certain Cocteau Twins song contains bad profanity, and since people don't exactly understand what Liz was saying in the band's songs, then there was no need for their songs to get banned from radio stations because they were too hypnotized by the band's dreamy, atmospheric sound and Liz's angelic, ethereal, and indecipherable vocals lol :)
A Wonderful 1st-time US appearance! Great song & with wonderfully creative abandon! This world needs it! Cheers to all of them ! & Jay's producers for supporting this incredible group & their muzik! no others like them. . . .!!!
she's so great! unusual and unique but she does sounded quite possessed in this performance....i think most ppl has called their neighbourhood priest to performed exorcism after watching this...
the only other person vocally that has invented her own "language" would be Lisa Gerrard of DCD. Both are amazing artists in their own right. Liz just puts chills in me!
The only female vocalist who played with her voice as guitarists do with their effects, Elizabeth Fraser is a legend in the Hall of Rock n Roll Fame as far as I am concerned
@geridg Not really, Liz Fraser kinda looks like Chloe Sevigny. If there's ever a biographical movie about the Cocteau Twins, Chloe Sevigny should play Liz because Chloe bares a striking resemblance to Liz.
because she picked her lyrics at random from foreign language books and dictionaries, she only remembered them by the melody. therefore, whenever she performed live, she improvised. but her voice always overpowered the rest of the band. she said once that anyone who claimed to be able to translate her lyrics was fibbing. she's a genius and let's leave it at that.
@vampiroangelico Did you mean Curve or The Verve?! I've thought for a long time that The Verve's first album sounds Cocteau Twins influenced on several songs.
@lazord1991 LOL, yeah right.....too artsy and deep, but it felt more like eccentric and pompous to me. You are just one of those biased CT fans and I actually feel sorry for you, dude.
@lazord1991 Yeah, you almost got it right.... more like "arty" but not "artsy" to me as arty means "characterized by a showy, pretentious, and often spurious display of artistic interest, manner, or mannerism..."
@raylo993 Ur the one who's self-absorbed. Don't blame Liz for being a very private person within her songs. She's no Joni Mitchell and she's no Alanis Morissette and that's pretty much ok because Liz is not the kind of songwriter that writes personal stuff in her songs because she tends to make the Cocteau Twins' songs less cliche than all of the usual everyday Pop Music and more about the sound than the lyrics.
I saw Cocteau Twins in the 1980s and again in the 1990s. I hate to say it, but Liz sounded a lot better in the early days. In the later years, the band remained spot-on but Liz turned the vocals into something similar to the Spinal Tap "Jazz Odyssey." It seemed like she was heading in her own erratic direction while the rest of the group remained focused. Can you imagine if Robin Guthrie had decided to follow suit and start doing improvisational guitar solos in the middle of songs?
@ElGuapo22222 She sang like this (which, I really like, btw) on only this tour. On the subsequent Milk and Kisses tour, and in all her post-cocteau work, she sings like those early days.
I saw this tour also. She was just singing the way she sings. If you ever had the chance to see them live you wouldn't dare say anything bad about them. Every band improvises live and CT sounded unique live in difference to recorded work, that was just them being them. It's sad this band never really had the appreciation in the US they deserved before they disbanded. However because of this, it makes their music legendary. Any singer who would dare imitate her would just get embarrassed.
@djcorbijn Any singer.....don't you think that that is a huge overstatement ? Of course there are singers in the world who could technical master what she does, she is not from another planet. Not many would choose to though, bmaybe because as I do, they find it rather self-indulgent, technique and making funny noises is not everything in singing, others love it, that's music for you.
@raysteer it's not an overstatement. liz is so unique and incredibly brave vocally. and also, everything in life is self-indulgent, how can it not be? why should anyone live or do anything for anyone but themselves? that's a weird point you tried to make there. she's expressing herself in a way that no one ever has before.
@raysteer Ok, there is something in what you say about being self-indulgent, and if the original poster was expressing how much they love her music then there is no argument with that, but the argument that she is somehow unique in her abilities is plainly untrue. What she does is unique because nobody (?) else chooses to sing this way, it doesn't mean nobody could physicaly/technicaly do so. Anyway enjoy it if it's your thing, I also listen to stuff where I don't understand the words......
@raysteer but she is unique in her abilities. no one else has quite her timbre, just the same as you are unique in your abilities to do whatever it is to exactly the degree that you do it.
and to be fair, her vocal range and capabilities put the majority of singers on this planet to shame. a lot of other singers have tried doing what she does and they come off sounding like cheap imitations.
there's just something about the notes she hits that really touch people, and that's unique
@westendgla Sure, everyone has a unique voice, and people may have failed to imitate her, I have not heard them. But I would still argue with the original statement, there are countless jazz, classical, folk, rock....singers out there who display just as great a command of their voice as her. They wouldn't have her colour of voice, but would have their own, and would have no trouble imitating this style if they chose to, in fact some of her techniques are borrowed from other genres.
@westendgla The fact that she pushs your emotional buttons is just as much to do with you as with her, there are other singers/ musicians twanging the heartstrings of other audiences just as effectively, she is not unique in that either.
@raysteer okay, listen to liz singing This Love (she's singing in english and her delivery is deceptively simple, none of the usual vocal acrobatics). then listen to Sarah Brightman covering the song. it's not even in the same league, and brightman is a trained classical/operatic singer so if anyone can do what liz is doing, surely she could.
but she's certainly pushing your buttons though, eh? not sure whether you love her or hate her.
@westendgla I have just listened to both, I didn't find there to be such a huge difference, though Brightman was on the mechanical side and Liz a little more sensitive. As far as Frazers usual performing style goes she has her moments but they are soon followed by some sort of consciously unconventional trick, I can hear that there is some emotion in there but it's not getting through to me also because I don't enjoy that kind of guitar playing, so, no, I'm not in two minds at all about it
@westendgla I can't realy complain that you chose a bad example, it was me who mentioned opera singers, but somebody like Kate Bush would be a better example, a flexible voice, used by an artist with artistic sensitivity and creativity. Her own stuff is just on the right side of weird and interestingly different, then there's the words and the stories, which I enjoy, but of course are not essential to some.
@raysteer Apologies, you clearly chose Brightman so I could here the two singing the same song, that chance was on offer so you don't loose points for that! Just as an aside I don't think I would enjoy that song whoever was singing it.(: Also I don't think either of us is going to convince the other, so lets bury the hatchet and let everyone enjoy the show! Nice talking to you.(:
@raysteer p.s. i do understand your point that she is a human being and that technically someone else would conceivably be able to do what it is she does. but the fact remains that she is the first and only person to do this so well. and she's unique because this is how she expresses herself, other singers choose words, she doesn't always. so that's what makes her unique...the way her mind works and her method of articulation. and the voice is unique to her exclusively. we're all unique :o)
@westendgla I think we understand each other more or less. Then we are left with the fact that some people love this sort of stuff and others don't, both, goes without saying, legitimate standpoints. Enjoy, or not, go in peace. (:
@djcorbijn Any singer.....don't you think that that is a huge overstatement ? Of course there are singers in the world who could technical master what she does, she is not from another planet. Not many would choose to though, bmaybe because as I do, they find it rather self-indulgent, technique and making funny noises is not everything in singing, others love it, that's music for you. (-:
@djcorbijn I must disagree with you. I adored the Cocteau Twins until I paid to see them live and then witnessed this self-indulgent crap. It was offensive and sad and I think I actually cried. I considered this woman a musical heroine... and the one time I waited and waited and finally went to see her... she did... THIS. I was so lost until I found out she was a psychotic drug fiend, then it made sense and I forgave her. The albums are timeless. This cockatiel crap is for the birds.
co wy tam gadacie, Liz dała czadu, szalona, natchniona, zahipnotyzowana jak na cocteau'owy dream pop przystało, do tego te kosmiczne gitary, przestrzenność wyobraźni, ja uwielbiam!
Yes maybe she was trying a bit hard, but the thing is, she nailed it. Each to his own, I always say, but at the end of this, I was beaming with respect. Also, speaking as a US citizen, I freaking Loved the hosts reaction at the end. He did not know how to react. LMAO♥
Liz sounds like she is trying WAY TOO HARD to amaze the audience, and I find this live rendition--despite the REAL percussion (which I like), is NOT to my liking!
I know the cocteaus will always be at the top of my list of all time favourite bands. & they used so much echo & reverb & double & triple tracking of her vocals on the studio versions of the songs that it would be impossible to duplicate that live so it's like hearing two different bands from studio to live & her vocals are always so loose & wild on the live versions .... how did they ever get talked into performing on an american televison show?? I bet they never did it again
i had the privilege to see the cocteaus in the 80s. the first time she sang beautifully; true to the original recordings. the next time i saw them, elizabeth started singing with this irritiating warble. thought i was listening to larry the lamb!
Saw them at the Warfield in San Fran when they were on the 4 Calendar Cafe tour, same band. Lincoln played these wonderful, gorgeous blue guitars. I was the one in the very front screaming, "Lizzzzzzzzz....!!!!!" the entire time.
It would not be the Cocteau Twins without 'those strange vocals'......there are those of us who understand perfectly the language in which Elizabeth sings....
if you listen the band and liz are in tune , tight and hitting the cues right. This shows purpose. She is also looking quite happy at times . At the end she swings her arm in a "we did it!!" manner. So I beg to differ with the previous negative comments.!
Just wonderful. Absolutely Love it!! She is just an amazing vocalist. I don't know if she came up with all that on the spot, but she obviously felt every bit of it. Fresh!
I think all of her non-language styled singing was her own interpretation, and that she has the artistic privilege to sing this any way she likes. Yes, it's odd but its Liz
Great song but she messed it up with those strange vocals. I saw this back when it first aired and thought, what on earth?? The band was tight tho, and sounded great. I'll always dig the Cocteau Twins.
I've just watched the live version of Carolyn's Fingers (heard the studio version countless times) here on Youtube and her voice sounds amazing. It would have been cool if she did the same thing on this program.
This song is about Robin and at this time Lucy their child was just a small baby and they were touring with the baby in the states, The Marriage was breaking down and Robin was on all kinds of cocaine. You should have seen the concert in L,A, right after this, the whole thing was angry/hurt chatter just like this. It was sad.
this totally gets five stars from me but what the hell? was she having a breakdown? drugs? i love that you-know-who gave her a hug at the end. he was probably freaking out from her insane singing.
I think zarc0n is right for the most part - though a lot of the "words" she's singing are actually noises that she memorizes for all the songs they write, she'll temporarily use actual words here and there where she mostly sings those crazy surreal words, I think it's more insane that she can even remember what she's doing half the time.
Wow, I can't believe people hate this performance. It's bold, brave and F'in original! Definitely better than the other live version of Bluebeard floating arond here. The only live CTs recording in which LF sounds better is Orange Appled.
I agree. I missed this when it was first aired. I usually would have taped it since I collect live performances but this was really disappointing. It seemed like she was either stoned, nervous or attempting to sabotage the whole performance.
lol at it not sounding as good as when she sings in English. Talents vocal work... but it just doesn't sound as pleasing to the ear as when she sings like she does on the single.
è pazzesco, più l'ascolto e più mi trasporta in dimensioni dove la mente si abbandona a visioni di straordinaria bellezza.Una voce che sfugge all'umana comprensione ma che riesce ad accarezzarti l'amima con i suoi petali!!!
OMG, I never knew they played Le*o. It was so nice he hugged her. She obviously wanted the vocals to be radical, and not sellout. Good for her, it's the artist's decison.
I think she made a mistake at the beginning, and just went with it as if it was on purpose. She probably got tripped up when L*no emphasized it was their first time on U.S. TV. Imagine the things that would be going through your head the first time your band ever played on U.S. TV. She was probably a bunch of nerves.
Please don't mention the name of the host. Thank you.
i don't think she made any mistakes. during that period of time, that's how liz was singing. in fact, rumor has it that it really pissed her husband (also in the band) off. her lyrics are always hard to understand. there are websites devoted to deciphering them. but during this phase of the cocs, she was really off in outer space. personally, i love it. one of the most unique voices ever.
i was going to post the same thing basically but you did it for me yesterday. this is just how she was singing at the time. also, this was around the time when she finally started getting over self-esteem issues. like it or not, she's pretty comfortable here. her vocal control here is great! i wouldn't be surprised that this was pissing Robin off! he's a sour grape, although i love him anyway.
This is typical Liz at this time. Seen her do this live before in similar fashion....Brave and awesome! I wonder tho' how they performed this in warmup for JL. I wished the cameraman would have shown the audience's response.
... this is absolutely beautiful...
TheElevatorLady 2 weeks ago
they are incredible..............
Juancarlos2016 3 weeks ago
i forgot she was a human, then she said "thank you"
sfrebirthblog 1 month ago
bublbells billabrill drum to drum[ear to snare] flitwander wonderfit busybiz flitekite
[that's how i read all the coments above and below[hi-lo's]].
posypity 1 month ago
I missed this when it aired because I was at their show in Las Vegas that night. Their appearance on Jay was why they were late getting to the show. They had literally just flown into Vegas from LA and went straight to the show.
skylinkdave 2 months ago
Thank You. :)
jonnybgoode007 4 months ago in playlist kick ass
I like that thing she does...but I think she does it too much here. She seems nervous.
TortoiseDream 6 months ago
dream pop...!!! my favorite genre of music!
nhadz16 6 months ago
the host with the large jaw...that crack me up...LOL
nhadz16 6 months ago
@nhadz16 haha yeah man, mee too :-)))
ytonaona 4 months ago
del movimiento popular en inglaterra en los 80s, una maravilla los cocteau me hacen despegar a un viaje eterno.
viajerodebarrotv 6 months ago
liz frasier is quite literally, other worldly....and she has to know this!
speakerbeing1 6 months ago
So glad this clip is still here. I have been so impressed at Liz's vocal creativity that I Iook at this performance as her improvising on the spot somewhat and also the nervousness of being on that show. She does look pretty humble and seems to gratefully respond to the J's hug. She can do no wrong in my book.
Just saw Robin perform live in D.C. last month - he delivered this amazing wall of beauteous sound that washed over my soul and cured me of any regret at being human.
ytcarol 7 months ago
@ytcarol Nicely put. The strength and honesty in this performance is inspiring. All in.
TheElevatorLady 2 weeks ago
Your voice sounds like angel...
joscala76 8 months ago
i canny believe ive never seen this before......
I love you Liz,you'll always be a fifer to me :)
cheechforprez 8 months ago
Fantastic band! Fantastic song! Fantastic Liz!
puacino2 8 months ago
Bellisima cancion...
rokimaya1 9 months ago
some literally ignorant people post rubbish comments on you tube. If you got to this video, I would think that it would be because you are a fan of this obscure and highly unique band. I love all kinds of music and fell in love with this band in 1988....nobody else has even come close to their eclectic art. The vocalist has the vocal chords of a canary...an absolute instrument. I wish they were still around making albums...I wore the shit out of my box set.
doxielov 9 months ago
The acoustic guitarist may be wearing one of Liz's dresses....
drkam6 9 months ago
It's astounding what this woman can do with her voice.
Hyperboreasy 10 months ago
she s incredible on this
MrBoswell66 11 months ago
love this thanx for posting
Amishitman 11 months ago
awwwwwww when she says 'thank you!' at the end :') my heart lit up
TackJamblyn 11 months ago 2
Cheese n crackers! What a bunch of eerie outsiders, luv em!
vasp99 1 year ago
jubilant glossalalia!
SupernalOne 1 year ago
fantastic
ANDREYASHER 1 year ago
this is nothing short of EPIC
itmfl2046 1 year ago
I still love 4 calendar - but this is shit and so were they when I saw them live at the Victoria rooms in Bris. If this is the real Cocteaus then i was duped. Its a fuckin awful mess of nonsense. (and I don't mean that in a good way- it just sucks arse)
gittylicious 1 year ago
@gittylicious have to agree. I love the early Cocteau Twins stuff but this is just truly dreadful nonsense
pawnsacrifice1 1 year ago
I always come back to this one. My all time favorite performance of my all time favorite CT song.
orlandovision 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Where is Robyn Guthrie? This just seem s like session musicians and Liz Frazer???
TrevorLunch 1 year ago
Where is Robyn Guthrie? This just seem s loke session musicians and Liz Frazer
TrevorLunch 1 year ago
@TrevorLunch he is right there playing the lead guitar. You can't see him? what the hell man.
Burke68 1 year ago
@Burke68 Christ he let himself go.
TrevorLunch 1 year ago
@TrevorLunch He's right there, dumbass. It's Robin, not RobYn.
valiumland 1 year ago
she is soooooooooooo crazy! My favorite band!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LarisaShelest 1 year ago
unbelievable
viovio77 1 year ago
I so wish they would reform
TalkToTheBody 1 year ago
Is there something wrong with her ear?
funnygreat 1 year ago
@funnygreat She's fiddling with her "in-ear monitor" or "IEM", which is a type of high-end earphone. It's how she is hearing the other musicians and herself. And for some reason it is not fitting well in her ear. Either that, or she is pulling it in and out of her ear, which a lot of performers do to change what they hear, mixing between the sound from the monitor and the sound from the rest of the band live.
This was early in the use of IEMs, and they came up with techniques that worked better
k8fan 1 year ago 20
@funnygreat maybe to much wax and wane(rimshot). Ok maybe not the funniest joke but it was worth a try.
762sd 10 months ago
@762sd Hahaha lol. Little late reaction but better late than never. :P
funnygreat 8 months ago
i love you liz liz fraser
ruamonkeybum 1 year ago
That was superb by Liz. The host looked like WTF was that all about ? The Scots don't give a fuuk and do it their own way.............lol
16881873 1 year ago
What's so cool about Liz Fraser and the Cocteau Twins is that they can get away with alot of things when it comes to radio airplay. I mean, if a certain Cocteau Twins song contains bad profanity, and since people don't exactly understand what Liz was saying in the band's songs, then there was no need for their songs to get banned from radio stations because they were too hypnotized by the band's dreamy, atmospheric sound and Liz's angelic, ethereal, and indecipherable vocals lol :)
Mr1991ladarius 1 year ago
i recall seeing this for the first time - I was enthralled by this unique sound. I bought the CD the next day.
oogaachaka 1 year ago
Pure Poetry!!
toptonychick 1 year ago
What a treat to see this! Talktothebody - dead on. Liz is beyond words, love these guys so much!
opalpoems 1 year ago
oh liz!!!
NMillar917 1 year ago
good lord, the twins on the tonight show...ive seen it all. could liz be more scottish? god bless her
jerflm4 1 year ago
A Wonderful 1st-time US appearance! Great song & with wonderfully creative abandon! This world needs it! Cheers to all of them ! & Jay's producers for supporting this incredible group & their muzik! no others like them. . . .!!!
zacharia644 1 year ago
she's so great! unusual and unique but she does sounded quite possessed in this performance....i think most ppl has called their neighbourhood priest to performed exorcism after watching this...
anyways..JOKE ASIDE...
IT IS A GREAT PERFORMANCE
tclem2328 1 year ago
the only other person vocally that has invented her own "language" would be Lisa Gerrard of DCD. Both are amazing artists in their own right. Liz just puts chills in me!
futuristlimited 1 year ago
cocaine is a helluva drug
jcfbell3001 1 year ago
The only female vocalist who played with her voice as guitarists do with their effects, Elizabeth Fraser is a legend in the Hall of Rock n Roll Fame as far as I am concerned
TalkToTheBody 1 year ago
drums? you gotta be kidding!
chrisnoaro1 1 year ago
Liz, "special one"!!!
vulnerabile91 1 year ago
Lol She looks like Ellen DeGeneres!
geridg 1 year ago
@geridg Not really, Liz Fraser kinda looks like Chloe Sevigny. If there's ever a biographical movie about the Cocteau Twins, Chloe Sevigny should play Liz because Chloe bares a striking resemblance to Liz.
Mr1991ladarius 1 year ago
because she picked her lyrics at random from foreign language books and dictionaries, she only remembered them by the melody. therefore, whenever she performed live, she improvised. but her voice always overpowered the rest of the band. she said once that anyone who claimed to be able to translate her lyrics was fibbing. she's a genius and let's leave it at that.
skinnymexicanbuddha 1 year ago
Comment removed
vampiroangelico 1 year ago
@vampiroangelico Did you mean Curve or The Verve?! I've thought for a long time that The Verve's first album sounds Cocteau Twins influenced on several songs.
chrisnoaro1 1 year ago
The most unique, brilliant, astonishing and obscenely beautiful siren on earth.
AwakeToTheMystery 1 year ago 2
la voce più bella di sempre,più l'ascolti e più ti convinci che non ne puoi fare a meno.
vulnerabile91 1 year ago
beautiful band in every sense,guitars are cool as ! Liz is the most amazing vocalist , unique & brilliant.
drstevie 1 year ago
Sorry, I just don't dig her improv. WTF she was singing or doing, shaking her head and rolling her eyes over...... She's so self-absorbed......
Call me whatever u like, u CT fans.
raylo993 1 year ago
@raylo993 I feel sorry for you, this is too artsy and deep for you.
lazord1991 1 year ago
@lazord1991 LOL, yeah right.....too artsy and deep, but it felt more like eccentric and pompous to me. You are just one of those biased CT fans and I actually feel sorry for you, dude.
raylo993 1 year ago
@lazord1991 Yeah, you almost got it right.... more like "arty" but not "artsy" to me as arty means "characterized by a showy, pretentious, and often spurious display of artistic interest, manner, or mannerism..."
raylo993 1 year ago
@raylo993 Ur the one who's self-absorbed. Don't blame Liz for being a very private person within her songs. She's no Joni Mitchell and she's no Alanis Morissette and that's pretty much ok because Liz is not the kind of songwriter that writes personal stuff in her songs because she tends to make the Cocteau Twins' songs less cliche than all of the usual everyday Pop Music and more about the sound than the lyrics.
Mr1991ladarius 1 year ago
Lay Jeno
D0ST03VSKY 1 year ago
I saw Cocteau Twins in the 1980s and again in the 1990s. I hate to say it, but Liz sounded a lot better in the early days. In the later years, the band remained spot-on but Liz turned the vocals into something similar to the Spinal Tap "Jazz Odyssey." It seemed like she was heading in her own erratic direction while the rest of the group remained focused. Can you imagine if Robin Guthrie had decided to follow suit and start doing improvisational guitar solos in the middle of songs?
ElGuapo22222 1 year ago
@ElGuapo22222 She sang like this (which, I really like, btw) on only this tour. On the subsequent Milk and Kisses tour, and in all her post-cocteau work, she sings like those early days.
BahmanG 1 year ago
5 stars. Awesome, beautiful and unique!
watergrass5150 1 year ago
I saw this tour also. She was just singing the way she sings. If you ever had the chance to see them live you wouldn't dare say anything bad about them. Every band improvises live and CT sounded unique live in difference to recorded work, that was just them being them. It's sad this band never really had the appreciation in the US they deserved before they disbanded. However because of this, it makes their music legendary. Any singer who would dare imitate her would just get embarrassed.
djcorbijn 1 year ago 13
@djcorbijn Any singer.....don't you think that that is a huge overstatement ? Of course there are singers in the world who could technical master what she does, she is not from another planet. Not many would choose to though, bmaybe because as I do, they find it rather self-indulgent, technique and making funny noises is not everything in singing, others love it, that's music for you.
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer it's not an overstatement. liz is so unique and incredibly brave vocally. and also, everything in life is self-indulgent, how can it not be? why should anyone live or do anything for anyone but themselves? that's a weird point you tried to make there. she's expressing herself in a way that no one ever has before.
westendgla 1 year ago
Comment removed
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer .....same chips different gravy.
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer Ok, there is something in what you say about being self-indulgent, and if the original poster was expressing how much they love her music then there is no argument with that, but the argument that she is somehow unique in her abilities is plainly untrue. What she does is unique because nobody (?) else chooses to sing this way, it doesn't mean nobody could physicaly/technicaly do so. Anyway enjoy it if it's your thing, I also listen to stuff where I don't understand the words......
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer but she is unique in her abilities. no one else has quite her timbre, just the same as you are unique in your abilities to do whatever it is to exactly the degree that you do it.
and to be fair, her vocal range and capabilities put the majority of singers on this planet to shame. a lot of other singers have tried doing what she does and they come off sounding like cheap imitations.
there's just something about the notes she hits that really touch people, and that's unique
westendgla 1 year ago
@westendgla Sure, everyone has a unique voice, and people may have failed to imitate her, I have not heard them. But I would still argue with the original statement, there are countless jazz, classical, folk, rock....singers out there who display just as great a command of their voice as her. They wouldn't have her colour of voice, but would have their own, and would have no trouble imitating this style if they chose to, in fact some of her techniques are borrowed from other genres.
raysteer 1 year ago
@westendgla The fact that she pushs your emotional buttons is just as much to do with you as with her, there are other singers/ musicians twanging the heartstrings of other audiences just as effectively, she is not unique in that either.
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer okay, listen to liz singing This Love (she's singing in english and her delivery is deceptively simple, none of the usual vocal acrobatics). then listen to Sarah Brightman covering the song. it's not even in the same league, and brightman is a trained classical/operatic singer so if anyone can do what liz is doing, surely she could.
but she's certainly pushing your buttons though, eh? not sure whether you love her or hate her.
westendgla 1 year ago
@westendgla I have just listened to both, I didn't find there to be such a huge difference, though Brightman was on the mechanical side and Liz a little more sensitive. As far as Frazers usual performing style goes she has her moments but they are soon followed by some sort of consciously unconventional trick, I can hear that there is some emotion in there but it's not getting through to me also because I don't enjoy that kind of guitar playing, so, no, I'm not in two minds at all about it
raysteer 1 year ago
@westendgla I can't realy complain that you chose a bad example, it was me who mentioned opera singers, but somebody like Kate Bush would be a better example, a flexible voice, used by an artist with artistic sensitivity and creativity. Her own stuff is just on the right side of weird and interestingly different, then there's the words and the stories, which I enjoy, but of course are not essential to some.
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer Apologies, you clearly chose Brightman so I could here the two singing the same song, that chance was on offer so you don't loose points for that! Just as an aside I don't think I would enjoy that song whoever was singing it.(: Also I don't think either of us is going to convince the other, so lets bury the hatchet and let everyone enjoy the show! Nice talking to you.(:
raysteer 1 year ago
@westendgla Thanks, but I'm not sure of the uniqueness of my own abilities (:
raysteer 1 year ago
@raysteer p.s. i do understand your point that she is a human being and that technically someone else would conceivably be able to do what it is she does. but the fact remains that she is the first and only person to do this so well. and she's unique because this is how she expresses herself, other singers choose words, she doesn't always. so that's what makes her unique...the way her mind works and her method of articulation. and the voice is unique to her exclusively. we're all unique :o)
westendgla 1 year ago
@westendgla I think we understand each other more or less. Then we are left with the fact that some people love this sort of stuff and others don't, both, goes without saying, legitimate standpoints. Enjoy, or not, go in peace. (:
raysteer 1 year ago
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@djcorbijn Any singer.....don't you think that that is a huge overstatement ? Of course there are singers in the world who could technical master what she does, she is not from another planet. Not many would choose to though, bmaybe because as I do, they find it rather self-indulgent, technique and making funny noises is not everything in singing, others love it, that's music for you. (-:
raysteer 1 year ago
@djcorbijn ..yes, they all improvise and Cocteaus can do whatever they bloody wish!!
hellsbelle66 1 year ago
@djcorbijn I must disagree with you. I adored the Cocteau Twins until I paid to see them live and then witnessed this self-indulgent crap. It was offensive and sad and I think I actually cried. I considered this woman a musical heroine... and the one time I waited and waited and finally went to see her... she did... THIS. I was so lost until I found out she was a psychotic drug fiend, then it made sense and I forgave her. The albums are timeless. This cockatiel crap is for the birds.
CuddlyBadger 8 months ago
To have the confidence to sing that song that way in front of millions, only Liz could do that!
MrLovePoet 2 years ago 2
co wy tam gadacie, Liz dała czadu, szalona, natchniona, zahipnotyzowana jak na cocteau'owy dream pop przystało, do tego te kosmiczne gitary, przestrzenność wyobraźni, ja uwielbiam!
poolatartlane 2 years ago 4
wow. truly extra-ordinary
very rare indeed
kraltran 2 years ago
Yes maybe she was trying a bit hard, but the thing is, she nailed it. Each to his own, I always say, but at the end of this, I was beaming with respect. Also, speaking as a US citizen, I freaking Loved the hosts reaction at the end. He did not know how to react. LMAO♥
y0nd3r 2 years ago
Liz sounds like she is trying WAY TOO HARD to amaze the audience, and I find this live rendition--despite the REAL percussion (which I like), is NOT to my liking!
Bongofury361 2 years ago
Comment removed
caramujo123 2 years ago
@caramujo123 grow up
birinbirinbirin 2 years ago
Excuse the spelling mistake, but I was rushing before the video ended!
Bongofury361 2 years ago
I don't like it at ALL! I love this song and band, and I'm happy to see tem using live percussion, but i really don't like the way Liz is singing!
Bongofury361 2 years ago
do they fall into the "shoegaze" category in music? where the dreamer/musican would mostly look down and play?
as a matter of fact...they are...
Redrum267 2 years ago
@Redrum267 they could but they influenced a lot of shoegaze musicians
calebbbuh 2 years ago
I know the cocteaus will always be at the top of my list of all time favourite bands. & they used so much echo & reverb & double & triple tracking of her vocals on the studio versions of the songs that it would be impossible to duplicate that live so it's like hearing two different bands from studio to live & her vocals are always so loose & wild on the live versions .... how did they ever get talked into performing on an american televison show?? I bet they never did it again
brucewayne909 2 years ago
sounds weird compared to the original
thetattytruth 2 years ago
i had the privilege to see the cocteaus in the 80s. the first time she sang beautifully; true to the original recordings. the next time i saw them, elizabeth started singing with this irritiating warble. thought i was listening to larry the lamb!
strooka 2 years ago
lucky you!
thetattytruth 2 years ago
Indeed she does warble...she vibrates her sounds tooo much...
although it sounds beautiful and unique due to her voice-play, i dont know...it wants to turn me off but i just dont...
Redrum267 2 years ago
Gives me the creeps!!!! Absolutely luv her ...
esventrada 2 years ago
I wish she sang like this on the studio version
wglmb 2 years ago 2
oh! me encanto este videooo
gracias!!!
amo a estos escoceses
puedo lloraR?? ...que ganas de verlos en vivo... ya no tuve la oportunidad, y que vengan a Chile a un reencuentro seria raro. jasjajas
liz fraser es simplemente unica.
fabysofy 2 years ago
AMAZING :)
JARBOE00 2 years ago
WORK IT LIZ!!!!!!!
abortiongonewrong 2 years ago
Saw them at the Warfield in San Fran when they were on the 4 Calendar Cafe tour, same band. Lincoln played these wonderful, gorgeous blue guitars. I was the one in the very front screaming, "Lizzzzzzzzz....!!!!!" the entire time.
HitThatHighNote 2 years ago
Superlative!!!
Paola91stella 2 years ago
If you are a Cocteau fan, check out The Angel On Ruskin live. you won't be disappointed.
andreaneilcmc 2 years ago
Gracias por el dato.
Muy impresionante la voz de Liz. Además, el tema es muy bueno.
Pude escuchar la voz del ángel.
739335 2 years ago
Thanx for posting this! Totally awesome!
frostbiteblog 2 years ago
Scottish subversity at it's best. "Are you the right man for me." "You are the right man for me."
andreaneilcmc 2 years ago 2
It would not be the Cocteau Twins without 'those strange vocals'......there are those of us who understand perfectly the language in which Elizabeth sings....
patashnikk 2 years ago
I am one of them. Lovely!
renee82374 2 years ago
Comment removed
therapist66 2 years ago
if you listen the band and liz are in tune , tight and hitting the cues right. This shows purpose. She is also looking quite happy at times . At the end she swings her arm in a "we did it!!" manner. So I beg to differ with the previous negative comments.!
therapist66 2 years ago
No band has ever surpassed the genius and beauty of the live performances the Cocteau twins did at this time!
therapist66 2 years ago
Just wonderful. Absolutely Love it!! She is just an amazing vocalist. I don't know if she came up with all that on the spot, but she obviously felt every bit of it. Fresh!
y0nd3r 2 years ago 3
I think all of her non-language styled singing was her own interpretation, and that she has the artistic privilege to sing this any way she likes. Yes, it's odd but its Liz
ytcarol 2 years ago
love their guitar sound!
aaronquy1968 2 years ago
Great song but she messed it up with those strange vocals. I saw this back when it first aired and thought, what on earth?? The band was tight tho, and sounded great. I'll always dig the Cocteau Twins.
FaceInTheRain 2 years ago
Oh dear. Talk about not getting it.
Search for carolyns fingers cocteau twins. Please.
cullyvan 2 years ago
I've just watched the live version of Carolyn's Fingers (heard the studio version countless times) here on Youtube and her voice sounds amazing. It would have been cool if she did the same thing on this program.
FaceInTheRain 2 years ago
I know what you mean. I guess they just werent an out and out commercial band.
cullyvan 2 years ago
This song is about Robin and at this time Lucy their child was just a small baby and they were touring with the baby in the states, The Marriage was breaking down and Robin was on all kinds of cocaine. You should have seen the concert in L,A, right after this, the whole thing was angry/hurt chatter just like this. It was sad.
BrotherBearAZ 2 years ago
Really sad :(
lazord1991 2 years ago
an indefinable voice, extraordinary!
Paola91stella 2 years ago 2
this totally gets five stars from me but what the hell? was she having a breakdown? drugs? i love that you-know-who gave her a hug at the end. he was probably freaking out from her insane singing.
pehrlabel 2 years ago 2
my husband used to go out with her..you can blame him for the singing...you should see what he has done to me!
heston99 2 years ago
Could you sing like that?
lazord1991 2 years ago
Yea, she messed up a good song, should have mimed to the recording
ymmmmij 2 years ago
Kind of crazy performance of a nice song....
noradosmith 2 years ago
Love the song, that much that sometimes I need to stop it, cause it makes me feel desperation...!! anxiety and want to cry!!
Descargamx 2 years ago
Yikes.
cryptsub 2 years ago
What a treat! I often wondered how they would re-create a wonderful song in a live setting... Ta for the posting!
Erklemirkin 2 years ago
DO IT GIRL!!!!
abortiongonewrong 2 years ago
She's doing scat vocalizations. It's a jazz term for vocal improvisation.
BTC141 2 years ago
one of my fav songs of all time
pureecstasy 2 years ago
Obscenely Beautiful & Utterly Brilliant.
AwakeToTheMystery 2 years ago 3
Merci Merci Merci K8fan!!!, J'adore Cocteau depuis le début des anneés 80...
gilopetre 2 years ago 4
Great!
mower 2 years ago
Ferpect !!!!
tuktukpsh 2 years ago 2
I think zarc0n is right for the most part - though a lot of the "words" she's singing are actually noises that she memorizes for all the songs they write, she'll temporarily use actual words here and there where she mostly sings those crazy surreal words, I think it's more insane that she can even remember what she's doing half the time.
dilps 2 years ago
i think she just wanted to freak out the geezers that watch his show.....
roamerroams 2 years ago 2
Wow, I can't believe people hate this performance. It's bold, brave and F'in original! Definitely better than the other live version of Bluebeard floating arond here. The only live CTs recording in which LF sounds better is Orange Appled.
dogmaAndPonyShow 2 years ago
After hearing this i love this band even more.
tuktukpsh 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I'm a HUGE Cocteau Twins fan but this performance really sucked bad... she way overdid the vocalizations to the point it was just gross.
waveman69 2 years ago
I agree. I missed this when it was first aired. I usually would have taped it since I collect live performances but this was really disappointing. It seemed like she was either stoned, nervous or attempting to sabotage the whole performance.
cathridge 2 years ago
Ma non erano sette le meraviglie del mondo???
Paola91stella 2 years ago 2
The host looks like the husband from The Ameri*an Dad.
threadnation 2 years ago
credo che il suono di questa voce riesca a raggiungere e a illuminare anche le galassie più remote!!!
piperlast 2 years ago 12
lol at it not sounding as good as when she sings in English. Talents vocal work... but it just doesn't sound as pleasing to the ear as when she sings like she does on the single.
Garjun 2 years ago
She IS singing in English. She just distorts the words. Fucking awesome.
zarc0n 2 years ago 3
è pazzesco, più l'ascolto e più mi trasporta in dimensioni dove la mente si abbandona a visioni di straordinaria bellezza.Una voce che sfugge all'umana comprensione ma che riesce ad accarezzarti l'amima con i suoi petali!!!
Paola91stella 2 years ago 13
OMG, I never knew they played Le*o. It was so nice he hugged her. She obviously wanted the vocals to be radical, and not sellout. Good for her, it's the artist's decison.
bearleton 2 years ago 5
You are so right...!
DONDI3232 2 years ago
una voce così come non può provare l'esistenza di Dio?
Paola91stella 2 years ago 11
totalmente d'accordo ti trascina in un'altra dimensione!
exodus9000 2 years ago 9
Elizabeth Fraser voce eterea, incatevole, surreale, cosmica, stellare, mostruosa, pazzesca, superlativa, indefinibile, planetaria, inimitabile, rabbrividente, galattica, pirotecnica, superba, spaziale, ultraterrena, paradisiaca.
Paola91stella 2 years ago 13
Only Elizabeth Fraser can get away with these vocals. I love it ! I think the earpiece is so she can hear her voice and pitch.
tamvp 2 years ago
I'm not diggin the vocalisations
coolioto 2 years ago
BayviewFinch posted:
I think she made a mistake at the beginning, and just went with it as if it was on purpose. She probably got tripped up when L*no emphasized it was their first time on U.S. TV. Imagine the things that would be going through your head the first time your band ever played on U.S. TV. She was probably a bunch of nerves.
Please don't mention the name of the host. Thank you.
k8fan 2 years ago
Thaks for the advice I didn't realise about the search engine. Nice one
coolioto 2 years ago
I may be paranoid, but this is my technique for keeping old, cool stuff up on YouTube. It's worked pretty well so far.
k8fan 2 years ago
i don't think she made any mistakes. during that period of time, that's how liz was singing. in fact, rumor has it that it really pissed her husband (also in the band) off. her lyrics are always hard to understand. there are websites devoted to deciphering them. but during this phase of the cocs, she was really off in outer space. personally, i love it. one of the most unique voices ever.
Mudget 2 years ago 5
i was going to post the same thing basically but you did it for me yesterday. this is just how she was singing at the time. also, this was around the time when she finally started getting over self-esteem issues. like it or not, she's pretty comfortable here. her vocal control here is great! i wouldn't be surprised that this was pissing Robin off! he's a sour grape, although i love him anyway.
madsketcher 2 years ago
This is typical Liz at this time. Seen her do this live before in similar fashion....Brave and awesome! I wonder tho' how they performed this in warmup for JL. I wished the cameraman would have shown the audience's response.
ronburgundysguns 2 years ago
super!!! cocteau twins is top one,beautiful song.
MARTINSZYMON80 2 years ago
and then god created elizabeth.
NMillar917 2 years ago